Holding pattern

Since the last time I posted I have actually gained weight.  This morning 204.4.

An hour of exercise daily.  Eating more healthy.  Counting calories.

I seriously don't know what else to do.

I reported my measurements last time and you'd think with all my time on the treadmill, the bike, the various machines and lifting weights (up to 15 pounds) that there would be a difference.  But in fact, I think I'm actually a bit bigger in areas.

The magazines have articles about how much weight you can walk off and I have a very hard time believing it.  On the treadmill I walk on incline and I walk fast--not at the same time.  I can actually walk at 4.5 MPH, but not for long periods of time.

Here is a note I posted on Facebook:  A Weighty Issue


I was a skinny kid....a really, really skinny kid.  I was a skinny teenager....a really, really skinny teenager.  My dad was skinny.  But the legacy on my mother's side was FAT.  My grandmother was fat, my mother was fat and I eventually became FAT, yes, very fat; in fact, obese.

When I got married I weighed around 140--not too bad, but 12 lbs. more than when I was 16.  As the years progressed I became more and more addicted to food, the overeating of it.  I have a picture of me when my oldest child was about 1 and I looked good.  I looked really good.  But I think being home all day led me to turn to food and over time the pounds came on. When my children were young I never set a limit on what they ate.  We had ice cream all the time in the house.  There were no restrictions as I recall.  But because of the cycle of ovrweight in my family and because I hated being fat so very much I did tell my daughter, "I don't want you to get fat like me."  Fortunately she never did.

I was in the 240s and 250s for over 20 years.  But when I went to the doctor and I was 260 that scared me to death.  So in 2001 I went on a diet and lost 80 lbs.  I was at 178 and I looked good.  I had gone 9 months without eating any sugar.  Unfortunately at my lowest weight we went on vacation and from the moment I put that first bite of cake into my mouth the pounds began to slowly creep back on.  Every 5 pounds I would tell myself, "That's it.  No more."  Then the next 5 pounds and the next and the next until I had regained 90 pounds.

In October of 2008 I joined Calorie King and since then I've lost 55-60 pounds.  Absolutely no one can tell me to lose weight or that I don't need to lose weight.  That decision rests solely in my hands.  My spouse can't tell me to lose weight, my friends, my kids....no one. It is my decision.  And unless a person has a true food eating disorder, the decision to lose 5 pounds or 50 pounds rests in YOUR hands.  I also believe my spouse can never tell me that I shouldn't lose any weight.

I don't want anyone to say....it's only 5 pounds I've gained.  Because it is too easy to let that 5 turn into 10, 15, 20.  For me it turned into 90 pounds.

For the past 16 months I've struggled to get below 200 and stay there.  I exercise at least 6 hours a week.  I eat sensibly most of the time.  But 200 eludes me.  One thing I do know.   I will never, ever, ever, ever go back to 270.  According to my BMI I am still obese.  My children are adults now, but I still do not want them to ever be obese.

This is an extremely painful subject for me.  The jolly fat person is a myth.

Week 6 2/5/2011

Two weeks ago my weight was 205.2.  I was not able to weigh last Saturday since I spent the night in the hospital.  Today I am 203.  I'm up just a bit from February 1.

Being on an "eat healthy plan" is something you can not be off and on about.  I think about this every day, and all through the day.  I cannot just grab a handful of almonds throughout the day.  I count them out.  Is it worth it?  Yes.  Is it easy?  No.

Saturday is the one day we go out to breakfast (unless traveling).  Today we went to a restaurant we hadn't been to in awhile.  I could have had oatmeal, but I have that often at home.  I chose to have an egg, hashbrowns and one piece of toast.  I will worry that tomorrow this will show up when I weigh.  I do get tired of worrying all the time and those of you who can eat whatever you want and not gain weight have no idea of how fortunate you are.

My daughter and kids are coming for lunch.  I'm having mini meatloafs and potatoes with some type of vegetable so this should be okay.  This also means that tonight will be a light supper.  Soup, sandwich, ??

February 1st Report

January 1:   208.6
February 1: 202.4

My determination is paying off--keeping away from sugar, logging food eaten, and exercise.

Chest:  33.5 (lost 1 inch)
Hips:  43 (lost 1/2 inch)
Waist:  37 (lost 1/2 inch)
Thigh:  23.25 (lost 1/4 inch)
Left knee:  18.75 (lost 1/4 inch)
Left calf:  16 (the same)

Body fat:  46.4% (down .9%)

This has been an incredible month.  One I will not expect to repeat in February.  My goal for this month is to be 199.  And to be more watchful of sodium intake.

Margaret

Week Four 1/22/11

January 1:   208.6
January 15: 206.4
January 22: 205.2

I'm very pleased with my progress this month.  I'm doing very well with the no sugary treats.  Drinking lots of water and getting in my exercise.  After awhile it just becomes your way of life.  So glad my husband is going to the gym with me.  Should I have a day where I think "I don't want to go." he says, "We paid for it, we're going."

Last night we ate at Red Lobster.  My meal fit in with my calories and I even ate one of their "evil" Cheddar Bay Biscuits--just one!  Seriously, they are not a good choice because 1 has 150 calories.

Week Three 1/15/2011

206.4

I gained .8 from the week before but from the first of January I'm still down 2.2 lbs.  Then today (Sunday) I was back to 205.

Keeping up my hour (or very close to it)  a day of exercise.  Keeping track of my food eaten so all is well.

I weigh about 65 lbs. less than my highest weight and I have 2 areas that I still have the fat clinging to.  One, of course, it the belly.  When I read all those magazines that say "walk away the belly fat" I'm so so so unbelieving.  I've walked miles and done hundreds of abs workouts.  I have lost about 7 inches in my waist but I need to lose about 3 more to be in the healthy range.

I'm satisfied with my hips, legs, thighs and back.  But my knees are extremely fat.  Pouches of fat behind the knee--very, very unattractive.  I do a lot of exercises for my legs but I know of no exercise that targets the knees.  So it is my hope that if I lose an additional 25 to 30 lbs. that some of that fat will disappear.

Week Two 1/08/11

January 1:  208.6
January 8:  205.6

Hurray!  Loss of 3 lbs. for the week.

Changes I've made:
    more water
    not eating back all of my exercise calories
    giving up sugary treats for the month

I've got a new attitude!

Week One 1/1/11

208.6 lbs. 47.3% body fat


In 2009 I posted weekly my weight loss adventure and did well.  In 2010 I chose to not do this and I actually gained back just a bit over 3 lbs. during the year.

In 2011 I'm going to post here again weekly.

Goals:  Exercise an hour a day at least 6 days a week.
            Drink more water.
            Eat more fruit and vegetables.