11.4 pounds, to be exact. And, believe me, I'm counting every ounce. I consider the amount of weight loss a success, but not the way I went about it.
I've splurged some days, eaten too much or the wrong thing. Basically, it was due to lack of planning. I've got to have the right food ready and available, and there has to be at least a little variety. I'm probably better than most about eating the same thing over and over, but even I have limits.
There were times that I haven't eaten all that I'm allowed to on the diet during the day, and that usually ended with me being hungry at night, especially when I stayed up late. The nutritionist also told me I should eat at least a little carbs each day, otherwise the weight will come back much faster when I resume eating them. I had actually noticed this with my sister over the years, because no carb was her favorite diet.
I haven't focused on getting used to small portion sizes. Turns out that 1/2 cup of pasta will do fine...particularly if I've had all the fruit and vegetables I'm allowed to eat.
On the plus side, I'm happy to have shed over 10 pounds. And even on days I've splurged, I've managed to limit the damage. I still did the best I could for the rest of that day.
My goals for the next 4 weeks are:
Follow the diet as faithfully as I can. That will take preparation. Grocery shopping, food prep and cooking will have to be planned carefully. A salad will almost always need to be ready and waiting. And menus will have to be planned in advance. One, because I'll need to figure how to get all my servings allotted so I can eat as much as is allowed. And, two, so that I've got enough variety and won't go out to eat because I'm sick of what's on hand and don't feel like making something else.
Focus on getting my portion sizes consistent so that I can get used to what they look like. Putting too much on my plate has been a problem in the past and should be one of the easiest things to fix.
Exercise. Yeah, still looking for the right thing, something I can stick with. I'm getting a tiny bit walking 7 year old to the play area in our complex, but I really want something I can actually enjoy.
12 more pounds. Yep, almost exactly what I lost this month. But losing it by following a consistent diet, and developing the habit of eating more or less the right portions of the right things. It's the only way that it will stay off, even when I'm allowed an extra few hundred calories a day, and I know that.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Well done! Just FYI, I do dine out a lot and often have 2 starters. I pick a salad and then something else that will be very satisfying, e.g. beets & goat cheese. Small portions with satisfying flavor are key. And lots of sparkling water. So glad you're reaching your goal. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yes, I've done the appetizer thing too, and it's a big help. I've also gotten better at taking food home instead of stuffing myself with everything at the table. I think I'll even be able to handle a little splurge now and then, by cutting back before or afterward, once I'm at the point of just maintaining.
ReplyDeleteIt's really just the crap I pick up because I'm hungry and don't want anything I have at home, or I don't have anything ready at home, that I have to cut out. That stuff isn't even good enough to be worth the splurge. So I just need to keep completely on top of things until I reach the maintaining stage.