Navida's Journal, 07 August 2010

Calories in vs calories out do not work for me. If it did I would have liost 18 pounds last month. And the only weight gain I have had since I started this journey in January was the day after I ate 1 (one) Atkins bar. So my guess is that, yes, you are that carb sensitive!! But don't forget that it could also be natural fluctuation. I see by your weight graph that there have been 3 pound gains at other points on your journey. Maybe this is just one of those. 

You have to REALLY want this lifestyle...and it sounds like you do, so I would recommend you READ, READ, READ all you can about Atkins, Low Carb, Etc... When you are done - start pouring back through your diet calendar and looking for ways to tweak what you are doing. You can make this way of eating work for you!! I think it's great that you are ready to make a lifestyle change, and tackle some of the reasons WHY along with shedding the weight. In the end, always remember, YOU ARE WORTH IT! Worth the changes. Worth the success. Worth the effort! (ps. calories in vs calories out didn't work for me either, for a variety of reasons that it took me a year to figure out.) Moderate exercise is always good for anyone. Stretching, toning, resistance, yard work, casual walking, anything...every other day, adds a little something to the vitality of life. Take it from an older woman...do it now!! and enjoy what life has to offer you!!! 

Navida - don't expect overnight results from anything you do as far as weight control. I understand the 3500 calorie math. If you were able to have a 3500 calorie deficit everyday, you still could not count on losing a pound a day. If you have a 3500 calorie deficit in a week you cannot count on a one pound weight loss that week. Although the math is correct our bodies are complicated and many things are involved other than calorie intake. Our weight fluctuates not only daily, but it can be up and down 2 or more pounds within a day. You may eat a high cal, high fat piece of cake and have it not show up on the scale. That doesn not mean it is ok to do that everyday. You may eat a huge amount of food and have it not show up on the scale, doesnt mean it is ok to do it everyday. You may hardly eat anything at all and have your weight increase. Still not the way to go. It is an accumulation of what you do over a period of time. The balance you are looking for will come over time with a lot learning. Rather than relying on short term results, watch you weight chart for the overall trend. Like a month at a time. Take your measurements and watch them come down slowly. I am finally breaking out of a month long plateau. I could hardly see any advancement over the last month. Now my body is letting go of the fat. I have lost 4 pounds in 2 day and I have done nothing different. It is what I did over the past month that is finally giving results on the scale. Everybody is different. No matter what diet you follow, your foods will vary from everyone else on the same diet. Your body will respond in its own unique way. Learn to get satisfaction from what you are doing as far as healthy eating and activity as being what is making the difference in your life. Not what you see on the scale. It is so worth it to continue in what you know is improving your health and state of mind! 

I guess I'll have to totally revamp my goals if I'm only going to lose 4 lbs a month. I was associating those 3 lb spikes with my cycle but this one is so soon i had barely recovered from the last one. oh well, so what if it takes 3 yrs to lose the weight, i was going to be here in 3 yrs anyway. I'll just postpone my man-shopping a while :)and maybe my vacation. We all know that a fat vacation is not the same as a thin one...