Egull1's Journal, 21 December 2019

Good for you Egull to be in full control of your plan whether it is eating or doing your gym. I like that you are deliberate in your choices. 

Thank you, Carol - It's a fine line I realize because one can't exercise past a bad diet. And, I don't want to encourage others to think that working out means eating a surplus consistently is going to help them maintain or even lose. However, since I hit maintenance back in 2018 - fitness goal are very intertwined with lifestyle choices with regards to health and nutrition, not to mention preserving the metabolism. Increase in muscle mass and fueling high intensity workouts appropriately requires a surplus in cals on occasion, especially when this body is burning up to 400-600 cals in a single session at times. The Holidays provide a perfect opportunity to use these days to fuel these goals, but I need to emphasize that between these days, I am very tight around my daily maintenance cals. I don't restrict, but I definitely use restraint and make sure I don't go over allotted cals so this body is ready to eat when the day arrives and I can enjoy some fun foods :-) 

I couldn't agree more with you, Egull. Exercise is so good for so many things- strength, balance, tone, breathing, general well being- but as a weight loss tool it has its limitations! It is an excellent complementary activity but definitely not the big hammer in the weight loss tool kit. What I like about what I am seeing you doing is that you deliberately choose when to indulge in calories and have an immediate plan to return to 'regular' eating habits that will maintain your weight loss. You are not in 'free fall' and helpless in the face of calorie challenges. Instead there is a plan. Your exercise routine is so empowering for your body and necessary to your physical and mental health and is to be celebrated as well. Good for you on all accounts! You will be my role model when I enter the long term maintenance phase.