Hiya everyone!!!
My good, good, good friend (@Issy) -- that I've been neglecting for FAR TOO LONG (ok, that fits **ALL of you!) -- has commented about my lack of journals recently.
She is definitely right... but that's not altogether new either. I usually don't journal much unless something happens. And not much has been happening. Well, at least not much as far as my weight loss is concerned. But I really should apologize to you ALL, I know I just haven't been as supportive lately. And I need to get on that. Life has a way of swirling in on you like that sometimes. But I've got to get over it and make the time. This I know.
So, why hasn't there been all that much to report? Let me back up a bit.
So a few weeks ago (Apr 11th to be precise) I was positively giddy about getting to 199.8 -- just under 200. As you can see by my weight chart... um... well... it isn't under 200 any more. Funny story about that... You know how they say you have to watch your intake and manage that against your calorie burn?
From experience now, I can tell you that is surprisingly true!
Ok, ok, not much of a surprise really, but who's counting?
Anyway, from there I did a bit of a carb backload, per my plan... so I knew I wasn't going to stay under the 200's for long, but the plan was to then STOP the carb backload after a couple of days and get back under the 200's fairly quickly. I had a bit of a spiral since then.
<h2>Tornado Spiral Kerfuffle</h2>
You can see by the little chart detailing my fiasco how things went up and down a lot, but with a distinct up-trend.
Anyway, this is what has happened the last 25 days... that last one (200.8) is this morning. I'm just now getting a chance to post it.
Anyway, when that 207 came in, I finally had to level with myself: I'd done this for months... I knew what to do, and how to do it... I'd been strong, and my plan is to continue to be strong, even in maintenance. I never want to go back. So being weak and loose just WILL NOT DO.
<h2>Fly in the Ointment?</h2>
Then very interestingly, I noticed something. I had no problems. None. Not a one. Not even a craving for one of my go-to golden foods -- those were the cravings that had been driving me insane. As I was pouring myself a well-earned glass of Diet Pepsi it occurred to me that all those months I'd been being good, I had completely restricted all pop. I had not allowed myself any, not even a drop. In the last couple of months, I'd eased up on that rule. As I was standing there, it suddenly occurred to me that all through my *problem* I'd been drinking the stuff. In fact, I'd eased up quite a bit on it... it's no calorie, right? And I personally have not had any issues with the artificial sweeteners I use (but I tend to use Stevia, Monk-fruit, or Sucralose {Splenda}). But I suddenly thought it was really odd that I'd quit it, had no problems losing a lot of weight. Resumed drinking it, and now was struggling... stopped for a couple of days just because I was being strict, and again -- no problems.
I poured it out and decided not to drink it.
To be honest, I have absolutely no idea if these two things are related in any way. It could just be that my resolve strengthened and that's what I'm seeing. But if they aren't related, it seems awfully coincidental. One thing to keep in mind is that I do not add aspartame to anything on my own (and that's what's in my Diet Pepsi)... but I've not been strongly against any artificial sweeteners. At the same time, I've been trying to stick to the better ones (Stevia / Monkfruit), but Sucralose just tastes so much better to me... so I try to mix them and keep the sucralose down.
Anyway, I haven't had any since that 207 mark.
Well, all, I'm spot-on now, with nary a craving or an impulse to "cheat". I haven't decided if I'll carb backload this weekend or not... but I'm leaning toward not. We'll see. The last few days have been "fasting" days for me... I haven't built the bank back up yet, but it's almost there.
My daughter and mom are both doing great. We memorialized the anniversary of my brother's passing this weekend -- so some of the weekend was a bit reserved.
BEST WISHES TO ALL! I'll try and make the rounds and see how you're all doing... but I'm kind of bummed I won't be able to tell much because of all your scale-eschewing. KEEP SMILING everyone!!!
