madaboutmoose's Journal, 25 May 2009

I understand why you do not want to record it but then I also don't. On one hand you will see that gain on your chart and that would be hard to see, I so totally understand that. But on the other hand would seeing that on your chart make you more aware to get it off again? To be more accountable? To feel good seeing that even though you gained it on vacation you buckled down and got it off versus how you used to do it after vacation in your past life. Maybe not seeing it is like it never happened? Tough call. You are buckling down and working on getting it off, good for you. Good for your Momma, getting rid of clothes too big. Oh, how sweet that feels. I did not know judibird was your mom. How nice the two of you can do that together. 

Hang in there Carol. It is just a number and you still look great. I know you will not give up and as you pointed out I was freaked by just 2 lbs I gained on my vacation. I had the opportunity to do most of my eating at Aunt Pat's and I think that made the difference. Restaurants cook differently. It may take a week but it will come off. I am sure of that. Love you. 

It's silly I know but I don't want my color to change!!! I am recording the weight everyday in an old fashioned style journey where I record everyday so I don't think it is like it never happened. Saturday is my "weekly weigh-in" so it is likely that I will record on fatsecret on that day, regardless of what Frank reports. I can always go back and put in my weight anyday I want. Thanks for pointing out the possible pitfalls ... I appreciate it. Yes judibird is my dear mother ... and my partner in this journey!!! It was very difficult to weigh Sunday morning but I did it. I also now have 2 non-vacation days under my belt and feel good about not continuing to "vacation" with food here at home like I have in the past. I also believe that talking about the process I'm in here keeps me honest. Time will tell.  

I would say that you are back to the center of the track. We sometimes stray to it's edge and sometimes go off of it completely. The trick lies in pulling oneself back to ones center gently.  

OK I am so torn by what to comment here. I know the feeling of just not wanting to write down what "feels" like a step back. But I put "feels" in quotes because a lot of this is definition. In January you were 239 and if I had said you can be 200 by the end of May but you cannot record any weights in between Jan and May, I hazard to guess you would have not only "taken" that deal but been VERY HAPPY with it. But now because you have been below 200 that deal looks BAD somehow...but you know what? Its the same deal. Don't apologize for losing 40 pounds in 5 months. OK so its not 52 or 55 but its 40 lbs. Let's not worry about the number as much as what if anything went wrong? Did you expect to Lose, Maintain or Gain a Bit on vacation? Did you care? Did you plan to gain some? Were the expectations realistic? You exercised on vacation...Did you count Kcals? Would counting have ruined the vacation? If so maybe its fine that you didn't...but did the eating portion of the vacation make it better? I think the trick is to LEARN what works for you..if the 11 lbs bothers you then you need to figure out how not to do it again...if it was something you planned for like.."Hey I am going on vacation and if I gain 10 so what, I'll get it back when I get back...then you are right where you planned and no adjustment needed. I am working through these ideas as well because I know when I ride this tour I will drop weight quickly...especially if I keep a good count...but when I get back my body will want to recover that weight and at that time I have a vacation planned to the beach....A Double Whammy so to speak. I am seriously considering planning to put 5-10 pounds back on during that vacation....but I want it back on in a controlled way...so your example here is telling to me. Its making me think...as this very long comment can attest. I agree that now that you are back I am sure you will knock this weight back off but maybe now is the time to slow that loss down. Take that 10 off gradually. Don't know, but its something to think about....Best Always...Jim  

Yay! You have done and continue to do so well! I dont blame you for not wanting to record your 'ups'. You're right- the dreaded 200 is just a number. It does not erase your amazing progress and all your efforts. Just wait until its back to exactly where you left off. If it gives you peace of mind, do it. Its no worth getting flustered about. You are going in the 100% right direction!  

Ah Jim ... you always cause me to ponder!!! I did not record calories while I was gone but I was cognizant of my choices ... for example ... seafood over steak, grilled over fried, no hash browns, ate when I was hungry not just to eat, only one dessert. I know I burned at least as many calories through exercise while gone as I do at home. I did drink more alcohol than typical but stuck to light beer when I drank beer. I also did indulge in two unbelievable burgers and shared onion rings with hubby. Most of the reason I didn't count calories is that I didn't know exactly what to count. It would not have ruined vacation ... I just didn't always know the calorie content of the foods I ate. I did expect to gain ... just not as much as I did. In my head I expected 5 lbs ... 11 was a shock to me. I know I'm a little hung up on the numbers right now ... it is silly I know but I am working through it the best I can. I may indeed still put the weights on fatsecret ... in fact I think I will because I will want to see the graph ... and be able to look back on it when the next vacation arrives. I just don't want to do it right now ... so I'm slightly twisted ... LOL!!! What is most important to me right now is that I was conscious of my food choices while on vacation. I took time to think about my choices and ask myself what I truly wanted at each meal. Except for one time I respected my hunger and ate when I was hungry. I stayed physically active. I did splurge a few times and completely enjoyed myself. I came back, "faced the music" and stepped right back into "regular" life ... even if I struggled a bit emotionally. I think I would do the same again but next time I'll be more realistic about the gain and not be so suprized. Thanks for the comment ... the learning curve continues!!!