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~Strengthening the Commitment~Zen Style
Well, after yesterdays gain, I was left with a need for two things; comfort & guidance. It's not that I don't know muscle is more dense than fat, or that more than one person this site has dealt with fluctuating weight between the 200's and Onederland. But, when one is doing strength and resistance training 4-5 times a week, it's hard to not want to see that reflected in the scale. Although, really that speaks more about my own unhealthy expectations of the scale. In truth, this is the most toned this body has ever been at 201.2. In fact, it's more toned and muscular than it was at 162!
So, after combing through several dozen articles on folks trying to lose fat and do strength and resistance training; I was finally comforted with, "yes, muscle is more dense than fat, but fat takes up more space in the body...this is why a person who is doing strength and resistance training needs to measure, not just weigh." I was also comforted with reading statements like, "give it time, have patience, your body is still adjusting and much of what you're seeing is water weight because the muscles are trying to heal." It also helped to see others had faced the same frustrations when incorporating strength and resistance training into their routines.
The second thing I needed was guidance. Is there something I'm missing? Is there something else I can incorporate that might help me through this? As usual, I found it through the "middle way" and actually looked up some information on how Buddhists approach dieting. And, yes Buddhists diet, although I'm not sure they refer to it that way. The greatest information and affirmation came from an article written about how a Zen Buddhist Master approaches health and diet. First off, you'll be surprised to know that at some Buddhist monasteries, the monks weigh in every morning? And not because they're tasked to track every single pound, but to understand the most essential of Buddhist principles, that life and everything in it, including weight is transitory and fluctuates. If they do see a steady climb upwards, they know something needs to be tweaked. But, if they see their weights go up and down throughout the week, it's a good reminder of how all things in life and the universe fluctuate on a continuum. The Zen Master also recommended weighing one's food, in addition to intermittent fasting and allowing oneself 1 splurge day a week.
Now, I already do a 16:8 intermittent fast, and am aware that most Buddhist monasteries end all meals by noon. That may sound harsh, but it's actually not as Buddhist Monks and Nun arise very early in the morning, and thus go to sleep early in the evening. Anyhow, I also have the splurge day covered. What I don't do is weigh every morning and I don't weigh my food. I often rely on my mother, a measuring cup, a stated serving, or my own eye (which we know, I can't always trust). So, as of today, I now have a new scale on its way to put in my own bathroom (I've been using my mothers), so I can weigh every morning. AND, I also bought a food scale. We have one, but it doesn't work. I do trust my mother's eye as she has taken off all her weight, but I need to learn for myself what appropriate portion sizes are in addition to seeing whether I really fall within a "mean range" for calorie intake.
I've also been convinced by someone on this site, that it's time to get off my lazy duff and MEASURE. I've obviously lost inches, it's time to start creating the kind of progress I can measure. As for the scale, just like those Zen monks, morning weigh-ins will be to confirm and track fluctuations in an effort to remember ALL things fluctuate, including weight, and it's OKAY!
Have a wonderful day full of beautiful happenings, everyone!
Diet Calendar Entries for 24 April 2017:
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1390 kcal
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Fat: 60.19g | Prot: 55.41g | Carb: 95.08g.
Breakfast: Coffee with Cream and Sugar, Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Oil and Vinegar, Stir Fried Vegetables. Lunch: Signature Cafe Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad with Salad Dressing. Snacks/Other: Trident White Spearmint Sugarless Gum, Red Table Wine, Kashi Chewy Granola Bars - Chocolate Almond & Sea Salt, Chobani Nonfat Peach Greek Yogurt. more...
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2924 kcal
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Activities & Exercise:
Weight Training (moderate) - 30 minutes, Walking (moderate) - 3/mph - 28 minutes, Bicycle - 30 minutes, Resting - 14 hours and 32 minutes, Sleeping - 8 hours. more...
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