TNCR Pandemic Weight Loss Challenge

[Catseye3]

@jodi I didn't weigh myself, either. Cookies this week, lots of cookies. I figure my good results from last week scared my brain into screwup mode -- which it does on the regular. My brain is an asshole.

I've decided losing weight is one of the most difficult First World problems there is. In itself, getting the weight off just isn't that hard; eat less than you burn -- bingo, shazam, done. It's the resistance. It's the evil brain that showers you with more obstacles, more reasons to fail, than are M&Ms in a jumbo bag. You overcome one? The brain grins like a demon and presents you with 89 more immediately. I know this; I've been on this struggle for years.

The way I see it, you have two recourses, and two only: You can keep trying, or you can give up. What else is there? I've chosen not to give up, though some weeks you'd never guess it. It is heartbreaking; you just wish you could get it DONE already, and go on with the rest of your life. (Remember when you didn't have to worry about it? Yeah, me neither.) But the brain entrenched its resistance truths early and well. Oh, so very well.

That resistance is not invulnerable. Every time you lose a half pound or walk past the dessert table, eyes averted, you chip away another little bit. It's a grim battle, but it can be won. I have to believe this.

But GOD, is it boring sometimes. Okay, all the time.

I invoke my favorite adage often. It's from the Japanese. "Fall down seven times, get up eight".

Like Scarlett said, "Tomorrow is another day". Ya gotta believe. Those pants aren't coming back from the Goodwill.

[Catseye3]

This post is deleted!

[jodi]

@catseye3 Nope, those pants aren’t coming back from the Goodwill. This is the first time I’ve actually gotten rid of the bigger sizes in my closet. I’m sick of them! And “My brain is an asshole” made me snort out loud.

[LuFins Dad]

Again, it’s about more than weight loss. I just noticed that my wedding band feels a little loose. In another month or so, it will need resized. This has me excited more than the weight!

[jodi]

How are you all doing? Last month I got on multiple airplanes to visit both sets of parents (mine - they are divorced and remarried to younger spouses and they live on opposite coasts). Both my parents (mid 80’s) are having significant issues with dementia, my father has been diagnosed (FTD) my mother refuses to get tested, but clearly has some type of it. Holy crap, it’s stressful and sad and scary watching this happen and feeling fairly helpless about it all. My father broke his nose a couple of weeks ago when he went on a walk alone and fell. My mom is a pile of emotions - and real issues with short term memory and lots of crying episodes. And every time I have a forgetful episode now, I wonder if it’s starting to happen to me! At any rate - I haven’t lost much in the last month - just down a pound or so since I last posted (actually feeling lucky I didn’t put any of the weight back on) - that makes 15 since I started the first of February (12 since we started here March 1st) I can really tell a difference - I feel much better, I’m wearing clothes I haven’t been able to in awhile, but I have a lot more to lose between now and next February. Gardening season is on us here in “we only get about 6 days of summer in Montana” - so I’ve been shoveling compost and planting flowers like mad this first week of June, and that is my favorite kind of exercise - the kind you get when you are doing something besides going to the gym.

[Doctor Phibes]

A total lack of weight loss here. I've been cycling about 60 miles at the weekend, and walking 2 miles a day, so I'm in way better shape than I was, but this hasn't made it's way through to my weight, although to be honest that wasn't my main focus.

[George K]

[jodi]

@doctor-phibes You probably have lost some fat - and gained muscle, with all the exercise. And that’s a good thing.

[Doctor Phibes]

@jodi said in TNCR Pandemic Weight Loss Challenge:

@doctor-phibes You probably have lost some fat - and gained muscle, with all the exercise. And that’s a good thing.

Not according to my stupid scales, but I try to remain optimistic that these 'smart scales' are anything but.

[Copper]

@doctor-phibes said in TNCR Pandemic Weight Loss Challenge:

@jodi said in TNCR Pandemic Weight Loss Challenge:

@doctor-phibes You probably have lost some fat - and gained muscle, with all the exercise. And that’s a good thing.

Not according to my stupid scales, but I try to remain optimistic that these 'smart scales' are anything but.

You can really lower the percentage of body fat by getting on the scale with wet feet. That's why I record it after a shower, much better results.

[Horace]

I got a $30 Renpho scale. I have lost interest in any measure it provides other than weight, because it seems to me that all the other measures are functions of weight. For body composition info, I use a Renpho tape measure around my belly. The iPhone app for tracking these measures is pretty cool.

[Doctor Phibes]

@horace said in TNCR Pandemic Weight Loss Challenge:

I got a $30 Renpho scale. I have lost interest in any measure it provides other than weight, because it seems to me that all the other measures are functions of weight. For body composition info, I use a Renpho tape measure around my belly. The iPhone app for tracking these measures is pretty cool.

Yes, that's the same scale I use. I love the tracking app, but I'm pretty skeptical about the accuracy of the non-weight measurements.

[Doctor Phibes]

@copper said in TNCR Pandemic Weight Loss Challenge:

You can really lower the percentage of body fat by getting on the scale with wet feet

Ha! - I need to do that. That'll show those bastards.

[LuFins Dad]

On the plus side, I’m fitting in a suit that I had set aside 18 months ago. On the bad side, Karla went away for a weekend two weeks ago for a funeral, and Luke was tied up with prom, so it was just me.

Beer and bad food was consumed.

I’ve been good since then. Karla, Luke, and Finley left this morning for a wedding.

[Doctor Phibes]

Tonight I'm lifting weights.

Here's the first one....


[Catseye3]

No change.

[Catseye3]

I've discovered -- or should I say rediscovered -- a nifty weight loss tip.

Eat as close to a zero-carb breakfast as you can. Starting off the day with few/no carbs sets you up for the rest of the day to go low carb much more easily.

[George K]

@catseye3 carbs (especially super-refined carbs) stimulate insulin which stimulates carbs going into cells, which makes you want moar carbs...etc.

In terms of insulin stimulation, even worse are diet sodas.

[Horace]

I'm old enough to remember when "low carb diets" were lumped in with every other "fad diet" of arbitrary ridiculousness. Meanwhile, there has always been actual science behind why low carb diets really do work.

[Doctor Phibes]

I did another 60 miles this weekend - it got a bit ugly, as it was 82 degrees by 9am. I drank about 2 pints of Gatorade this morning.