The New Bhuz Weigh In - August Edition

[tahiradancer]

I'm with Lauren. As I have said before, though, weekends tend to be my time where I load up on carbs and sugars. Becaue I am at home and they are around.

I do look for patterns as well. If I have been eating cleanly and have still had a jump in weight, I then start looking at my stress levels, exercise levels, etc. This helps me keep things in perspective. It also alerts me of times when Ihave suddenly put on large chunks of weight for no apparent reason. ie: several years ago I starteda job which was emotionally abusive. Nothing else in my life changed. I gained 12 lbs on a little over 2 weeks and my blood pressure went through the roof as did the number of migraines I suffered. The scale was the first thing which tipped me off that this was NOT going to work for me. I left that job and lost about 5 lbs fast.

{{{HUGS}}}

[antimony]

The best explanation of how in/out mismatches cause daily weight fluctuation is in a somewhat unlikely source. John Walker, the founder of Autodesk, wrote a website in the style of a diet book. There are some things in it I disagree with, but on the whole, it is a no-nonsense description for how to lose weight through the power of treating it like a technical problem and time-series analysis. The whole thing is here: The Hacker's Diet It's pretty short, and you could read the whole thing in a couple of hours. (It probably won't be to inspiring for the creative types on Bhuz, but for me as a math geek and engineer I found it refreshingly true to my mindset)

But the section called input/output puts the whole water-retention thing in perspective really well, and I think everybody should have a peek.

[danidance]

Daily weighing has helped me track patterns and keep myself in check as well as motivated.

But, I have a different perspective on it now than I used to. I am mapping patterns to enable myself to manage my food issues. It's working for me and I am enjoying approaching it like a project management task with milestones and targets as opposed to some kind of beauty/self-image thing.

[Lilladancer]

I agree, daily weighing should not be taken too seriously in terms of "oh, I lost a pound!" or "I gained a pound!" When it may only last 24 hours until the next fluctuation. For me, though, the daily weighing (which I used to be vehemently against) keeps me from getting complacent, or from unconsciously not noticing a gradual upward gain over the course of a week, 2 weeks, or a month. If I get too happy that I'm down a few pounds, it's too easy to start having richer meals and being lazy about exercise. If I see exactly how quickly my weight might fluctuate a couple of pounds up when I'm getting too liberal with snacks, etc, it keeps me committed to staying the course of smart eating and activity levels.

[danidance]

Well, here's the biggest big deal pattern I've noticed lately.

I'm not sleeping well - stress at work, and so forth - and I am hungrier. There is a total correlation. It's been about a week of sleeping 4 hours or so a night and I'm simply starving during the day all to keep me awake. I am snacking a bit more and I know it's making me stay the same and not lose weight.

But, I think as soon as my sleeping patterns get back to normal, I'll do better with the eating.

[sumayasaahir]

Dang, last night was utter debauchery. Mom invited me over for dinner and made chicken parm with ice cream for dessert. Could not resist, but enjoyed every bite! Wonder how bad the bloating will be today.

[CharlotteDesorgher]

Well, I'm keeping my fingers firmly crossed. I decided a few days ago that I was just playing with this weight loss thing - not taking it seriously enough, too many excuses etc etc. So I've been really strict with myself and the scale's showing me I've lost weight two days in a row. I'm not going to actually say I've lost it for a couple more days just in case it's a water/scale/atmospheric pressure/who knows what/ sort of thing, but I'm really, really hoping I'm on my way at last.....

[danidance]

Sunshine,

That's it. It's global warming. It's making heavy air and weighing us down.
damn that!

[CharlotteDesorgher]

Originally Posted by danidance

Sunshine,

That's it. It's global warming. It's making heavy air and weighing us down.
damn that!

[Lauren_]

Originally Posted by danidance

Sunshine,

That's it. It's global warming. It's making heavy air and weighing us down.
damn that!

I *knew* it was the government's fault. They're just not taking this seriously.

Hey, I was down .5 pounds this morning. Not a big weight loss, but a HUGE achievement, since it puts me the 150s for the first time in YEARS!

(I was 157 for a couple of weeks after yoga teacher training, but spending a month in a desert hut doing yoga 9 hours a day can't be my regular diet plan, so that doesn't count)

[danidance]

Lauren,

That is awesome!!!

I can't wait to be in that zone too. I'm still stuck at 160. I hate the plateaus. But, you are a shining example that we can bust through despite little frustrating bumps up. So yippee!

I hope to join you in the 150s next week - ain't gonna happen this week. I've been not doing well. Not gaining but not losing either and extremely snackish.
Work is frustrating me and I feel no control = emotional eating.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I *knew* it was the government's fault. They're just not taking this seriously.

Hey, I was down .5 pounds this morning. Not a big weight loss, but a HUGE achievement, since it puts me the 150s for the first time in YEARS!

(I was 157 for a couple of weeks after yoga teacher training, but spending a month in a desert hut doing yoga 9 hours a day can't be my regular diet plan, so that doesn't count)

[Lauren_]

Dani, you'll catch me. You know my pattern, the drop is always a 'preview,' tomorrow I'll jump back up by a pound or so and it'll take four or five days to get back to here again.

[bscharf]

I have been having huge carb fests. Had sushi on Saturday, popcorn and pancakes on Sunday, can't remember Monday but it was ugly, yesterday was cornbread, coleslaw and huge strawberry shortcake bar. I couldn't resist stepping on the scale this morning. Fortunately I didn't gain anything. I probably just won't have any loss this week.

One of my fellow dancers told me I looked "svelte." Imagine me "svelte." Okay, it's not even remotely true but I have lost quite a bit of weight. It's nice to finally have someone notice.

Dani-I love the new dress.
Ssipes-thanks for the reality check.

Hang in there ladies.

Happy hump day,

Beth

[danidance]

Beth,

Maybe something is going on in the cosmos. The need to snack on salt and carbs has hit me fiercely the past week/week.5

Is there a Binge Planet out there we don't know about that just went direct?

It's not genetics, or global warming - it's astrology!

[sumayasaahir]

I think something was in the air, I *could not* control myself yesterday, and im back up 2 lbs. Today will be better.

[CharlotteDesorgher]

OK, I'm going public....

I just put myself down for a competition. Not only is it my first one, it's also the first proper one in the UK. Judges are going to be the likes of Beata Cifuentes, Suhaila Salimpour, Raqia Hassan, Randa Kamal

Gulp

So there's no messing about now, I've GOT to lose half a stone (7 pounds) in seven weeks, or they're ALL going to be writing 'OK dancer, shame about the muffin top' on my score card

Heeeeellllllpppppppp!!!!!

[kina]

OK, I know I'm an idiot and this is gonna sound really stupid, but anyway, I had an epiphany this morning.

The scale has been yo-yoing for me since I started this whole weightloss thing. Very discouraging. However, my clothes are looser, somewhat. I'm a bit more defined, etc.

I weighed myself last night, and instead of looking at the number in relation to last week's weigh in, I looked at it in relation to what it was since I started this. It's been a total of 5 pounds altogether, even with the fluctuations. The biggest changes came not when I increased my exercise, but when I wasn't lifting weights.

When I'm lifting consistently, I drop a decent amount, but not startling. Like 1 - 2 pounds. This is good. It means that overall fat is reducing being replaced with muscle which will last over the long term.

This is basic stuff, but it hit me this morning.

So. I'm doing good

Epiphany, which I already knew intellectually, but is hitting me where I live right now :

Muscle weighs more than fat.

[danidance]

heh... Kina - this always cracks me up: Muscle weighs more than fat.
since a pound is a pound whether it's feathers or butterfat.

But 1 pound of muscle looks way better than 1 pound of fat - that's for damned sure and my underarm wings are here to prove it!

Sunshine - 1 pound a week is aggressive. I think you should shoot for that and be happy with 1/2 that in the long run.

Cut out the booze, the bread/starchies, and the sugar and you will most like be able to attain your goal in 7 weeks.

[Lilladancer]

I've been feeling extra snackish too, and have been hovering up a pound from my last week's weight. Okay, confession time.. yesterday like body snatchers had taken me over I picked up a chocolate chip cookie (the large kind in the cookie jars at coffeehouses...) and ate the entire thing. Doh! Maybe there is something in the air! Clothes are still fitting much better though, that's what counts. Off to walk, and walk, and walk......

[CharlotteDesorgher]

Really, do you think a pound a week is too much?

I guess it's just I'm always reading that you should never try to lose more than 3 pounds a week so I reckoned a pound was being gentle