Nothing lost, nothing gained: A long, slow journey

Friday, April 23, 2010

When I joined Spark on March 3, I had great hopes of losing my first 10-15 pounds pretty quickly and then settling down into a more routine, gradual weight loss. I guess I figured that I had so much to lose that the first part would be pretty easy. Maybe I've been watching too many episodes of the biggest loser!

I did lose 6 pounds by March 15, but then I went on vacation and gained 2 of them back. I couldn't bear to enter the added weight into Spark in hopes that I'd get it back off the next week. That was early April. A back injury forced me to stop exercising and my workload at the office got so heavy that I was working late each night. As usual, I found myself turning to my same old vice-- overeating, especially those simple carbs. By mid-April I was afraid to step on the scale because I knew I'd gained even more of my weight back.

I got back on track this week, and stayed within my calorie limits and did at least one hour of strenuous exercise each day. I finally got the nerve to step on the scale this morning after finishing Day 50 on Spark yesterday. I'm right back where I was on March 15th.

Of course, I can't help thinking about how disappointing it is to have lost no weight in 6 weeks. On the other hand, I have had an incredible amount of support from my Spark friends, and without them, I probably would weigh more today than I did 6 weeks ago.

Right now, I am re-energized and ready to lose 2 pounds in the next week, so that I can at least feel that I made some progress towards my goal in April. We'll see.

In the meantime, thanks to all my Spark friends who are helping me work through this.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KIMMERQU 4/25/2010 12:21AM

You're doing great! 6 lbs. in 6 weeks. Every pound gets you closer to your goal. And they say the slower you lose it, the better chance you have of keeping it off. I don't weigh myself that often but I do take my measurements every month because I see better results that way. Great job so far! Report Inappropriate Comment

FITNHLTHYMONICA 4/23/2010 9:21PM

You may have had a couple of weeks off track, but you got back on and worked hard to lose 2 lbs. You lost 2 lbs this week and you are 6 lbs lighter than when you started. Period. Report Inappropriate Comment

SHERBERT28 4/23/2010 5:16PM

I read "I'm right where I was on March 15th, but not where I was on March 3rd!" That's super!! You're down 6 lbs. I know that you had wanted to be further along than that at this point, but you WILL get there. It's not a race! We didn't put this weight on overnight, so it only makes sense that we should take it off over a period of time. And while you are working on that, you'll be learning new habits and solidifying them into your lifestyle. I'm glad to see you are not beating yourself up too much for your hiatus! We just get right back on the path. Report Inappropriate Comment

VEMAN1 4/23/2010 5:07PM

Remember this site is devoted to a lifestyle not a diet. Numbers are just one thing not the only thing. Report Inappropriate Comment

SUNRISE14 4/23/2010 4:51PM

I stay on the program and log all my food. Because of health issues i can't exercise and have to stay @ 1200 calories a day or i can't lose anything! I decided because of the issues with my health i would weigh in 1 time a month .Last month i lost 4 lbs and tickled pink! I get weighed Tuesday the 27th again but if i don't lose anything i'll still be here the site is great and i am eating healthy! GOOD LUCK ON YOUR WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY AND ENJOY IT ALONG THE WAY! Report Inappropriate Comment

Please support our sister Sparkmember TIFF38 and Do a good deed

Monday, March 15, 2010

One of our fellow Sparkmembers (TIFF38) is a top 3 finalist for a makeover. She made it through several rounds of interviews with judges, and it's now up to a popular vote. Check out her Sparkpage which tells about her efforts and provides a voting link, or go directly to the voting web site. The link to vote is: http://www.wrex.com/Global/story.asp?S=121
41692

I had to create a registration in order to vote, but it only took a minute and was well worth helping her out!

  

Hard time sticking to it today

Friday, March 12, 2010

I'm so happy it's Friday, but for some reason, I'm having a tough time sticking to it today. I woke up hungry and it seems like I just can't shake it. Maybe it's the dreary rain. Making through the weekend will be a challenge. I find it hard to stay on track when I'm cooped up in the house.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ANGELPRINCESSME 3/15/2010 9:57AM

I'm glad you stuck to your goals!! Way To Go :) Report Inappropriate Comment

MCMLXIV 3/13/2010 4:47PM

I ended up making it though the day and staying in my goals. Actually, I think part of the problem was that I have been exercising every day-- if nothing else, I walk a few miles. But, the weather was bad, and my back's been bothering me so much I need to ease off the more intense exercise. So, I was left without distractions! Logging into Spark really did help-- I realized that if I had the steak I was planning to have for dinner, I'd blow it, so I changed our dinner plans. I also snacked on some baby carrots to curb some of the munchies, and did some cleaning as a distraction. Somehow it all worked, but I think the accountability and motivation from site is the best strategy of all. I know what you mean about that protien. I woke up starving at 4:30 this morning, and after an hour, I finally came down and had a part-skim cheese stick. That did the trick! My new favorite 'hearty' snack is to take one of those 100 calorie Arnold Sandwich thins, add a 50 calorie serving of lean turkey breast and up to an ounce of reduced fat shredded cheese and melt it open faced in my toaster oven. After it melts, I throw about a cup of alfalfa sprouts on it (I love them!) and I've got an amazing and pretty filling snack for about 250 calories. Report Inappropriate Comment

SHERBERT28 3/13/2010 2:45PM

I understand what you're saying. Today, I really have the munchies as well. I'm thinking it must be the weather. I grabbed another glass of water and try to tell myself what a hassle it would be to get back on and change what I've logged on the Nutrition Tracker. I'll let you know if that works for me - - lol. But back to you . . . If you've kicked off an exercise routine, perhaps your body does need some additional fuel. Just a thought, particularly since you woke up hungry. And are you getting enough protein. Sometimes when I feel like that I'll grab 2 ozs. of shaved turkey breast to head off the hunger. Hang in there!! The weather will break soon and will be out of these houses enjoying the sunshine!! Report Inappropriate Comment

Thanks to Sparkers, I stayed on track

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Thank you Spark friends for being so supportive when I was frustrated yesterday. You helped me keep my perspective and channel my frustration into something productive (a double workout day) instead of using it as an excuse to comfort myself with unhealthy food. I know I'm not supposed to weigh myself each day, but I'm just starting my second week and I didn't want to go for days with that depressing weigh in, so I stepped on the scale this morning and found those 2 pounds were back off. I'll take all your advice and avoid stepping on the scale again for a few days and monitor my measurements as an additional tool. I'm really looking forward to getting into a pair of jeans I can't wear anymore!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

FERGSGIRL2 3/10/2010 10:30AM

that's the way to do it! The scale is not our only tool, inches will show more quickly than lost lbs! Keep up the good work! Report Inappropriate Comment

LAURA2471 3/10/2010 10:28AM

Right on, I am glad to hear it! Keep on going, you can do it! Report Inappropriate Comment

How depressing.

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

I weighed myself this morning to find I'd gained back 2 pounds, even though I've exercised every day and stayed within my calories goals. My calories have slightly increased in the last few days, and my exercise wasn't intense on Sunday and Monday (I only walked 4 miles on Monday instead of going to spin class or swimming for an hour). I keep trying to tell myself it's just water retention or muscle, but wow, this is depressing. Since I've written down a 15 pounds in 50 days goal, and since everyone is so supportive, I'm really going to try to work through this and not give up.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KIMMERQU 3/10/2010 1:45AM

You're doing fine. When I first started out, I didn't lose any weight for over a month. I only weigh myself once a month. Don't rely solely on the scale. As others have said, there are other ways to measure your progress. I measure from my head to my feet and sometimes when the scale doesn't move, inches disappear. Take a deep breath, and concentrate on the positive things you are doing for your health. Hugs, Kim Report Inappropriate Comment

SHERBERT28 3/9/2010 11:07AM

Maybe you should start tracking measurements as well. I get on the scale every morning and I really need to STOP doing that because when I see those adjustments (+) it really plays on my psyche. But the one thing that does keep me going is that I have always seen some improvement in my measurements. It may only have been 1/4 inch around my arm, while the rest of my body stayed at the previous weeks numbers, but that encouraged me. Don't give up on you, it's only been 1 week!! The changes will happen. The other thing I tell myself is "I didn't put this weight on overnight (or even in 1 week), so it's going to take time to remove it..." You can do it! Report Inappropriate Comment

LIBRATAH 3/9/2010 8:47AM

You are doing great. Just keep at it and you will be successful. Report Inappropriate Comment

RWF2001 3/9/2010 8:39AM

u r doing fine and working ur program.... thats the problem with weighing frequently. ur body builds and changes constantly. sometimes it builds and gets healthier (muscle, etc). thats why i only weigh myself every week or so... got to keep my mind positive. just keep working ur program. sounds like u r working it realistically! keep up the great work! richard (rwf2001) Report Inappropriate Comment