WIW: That's more like it!!

Joining the weigh-in with
Heather & Ash

Woo-hoo, after three weeks of effort, I'm finally down a bit! 1.8 pounds!!

I've persevered, despite being {this close} to giving up a week ago.  The Man and I are both kinda working at this weight loss thing and he's had more success since Christmas than I have, despite the fact that I've been fairly well disciplined.  I was angry and frustrated.

It didn't help that The Man spouted weight-loss platitudes at me over breakfast either...

I ALMOST binged.

But I didn't.  Even though I was home alone all day that day.

Instead, I determined to use the frustration and discouragement to fuel my resolve to work harder.  And despite having company on the weekend, I stuck to my eating plan.  It's tough having a half day when you've got company and there's more food than usual, but I did it.  It's even tougher to have a fasting day when you've got company... but I did it!!  Fortunately, it only involved one breakfast and that was on Monday when we were all getting ready to head off to work and to school and our guests were heading home, so it was easy to just appear too busy to eat!

And then on Monday night, when packing yesterday's lunch, I forgot I was supposed to be planning for a half day.  As I opened up my lunch, I came close to deciding just to eat everything I packed ~ which wasn't excessive by any means, but still more than a half meal ~ but resolutely put it back in my lunchbag half eaten.  And you know what?  That was a very satisfying feeling.  I look forward to feeling it more often.

How did you do this week?

Tough Week

Joining the weigh-in with
Heather & Ash

Ugh, last week I had a hard day.  This week the whole week was rough!!

I had counted on having three fasting days, like my plan dictates ~ Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Monday went according to plan, but Wednesday began with a friend and a long overdue BREAKFAST date. It was the only day that suited, and since what used to be a monthly thing hadn't happened since last May, we decided now was the time.  So my eating plan for the week was a little messed up.

I'd thought I'd maybe have my fasting day on Thursday then and just have two, but my seasonal tax-time job has begun and that was my first day of work.  Like I mentioned not that long ago here, I have a really hard time fasting on work days, so I didn't bother.  I counted on my usual Friday fast, but that didn't end up happening either...

It would have been fine ~ I was at home alone basically all day ~ but working with food for my daughter's birthday party all day just made not eating impossible.  I made it through breakfast and the morning munchies, but caved slightly after noon, at which point I indulged in some leftovers from the fridge and FOUR eggnog cookies.  (Believe it or not, we still had some leftovers from Christmas!)

I tend to go a little overboard when I cave.  It would have been far smarter to realize I wouldn't be able to work with food all day without eating and just planned for a half day.  Oh well.  I guess I'll know better for next time!

So there you go.  Wednesday was a normal day instead of a fasting day, Thursday was a half-to-normal day like it should have been, but then Friday was also a half-to-normal day instead of a fasting day.  Saturday was "normal" like it's supposed to be, but Sunday was a little closer to "normal" than "half" and my first Monday at work was definitely NOT a fasting day again...

It's really no wonder there was again no movement on the scale.  I am a little surprised there wasn't at least a couple of ounces since feeling hunger pangs is something I've experienced on a daily basis for the last two weeks and it's something I generally don't when I'm eating the way I feel like eating.  So I'm not sure why I'm hanging on to my beginning weight, but I'm surprisingly unphased by the lack of change.  I feel better in my clothing and about how I'm eating.  The weight will come off sooner or later.  Not anywhere close enough weight- or time-wise to reach that little month-end goal I'd kinda set for myself, but I'm still making forward progress even though the scale hasn't caught on.

Weighing In

Well, I have no change to report today, my first "official" weigh-in since I began concentrated efforts to shed some pounds just over a week ago.  Given my little unwritten, unspoken goal for the month, I might be tempted to get discouraged, but it's early.  And it's also that special time of the month when history has proven I always retain ~ and even sometimes gain ~ weight despite my best efforts, so holding steady is fine with me.

It will take some serious self-discipline if I'm to at least get close to attaining that month-end goal, but I'm relatively happy with the way my week has gone eating-wise, so I'm on the right track.  I certainly feel better already than I did two weeks ago.

As to the eating plan and sticking with it, I think I've come up with a strategy for those pesky "half days" so I'm looking forward trying that out this week.  I think instead of attempting to halve all my meals that day, I'm going to stick with my usual breakfast (a slice of toast and a cup of milk), but restrict my lunch to basically just fruits and/or veggies, and then enjoy a closer-to-normal supper.

Evenings are still a bit of a problem though.  Falling asleep with that gnawing feeling in my stomach is virtually impossible!  I need to get better at handling that, especially on the evenings before fasting days, when technically, I'm not supposed to consume anything but liquids until supper the next day. I have been breaking that rule every time that situation has arisen so far, and that's likely another contributing factor to my unchanged weight this week.  For next week, I will try just having a piece of fruit shortly before heading to bed and if that works, I think I will stick to that.