But I've lost 35 pounds so far this year and it is staying off.
[Warning: long post...]
I have struggled with my weight for years. I broke my back twice in one year and put on fifty pounds in the month after the second break due to depression and inactivity. That was in 1994, and the fifty gradually grew to seventy pounds.
I have all but starved myself for years, cutting my caloric intake down to 1600 or fewer daily. I walk between four and seven miles a day on concrete at my job and lift heavy merchandise. At the end of the day (or in the morning for that matter) I do NOT feel like going to the gym or putting more miles on my feet. Horrible shin splints mean that if I try to run, I just end up crippled for a couple days...I mean crawling-on-my-knees-to-the-bathroom crippled.
The fat belly hung in there. The lack of weight loss further depressed me and guess what? When I'm depressed, I tend to turn to food for solace. Which leads to self-loathing for eating more. Bad cycle, folks.
So I went back to basics. I determined that my metabolism was (obviously) lagging. How to stimulate it? By eating more, of course! But more than that, by never letting my body stop metabolizing and assimilating. This means eating smarter.
I never miss breakfast, which is half a bagel with lean sliced ham and half a slice of American cheese, followed by a cup of yogurt. Then two hours later, I have a few peanut butter crackers. Two hours after that I have lunch, which is usually grilled boneless skinless chicken breast or a can of solid albacore tuna often with some rice followed by a piece of fruit. Two hours further into my day sees another cup of yogurt or a few more peanut butter crackers. When I get home in another two and a half hours, I grab a granola bar or a piece of fruit. I eat an early dinner a couple hours later and it always has a salad, a hot veggie, and lean meat (often wild game) or fish. If I get the munchies before bedtime, I have a handful of peanuts or some cucumber slices with a little bit of buttermilk ranch dressing. Oh, and I always have my stainless steel water bottle with me. I found that many times when I felt hungry, I was actually thirsty. I also cut out anything that has high fructose corn syrup in it. I still have desserts, usually fruit salad or pineapple, but sometimes ice cream or a candy bar, but the portions are small and I make an effort to only have the "bad stuff" a couple times a week.
Obviously I am never hungry now. I actually find that I sometimes have to make myself eat. But since I have started eating more and smaller meals, I never feel like I am denying myself and the weight is gradually coming off and it is staying off. My attitude is more positive, and I am confident that in a year I will be back to my pre-injury weight, if not a little under.
Sorry this is such a long post, but if any of you out there are struggling, please know that you are not alone and there are ways to help your body "work itself out" and it doesn't involve starving yourself or going on some radical diet. Just avoid the fast food and soda and eat regularly.
Oh yeah, and as an added benefit, my GIRD (reflux) has been under control sans medication since I began my "diet". An occasional Tums keeps me from having to sleep sitting up on the couch. BONUS!
[Warning: long post...]
I have struggled with my weight for years. I broke my back twice in one year and put on fifty pounds in the month after the second break due to depression and inactivity. That was in 1994, and the fifty gradually grew to seventy pounds.
I have all but starved myself for years, cutting my caloric intake down to 1600 or fewer daily. I walk between four and seven miles a day on concrete at my job and lift heavy merchandise. At the end of the day (or in the morning for that matter) I do NOT feel like going to the gym or putting more miles on my feet. Horrible shin splints mean that if I try to run, I just end up crippled for a couple days...I mean crawling-on-my-knees-to-the-bathroom crippled.
The fat belly hung in there. The lack of weight loss further depressed me and guess what? When I'm depressed, I tend to turn to food for solace. Which leads to self-loathing for eating more. Bad cycle, folks.
So I went back to basics. I determined that my metabolism was (obviously) lagging. How to stimulate it? By eating more, of course! But more than that, by never letting my body stop metabolizing and assimilating. This means eating smarter.
I never miss breakfast, which is half a bagel with lean sliced ham and half a slice of American cheese, followed by a cup of yogurt. Then two hours later, I have a few peanut butter crackers. Two hours after that I have lunch, which is usually grilled boneless skinless chicken breast or a can of solid albacore tuna often with some rice followed by a piece of fruit. Two hours further into my day sees another cup of yogurt or a few more peanut butter crackers. When I get home in another two and a half hours, I grab a granola bar or a piece of fruit. I eat an early dinner a couple hours later and it always has a salad, a hot veggie, and lean meat (often wild game) or fish. If I get the munchies before bedtime, I have a handful of peanuts or some cucumber slices with a little bit of buttermilk ranch dressing. Oh, and I always have my stainless steel water bottle with me. I found that many times when I felt hungry, I was actually thirsty. I also cut out anything that has high fructose corn syrup in it. I still have desserts, usually fruit salad or pineapple, but sometimes ice cream or a candy bar, but the portions are small and I make an effort to only have the "bad stuff" a couple times a week.
Obviously I am never hungry now. I actually find that I sometimes have to make myself eat. But since I have started eating more and smaller meals, I never feel like I am denying myself and the weight is gradually coming off and it is staying off. My attitude is more positive, and I am confident that in a year I will be back to my pre-injury weight, if not a little under.
Sorry this is such a long post, but if any of you out there are struggling, please know that you are not alone and there are ways to help your body "work itself out" and it doesn't involve starving yourself or going on some radical diet. Just avoid the fast food and soda and eat regularly.
Oh yeah, and as an added benefit, my GIRD (reflux) has been under control sans medication since I began my "diet". An occasional Tums keeps me from having to sleep sitting up on the couch. BONUS!
