Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Week 82

Even.

My eating this week has been as good as it's ever going to be. I didn't eat anything I shouldn't have so I was a bit disappointed not to have moved on the scales.

I'm not going to reduce my food intake any further - the whole point of this approach is that I eat sensibly and healthily, and not get involved in temporary starvation modes which don't work in the long term. My eating pattern needs to be sustainable indefinitely.

It is disappointing to think I might have plateaued on the weight loss where the eating is concerned, as I'm still up to 2 stone overweight. But as I've hovered around this weight now for the best part of 3 months, I have to consider the possibility that I've gone as far as I can by food alone.

This means, of course, that I have to up my activity levels. With the ongoing sense of tiredness, I might not be able to do much about that until I make further progress with the doctor about getting to the bottom of the cause of it. I should be having more blood tests in the nexst week or two.


Starting Weight: 19st 9lb – 275lbs
Current Weight: 13st 3lb – 185lbs
KoTRB Weight Lost : 25lb
Total Weight Loss: 90lbs

9 comments:

fatmammycat said...

'Fraid you just discovered what all us fit farts already know. A sensible diet will absolutely keep your weight steady, but if you want to lose that extra the exercise level must go up. It doesn't even have to be by much, a half hour walk here, a bike ride there, a hour mowing the law and cutting hedges, leave the car at the far end of the car park, build it up.
Hard I know when you're feeling tired a lot, but of great benefit. Either way, well done Kim, what you have already achieved is just stunning and no one can take that away from you.

Twisted Cinderella said...

Sorry about the numbers on the scales.

I abosolutely agree with not reducing your food intake any further. I too decided that to lose weight permanently I eat sensibly and healthily, and not get involved in temporary starvation modes which don't work in the long term. I need to be able to do this for the long haul!

Kim Ayres said...

Thanks Fatmammycat!

TC - it's the only way.

Anonymous said...

Losing or gaining weight happens when there is an imbalance between calories needed vs calories consumed. If you have been losing weight for a while, then there was a deficit. The fact that you are now not losing weight means you have attained a balance between calories in and calories used. There are two likely reasons; 1) as you lose weight you need less calories - you simply aren't dragging around those extra pounds 24/7, 2) many peoples calorie intake can creep back up a little over time. If you want to lose more weight, then YES, you will have to eat a little less than you eat now to recreate the deficit. This is not a temporary starvation diet. It is just exactly what you did before with a lower calorie requirement for your now much lighter body.

Exercise helps and gets/keeps you healthy, but it cannot make you thin all on its own - only good nutrition can do that.

Good Luck!

Brenor
http://brenor.extrapounds.com

Andraste said...

I'm in total agreement with FMC. Exercise is the next step. Doesn't have to be major stuff, and your doctor will definitely have some suggestions. But baby steps, short walks (especially after meals, very satisfying), taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking a good way off from the shop, a bike ride with the kids. I know you're not athletic and don't really like the exertion, but you may come to like it.

Kim Ayres said...

Brenor - welcome to Losing a Hundredweight and thank you for your support.

Andraste - yeah I know. I'm trying to remember to walk briskly instead of strolling too. But I'm looking out of the window at the moment and it's pouring with rain and all I want to do is curl up on the sofa, not leap around energetically.

Freakazojd said...

I'm new, so I haven't read enough yet to know exactly how you've changed your diet, but your low energy could be a result of low iron. And while it's good to check with your doctor before starting - as you are - you might find that exercise actually helps boost your energy. Working with weights (especially free weights) is pretty much an essential for reaching your goal, too. Of course, muscle weighs more than fat, so you'll notice a change in shape/tone more than in numbers.
Again, I think that this is wonderful - I'll keep checking in!

Anonymous said...

Wow...you already have a lot of great comments. I agree with FMC & Brenor.

This might help:

A pound of fat equals 3500 calories. To lose 1 pound a week you will need to expend 3500 more calories than you eat that week, whether through increased activity or decreased eating or both.

Source: http://walking.about.com/cs/howtoloseweight/a/howcalburn.htm

Kim Ayres said...

Freakazojd - Thank you for your thoughts.

My iron levels have been checked and they're fine. I don't think the problem lies in my diet - in esence what I have done is cut out all the crap and eat healthily - lots of fresh fruit & veg, nuts, seeds, white meat & fish - basically all the stuff to make your body function well. The tiredness is something that's been going on for a few months now - beginning with a vitamin b12 deficiency and is mentioned over on the Ramblings site in various entries.

Sir Squishy - I know the theory, but to be honest I've always been sceptical as it's far too simplistic. Going on that theory, if I eat one bag of crisps (potato chips) less per week, then in 25 years I'll only weigh 40lbs, which is clearly ludicrous. While it's fine as a rough guide, it doesn't take into consideration all the stuff we know about the body being designed to put on weight easily and lose it with much greater difficulty.