I feel like I am at a cross roads in my life with regards to two big things - my career and my weight loss.
I'll talk about the career stuff another day.
But today, I want to talk about this weight loss cross roads. My weight loss is slowing. Not stopped, just slowing. Gone are the days of 4-5 lbs lost in a week, and here are the days of 1-2 lbs lost in a week.
I'm half way there. I've started exercising, pretty seriously. I've (only) got 98 lbs (ish) to go. And I still eat what I want, within reason. It seems that these factors combined mean that the weight loss is slowing.
I have to decide if I am okay with that or not. Which leads me to feeling like I have two paths I can chose.
Path A: Be happy with 1-2 lbs/week, hit goal in 18-24 months, and continue to enjoy eating what I want.
Path B: Pump up the protein and fruit/veggies, cut back on the extras (cream in my coffee, evening snack, etc.), be more vigilant, and push for 3-5 lbs/week.
I honestly don't know which path I am going to choose. I realize I can change paths every now and again. Hell, I can change paths every meal if I want.
But I guess what it really is, is that I feel like the 'honeymoon' phase is over. The "these pounds are just flying off me" phase is behind me. It sure was fun while it lasted. And while I said I wasn't going to count calories and journal and all that, I also feel like this is a chance to prove to myself that when the going gets tough, I can get tough as well. I seem to always choose the easy path (not that this is necessarily always a bad thing), and maybe this is one of those defining life moments where I can push myself and see what I am made of.
Or not. I sure love my chocolate!
I know this is kind of a strange place to leave this post, but I'll have more to share in the coming days. I'm just not quite done processing it all...
I think I was where you are now mentally like two weeks ago. I chose Plan B because I was frustrated and felt too failure-ish with such slow losses. I think I may not be able to sustain Plan B all the way to goal, but I am going to try and keep it up as long as I can stand it. Then maybe do Plan A for a month and then pick Plan B back up again...I am shooting for goal in 18 months total and that kind of requires more Plan B than Plan A, but I think all that matters is the scale keeps going down!
ReplyDeleteI never really had a honeymoon phase. I feel like I've been working way too damn hard and that I'm not using the band to the fullest.
ReplyDeleteGood luck whichever path you choose. :)
For me, I would choose Plan B. Afterwards, when the weight is lost, I would follow plan A!
ReplyDeleteI think I'm in a different camp than most will be and maybe its because I've never had those huge weight loss weeks. For me, 2 pounds brings on a happy dance! That said, I don't feel like my weight loss effort has been really "difficult" because I am still able to eat non-diet-esque and lose weight. I just don't do it every day. Maybe if I did only eat protein and veggies every day, every week without a variance I'd lose 2 pounds every week instead of 1.5 but then I'd feel like I was dieting and thus, wouldn't be as happy.
ReplyDeleteLike you said, you can change it up from time to time, recognizing that like any normal person in the world, you'll have weeks where you lose little, weeks where you lose big and weeks where you lose nothing. So it goes...
I like that you acknowledge that you can switch things up -- from Plan A to Plan B and back again -- anytime you feel like it. YOU are in control of how actively you pursue this. And some days will be "better" (for lack of a better word) than others. Do whatever feels best to you at the time. YOU CAN DO THIS!
ReplyDeleteI think you said it well yourself...this is a defining moment...who do you want to be? Whatever path you choose will be right as long as you can say you made the decision with your eyes wide open. You are doing awesome!
ReplyDeleteIt's all about perspective, isn't it? 1-2 lbs a week, for me, IS the pounds flying off! lol!
ReplyDeleteYou rock either way!!
ReplyDeleteWell, I have to say that plan A has been my game plan the whole time and in the beginning the weight came off fast (not as fast as you, but it's all relative). Now that I'm 25 pounds from goal, it's tough and I keep having this conversation with myself - should I go hardcore and get to goal quick or be a snail?
ReplyDeleteI think the answer may be compromise, but either way you are rocking the band.
Great thoughts.. I have a very short honeymoon, maybe even a one nighter.. but for the most part I have been a plan A'er.. and I am totally ok with that . I am closing in on the 50 pound mark, and am continuing to lose on my own terms.. and thats OK with me.. no race, no must lose by goals.. just getting healthier every day.. I have started to eat an entire raw red pepper each day.. I now love them and look forward to that as my pm snack.. but I am not going to eliminate the Plan B approach if I ever want to change it up and/or participate in a WL challenge.. I will interested to read the rest of your thoughts Amy.. be well
ReplyDeleteI'm with Gilly...I'd KILL for 2 lbs lost in a week.
ReplyDeleteFollow your heart...it will lead you to your goals.
Who says you have to choose? Just like you said, you can flip back and forth...and truth be told, that might be better for you anyway. Keep the body guessing...no complacentcy! <---did I spell that right?! LOL
ReplyDeleteThe half a pound a week girl checking in here! Whatever you choose-- enjoy your life. Don't 'diet' and force yourself to NOT eat when you are hungry b/c we all know that just backfires. Honestly: perhaps slowing the weight loss down would be good for you and your body at this point anyway. You'll find yourself thinner and thinner along the way-- and your body will have time to adjust more easily.
ReplyDeleteI mean: if you want to ride yourself to lose 3 or more pounds per week-- go for it if that's what you want to do! But it really isn't necessary from my perspective.
I really don't deny myself anything-- usually-- I might say 'no cookies, no chocolate' on this or that day or skip the wine or whatever, but i am really dedicated to the lifestyle approach so that when I reach my mystical goal weight-- it will just be another day, not a whole new 'maintenance' phase.
Oh, and of course-- since I didn't close the loop- you can see what my very easy going approach has brought: very slow weight loss. So, you get what you 'pay' for in this journey.
ReplyDeleteIt is all about what you decide to do and how you want to live your life.
I've been debating the same thing for a few weeks now. Your post prompted me to make a decision and I just wrote a post about it. I think I may need to do plan B for a while. As Gilly mentioned it's all perspective, I would be happy with 2 pounds a week!
ReplyDeleteAward Time!!
ReplyDeleteYour progress is amazing. I wanted to let you know that reading your story helped me decide on the lap band versus RNY. I have 192 pounds to lose to get to goal weight. I'm just at the very beginning of the WLS process, but wanted to let you know how awesome I think you are doing!
ReplyDeleteI like Path A...slow and steady!
ReplyDeleteI'm with all the plan A people. 1 to 2 lbs is my rate of loss and I just couldn't imagine maintaining a 3-5 lbs loss a week. But you have to do whatever works best for you! :) Keep up the great work!
ReplyDelete