Maintenance Calorie Trajectory ----> Week 17 ---> Keep Going
And, here we are beginning our 5th month into maintenance :-) Y'all are probably wondering how many of these I'm going to post. Well, I'll post them until I can't post them anymore. I'll post them until most if not all of mainstream society realizes practicing healthy habits don't end when one hits their goal weight. I'll keep posting until I hear the sweet din of voices saying, "man maintenance is boring. It's totally unsexy, but it is what it is if we're going to keep the weight off." LOL
I weighed in this morning at 139.4. I didn't clock the weight on FS, because I'm weighing in tomorrow morning as well. If it's lower tomorrow, I'll clock in the weight. If it's not, then I'll use today's low. I usually only input my low weigh in's, especially if there's a slight gain the day after, because it's obviously a fluctuation (i.e. water, waste, etc). At this point in time, I'm not capable of eating the 5,170 cals in one day that need to be ingested in order for me to "gain" an actual pound of fat.
My Happy Scale app has my moving average at 139.4 and if Happy scale is good with that number, so am I. That little app is one of the best suggestions my health and weight loss coach ever made. It's constantly taking the average of my weigh ins so it accounts for fluctuations. Most folks, including myself get discouraged when they see the scale go up 3-5 lbs in one day and they've eaten on track. We've all been there, right? Even though our minds understand logically that it's very likely water, we're so damned trained to think any increase on the scale MUST be fat gain. Even when we know, our emotions can defy logic at any given moment.
Needless to say, the Happy Scale app has been my sanity and taught me how to look at the "over-all" trend. It actually takes this girl a little time to gain fat. It took me 3 full years to gain back the 40 lbs I had lost in my thirties. My coach says if you see that over all average trending up over a 6 week period, that's when you know it may be time to cut back on the calories and review eating habits. I weigh and measure the majority of my food with the exception of the lunches I get at my "go to" restaurants. But, the Happy Scale is a nice fail safe method of letting me know when I need to stop and pay attention or chill out over typical fluctuations.
I was going back and forth about whether or not to take next Friday off for my neurologist appointment. We have "half-day" on Fridays, because we work 9 hour days. It's also breakfast burrito Friday, dang it! And, I love my breakfast burrito. hehe. However, I also have cardio on that day, the doctor's appt. will likely be and hour or more, and a blood test to boot. My mother and I are becoming very mindful of this body's fatigue levels. It will be a long day and a good idea if i just take off so I can get the cardio done in the morning before the rest of the appointments begin.
It might seem weird to make exercise a priority before work. However, with MS - exercise is honestly ALWAYS a top priority along with getting in the meds, MRI's, blood tests, and rest when needed. We all understand at this point, it's not if but when it gets too much and I have to file for disability. For now, I'm rocking the cane and working until I just can't. In so far as that is possible, this body's health is top priority and that just is what it is...
On that note, I joined a 30 days of "why" challenge in my HSM group. One of things my coach impresses is the importance of having a compelling "why" when one starts a health and weight loss journey. It's got to be a strong one, the kind that is so strong it keeps a person going even when every part of the mind is saying, "noooo".
I'm a practicing Buddhist, so this resonates very deeply. I took it to the next level and said, "why just have one 'why'?, let there be many. Let it be something we need to ask ourselves every day!"
I actually have a reminder set on the iphone that pops up everyday and says, "what is your why". It forces me to stop just for a moment and think about it. Sometimes, it's as simple as I'm so happy I get to wear other colors apart from black all the time. Sometimes, it's just enjoying the lightness of movement and being. Sometimes, it's enjoying the fact that I deal with 75% less pain in these joints and lower back than I did 71 lbs ago. Either way, being prompted to answer that question is what provides the momentum to keep going and keep the weight off.
Anywho - I'll check in next weekend. Have a wonderful week everyone!
Week 17 of weight maintenance - Hanging Steady
Monday - 1670 --- Target 1698
Tuesday - 1709 --- Target 1868
Wednesday - 1670 --- Target 1698
Thursday -1948 --- Target 2038
Friday - 1670 --- Target 1698
Saturday - at Target 1349
Sunday - 1517 --- at Target
Average TDEE 1698
