The Old Folks Home

[CapricornFarm]

E

My mirrors have a warped sense of humor. They show me a strange old lady who looks like my mother.

Exactly!

 

[CapricornFarm]

Even when dieting, after the second month, I allow myself a splurge/free day once a month. I find that after the second month, the body has grown accustomed to the reduced amount of food. The stomach shrinks, AND the body metabolizes food better, to accommodate for the reduced amount. Going into that third month, I find I couldn't eat nearly the amounts I used to, even if I wanted to, so it does NOT trigger old bad eating habits, as long as it's one day only.

I find that the one day, also provides incentive. I gladly stay true to my diet, so I can fully enjoy my splurge/free day. It also helps keep the diet from becoming so boring.

I try to plan my splurge/free day around an event such as a birthday party, anniversary, holiday, etc. Of course, ALL the real eating holidays are in the late Fall, and Winter months, which is when the body instinctively tries to store a bit of extra fat as insulation for the Winter. The body actually tries to work against your dieting efforts. That's the time when many dieters complain they hit a plateau, where they don't gain weight, but don't lose any either. Again, just keep plugging away. The plateau is usually triggered by the body itself. As I previously mentioned, it can be triggered by instinct to preserve a bit more fat as insulation in the Winter, BUT there is another reason too.

Ever see a chicken that's been overfed, and there are fat deposits on the heart, and other organs? Yes, the organs lose fat too, AND they reposition themselves some as that fat is lost. THAT is the other thing that can trigger a plateau phase. The changes going on to the organs, and other things internally can trigger a plateau. The body needs a bit of time to adapt to all the changes, without actually losing more weight. Just keep plugging away. I find that once I get through the plateau phase, the metabolism is further increased, and the body uses the food even more efficiently than at the start of the diet.

The aforementioned is why I don't exercise during my weight loss program. There are enough changes going on just with dieting, that it doesn't need the added changes from exercise. I don't add a bit of an exercise program until I get to my desired weight goal, and maintenance portion of the diet is stable. Once the maintenance phase of the diet, where I'm not losing anymore, but not gaining anymore is stable, then I introduce exercise, keeping in mind that exercise can cause a slight weight gain, since muscle mass weighs more than fat. Exercise can increase one's appetite too, which is not problematic when you've finished the dieting portion of your weight loss program.

I've got 25 more pounds to go, so that means around 3 to 3.5 more months of dieting.

Wow, good for you!

 

[CapricornFarm]

Still living!

How is everyone!?

 

[Nomadicus]

During the holidays I will get more than usual treats but we also will have meals centered on the healthy vegetables like collard greens, harvard beets, Brussels sprouts, etc. Some sweet potatoes and at least one meal with mashed potatoes. l may gain 2-5 pounds but it is always lost walking as much as I do. Every thing does hinge on how well the injections into my hips work. So far they are working really good.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Already to hubby not to buy me candy for Christmas. I always eat too much when I have marzipan, turtles etc.

 

[Nomadicus]

I will get ma her annual box of those Cordial chocolate covered cherries. Halloween is far worse for candies and other sweets than Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Years holidays.

 

[LaurenRitz]

Carbs are evil. They taste so good and in excess are just so bad for us.

It's so easy to fall into bad eating habits and a real job to change those habits for the better.

I have to watch sugar intake. I'm not diabetic but my triglycerides were creeping up on me and the doc gave me the choice. Diet or medication.

I kicked the sugar habit years ago. Kicked bread at the same time, but that one crept back in. Cheese toast-wiches are just so amazing!

At this point any bread I use is home made, which I think is a little better.

Carbs are not evil. Unrefined, whole grain carbs are an important part of our genetic history. It's when they remove everything but the starch and sell the leftovers as vitamin supplements that carbs become a problem.

 

[sourland]

It's not my fault all the fruit cake was gone. She should have bake more.

"My" fruit cake arrives on Friday.

I will get ma her annual box of those Cordial chocolate covered cherries. Halloween is far worse for candies and other sweets than Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Years holidays.

We have a local family owned chocolate shop. I am guaranteed a box of chocolate covered cherries every Christmas and Easter. Love 'em!

 

[microchick]

I kicked the sugar habit years ago. Kicked bread at the same time, but that one crept back in. Cheese toast-wiches are just so amazing!

At this point any bread I use is home made, which I think is a little better.

Carbs are not evil. Unrefined, whole grain carbs are an important part of our genetic history. It's when they remove everything but the starch and sell the leftovers as vitamin supplements that carbs become a problem.

Maybe I need to clarify that. Bad carbs are evil. The ones that you find in candy, cookies, white flour, pasta, etc.

One of the hardest things I faced in my diet epiphany was kicking the sugar habit. I switched as much as I could to whole wheat, even in pasta when I eat it which isn't often any longer. I have a sweet tooth that whimpers at me regularly.

Good carbs are essential as you said for proper nutrition. Problem with todays society is that we have become junk food junkies. The occasional treat won't hurt anyone. It's when the occasional becomes the routine that we run into trouble.

Obesity in America has become the new pandemic. My physician admitted to me that if they ever reinstate the draft most are going to have to go through 'fat camp' before they go through boot camp in order to rid themselves of the poundage. I asked him if it was really that bad and he nodded and told me 'very'.

Something else I had to give up were most artificial sweeteners. I discovered that my gut and stomach inflammation would not tolerate anything other than Sweet N Low. We kicked pop soda cold turkey about 10 years ago. Ordered one about 5 years ago eating out and it tasted nasty to me. Don't miss it at all but boy o boy I do miss those Milky Way candy bars.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Still living!

That’s good!!!