Carrieann - I'm so glad to hear your A1C is improving! It must be encouraging that your doctor is willing to work with you to find a way to manage your thyroid issues, and that she is relatively supportive of you pursuing this way of eating. I'm impressed that your confidence in the validity and effectiveness of the MWL 10-Point Checklist allowed you to have a well-informed discussion with her. Dr. McDougall discusses thyroid issues in this newsletter article, which may be of interest if you haven't already reviewed it.
wildgoose - Well said!
SherryW - I'm glad you found the linked discussion to be reassuring. It can take some time to unlearn that sort of "conventional wisdom."
wstokes - Woot for progress! How do you feel about your overall pattern of behavior for the week?
Vicki - Insufficient sleep can certainly have a variety of effects. Depending on the amount of weight you have left to lose, weight loss can definitely slow down and require increased attention to adherence.
Rachel - Great week!!! And I'm so glad to hear you are feeling great! Being mindful when we eat does seem to be helpful for many of us.
Kirsty - I'm relieved to hear your daughter's surgery went well! Great news! I wish her a smooth and speedy recovery. I hope you are able to get a little better sleep now, and just keep doing the best you are able under the circumstances.
ltolar - Kudos! I'm glad you feel encouraged! How would you evaluate the way your week went?
moonlight - You certainly have to decide what seems best (and most motivating) for you under your current circumstances. It seems like you have a thorough assessment of where your efforts are breaking down, so now it may be a matter of finding a sufficient "why" to provide motivation. Being tired and stressed, we all definitely start to become more vulnerable to the multitude of environmental pressures and stimuli pushing us away from our best behaviors. I also imagine dealing with your dog's illness feels really debilitating, I feel for you. Please don't feel like you are a whiner or a failure, and I would encourage you NOT to stop posting. Try to be gentle with yourself, as guilt is rarely a motivating feeling. The principles of practicing this way of eating are simple, but they are not EASY. Each year giant corporations are spending untold dollars to make the calorie rich processed foods they peddle more and more hyperpalatable and intrusive, so there are definitely forces working against us. You recognize that right now, you are back in the pleasure trap, so make your preparations for getting back on track, take a moment to forgive yourself, and make your very next decision the best one you can make.
colleenaprn - Congrats! I'm glad you decided to start your food journal and have found it a helpful tool. As long as you are eating when hungry, and what you are eating adheres to the principles of the MWL 10-Point Checklist, you shouldn't worry too much about how many calories you are eating - keep in mind that even trained professionals are pretty inaccurate at determining a calorie count -
The primary concern with letting oneself become overly hungry or not maintaining sufficient satiety is that it can often lead to a binge on off plan foods. I'm really pleased to hear that this group feels like a safe space for you - that is certainly my hope for everyone.JeffN wrote:It is extremely difficult to count calories. This is not our fault as the tools and methods we have are just highly inaccurate. Trying harder to measure both calories in and calories out will not work as the fault is not in the effort we are applying, but in the accuracy of the tools and systems we have available. The process is like, as that old expression goes, trying to nail Jell-O to the wall, so trying harder isn’t really going to help.
The simple and easiest solution is to learn and understand the principles of calorie density. Once you do, you will never have to count calories or weigh, measure or portion food again.
JaBee - Kudos! Any particular challenges or victories this week?
Drew* - Your current living situation is probably quite depleting, so the desire to want to have some fun and "celebrate" makes sense. I'm glad you are still convinced that this way of eating is an achievable lifestyle for you. At some point, when you are feeling comfortable with the idea, it might be beneficial to brainstorm some ways you could enjoy celebratory occasions without a return to foods that cause you to overindulge. All any of us can do is make the decision that feels most appropriate for us in any given situation.
laurag - Nice job shunning oil and high-fat foods! I think when you feel able to put the 50/50 plate into practice for each helping of food, it will very likely pay dividends for you. Getting to that "all-in" mindset is HUGE! I think you are correct - maintaining those behaviors you have learned for sufficient time that they become habits is definitely the road that will lead you where you want to go. As you continue to demonstrate to yourself the ability to maintain those behaviors in a variety of circumstances and external pressures, you will build more and more confidence. Way to go!
etoirocks - You are moving in the right direction, and it is important to keep in mind that it is the overall pattern over the long-term that is most important. I'm wishing your son a speedy recovery from his surgery, and hope your travel goes smoothly. I think your decision to recalibrate your expectations for February to a goal that feels motivating, but achievable, is wise. Just continue to focus on adhering to the MWL 10-Point Checklist to your absolute best ability, and you'll eventually reach whatever reasonable goal you set. Feeling AMAZING in one of the biggest wins any of us can have!
Jiffy - Your previous weigh-in was 243.4 lbs, so a gain of 0.4 lbs for this week, I believe. Where do you feel like you succeeded in applying the MWL principles this week? What might need greater attention?