cmcavazos - Clothes fitting more loosely is a great non-scale victory, Christine! I understand how it can feel discouraging when the scale doesn't show the results we were hoping to see, but keep in mind that there are often positive changes happening that have not yet been captured by the scale. When it felt like you were overeating, were you eating past the point of being comfortably full? Did those occasions correspond with the inclusion of higher fat plant foods and extra added salt and sugar, or were those separate days? Cheers for February!
GreenFroG - Kudos for doing pretty well for most of the week! The temporary blip with the crackers illustrates what a significant role our immediate environment can have in supporting or challenging our efforts. Your observations about the context of that incident definitely seem worthy of attention; any strategies you can try to shore up your resilience during that time are likely to be helpful. Would it help to intentionally replace the after dinner snacking with an alternate activity (more congruent with your goals)? Keep in mind, too, that if you are actually hungry, an adherent snack is always an option.
CindyD - Thank you so much for your kind words! I feeling quite well.
carwex - Congratulations on smashing through that 60 kilo barrier! Heartening indeed! I really relate to the "feeling of freedom" you describe, for me that freedom is a product of TIME + ADHERENCE, but I definitely agree that inner calm or equanimity is also a key component of a healthy, happy, successful life. I'm glad the information shared was helpful in resolving your concerns. Enjoy that feeling a freedom, and protect the good groove you have established.
Noella - Your consistent, diligent adherence, positive attitude and willingness to be patient are inspiring! Being able to visibly recognize the results of your efforts in the mirror is an awesome demonstration of your success. Love the quote! In many ways, feeling great is the most significant goal, right?
Hope410 - Down 3.2 lbs! Kudos for eliminating the popcorn and making real progress with those "problem points," being so close to answering YES to number 7 is real headway. Your effort and concentration are serving you well; have a great week!
texaslil - Cheers for keeping things mostly in check during an exciting time (with abundant temptation, and some added stress, I imagine). The ease with which you are staying on plan in your current situation shows what a big difference one's environment and routine can make, Laila. Continue your streak, and watch for any useful practices you can bring with you when your situation goes back to "normal."
jnc - Another 1.4 lbs gone and solid progress for the month! Being fully aware of the fundamental principles, and able to accurately discern when we are following them (and when we aren't) is an important and often overlooked component of success; lack of understanding can interfere with adherence as much as lack of application. Keep in mind that when one closely follows the guidelines, there often isn't any cause for concern over volume of food, since the overall calorie density of one's diet will be low (often a greater volume of MWL food might have significantly fewer calories than the rich foods that abound in the standard fare). Keep striving to eliminate the higher fat and calorie rich foods from your menu.
josietheschnauzer - I applaud you for exercising every single day, even in the cold, and for your overall excellent adherence, Elsa! I imagine the ongoing "weight dance" is largely due to being pretty close to a point of equilibrium; remember, too, because so many things outside our control can influence any single weigh-in, it's quite possible to be making progress that has yet to register in a way that can be easily measured. Hooray for no stress-eating! On to February!
chrisg - Looks like a pretty solid week; kudos for nixing the bread and oily takeout! Keep attending to all the recommended behaviors, and I'm sure the scale will reflect your efforts before long.
Gimmelean - Nice loss! A full day of strict adherence demonstrates you are quite capable of making things work! Now it is just a matter of making each day resemble that particular day; are there tools, practices or tactics that helped deliver success that you can incorporate in a daily routine?
That makes so much sense; great application of Dr. Lisle's lecture.Gimmelean wrote:If I’ve satisfied my actual hunger I’m in a much better place to manage the emotional drive to cram. I’m coming to the conclusion that there’s a thin line for me ,if any line at all between striving for perfectionism and being non compliant. Knowing the consequences of either choice helped me get out of my slump.
Growing a Pear - Lack of sleep can really effect our ability to face even a "normal" day's responsibilities and chores, right? I think you have done a great job studying the context and causal chain for the challenges you were facing. Recognizing that tendency toward the Ego trap seems important, and something to manage with care. I'm a big believer in SMART goals as a tool for walking that line you describe (getting things done adequately, without moving goalposts, obsessing or falling into perfectionism). When I make a goal Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely, I find I'm less likely to stray into maladaptive perfectionism. So, for example, for the next week I will exercise for 30 minutes each day, after I get up and have some water, recording the exercise I performed after I finish.
That sounds like a very good plan. Thank you so much for the update on your "out of sight" experiments. Very cool results! I'm glad you were able to relate to Naomi's report; I completely agree with you that our thoughts, feelings and beliefs are in a mutual and interdependent relationship with our behaviors and choices.Growing a Pear wrote:So my specific goal for this next week is to accomplish #10, but never expect more of myself than the 30 minutes.
Rita<3 - Hang in there; your week looks pretty good, overall! Overly salty packaged foods can be an easy trap to spring! Glad you feel prepared to face that challenge and refocus. Since the Dr. McDougall's Right Foods soups (at least the dry versions) have seasonings in a separate packet, limiting (or eliminating) the seasoning used can be helpful in reducing added salt. Keep doing your best, and learning as you go, one day at a time!
JaBee - Congratulations on hitting that "long time" low weight! Excellent effort. Consistent, ongoing success overall is a worthy aim, without expecting perfection. Onward!
Cliv - Down a pound! You are making progress; eliminating the remaining animal foods and other calorie rich foods will serve to support your efforts. Would it be possible to put the leftovers from your children in the fridge for them to have later?
Is there a particular form of exercise you have enjoyed in the past?
DisneyPrincess - Nice loss! I'm glad you feel happy with your progress. It sounds like you tried to make the best of the choices available; I imagine Disney World felt like a very tempting environment without abundant adherent options, which wouldn't make things easy. Asian restaurants tend to be a good bet for assembling a relatively adherent meal. Keep heading back on track in the days ahead.
Drew* - I'm so sorry to hear you were hospitalized! I know from recent experience how scary that can be. So glad to hear your conditions have resolved/are resolving. Your doctor's recommendations seem very consistent with MWL; I would imagine it is both comforting and motivating to have that reinforcement that you are on the right track. Cheers for doing what needs to be done, taking positive action where we have the opportunity to do so. Wishing you a full recovery. Take care!
wstokes - I really appreciate your thoughtfulness in considering the experience of the group as a whole. Please don't let an unfocused week discourage you from participating here, and continuing to pursue your personal goals. Making these changes can be extremely challenging, particularly in the contemporary food environment. The question to ask yourself is what can be done to make tomorrow, and the day after and the days that follow more focused toward the outcomes you seek, and are you willing and able to try and do those things. Supporting adherence is nearly always a matter of creating a supportive environment, preparing adequately and planning to succeed and overcome challenges. As you are thinking, consider what you want for yourself, what things you are willing to do to achieve what you desire, and what will best serve you. We don't ever expect perfection, just diligent effort.