I have photos, I have graphs. You know the drill if you are a long time reader and before and after photos or graphs trigger you.
Lets get to the statistics, shall we?
Starting weight: 187.4
Current weight: 118.4
Current maintenance range: 113-119
Age 49
Years in weight maintenance: 3.25 years
Menopause: 2+ years
Height :5' 1"
Tools: Paleo-ish, lower carb approach- just eat real foods, better sleep, modified AIP, walking 12, 000-16,000 steps per day, daily weighing and graphing my weight, strength training 2X per week, sprinting occasionally, abstaining from all grains, most processed sugar (85% chocolate works for me, most days- small amount), no dairy, no legumes, no nuts (high inflammation). I pray to a higher power and meditate, too. Nothing too woo-woo.
Love or hate my tools, doesn't matter. Find what works for you. I woke up today NOT wanting to binge eat. After 40 years. I'm now 3 years, 3 months into long term recovery. Yeah! I'll take that.
In one way, my updates are so, so boring. Yawn... another similar post. In other ways, I'm privileged to be here, providing a long term weight maintenance update.
May 2015 was a tough month stress wise. It brought stress and uncharted territory. It brought life and ups and downs and I can manage that by:
What works for me:
1. Rely on what works and using change management to easy my way into the new normal. I can say I'm prioritizing myself.
2. I can use non food techniques to manage stress. Stress does not =putting binge foods in my pie hole. Food and false fixes never helped me. Ever. No sugar or grain will fix these issues.
3. I can use meditation, reaching out to others, and long walks and better sleep habits to maintain my weight and my health.
What didn't work in the past:
1. Not managing life change, as it happened.
2. Using food to attempt to soothe my feelings and moderating sugars & grains.( Skinny Cow ice cream and cinnamon toast never fixed it!). Sugar and grains only fueled my binge eating. Especially while sitting on the couch watching the Biggest Loser! LOL.
3. Not using multiple techniques to manage my health.
All right. Graphs follow. I suspect keeping my gut bacteria in check really helps, but EVERYTHING is highly theoretical at this point. I'm fascinated by the emerging science. All the proof I need for myself is "I feel better". Yeah! More blog posts soon, at least that's the plan. I favor sleeping over blogging any day.Onward.
Oh, be sure to check out David's graphs at Keep It Up David. Kudos for looking at the big picture in long term weight maintenance, David.
Karen, I've always loved your statistics and am using part of them here "Starting weight: 187.4 - Current weight: 118.4"
ReplyDeleteYou have given many readers inspiration, some great views and valid pointers. You so deserve a happy dance and a big big CLAP.
Have a good weekend.
All the best Jan
Thank you , Jan. Just knowing I did the work to get my food and life habits worked out, then carrying out the plan every day is a real gift to myself. I'm not sure what the future will bring as far as food template and life goes, but I know I'll show up everyday and work my plan. Thanks for your support.
DeleteThat's a different door... not your place? As usual, well done. Maintaining is boring but so important!!
ReplyDeleteYeah! at a friends house. I would have been disappointed if someone didn't notice, so thanks for making my day, Lynda!! LOL. Glad not to have the drama of eating WW junk food and eating-repenting-repeating. So much of the drama that I brought to my own process. Oh well. Better late than never
DeleteKudos on managing the serious stress without weight gain. That can be so hard. You look beautiful, healthy, and glowing in your after picture!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ali. Things seem to be smoothed out for now. Just trying to focus on good sleep and relaxation.
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