Friday, May 27, 2011

updates

1. The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet

I feel like I have finally found a method of losing weight that works for me!

I hadn't tried to lose weight for about 10 years (really) because I didn't want to yo-yo up and down by doing something that I couldn't stick with. Also, I refused to give up baking, which is one of my true loves.

When I first started, I honestly didn't know if I could eat starchy foods and sweets only at dinnertime. I didn't know if I could go without eating snacks in between meals. I discovered that I have self-control! (Who knew?) I have more energy now, I have been healthier, I eat way more vegetables than I used to (even though I have always loved them), but the best part is that I feel so much more in control of myself.

I won't say that it isn't hard, though. I still want to eat muffins or toast for breakfast and homemade bread with peanut butter for lunch, but I know that I can always eat those things at dinnertime if I still want them, and that totally works for me. It takes more planning to make sure that I have the foods I need on hand and I have to prepare meals for myself instead of grabbing whatever is convenient. But it has been a lot easier than I anticipated. I have not deviated at all (except for one night when I ate beyond my 60-minute limit).

I can still bake! And I do so frequently. I can go out to dinner and eat whatever I want!

I have to weigh myself daily, which is not my favorite. I have always known that I feel kind of bloated when I get my period, but last week I gained a pound every day! Very discouraging. This week, however, I have slowly been going down every day. It's interesting to see that the fluctuations are greater than I suspected. Last week, I had to give myself pep talks to keep going – I was afraid that it had stopped working for me, but I stuck to it.

Today makes 12 weeks since I started, and I have lost about 15 pounds. Slow and steady, but at least I know I am going in the right direction! Some of my clothes have gotten too big, and I have pulled out some smaller items that I haven't been able to wear for a long time. It's a good feeling.

2. My knees

After I completed my 8-week knee therapy program (in March), I was experiencing quite a bit of pain relief, but not as much as I had hoped. My doctor told me that the positive effects would continue, with maximum pain relief occurring in another 6-8 weeks. My knees feel great now.

I have found that it is more difficult than I anticipated to do my exercises at home. I was relieved to be finished with my therapy appointments because they took up so much time, but when I had to keep an appointment, I actually did the work. Now that I'm on my own, it's not so easy. I don't always remember to wear my braces (cyborg legs). I'm working on it.

I ran a little bit with Eva during her school race and was amazed to discover that I could do it! I haven't done any running in years. Many years.

This treatment has been far more successful than my surgeries were. (I'm sure that losing weight helps as well.) I am feeling very optimistic.

11 comments:

Jill said...

Way to go! It's so amazing that you have stuck with this new way of eating for 12 weeks and exercised such great self-control! That is so empowering.

Melinda said...

Wow, Michelle! Way to go on two really hard things!! I struggle with both things so these seem huge to me! I was told for ever pound you lose that is 7 pounds of pressure off your knees. I don't know if it is true but when I was losing weight my knees felt so much better also.

Keep up the great work! You are well on your way!

jt said...

Its so fun and exciting to lose weight! To think that you're just getting better and stronger with each day! And so rewarding to learn and prove to yourself that you have self-control and you can do hard things. I'm very proud of your 12 weeks without deviance. It's getting long enough that it is a habit for you, and that's such a key to success! I'm so glad you found something that works for you. Slow and steady is definitely the way to do it for lasting results and real lifestyle changes!
Woohoo!

Susan said...

I'm so glad that you posted about your progress...I was just wondering about that! That's pretty impressive, over 1 pound per week. I would be thrilled with that!

I am proud of your progress and success. I often scold myself for not heeding what I know...I love the feeling of thin better than the feeling of eating what I want when I want!

Good going. I'm super happy for your progress. 15 lbs is really a fabulous loss. I've tried your plan as well, and think that it works. I guess I haven't been as diligent, and breakfast gets to be a drag!

Keep up the good work.

Claire said...

The discovery of self control is always so empowering!
I'm glad to hear that you are successful!

Unknown said...

I am so happy to read this post and hear how good you are feeling. I've been pretty mum about my own weight loss journey this year. I can definitely relate to that daily *cringe* as you wait to see if the needle has gone up or down.

keep up the great work!

Charlotte said...

Both of these things make me so happy for you! I'm so glad that you've found a method of weight loss that works for you and is encouraging. I think the best part is that you're feeling in control. What a freeing feeling!

Miranda said...

I'm so proud of you for sticking with the CA diet and happy that you are seeing results! You are very inspiring.

shannon said...

Uh OH...I don't suppose sea salt carmels are on the diet?

Good for you for being so committed! I have such struggles when it comes to food and self control...

I'm glad you found something that works for you...

Denise said...

15 pounds is enough to really start noticing a difference! Hooray for you! My weight has been creeping up a bit after having lost about 14 pounds last summer. I've got to remember what your mom says--it's so much more fun to be a good weight than it is to eat.

rmt said...

Congrats Michelle! 15 pounds is AWESOME! And how nice to have some relief from knee pain-that sounds miserable.

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