Yet another diet post

[thistlechaser]

Though one you all will probably actually see! I've written a bunch of posts and later set them private or set them private off the bat because they were too bitchy or whiny or whatever.

I think I know what the problem with my diet is, but I'm afraid to change it.

To review:
Week 1: Lost 11 pounds (YAY only thing keeping me from jumping out the window now)
Week 2: Lost 1.5
Week 3: GAINED 1.5
Week 4: Lost 1

I have to lose 10-15 pounds in 8 weeks. Technically I'm within that range now, but it's too darned close and I want to lose more. A lot more, like ten pounds more would be nice.

I think my calories are too low. I know that sounds silly, but to lose 1-2 pounds per week, based on my age/weight/height/activity level/etc, I'm supposed to eat 1,600-1,800 calories. Most days I struggle to hit 1,200. That sounds stupid I know, but I'm afraid to eat more because I Must Lose Weight for upcoming surgery. Plus I'm now used to eating this amount, I feel fine most of the day -- I don't feel like I need to eat more.

Tonight I read a lot about diet plateaus (sounds stupid to be having one after the second week, but that seems to be what this is I think). The only solution that I've found was to eat MORE (so your body stops thinking it's starving). That's so counterintuitive though! Arg!

So, body, here's the deal. If I haven't lost at least a pound by Official Weighing-In Day (Wednesday), then, well, I suppose we'll try eating more. Don't make me do that! Lose weight!

Comments

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

It does sort of make sense about the body thinking it's starving. Are you exercising as well?

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Exercising is the sticking point. Because this is a very short term goal (four more weeks), I'm not exercising. Muscle weighs more than fat, so I don't want to gain any! It might be the wrong decision, I don't know...

[tersa.livejournal.com]

Muscle does not weigh more than fat. 1 pound of muscle weighs the same as 1 pound of fat. :P

What it is is denser.

However, muscle cells also have a higher resting metabolism than fat cells, so it's pretty much always better to have 1 pound of muscle over 1 pound of fat.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

It sure is hard! :/

[spike7451.livejournal.com]

I've read before that the body can go into starvation mode if the calorie intake is too low and stop you losing weight.

Dieting is so not fun!!!

[wow-hazmat.livejournal.com]

Pretty much this, which is why it's so hard to lose weight; our bodies are just not designed for it. It's especially hard for women. :/

It is good to change things up, though; I've heard that from multiple sources. Have a day where you eat more than you normally do. If you exercise, do different exercises on different days rather than the same thing all the time. Etc.

You might also try a diet that isn't just about calories; I personally have had little luck with those and better results with a Weight Watchers style program (hint: there are websites and apps which let you do the points thing without paying WW $20 a month or more). Other people do well with a low-carb Atkins thing, at least to start with. Or paleo (which seems faddish to me but shoot it seems to work for some folks so hey). Or a gluten-free south beach kinda thing.

And then some people say 'fuckit' to losing weight and just concentrate on eating healthy and exercising. Believe it or not, that alone can improve health even if no weight is lost.

Our bodies are all kind of different and if there was One Diet Solution For All then you wouldn't have a multi-million-dollar diet industry with tens of thousands of different methods.

So it goes.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yep, you hit it on the head! (Or multiple heads, as the case may be.)

So annoying that our bodies work against us in this. Interesting, but annoying.

You're right about mixing things up, too. After I made this post, I read about "zig-zagging" your calories. If you're supposed to eat 1,600 per day, instead use the total for the week and have some lower and some higher days, so it fools your body. I'm going to try to do that.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yep, to both things. Especially the second!

[teaandfailure.livejournal.com]

You know what, I'm just gonna delete "advice" and say I think your dedication and careful tabs on the situation is impressive, and I believe in and support you.

I know you're like, "I AM ONLY DOING THIS BECAUSE I AM BEING FORCED TO," but still: it doesn't matter what your motivation is, you are still attacking this shit head on even when you hate it, and I find that just metal as hell.

That is all.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thanks! <3

And because of the LJ comment-mailing system, I read yours before getting to the second email saying it was edited (oops!). I think you were right and I'm trying to eat a little more today. LITTLE MORE, as in "more than 1,200, less than 1,800".

[teaandfailure.livejournal.com]

I figured you would see them all in the mail! I just figured you know what: butt the fuck out and just support. I need to remember that sometimes... it is not about me! It is about you! And you are busting your ass doing what is right for you. So: you are awesome, and yay!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Noooo that was perfectly fine! It was really good to hear your required calorie count to lose weight, because hearing the numbers for mine seems really, really high. It was good to hear it was reasonable!

Thank you! <333 YOU ARE TOO

[teaandfailure.livejournal.com]

Ah, ok! I understand that. I seriously wasn't comfortable with mine until I did it with four different equations (that explained themselves, since a lot of those places DO NOT EXPLAIN THE ACTIVITY LEVELS which is NO HELP AT ALL, like what are you considering light? What are you considering moderate I DON'T KNOW YOU HAVE TO TELL ME, WEBSITE) and they all came out within 100 kcal of each other.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

That doesn't sound silly at all. Diet is important, but calories are not the end all, be all of things. You have to stay healthy. I'm surprised your doctor didn't give you a cheat sheet since this is for a medical procedure. Maybe they could refer you to a nutritionist who could help you create a diet plan? I know it's only for a few more weeks but if you're starving, it will feel even longer!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

The surgeon really isn't good with people. The total of his advice was "just do it". I won't be unhappy when I'm done with him.

[ashmedai.livejournal.com]

1,200 calories is really very little! I think you're right, this has lowered your metabolism and so you're not losing weight quickly (plus, a lot of the 11 pounds in week 1 was most likely water weight). Our bodies are designed to keep a firm hold of weight, to sustain them in times of hunger or famine. That was a good thing when we faced such situations on a regular basis, but not so great now that we have overflowing supermarkets 24/7. Exercising more could rev up your metabolism a bit, especially if you start to eat a little more again. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you! :)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

That was a good thing when we faced such situations on a regular basis, but not so great now that we have overflowing supermarkets 24/7.

Yep. It's so annoying to know my body and evolution are working against me on this!

[wildrose.livejournal.com]

It doesn't sound silly! It makes sense that a too low number of calories will make you gain weight because your body will think it's starving.
Why do you have to lose so much weight in 8 weeks, if I may ask? Is it for medical reasons?

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yep. I have surgery in mid-September and I have to lose some before then.

[bacchuslives.livejournal.com]

Been there... The plateaus are real...

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, so it seems. :/ Thanks for the confirmation!

[gconnor.livejournal.com]

Anyway, if you do decide to increase calories, you might want to add fats and leave carbs and protein levels the same. I'm not saying to go low-carb, but just be mindful that each macronutrient has its own side-effects. Good luck!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I had some butter tonight (first time in weeks!). Seems like that will work best.

Thanks!

[ani-mama.livejournal.com]

You are still doing good. Hang in there!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Will try to. :)

[tersa.livejournal.com]

It sounds like you're right, that your calories are too low.

You wouldn't be in this predicament if your brain was 100% truthful to you. You know that. :) This process is almost more mental adjustment than physical.

Just need to tell your lying brain that more is better in this case. :P

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

It really does seem to be more mental than physical. I've got myself into a whole "calories are bad" mental state, which of course is both wrong and dangerous. Too many calories are bad, that's quite a bit different!

Working on my lying brain is my next goal.

[tersa.livejournal.com]

Working on my lying brain is my next goal.

Good! :) And good luck! :)