Learning acceptance

I realize I've been spending my time blaming my situation rather than taking responsibility and accepting what the reality of my situation is.  The reality of my situation is that I've only lost 6 pounds in the last 6 and a half weeks.  The fact that I lost 23 pounds in the first week and a half seems so far in the past that it doesn't count anymore.  So the question is, what do I do now?

I am re-evaluating my food.  I have been eating the right amounts of protein, carbs and liquids, but have been eating about 700-800 calories a day.  I'm going to figure out how to still get in my protein and bring my calories down to about 600 a day.  I've been looking at this like that's not fair, given the fact that I was losing 4 pounds a week pre-op and eating 1700 calories a day.  Well, that was then, this is now, and I've got to deal with what's going on now.  Fairness has nothing to do with it.  It is what it is.

I have put off exercising for long enough.  I started exercising right after surgery, but I was SO fatigued I couldn't always get through a day at work, and if I don't work, I don't get paid.  So I cut out the exercise until my energy returned.  It's not where I'd like it to be, but it's gotten good enough that I can add walking back into my schedule.  I will start that tomorrow, as I am just not prepared to do it today.  I'll bring walking shoes to work, and head straight to the mall after work and walk that mall like a woman with a mission!  I'll get up on the weekend and be out and walking immediately after drinking a glass of water to hydrate me.  I used to do this about 15 years ago, and it's time to do it again.

I will bore you all to death with my daily progress, and you can skip reading my posts, but it will help keep me accountable as I really don't have anyone here where I live.  I'm going to reach out instead of running and hiding in my self-pity like I usually do.  The present is the only moment I have control over.  I'm going to make it count!

Jane

I am so grateful for your honest post. This is a journey. I have accepted that during this journey that I will come across some wonderful things but also some hard and frustrating challenges. It is those hard challenges that will be the greatest lesson along with the greatest feeling of victory! You will find your way through this challenge and you will feel great afterwards! Sending you positive thoughts! 

Thank you.  I've come to realize that this is going to take a LOT more work than I had originally thought, and I thought it was going to take a lot.  If I want to get through to the other side, I've got to just start chipping away.

Jane

Accepting that things are going to be the challenge is the biggest step. I am listening to my body more. Being obese all my life, I have not learned how to do that. I will be starting walking next week. I plan to start off gradually because of foot problems. If I start off too aggressively then I am at risk for making my foot problems worst. I would prefer to start off gradually and continue than get all crazy and put myself down with injuries.   

I wrote last night about how my self-care has become my second job, second to my paying job (I teach).  But I have to put my paying job on the back burner sometimes to make sure I do a good job of taking care of myself.  Today was a test of that as we began school.  There is definitely a balance that has to be struck!  I hope you are able to find yours.

I think learning that "fairness" has nothing to do with it, is a great first step.  I think you are making great changes, just make sure that your protein stays high as you cut the calories and reduce the carbs.  Also, make sure you are staying hydrated.  The water is huge and it really will help you lose.

I've been following your lead as much as I can from the beginning.  100 grams of protein a day, 20 grams of carbs a day, and at least 100 oz of liquids a day.  Would like it to be water, but I just can't stomach the stuff.  The only things I can think of to change are like having plain chicken instead of chicken salad to save myself the calories from the little bit of mayo I put in it.  Stuff like that.  I eat a pretty sparse diet already.  It's going to be hard.

Jane

Just remember that you need to keep some fat in your diet so i don't see the chicken salad as a bad thing.  If you need to spice up your protein to make it more manageable for you then do it.  Just don't drink your calories, if you can't drink water then make sure what you do drink does not have calories or very few other than your protein drink.  I stayed within your calorie intake with 40 carbs a day.

B:  2.5 - 3 oz of dense protein - maybe a couple bites of a green veggie 

S:  only if I need it - 17 microwaved turkey pepperonis

L:  2.5 - 3 oz of dense protein - maybe a couple bites of a green veggie

D:  2.5 - 3 oz of dense protein - maybe a couple bites of a green veggie

S:  I have a carb snack at night

This has worked for me all along, I do not feel deprived, I am satisfied and I cook my meat anyway I want.

I did find early out if I ate eggs and cottage cheese for a meal that it did not stay with me so I try to always eat dense protein at a meal because it keeps me full longer otherwise I want to snack.  You have to find what works for you but keeping a positive attitude really does help.  Don't think about what you are giving up but what you are going to gain!

You can do this!  Join myfitnesspal if you haven't and you can see other people's journals on what they are eating and that might give you some good ideas.

I don't see where you're getting 100 grams of protein a day.  I'm already on MFP, and I don't feel like I'm giving up anything, just tightening things as much as is possible.  What I drink has no calories.

Jane