The Dreaded PLATEAU

Jul 14, 2010

So, I have finally experienced a true plateau.  And I'm not entirely sure that I'm finished with it.  My weight on May 11, 2010 was 150 pounds - a goal I was thrilled to reach.  I had no idea how long I would have to enjoy it.  Turns out, more than two full months.  Actually, I am very glad to have experienced it.  I realized what good control I have.  I no longer feel guilty because I leave food on my plate.  There was a period where I even felt compelled to only eat half (even if I could eat more than half) because I needed to leave enough for a second meal.  Now I am willing to eat what I like, and allow the rest to be thrown away.  No problem.  Good grief...you'd think I grew up in the Great Depression!

But two months of waiting for that drop in weight was hard.  Mostly on my psyche.  I was cruising along, taking the weight loss for granted, and the plateau reminded me that things could go either way, depending upon my response to it.  And I had a few not-so-very-good days in those two months.  I ate a piece of birthday cake, and found that I no longer dump.  So, it can end.  I used to dump like a truck if I so much as looked at saltines too long.  Now I can eat birthday cake with frosting and it sits fine.  So, I have to count on my own self control to manage.  Luckily, my appetite ain't what it used to be.  My compulsions are still there, tho, so I need to keep careful watch on what and how much I eat.  Slider foods could really get me if I'm not careful - like popcorn, for instance.  Gotta watch it!

The good part of the two month-wait was the realization that exercise is an enormous part of the answer.  I am in the best shape of my life.  Every morning, I get up and walk for an hour before I so much as eat breakfast.  I live in a really hilly neighborhood, so I get lots of changes in elevation as I swing along on my walk, listening to music of all types and enjoying birdsong.  It's one of the highlights of my day.  I am able to do whatever I like, within reason.  I'm never daunted.  I'm never out of breath.  My heart doesn't race at the notion of climbing a set of stairs.  I am flexible and free. I feel comfortable in my own body.  I can feel and see my muscles at work.  I often think - what an easy thing this is, walking for an hour.  And how very difficult this very same thing was just a little over a year ago.  I am so grateful.

But the plateau break was small.  My 49th birthday was last Friday, and my goal was to be under 150.  On my birthday, I weighed 149.5.  Today, four days later, I am at 149, the least I have weighed since I was 21 years old.  I hope that means that I can head downwards another 10 in pretty short order.  I'm still overweight.  But who knows? I just know that I never want to weigh more than 150 again.  If I can drop 10-15 more, I can give myself a good margin of safety.

At this point, I am a good deal more than a year out - but what a year!  If you, dear reader, are just working on your insurance approval, or just set a date, or just had surgery, and you haven't seen much in the way of actual progress on weight loss - your day is coming.  And it's a great day!

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About Me
Helena, MT
Location
31.6
BMI
RNY
Surgery
05/18/2009
Surgery Date
Nov 07, 2007
Member Since

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