MickATL
Sometimes a Plateau Helps
Oct 18, 2014
It seems the last couple weeks the scale has taunted me. Down a few, then up a few. Continuing to bounce between 216 and 220. It's easy to get flustered and impatient. That's what I typically do and, what I suspect, most WLS patients do when we watch the scale as we work toward a numerical goal. The magical feeling I get when the scale dips below a nice round number like 220, 210 or... dare I say it, ONE-derland! The rational side of my brain tells me there are so many other things to consider on my journey- how my clothes fit, compliments from others, having more endurance and new found energy but... that digital readout can make me frustrated sometimes.
I realized today that this plateau, this wall I've hit has caused me to be introspective. This entire journey over the last 7 years has required me to be brutally honest with myself and it's a thng I struggle with. I'd love to blame my band, the scale being off kilter or something else. The truth is that I am the reason I slow down. Whether it's not journaling or tracking my calories consumed or, more often than not, I'm not exercising daily or pushing myself to do more in the same amount of time. The exercise bike has always been my "go to" aerobic activity. I love how I can sit on a recumbant bike, lean back and start pedalling while watching TV or listening to a movie. With my Apple TV, I can watch a movie while I ride. It makes the time go by but it doesn't make me pedal any faster. Sometimes music does that for me. That said, when I track how many miles I travel and calories I burn in 60 minutes, it's another form of accompilshment. I feel like if I'm going to invest an hour, I should get the biggest bang for my buck. But, I digress.
The reason I am stalling out is because I'm snacking in the afternoon. I've tried "Pop Chips" and "Rice Cakes". Of course, i like flavored versions of both--- BBQ Pop Chips and Chocolate Rice Cakes. A serving of Pop Chips is like 120cals. which is great if I only eat 1 serving. That's easier said than done. Same goes with a rice cake. Add a little pnut butter or nutella and, well, you can see how the calories add up. For me, it's easy to let go and let FIC take over. Who's FIC? He's my Fat Inner Child. That voice that has always enticed me into eating more of those foods I love. Don't weigh yourself he whispers. Why keep track? You know you want it. Or... the old standby: you deserve it. Look at how far you've come. The reality is, I have to continue to create new goals for myself. Reasons to be and stay healthy. These reasons change after you reach certain goals-- buying clothes off the rack, being able to fly without a seatbelt extender or raising the arm between seats or getting the compliments that reaffirm the difficult choices you make everyday.
It's these new reasons that I have to come up with that can sustain me. I've been as low as 167, I think. It was too thin and I started at 325. Is 217 too heavy? Maybe and maybe not. For me, when I don't pay attention to the scale, I don't seem to pay attention to my eating choices. That said, I don't want to just be thin with flabby skin. I want to have a physique. I want a chest, back and arms with muscles and a flat stomach. Building muscles can 1) fill in some of the space that was occupied by fat and 2) a pound of muscle burns more calories than a pound of fat does.
My dietician says, "Healthy behavior leads to healthy results." I should print thiat out and hang it on the fridge. When I make the decision to make healthy eating choices, I look and feel better. When I exercise daily, I feel more healthy and, I burn calories faster through out the day. I believe exercise is the biggest key to long term success. Why? Because as the weight comes off, our legs don't have to carry that extra burden around all day. Walking, biking or running is key to adding the same effort that your legs put forth prior to losing 50 lbs or more. Daily exercise is what I think defines- high etabolism. Burning more calories throughout the day because your heart rate is increased. When I exercise daily, the scale seems to be more foregiving if I don't eat perfectly. However, I can't let that keep me from continuing to move forward.
This afternoon, I chose to have an apple for a snack. It's a small step. A baby step. But lots of small steps can add up over time.
