I weighed myself today for the first time in five weeks.
Since I started this 8 weeks ago I'm down a total of just 6 lbs. Better down than up, of course, but I wish it were going down faster!!!
This puts me at a BMI of 23.7.
I'd like to get to a BMI of 21.
20 lbs to go.
It's not easy, but it's definitely possible!
This whole effort started at Christmas, when I realized that I'm fatter than any family members and -- to add insult to injury -- I weighed myself for the first time in a long time and found out my BMI was over 25, making me officially overweight. I was not happy. My first action was to cut sugar and flour out of my diet. (Sugar is evil; that's why I love it so much.) That brought me down about 8 pounds in 14 weeks. I stumbled across Fast-5 and decided to incorporate it in April. Since then, in 8 weeks on both Fast-5 and no sugar/no flour I've lost another 6 lbs.
Total of 14 pounds.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
shoot, this is hard
If you're on a roll, stay on it!
After taking a break from Fast-5 last week I'm having a hard time getting back into the groove. Counting the hours till break-fast again. I'm looking forward to getting back to the peaceful mental space brought by regular fasting. But it's definitely a challenge to get there again!
Much easier to be regular with this way of eating than to start and stop.
That much more motivation to do Fast-5 every day, regardless of social constraints.
After taking a break from Fast-5 last week I'm having a hard time getting back into the groove. Counting the hours till break-fast again. I'm looking forward to getting back to the peaceful mental space brought by regular fasting. But it's definitely a challenge to get there again!
Much easier to be regular with this way of eating than to start and stop.
That much more motivation to do Fast-5 every day, regardless of social constraints.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
context
I was recently lucky enough to have an extended stay in Spain and France -- places where I'm considered large in every sense, both uncommonly tall and pretty darn chubby. At first I noticed the general thinness of the population but I became accustomed to it. Towards the end of the trip I did see one obese woman, and seeing her made me realize she was the ONLY one I'd seen the whole trip.
When I landed back in the States I was amazed by the number of people on a subway car (8 out of 12, I counted) who looked downright fat. Both men and women. Before this trip and being surrounded by people with BMI's probably between 20 and 22, I don't think I would have noticed that all those people on the train were probably in the range of BMI 28-30. I expect that if you had talked to them, most would have said they were overwieght but healthy. Bla bla bla about overweight and healthy. Fat! We need to recognize that we're simply too fat. I can't help but wonder if our national psychosis about being thin has to do with the fact that so many of us are so overweight. If we had a healthy relationship with food and weight, we could stop obsessing about it.
At the risk of sounding smug -- I think Fast-5 is a wonderful method for managing my relationship with food, regaining control, and hopefully even losing some of this darn weight (yes, I'm one of the fat ones).
When I landed back in the States I was amazed by the number of people on a subway car (8 out of 12, I counted) who looked downright fat. Both men and women. Before this trip and being surrounded by people with BMI's probably between 20 and 22, I don't think I would have noticed that all those people on the train were probably in the range of BMI 28-30. I expect that if you had talked to them, most would have said they were overwieght but healthy. Bla bla bla about overweight and healthy. Fat! We need to recognize that we're simply too fat. I can't help but wonder if our national psychosis about being thin has to do with the fact that so many of us are so overweight. If we had a healthy relationship with food and weight, we could stop obsessing about it.
At the risk of sounding smug -- I think Fast-5 is a wonderful method for managing my relationship with food, regaining control, and hopefully even losing some of this darn weight (yes, I'm one of the fat ones).
ouch! fell off the wagon
I had the good luck to stay with some wonderful friends in another country for a long weekend. They were kind enough to prepare vegetarian food for me along with the family meal and I just didn't have the heart to explain that besides meat I also wouldn't be eating white rice, bread, or anything with sugar. And I'd only eat between 5pm and 10pm.
So...
I still skipped breakfast but ended up eating from 2pm to midnight, and I included foods with flour (bread, pasta) that I usually avoid.
Result...
I felt uncomfortably full when eating every 4 or 5 hours. And puffy. Do carbs cause water retention? I'm back on the fast-5 plan today and my body is craving the feeling of an empty stomach. To be honest, once I realized it wouldn't be socially feasible to fast or do no flour/no sugar, I enjoyed the break. But my digestive system is now reminding my why it doesn't like the refined carbs and I'm more convinced than ever that Fast-5 is the best eating style for me.
Back in the saddle!
In other news, exercise is at a standstill thanks to an injured foot. I can't wait to get running again.
So...
I still skipped breakfast but ended up eating from 2pm to midnight, and I included foods with flour (bread, pasta) that I usually avoid.
Result...
I felt uncomfortably full when eating every 4 or 5 hours. And puffy. Do carbs cause water retention? I'm back on the fast-5 plan today and my body is craving the feeling of an empty stomach. To be honest, once I realized it wouldn't be socially feasible to fast or do no flour/no sugar, I enjoyed the break. But my digestive system is now reminding my why it doesn't like the refined carbs and I'm more convinced than ever that Fast-5 is the best eating style for me.
Back in the saddle!
In other news, exercise is at a standstill thanks to an injured foot. I can't wait to get running again.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
monotony - starting week 6
It's getting easier. I've stopped chewing gum during the day -- that might have been harder than not eating during the day. I enjoy blowing bubbles and I look forward to chewing gum during my window.
As I think I've mentioned, I've been on a business trip for the last three weeks (four cities, six time zones). I think it's actually been helpful to my fasting -- is easier to start a new routine when you're in a new situation than when you're in the day-to-day routine at home. On the down side, I'm eating at a lot of restaurants and (since I don't eat sugar or flour) the only thing I can eat from convenience stores are the nuts. So... lots of nuts. Looking forward to being home with good hearty vegetarian fare.
Also looking forward to weighing in when I get home. Sometimes I feel lighter, but then I'll see a mirror and cringe a little bit. Let's see what the impartial witness has to say.
As I think I've mentioned, I've been on a business trip for the last three weeks (four cities, six time zones). I think it's actually been helpful to my fasting -- is easier to start a new routine when you're in a new situation than when you're in the day-to-day routine at home. On the down side, I'm eating at a lot of restaurants and (since I don't eat sugar or flour) the only thing I can eat from convenience stores are the nuts. So... lots of nuts. Looking forward to being home with good hearty vegetarian fare.
Also looking forward to weighing in when I get home. Sometimes I feel lighter, but then I'll see a mirror and cringe a little bit. Let's see what the impartial witness has to say.
Monday, May 10, 2010
I was cheating?!
I've been cheating on the fast this whole time...
1) I've been chewing sugarless gum during the fast. This is discouraged in the Fast-5 book but seemed to be an acceptable crutch for a while. I went without gum today for the first time and had no problems. I'm ready to stop using it.
2) I've been taking fiber in the mornings. It finally occurred to me to check the nutritional information, where I saw it has 40 calories per serving. I'll move the fiber to the end of my window.
...and voila! I should be in compliance with the fast. Unless there's something else I'm forgetting.
I'm not feeling thinner and I'm rather afraid to weigh and find out I haven't lost weight; that would be too depressing. I'll weigh myself in a couple of weeks when I'm back home. I'm on a work trip and have had quite a few business lunches recently. I lie and say I had such a big breakfast that I can't eat lunch. My colleagues have been a little concerned but I made a point to eat dinner with several of them so at least they know I'm not anorexic.
The energizer bunny I am not, but I notice that I'm much better at keeping awake during afternoon meetings than my colleagues. I feel alert all day drinking just water while they have to seek out coffee every few hours. Fasting is good for so many things!
1) I've been chewing sugarless gum during the fast. This is discouraged in the Fast-5 book but seemed to be an acceptable crutch for a while. I went without gum today for the first time and had no problems. I'm ready to stop using it.
2) I've been taking fiber in the mornings. It finally occurred to me to check the nutritional information, where I saw it has 40 calories per serving. I'll move the fiber to the end of my window.
...and voila! I should be in compliance with the fast. Unless there's something else I'm forgetting.
I'm not feeling thinner and I'm rather afraid to weigh and find out I haven't lost weight; that would be too depressing. I'll weigh myself in a couple of weeks when I'm back home. I'm on a work trip and have had quite a few business lunches recently. I lie and say I had such a big breakfast that I can't eat lunch. My colleagues have been a little concerned but I made a point to eat dinner with several of them so at least they know I'm not anorexic.
The energizer bunny I am not, but I notice that I'm much better at keeping awake during afternoon meetings than my colleagues. I feel alert all day drinking just water while they have to seek out coffee every few hours. Fasting is good for so many things!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
three weeks / insulin / sugar is evil
Three weeks of fasting and I'm feeling better. Less anxiety at the end of each eating window hence eating less to prepare for the fast. I hope as my appetite lessens the weight will start to come off. Haven't been able to weigh myself for a while. Chewing less gum.
In my recent reading it seems that fat metabolism depends largely on insulin. Low insulin allows the body to correctly manage its fat deposits. Fasting is one way to regulate insulin; lowering carb intake is another. Hence I've quit eating refined sugar. Had a couple weeks of cravings but, as with fasting, the anxiety dropped away soon. At first the idea of not eating mom's cookies again was very sad and a little scary. As time passes I realize that sugar does not equal love and my relationship with my mom and other loved ones can be expressed in ways that don't involve sugar. My skin is clearer than ever and I wake up easily in the morning even after a short night.
Check out these resources...
Sugar: The Bitter Truth -- Robert H. Lustig, MD, UCSF (video)
http://www.uctv.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=16717
The No Sugar, No Flour Diet -- Dr. Gott (book)
http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Gotts-Flour-Sugar-Diet/dp/0446177903/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273110552&sr=1-1
Lecture at UC Berkely -- Gary Taubes (video, Real Player)
http://webcast.berkeley.edu/event_details.php?webcastid=21216
In my recent reading it seems that fat metabolism depends largely on insulin. Low insulin allows the body to correctly manage its fat deposits. Fasting is one way to regulate insulin; lowering carb intake is another. Hence I've quit eating refined sugar. Had a couple weeks of cravings but, as with fasting, the anxiety dropped away soon. At first the idea of not eating mom's cookies again was very sad and a little scary. As time passes I realize that sugar does not equal love and my relationship with my mom and other loved ones can be expressed in ways that don't involve sugar. My skin is clearer than ever and I wake up easily in the morning even after a short night.
Check out these resources...
Sugar: The Bitter Truth -- Robert H. Lustig, MD, UCSF (video)
http://www.uctv.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=16717
The No Sugar, No Flour Diet -- Dr. Gott (book)
http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Gotts-Flour-Sugar-Diet/dp/0446177903/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273110552&sr=1-1
Lecture at UC Berkely -- Gary Taubes (video, Real Player)
http://webcast.berkeley.edu/event_details.php?webcastid=21216
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