Chevy88grl's Blog

It has been awhile since I've blogged.

I've stopped logging ALL food and ALL exercise. I'm taking this time to see how I do without logging. I lost the majority of my weight not logging anything and I feel like I need to get back to that point. I'm too obsessive to log food and exercise for the rest of my life. I seem to be doing just fine without the logging. 

I've been nursing some kind of weird muscular/nerve issues in my lower spine. After nearly a week of issues, it seems to be better. Which is relief. Too bad the downside of relief is a nice little gain on the scale due to the pain medications I've been taking. I know it is water retention. I know it is temporary. I know that within a week or so of stopping the meds, the weight will drop right back off. I'm not worried about it, but I have to tell you that seeing 150lbs on the scale sucks no matter how you look at it. 

I'm still only able to handle 1 day at the gym. When I try and go more often, I end up in pain and have to stop. I feel like 1 day at the gym is kind of a waste of my time, but I also know that I can't and won't make progress without continuing to go. My goal is to get myself back up 3 days, but I would be happy with only 2. I work 4 days a week (3 of those days are my long days) and if I go to the gym 2 days a week, that means my body gets one day ''off". Usually my day "off" is the day I clean. So, I am active each and everyday, even if they aren't hardcore workouts. 

I got a free tshirt from my gym for referring someone to them and having them sign up with them. I picked a size medium and IT FITS! I put it on, put on my new size 10 jeans and when I look in the mirror? Well, I like what I see. I actually feel... happy. And content. And proud of myself. 

I feel like being able to write that last paragraph? It is better than winning the lottery!

I think I may have mentioned this particular topic in a previous blog. However, I've seen a mass resurgance (sp?) of this particular issue lately and I feel like I need to vent about it again.

Weight loss is a very personal and very individualized (is that a word? well, it is now!) thing. While we all have the same basic parts on the inside, how those parts respond to different things is.... well, different.

I feel like every time someone asks a question, people immediately jump into this self righteous, MY WAY is the ONLY way frame of mind. It is great to figure out what works for you in this journey. Honestly, I will tell every single person I come in contact with that figuring out YOUR body's needs is key to being successful long term with weight loss. Trying to force your body to do something that doesn't make it happy isn't the way to be successful. It takes time, patience, and determination to figure out what your body wants. 

Does your body LOVE carbs? Or do you feel like carbs have a negative effect on your weight loss? How much protein do you need? Do you REALLY need to workout for 2 hours everyday to lose or to maintain your weight? 

There is no right or wrong answer to any of those questions. The answers will vary from person to person and no one is "wrong". It all comes down to what works for YOU and YOUR body. If it is working - then it isn't wrong. 

If you're struggling - whether it is to stay within your calorie goal, getting to the gym to workout or whatever ... maybe you need to re-evaluate things. Maybe it is time to be 100% honest with yourself. Are you getting enough calories in a day? Or are you restricting them so severely that all you can think or dream about is food? Do you enjoy your workouts? Or do they seem like ancient Chinese torture to you? 

I always tell people - if what you're doing works, then leave it be. If what you're doing isn't working, then don't be afraid to change things up. Try something new or different. What have you got to lose? 

When I first started out, I listened to what people had to say. I severely restriced my calories, I ate like I was on a "diet" and I worked out 7 days a week for at least 60 mins each day. 

Did I lose weight? Well, at first I did. I lost the first 10lbs pretty easily. Then my body realized what I was doing and the dreaded plateau kicked in. Had I continued listening to people, I may have given up (from a lack of weight loss). But, I decided to start doing my own research. I read articles. I found all kinds of different calculators. I absorbed information. Then I did trial and error. I figured out what worked for me and what didn't. 

Everyone needs to stop thinking their way is the ONLY way and realize that we are all different and our bodies need or want different things in order to lose weight.