As I barrel to the official retirement age of 60, I find myself still not having a handle on maintaining weight loss. I have had a few good weight loss years – 1983, 1992, 2010, 2016 and 2021 are ones which come to mind. But they are always followed by me slacking off….taking my foot off the gas, and then of course, the weights creeps back on.
Since about November last year, I have been unable to fit into my company-issued uniforms. Truth be told, it was a few months before that…..I was squeezing myself into the ones I had made the seamstress take in. At the time the uniforms were delivered in late 2021, I had been on a really good eating pattern which had led to steady weight loss. I had reached to 199 lbs. So I had asked her to take in 2 of the 3 sets of uniform that were noticeably baggy. “Leave 1 set….just in case.” I guess I know myself.
So here we are on a Sunday in March 2023, when I stepped on the scale and silently swore……again. All those nuts and Soldanza plantain chips have finally caught up with me. Sixteen pounds added in 1 year.
I don’t have a problem denying myself ice cream or cake when I am in Grenada. The problem is total calories consumed, and eating when I am NOT hungry. I generally only have healthy food in the house. Thankfully, I live alone so no one else’s “non compliant” food is here to tempt me. Wait a minute….that might be the problem! I need a male hobby! 🙂
On a serious note, when I analyze and ponder on this situation with my up-and-down weight, I have come up with the following:
1) My breakfasts and lunches are always compliant. Low carb, high protein, healthy fats and of course, coffee. This helps my brain to be clear.
2) The act of having to restrict certain foods, or quantities of food, goes against one of my personal values of FREEDOM. At my 50-buff age, I haven’t realised that I have to watch my intake of food.
3) The evenings are my problem. The scenario usually is that I plan to leave work before daylight, then the work gets piled on, so I leave work late, pissed off, drive to the supermarket and buy crap, because I am mad at the establishment and want to get back at them “See, you are overworking me and I’m eating crap.” And yes, sometimes I feel remorse and shame. And then I do it again the next day. Madness, Miss Yamfoot. Madness!
4) Because I have learnt within the last 6 years, how to time my food and what to eat to lose weight steadily, when I’m eating the plantain chips, I say to myself “I can easily lose those pounds.” Yes….I can.
5) When I am in the family home, I eat ice cream and lots of cashews, calling the resulting weight gain “happy pounds.”
6) I am so bl@#%^y dedicated to any job, that I sacrifice sleep and exercise. I should be slapped, because I am always telling people that when you leave the job (whether voluntarily or you pass away) your employers WILL find someone else to do the work!
So….what strategies will I be employing from Monday March 7th?
1. Carry hard boiled eggs to work.
2. Ask for some late mornings, so that I can fast longer overnight, and go to the gym before I have breakfast. Or some early departure days so I can exercise and finish eating by 5 pm.
3. Go for a walk….far from any shops….when I am feeling overwhelmed.
4. Blog what I eat daily, and how I felt.
5. Drink more water earlier in the day.
Ok….it’s time to go digest these pistachios, cashews and Milo cookies which I ate after the chicken salad. 😶 Had to clear out the “bad” stuff, before “tomorrow” comes around again. Let me also go and look for the hobby 😁. One like this would be nice.
Check back tomorrow evening and see how I did.