Saturday, June 18, 2011

A BIG GAIN

What do you do when you have a really big gain???

Here's what I'm planning to do:  Look back at the last week, see what I ate and how I exercised.  Figure out what, if anything, went wrong.  Move on immediately into a GREAT week.  Oh, and NOT FREAK OUT.

Well folks, I gained a whopping 2.8 pounds this week.  The ironic thing is that is exactly how much my first loss at Weight Watchers was.  :-)  I remember looking at that little stamp at the meeting and being in a state happy wonderment when the receptionish wrote "-2.8".  In one week?  I had lost 2.8 in one week of eating less?!

In the same (but opposite) fashion, I have gained 2.8 pounds in one week of eating more.  Lots more.

And I do know that in the beginning of Intuitive Eating, weight gain is common.  Heck, it's the first time in years that I've rejected the diet mentality and allowed myself to enjoy any and all foods in whatever quantities I see fit.

The way that I gained this week is simple:  I slacked a bit (okay, a lot) on listening to my hunger signals.  I didn't even keep my food hunger journal.  I thought that I had "mastered" it.  Nope, I was wrong.

So to remedy this, I'm planning on going back to a pretty ancient concept this week: 

Food is fuel.

I'm going to attempt to go back to eating the same kinds of things that I ate while on the Simply Filling Technique, with little to no "junk" food.  Mostly whole, nutritious foods. 

Kind of like how Angie over at Oh She Glows eats:  Intuitively, but with a strong focus toward healthy and whole food choices.  That will be me this week!

I have added another page to the top of my blog for pictures of my foods.  You don't have to look at it throughout the week if you don't want to, but I'm planning to take pictures of all of my meals and snacks for a week and see if that helps me make healthier choices.

Here's a picture of me taken just a couple of days ago (that I like, of me in a swimsuit, sitting down no less), to make myself feel better:


happy and confident in my own skin!  Imagine that.

By the way,  I'm still in my goal weight range, just barely.  So I'm not beating myself up, I just cannot afford to have another week like this. 

Okay, rant over.  Moving on.

8 comments:

Katy said...

I always seem to gain weight when I travel. Like you said, you pick yourself up and move on. I was just visiting my parents in Oklahoma this past week and I know I gained weight but I haven't weighed myself yet.

When I get back from trips, I give myself a few days to settle back in to my normal routine. Then I weigh myself. It's still a gain, but I feel better about it because I know I am doing something to get it back off.

I have also improved my traveling somewhat. I used to completely blow the travel days as well as the days I am on vacation. I have learned to be OP on the travel days now which, I know, saves me a lot of calories.

I know you will figure it out and everything will be good! :)

Amanda said...

I know you'll bounce back and like you said you are still in your range so the gain is from an adjustment period. Next week you'll have better results!

Unknown said...

Obviously this is an adjustment and you will certainly figure it all out -- you rock and GOT THIS and will bounce back better than ever!

Julia said...

Our bodies do whacky things when we get closer and closer to goal.

There were weeks on WW where I did EVERYTHING right, and I'd gain. Three weeks in a row of solid WWering and I was up nearly 10lbs.

I have never been able to fully explain that, so I just chalk it up the mystery of my body.

Keep on chugging, eating intuitively is harder than point counting.

Rachel Parker said...

Hi - Just found your blog & I'm your newest follower! First of all, you're so gorgeous & you've lost a lot of weight so you clearly understand the ups and down of weight loss and have a handle on the "big gains" (3 pounds doesn't equal a big gain in my book... that's like eating out, haha :))! But I will say that I totally agree with Julia - as much as we want to apply science to bodies, it doesn't always work out. Sometimes you gain for no reason and it comes off later. I used to work at a weight loss place, and I had one client who would gain every other week, but the weeks she lost she really lost BIG. So just go on about your business, girl! You got this!

LabelSnob said...

Your new profile picture and the picture above in your bathing suit are BEAUTIFUL!!! You really look amazing!
And I agree with Rachel above "3 pounds doesn't equal a big gain in my book"...that could be water weight or TOM weight!
XOXO
Kim

Reyonda said...

I agree 100% with Amanda and Cyn!

Katie said...

Leah, I think it is quite an adjustment figuring out how to transition from living in "diet mode" to living more normally. I think (and please remember I have absolutely no experience with this) you should ask yourself the following questions:

1. Did you feel uncomfortably full last week?

2. Were unusually inactive?

3. Did you feel unhealthy?

If the answer to all those questions is no, than I would strongly consider raising your goal weight. I think you look fabulous now and you'd look just as fabulous/ be just as healthy a little heavier. If the answer to those questions is yes, than I'd consider tweaking your diet.

That's just my thoughts. You are so inspirational to me--in every way. I'm curious to see how this journey pans out for you.