How do you come to terms with those thoughts?
Over the past two years I have made a very conscious effort to change not only my behaviors, but also my thought patterns. Achieving this was not easy, and finding the right balance was even harder. Still, I started with cutting down my food portions and upping the exercise. I reached a point where I was barely eating 1,000 calories a day (there may have been a few days where I barely hit over 500) and I was exercising almost obsessively - 3 hours was minimum (some days I went up to 6 hours). I now know that the way i was behaving was unhealthy, but I definitely chose to ignore it at the time.
I did not work on my thought patterns at all. I had one goal - lose weight, and I was going to do it no matter what.
It was through that obsessiveness that I lost 22 kg (around 48 lbs) in 15 months. I felt great about losing the weight. I felt great about buying clothes that were smaller in size. I felt great about the reactions I was getting from others towards my weight loss ... However, I don't think I actually felt great about myself ... y'know, inside my head, inside my body. It was just a physical change ...
..... and sure enough, the weight started to come back. Not too much, but enough to make me start to panic.
By this time the pressure of my PhD was increasing, my stress levels were through the roof, my sleep was practically non-existent. I was still controlling my calories (around 1,100-1,300 a day) and I was still exercising - but everything was forced. I didn't enjoy my food. I enjoyed working out, but now with the same amount of enthusiasm or energy as before ... that's when I hit my plateau.
I managed to lose some of the weight I had gained, but then I hit a certain point and I was just stuck ... and I'm still stuck there. I'm almost 7 kg heavier than I was at my 'lightest' back in July 2010. I have not been able to come down. I'm still bloody stuck.
It's frustrating. Have I made progress? Yes. I've lost some weight. I've lost some inches. I've definitely gained muscle (which I know weighs more). I've reevaluated my eating and am focusing more on nutrition vs. calories (though still counting). I'm working on the mental aspect of this whole process, but I feel like I'm failing miserably.
I just feel stuck.
It sounds like you may be using food/exercise as a way of trying to achieve a feeling that may only come from within...
ReplyDeleteRegardless of your weight, regardless of what you eat, regardless of what you do, there is a truth that is within you that needs to be felt.
Perhaps these negative feelings are a way for your soul to help guide you to that point...
Ryan
OMG A. You're so hard on yourself.
ReplyDeleteYou're stressed. You're trying to finish your PhD for goodness sake! When's the last time you really rested and relaxed without responsibilities or other worries. It's been a LONG time. Cut yourself some slack. It's not like you're running off to fast-food restaurants and eating your heart out. You're doing an amazing job. You're doing everything right. You're exercising. You're eating well. Plus you know that all of that 7 kg is muscle - ALL OF IT!
Lack of sleep and stress are two factors that interfere with weight loss/how our bodies process food and manipulate it into energy. They're not small things.
You know you've made progress. Stop thinking about the negative things and keep focusing on the fantastic changes you've made in the past two years.
What Mel said. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm with Mel.
ReplyDeleteYou need to put things in perspective.
First of all, focus on the task ahead. Get your writing done!
Second of all, eat properly. You know you get extra moody when your blood sugar and blood pressure levels are low. Eat fruit. Eat protein. Drink water.
Third of all, go to your closet and check the size of the latest clothes you bought and tell me, are they not smaller than just a few months ago?
If I was there I'd shake you and then hug you of course! :p
Now stop reading this blog post and get back to work. In two weeks you'll be DONE!