Over the past few weeks I have been securing a pretty darn good milestone for myself. That milestone would be the absence of any fast food runs. For two weeks, or so, now I haven't visited a drive-thru in hopes of hiding food from my husband. I have had NO Dr. Peppers other than when we have gone out to eat.
I used to drive through at least once, if not several times a day to grab a large Dr. Pepper. It has been my weakness for quite a while. But of course, if you are buying a soda you might as well buy some fries and a sandwich to go with it. But wait! If you are going to buy all of that, you should just buy a meal and save money! Right!? I would often buy a pre-lunch lunch, or an afternoon lunch for a "snack". Feeling too full, I would feel victory when I sat at the dinner table with my family while "nibbling" on my small portion. I was purchasing a meal to go with my DP at least once a week. I would make a turn into a shopping center near a Chik-fil-A, and my three year old would ask, "Mommy, are you going to go get a snack now?". UGH, what am I doing? Not only to myself but to my kids. This is awful!!!
Our finances finally caught up with us, and I was stripped of any extra funds I might have previously been allowed to carry around in my purse. So, I guess you could say I was forced to stop eating fast-food. But, it worked. And now I haven't had the urge or even the thought while driving around town running errands. When my son has been asking for chocolate milk lately (which was his treat at Chik-fil-A), I simply tell him "no". I HAVE GOT to start setting a better example for my boys. They are both at the age where they are tiny human sponges and their patterns for life are being established RIGHT NOW.
So, where does the confusion part come in? I have gained almost 6 pounds over the past 2 weeks. GAINED. I really don't get it. I am eating so much less now that my fast-food runs have been eliminated. I have also been making a special point to eat better at home and I have been drinking nothing besides water or an occassional glass of Pepsi One here and there. I mean, what is going on? 6 pounds is quite a bit to consider ruling in womanly bloating or general water retention. My clothes are getting tighter and it isn't because they are shrinking.
GOD I hate this.
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13 comments:
Aw, stink! I'm so sorry, Lynn. That is so frustrating to feel like your changes just aren't making a difference! I don't know what to tell you, except that you are still doing your body good by not eating the fast food. I know it's so annoying when the scale doesn't go the right way, though! Hang in there--keep doing the right thing and it WILL show up. Rootin' for ya, girl!
Bethany
Sorry that's frustrating. I feel the same way about the habits I'm instilling in my son!
I would look closer at what you are eating and track the calories for a week or so just to see where you are at.
I second what Annette said. How much processed food are you eating? Canned foods, boxed mixes, condiments loaded with sodium and sugar, etc.
I don't have access to much fast food, so I'm lucky there. Now I've eliminated almost all boxed mixes for anything else - no pasta salads, anything helpers, instant rice dishes, etc. That stuff is all chemicals.
I still struggle with HOW MUCH I am eating. Grrr.
Try calorie counting your real eating and see what that tells you.
Aww, I'm sorry you're feeling frustrated. Please know that you're doing a very good thing for yourself by avoiding the fast food and watching what you're eating.
Have you considered tracking what you're eating (if only temporarily) through sparkpeople.com or one of the other food trackers? I did that for about 6 months when I first started trying to eat healthy, and it helped me make wiser choices as far as calories, sodium, etc. (My money's on the sodium, because I doubt you'd have enough "hidden" calories in your day to generate six extra pounds.)
No matter what, you're doing the right thing for yourself by paying attention and looking for answers! You'll figure it out!
Water retention/inflammation could be the culprit. Keep in mind that processed/pre-packaged foods are often high in sodium and sugar. Cut out your sugar and white starches, like white flour, bread, and potatoes, for a week and see what happens.
Diet sodas may be slowing down your weight loss as well. Recent studies indicate that artificial sweeteners can make you gain weight because when you taste sweet on your tongue, the body releases insulin. When no sugar arrives in your system, your body turns that excess insulin into fat. Try drinking sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon or lime, just make sure it's not a high sodium seltzer.
Keep going. You can do this!
I have been in your shoes... eating better than before, seeing gains. For me- tracking my food was revealing. Do you do that? I know both sparkpeople.com and fitday.com are super cool free sites where you can do it. I say try it for a week- you may figure out a simple thing you can fix. If you are really eating less and gaining more- well, you know as well as I do that does not make sense.
You can figure it out- I know you can! You are making yourself better, so you boys can be better. Way to go!
Yep gotta watch out for that sodium.I quit eating those frozen diet meals because of the sodium. If I eat too much sodium I will look like a puffer fish the next morning.
I was thinking water retention, PMS time? I blow up like a balloon around that time. At least a week before or so. And the canned veggies and fruit... aren't helping. If you like fruit, eat more "watery" fruit. If you like veggies, eat them fresh and not from the can. Were you wearing heavier clothes than the usual times youve weighted yourself in the past? I can totally empathize... been there and thats why I ban weight scales in my house.
first you are gifting your body TREMENDOULY by notdoing fast food---no matter what the scale says your HEART thanks you.
Have you journalled at all? what youre eating and how youre feeling (stress and cortisol can contribute to weight gain)?
sodium can also really do a number on the scale if youre eating processed.
DONT GIVE UP.
We're talking food tomorrow at MizFit---if youre in the 'hood stop in!
You just described my fast food addiction, the financial restraints putting the breaks on my fast food addiction and the guilt I have about teaching my kids bad habits.
I don't even know what to say about the weight gain...other than I've been there and know it's discouraging. Hopefully its a random thing and will plumet back down.
I've discovered that weight loss has it's ups and downs. Not all victories are scale related, not all victories are size related. What's important here is your HEALTH... I agree with Carla... you are doing your body a world of good by making the changes you are making. When you start feeling discouraged by the ups and downs of this journey, remind yourself of all the health benefits you are reaping! AND remind yourself that as a mother, YOU are setting the ultimate example for your kids, and making these changes and showing them by your actions, not your scale numbers or water retention, how to live a long and healthy life! Don't let it get to you... You are doing GREAT!!! And we're all here cheering you on! :)
That weight gain sucks! The good news is you caught it early and can take steps to lose it fast.
As others have written, keep track of your calories for a few days. I've gained weight before after giving up fast food and found out that I started being too liberal at other meals. I learned (well, I'm still learning) that giving up fast food does not give me free license to eat more at home, even though it's healthier food.
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