Weight Loss Journey – January

The “P” Word

No, it’s not the word you think it is. It’s one that for many of us working to lose weight and get healthier is just as dirty. If you’re easily offended I suggest you look away now. Okay, here it is…

Plateau

Noun 

1-An area of relatively high ground. 

2- A state of little or no change following a period of activity or progress. 

*fans those who may have swooned over the vulgarity*

Today we’ll be talking about definition number two although I have great admiration for high ground. 

As many of you may know, or perhaps not, last August I finally had had enough and signed up for Noom. Let’s just say I decided to get serious about my weight loss for a few reasons. One being that some of my blood work numbers weren’t where I would have liked. Another was that I was tired of having to wedge my non-skinny backside into skinny seats when going to a play, movie, restaurant, airplane *insert any public seating venue here* 

So since I’m here to talk about weight loss and getting healthier I’m going to take just a moment to give you my facts:

I’ve always been heavy. Always. And I’ve done the fad diet game hundreds of times. Four years ago I began this newest journey starting at 307 pounds. That is a lot of weight on a Hobbit-sized frame. I did make some progress and lost about fifty pounds then, as I always do, I began to slip. Over the course of two years I gained thirty of the fifty back. I was so mad at myself! 

During the summer of 2020 I realized that I had to get serious and stay serious. And that meant changing the way I think about food. And so, after much hemming and hawing, I signed up for Noom. I’m not here to sell you on this program but I will say that it’s working for me. I’m down fifty pounds in five months. Make of that what you will. It’s not for everyone but I’m quite pleased with my results. Heck, I even got through the holidays without gaining any weight. 

And that was where the dreaded “P” word first reared its ugly head. The holidays. Talk about dirty words! 

For close to five weeks I’ve hovered within three pounds one way or the other. I stuck to the program that had peeled the weight off of me and still…nothing. I was well and truly bogged down. And I was growing frustrated. And then those old self-defeating voices that I’d not heard for several months began whispering to me. You know what they say… 

“If it’s not working you might as well eat that whole bag of Doritos.”

“See, I knew you’d stall out. Have a doughnut or six sweetie.”

And on and on. 

But instead of eating more and giving up, I reached out to other people who were trying to shed the pounds. And one suggestion I got from my PA Rachel seems to have helped. She said to mix up my foods. Make something new. Jazz up your meals. 

And I did! And it has helped. I poked around in my Noom app as well as online and found some yummy recipes, low calorie ones, that were delicious. The past week was the first time I moved beyond that danged 234 spot on the scale! Talk about being jazzed! 

To wrap this post up, I thought I’d gather some tips up for when you’re stuck and perhaps they’ll help you out. If you have any tricks that you’d like to share, drop them in the comments section. Supporting each other as we work our way to a healthier us is so important. You’re not alone. I’m right here chugging slowly along at your side. Feel free to hit me up at any time. I know how hard it is.

I’ll be back next month, and hopefully every month, to chat about how my journey is going and hopefully hear how you’re doing. Come join me if you’d like. 

Keep it up. You got this. We got this! 

Vix

 

Ways to Bust Through a Plateau

 

1-Cut back on the carbs. (EEEKK! No! Not the carbs!!)

2 Increase your activity.

3-Manage stress. (I think this was a BIG part of my recent stall. Nods knowingly.)

4-Eat more fiber while you avoid alcohol.

5- Try new low-cal recipes.

6-Get more sleep.

7-Drink water, coffee, or tea. (Yay coffee!! I love coffee. It’s my favorite said in best Buddy the Elf voice.)