Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Destined to Fail?


OK. I need somebody to talk me down from the ledge. I am fit to be tied. As some of you know, I just started WW, and was feeling so happy because everything was going so great. I was a perfect little girl all week, stayed within my limits, did double exercise, and had no cravings, no slips. I’ve been feeling really great, my clothes feel a little looser, and I’ve just generally been feeling good. Last time on the scale I went down 2 lbs and I was thrilled. I was hoping for (and was pretty certain I would get) the same this week. Imagine my horror when I stepped on the scale to see I had GAINED a pound! How did this happen? Are the Gods against me? Am I just born to fail? What went wrong here?
As you might imagine, I was very upset. I wanted to cry. I wanted to pound my fists. I know that there are biochemical processes in regard to weight loss that are very complex, and far above my power of comprehending; I realize that there are things that I simply do not understand, and that, probably one could conceivably do it all right, and still backslide, all the same, pardon my French, but WTF?????
This is just too unfair. Everyone out there knows how hard it is to be good. I know you do; I read it in your blogs, and comments everyday. So when we have a stellar week, only to get this kind of a slap in the face, it really, really hurts.
However, I know I must hold on to my sanity, and not completely give myself over to indulging in self –pity, because, that’s a dark road, and I don’t want to go there. As a matter of fact, I have already indulged in rebellion eating today, pretty mild, for the most part, but I was already up to within two points of my daily limit at 2:00 in the afternoon! As I write this, I still have 7 hours left to go until the end of the day, and only 2 legal points left to “spend”. Good luck with that, Jackie!
This is dangerous, all-too-familiar territory: I work hard, fail, get angry, and then have a temper tantrum with food. Come on now, there must be a better way!!!!!
All right, so far, the day is salvageable, I still have time to get out there and have another good, vigorous walk; and I have to keep things in perspective: I was feeling great, it feels wonderful to not eat compulsively; I definitely lost fat, or bloat, or something, because unless I am stark-raving mad, my clothes are fitting better; I was feeling great, so I cannot let this get me down. There must be a reasonable explanation, and it’s not because I am destined to fail, or I’m a hopeless case, or whatever other insult I can hurl at myself.
I know the theory about muscle weighing more than fat, and I did double the amount of exercise I was getting. But Jillian on Biggest Loser said that was a crock (I had always heard that was true, but now I’m just so confused, I don’t know what to think!)
Words of encouragement please!!!

7 comments:

  1. A pound is a pound. However, muscle is more compact than fat. So, the same 1 trillion cells of fat (GROSS!) is bigger than trillion cells of muscle. So, a pound of muscle is more densely packed than a pound of fat. Therefore trimmer.

    Double workouts would definitely increase your compactness. :D

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  2. Come down off that ledge, Girl! A high-sodium meal; a bit of constipation; heavier clothes compared to last week, any of those factors, and numerous more, can be at play. It might have been the scale. Although they will say not, sometimes those WW scales can be a little off.

    If you feel better and your clothes feel looser, run with it! You will get results at the scale. You really will. Some people just lose in weird, zig-zaggy patterns. Back in the day, I used to be a WW leader, and I saw it all the time. Keep up the good work!

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  3. Thank you so much, both of you, for the 'voice of reason', I knew I had a sane voice in my head, too, but I lost it temporarily! I'll try again!

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  4. Dont beat yourself up. I joined WW at the first of July 2009 and lost 10 pounds in the first two weeks and the third I gained 1.1. NOT because I cheated or anything. I was still doing exactly the same thing.......and I think that was the problem. My body adjusted to a "routine" I was doing. So I changed up breakfast, added more fiber and protein and it kicked it back into gear. It isnt because something you did/didnt do.....your body adapts so you have to change things up a little! You can do it! Thank you for following my blog. hopefully we will succeed on this journey together. I had fallen off the wagon the last few weeks, but Im back and more knowledgeble than ever....ready to kick butt! Im a follower of yours now too! We have to encourage one another!

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  5. um, check your ring finger for water retention.
    And weigh yourself once a month.
    You will feel better in the long run.

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  6. Hello Jackie, I know how you feel. I feel as though I am good 80 per cent of the time, but I haven't been able to get below a specific weight no matter what I do. Sometimes I gain up to 2kg. I find it so frustrating. If I'm good, nothing happens, but one tiny slip (and it can be SO tiny) and I put on weight. Grrr. Even worse when you haven't even slipped up.

    BUT - it's a challenge, and pitting your wits against it can be fun. Though for you this week I imagine it was just that's you'd drunk more water, or were still digesting food, or something. Keep it up, and next week will be better, I'm sure. Don't get disheartened.

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  7. yes, jackie we have all been there and can relate. first off, don't let a cold, hard piece of metal/plastic ruin your day. don't let it have the power over you. go by how your clothes fit and how you feel.

    you could be holding water, it could be hormonal and i still think that muscle weighs more than fat.

    it is not worth eating over. but it behind you and move forward.

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