NAParker333's Journal, 01 Mar 24

Hang in there! Maybe simply wait for the stress levels to drop. It's going to be very hard to lose now if you are very stressed, if not impossible. Be kind to yourself and try to find ways to relax. 

Slow n steady. 

You may be winning in other ways, gaining muscle, shape changes and so on.  

What can you do to elevate stress. I like using exercise.  

your just have a hiccup, you'll get back on track in no time. just keep striving for what you want. 

If you aren't seeing weight loss over a decent length of time at a 'caloric deficit' the odds are you may not actually be in one. This could be a result of incorrect calculations of calories consumed, but more likey is the result of a lower than expected BMR. I would try to lower your calorie limit and see if you see any results after ~1-2 weeks of maintaining the new limit. Best of luck! 

I understand how you feel, but I hope it helps to know that you are not alone in this. Sometimes we fall, but the important thing is to get up again...I really like Chandler's practical advice...perhaps start there...I am going to take that advice for myself as well...let's keep going. 

Stress itself will release cortisol which prevents weight loss and acts in reverse. Take a moment to relax and stop looking at the scale for a while. Keep your balanced nutrition, rest more, and laugh more, even fake laughs will help. There is a study that shows how the simple act of smiling reduces stress and boosts dopamine, the happy hormone. Try not to stress over things that are out of your control. It will not change the outcome and it will affect you negatively instead. Take it one day at a time! 

Hi there- just curious what method you are doing to loose weight? 

Stress slows me down every time. What's your plan? Have you analyzed your food to see if you've done anything different? Hang in there.  

When you're stressed, your body goes into survival mode and we all know how the body feels about losing weight when it's under attack. Do whatever you can to take your mind off the issues...even if it's a calming walk. I like listening to Pahla B on youtube. Great weight loss/life advice. Very sensible. 

I am with you, always gets harder (for me age is a huge factor too). Good luck, at least you are ready. I have been in slacker/stress eating mode. Like you 2020 was great, and now 15-18 lbs more. You got this, stick to tracking and support here. I can only blame me for not wanting to track lately.  

Hang in there, you are still on the winning side. The very fact you had sepsis is proof you are in very poor metabolic health. Make a list of the same things you eat every day and what carbohydrates they provide. Then pick the one that has 10 or more and cut it out of your diet. The next week, pick something else with 10 or more, or closest to 10 and cut it out. Do this for 4 weeks without taking on any new carbohydrates and try this new diet for 4 weeks and see what happens.  

I think it's great that you can stick to your WOE while dealing with stress. I tend to totally go off the rails with eating. Not sure why56craig67 is suggesting to keep cutting anything with 10 or more grams of carbs unless his goal is no carbs. But i did start to limit carbs to 100 a day on January 1st and lost 2 pounds a week for the first 3 weeks. So for me limiting carbs can make a difference. But i drink 16 ounces of fat free milk a day for the protein and it has over 20 grams of carbs. But if you aren't gaining weight you are ingood shape! 

I remember someone telling me that if I hit a roadblock to up my water intake. That works for me … hopefully it will work for you 🥰 

I totally feel your pain. I am happy for you that you had the wherewithal to keep 33 of the 63 lbs off - that's a win too! for the past 40 years - I keep putting most of it back on - all but 10 lbs - this year I finally (with the help of Ozempic) broke my 170 plateau that I have not been able to break since 2010. Keto/Atkins worked for me in my 20's but no longer worked for me in my 40's or 50's or my friends - strangely enough, intermittent fasting worked for me - but then the progress (despite sticking to my diet and swimming everyday, plus cutting out alcohol - which is allowed on intermittent fasting) just petered out to 2 lbs/month. This year my diet buddy and I went with LifeRx.md (affordable ozempic $285/month all in including shipping - you have to fill the syringe - it's easy enough and saves you a lot of money). I am now at 33 year lows - 163. I restarted my weight loss last Feb 1, 2023 at 206 (again gained all but 10 back - got back down to 180 from 216), Feb 1, 2024 - lost 36 lbs weighed in at 170. One month later - today, weighed in at 163, lost 7 lbs. Please note: I started ozempic Jan 2. So 2 months on ozempic - and started out at 0.1 ml - extremely small dose to get my body used to it and finally at .5 ml - which is where I am staying. It takes awhile for the ozempic dosage to get up there and start making a difference, for some people - like me. But I was happy to take it slow and let my body build up a tolerance. I wish you the best of luck- because yes - we're up against it as we get older. 58 now - and it's a slow slog - but we can do it! 

I am going to start lifting weights in addition to calorie counting. I am 66. I feel for you as I have been on a plateau for a decade it seems like. 

my skinny friends average 1200 cals per day - so that is my lifestyle change that I am incorporating into my life. Kathy Bates lost a lot of weight by "mindful eating." Not following any diet. Your body signals you when you're full, you take a gasp. Then you know to stop - for better info - please google Kathy Bates weight loss - I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors. Exercise is great - and very healthy - but really doesn't do much for the scale - in my experience. I do go to the gym and do the 30 min circuit machines + treadmill + HIIT 3 x / week - in the winter when the pool is closed - so I am definitely a fan of exercise and believed Covert Baily "Fit or Fat" in terms of exercising the weight off by building a bigger engine via muscle - worked out every day for 5 days / week in the morning before work - ate a healthy diet -but didn't change it / but didn't binge or carbo load either - and lost 0.00 lbs after 1 month. 0.00 in my 20's!  

some ladies in the office lost weight taking ALLI pills available OTC. i am not sure what you need to goose your engine - I've tried so many things - GOLO - didn't work - stacker 2000 - but stopped too hard on my heart - never did Phen Phen - there's a version of it that's back - won't go near it - other basics I've learned - which you probably know already - don't eat simple carbs first thing in the morning - or just before bed - (cheese is excellent before bed -takes a while for your body to digest it and brings up your metabolism) B12 sublingual drops help my energy levels when i dip, my friend does yoga to help with stress - she does it every morning in her home - has some sort of tape i guess - again - best wishes - just trying to share what I've learned in the hopes that it helps you - sorry if I told you a bunch of stuff you already knew 

I think if you follow CICO you can be successful. I follow a mostly non processed WOE, with an emphasis on protein. I do count macros but I also weightlift and work out 5-6 days a week. I lost 60 ish lbs and have been in maintenance for a few years now. Are you logging your foods? I also find prepping helps me. I prep lots of raw vegetables for snacks. I wish you the best! You did it once before, you can do it again!💜