January 29, 2014

So I am still struggling to figure out when I am hungry and when I am not. It's really confusing and a little embarrassing that I am having so much trouble with this. It is a powerful signal how out of touch with my body I am.

Interestingly, I went back and calculated how many calories I ate in the first two days just checking in on my hunger and found out I am right on target for weight loss. That was really encouraging.

I find it amusing that my thoughts are fixated on "Are you Hungry?"  most of the time now.

It's going to be a good long learning process.

No More Diets

On Friday I was driving home and listening to the Dr. Jenn Berman show on OWN radio. She talked about how diets don't work. My experience of gaining back half the weight I lost over the last 8 weeks reflected that. I realized that I didn't change my relationship with food.

Berman recommends using a hunger scale from 1 - 10 to continually check in with yourself. The goal is to eat at 3 - when you are hungry but not starving. Only eat to get to a 5 - neutral - rather than a 6 - 10 of being full. This idea really resonated with me. I immediately went home and downloaded the app for $3.99.

Over the weekend, I realized that I am so out of touch with my body that I am not really sure what it feels like to be hungry. I was eating when I was full. This week I am focused on figuring out what exactly the signals are that my body is sending me. 

I am cautiously optimistic about this process. It became very clear over the weekend that i do need to change my relationship with food.

January 21st

Well, as of today I have gained 15 pounds back from my 30 pound last year. It is an important wake up call that I can't lose focus for a day and keep the gains I have made. I am focused this year in being strong and healthy and getting skinnier every day. I am grateful for a supportive husband and family. I am grateful for a good job and a nice life.