One Month of Lost Time

I have no idea where February went, nor any idea how it can be a month since I've last posted to the blog.

It's been a rough month overall. The future of my job is uncertain--it's a grant-funded position and is set to expire on June 30--and as my mood has gone down, guess what has gone up. That's right, my weight.

I am mindlessly eating, just grabbing something to eat and snacking...and snacking...and snacking. At this point, I'm up about 15 total pounds from my set-point in November (still 30 pounds below where I started in September). I've noticed the weight creeping up, but have been able to hold stable now for about 2 weeks.

I'm frustrated with the weight gain and have definitely noticed that, in addition to my mood being down, I don't feel nearly as good physically as I did 2-3 months ago. I'm back on a Phase I menu (whole foods, organic if I can find them) with lots of veggies and fruit and water.

What has this proven to me? The Somae Plan helps, as long as you are truly willing to adopt it as a lifestyle and have the motivation to stick to it. I had thought (subconsciously, of course) that I would be able to slip back into some of my old habits without ramifications. My body craves salads, yet I've been grabbing a quick burger instead.

2 months until I run in the Flying Pig 5K, and I will be back down below my weight from Thanksgiving.

Back to the Trenches: Starting Over

Weight: 238.0 pounds

Well, I have now gained 10 pounds from my set point at Thanksgiving. Unlike the past when I would say "I don't know WHY I've gained the weight", I know exactly why I've gained it back. I've lost touch with the whole foods diet I had enjoyed (and I really DID enjoy it) during my time on the 12-week Somae Plan. The past couple of weeks of illness, a LOT of stress and too much ice and snow to run outside have gotten me out of my rhythm.

Excuses, I know...but the truth.

So, I'm getting back to it hard core tomorrow. I have reposted my goals and recommended meal planning guide ( I forgot how wide-open it really is). I'm going to hit Whole Foods Market for some of the staples (raw sunflower seeds, fresh made peanut butter, coconut milk) and plan a day or so ahead for my meals.

The other thing I'm doing is, in late February, I will be going back on the hCG injections and Very Low Calorie Diet. I know that some are still a little concerned about that decision (or will be when they read this), but there are both physical and psychological reasons for my decision. The hCG, in addition to curbing cravings and helping burn fat, made my sleep cycles much more regular. With regular sleep cycles, I was going to bed at 9 or 9:30 and sleeping through the night. Now, I'm sitting awake until 12:30 or 1:00 a.m. and, while watching tv or working on the computer, I'm munching on whatever snack I can find...and it has included some pretty odd things, none of them "healthy".

I'm also going to recommit to my running regimen once the ice melts, and will use the treadmill in the meantime. The Flying Pig 5K is just around the corner.