Katetype2
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi all,
If you remember, last week I was just a few oz away from hitting my 6st milestone. So did I manage to do it?
Nope!
I have managed to gain a pound, which means that in the last month I have only lost 2lbs. I must admit that I am getting a bit frustrated now. So in order to keep motivated to get over this hump, I want to remind myself how far I have come and acknowledge it’s not all about the numbers on the scales. Apologies but this may end up a bit long…
When I think about the state of my health this time last year, I need to remember just how bad it was. I was in constant pain with my back problem. I was experiencing regular, embarrassing hot sweats that left me literally dripping with sweat - often on the train or in the office. I had a little phase of vertigo. I was chronically exhausted all the time. I couldn’t concentrate or make decisions. I couldn’t look at myself in a full length mirror. I was starting to outgrow the clothes I was struggling to find. I dreaded walking anywhere and avoided stairs like the plague. I was out of breath all the time. My HBA1C was 60. My blood pressure was high. I often felt weak and fragile, and I genuinely felt vulnerable in a way that scared me.
I have come so far since then. I’m a different person. I have a long way to go still, but each day I feel further and further removed from the person I was last year. Success in this journey really is more than what the scales say in any given week or month.
According to my body composition scales, the weight I have gained is muscle. Not visceral fat or subcutaneous fat. Between December and now I have steadily increased my skeletal muscle mass by 1.9% despite being in a constant calorie deficit. My overall skeletal muscle mass has understandably decreased by 1st 9.2lbs. Although this is a lot, it could be much more had I not made a concerted effort to strength train.
My BMI has dropped by 13.7 points. I have decreased my total body fat by 3.2%. My subcutaneous fat has decreased by 1.3%. My visceral fat has dropped by 7 points. My body water has increased by 2.2%. My body protein has increased by 1%.
In fitness terms, I have gone from having the strength of a 52 year old back in December, to having a strength age of 31 (I am actually 45). My bio age has 64 to 50. In December my strength test on a leg press was 103lbs. Now it’s 375lbs. I can comfortably run up three or four flights of stairs without getting out of breath.
In January my resting heart rate was 74bpm. Now it’s 64bpm. My Sp02 (blood oxygen saturation) has gone from 93% to 95%. My cardio fitness score has gone from poor to average. My average step count has gone from 2384 in January to 7040 now.
When you look at all of the above, a slow month on the scales kind of pales into insignificance. Is it annoying that I’m not losing? Sure. But looking at what really matters has put things in to perspective. Even some of the sillier things that have improved count. For example, this week I was able to pick up a pack of new knickers from ASDA. Nothing out of the ordinary about that, you might think - but I cannot remember the last time I have been able to buy underwear in a store and not from an online retailer for obese people. Yesterday I went out with friends and sat in a booth - I didn’t have to worry about not fitting in it.
I’m not done. There is so much more to achieve. Sometimes it is really hard to keep going, but reflecting on what has changed has really helped me gain perspective.
This week I have been back in my groove with exercise. My muscles have recovered from the shock of having a little break and are feeling so much better post-workout.
Food wise has been tricky as I am struggling with a bit of hunger. Yesterday, I had my first ‘cheat day’ since Christmas Day. My best friend who lives abroad was in the country so me and the girls went for a few drinks and a meal. I had been to the gym in the morning and we did a fair bit of walking, including popping to see Black Sabbath Bridge while the tributes to Ozzy were still out. My lovely friends were (lovingly) encouraging me to have a day off tracking things - but I tracked stuff anyway and I ended up consuming some 2331 calories. My goal for the day was 1414 - but with exercise I had an extra 1555 to play with. In the end I still had 638 calories left over. However, having that many calories in a day is unheard of for me now, so I must admit that I did feel rather unsettled by it. There is still that hangover from years of toxic diet culture that makes you feel like you have blown it all. That toxicity is an incredibly high mental hurdle to jump over. But again, reviewing the facts has helped me put it in to perspective. I had 648 calories LEFT OVER. I did not fail - I actually succeeded.
I confess I had a brief thought yesterday about cutting back for a few days to make up for it. Again, that toxic diet culture clawing at my brain and trying to steer me towards toxic choices. You will be glad to hear that I have chosen not to punish myself for having a beautiful day with my best friends - something I rarely get to do. Everyone deserves a special occasion - even me! That is a huge mental shift - a sign that I am repairing my relationship with food and leaving that toxicity behind.
Mounjaro wise, there is nothing to report this week.
I’m not done. I’m not giving up. I’m going to keep it pushing. I will succeed.
Wow. That was a long one, eh? If you have made it this far then thank you for taking the time to plough through my diatribe!
Have a peaceful and pleasant week.
K x
SW: 23st 2lb (18/11/24)
CW: 17st 3.8lb
Total lost: 5st 12.2lb (25.4
If you remember, last week I was just a few oz away from hitting my 6st milestone. So did I manage to do it?
Nope!
I have managed to gain a pound, which means that in the last month I have only lost 2lbs. I must admit that I am getting a bit frustrated now. So in order to keep motivated to get over this hump, I want to remind myself how far I have come and acknowledge it’s not all about the numbers on the scales. Apologies but this may end up a bit long…
When I think about the state of my health this time last year, I need to remember just how bad it was. I was in constant pain with my back problem. I was experiencing regular, embarrassing hot sweats that left me literally dripping with sweat - often on the train or in the office. I had a little phase of vertigo. I was chronically exhausted all the time. I couldn’t concentrate or make decisions. I couldn’t look at myself in a full length mirror. I was starting to outgrow the clothes I was struggling to find. I dreaded walking anywhere and avoided stairs like the plague. I was out of breath all the time. My HBA1C was 60. My blood pressure was high. I often felt weak and fragile, and I genuinely felt vulnerable in a way that scared me.
I have come so far since then. I’m a different person. I have a long way to go still, but each day I feel further and further removed from the person I was last year. Success in this journey really is more than what the scales say in any given week or month.
According to my body composition scales, the weight I have gained is muscle. Not visceral fat or subcutaneous fat. Between December and now I have steadily increased my skeletal muscle mass by 1.9% despite being in a constant calorie deficit. My overall skeletal muscle mass has understandably decreased by 1st 9.2lbs. Although this is a lot, it could be much more had I not made a concerted effort to strength train.
My BMI has dropped by 13.7 points. I have decreased my total body fat by 3.2%. My subcutaneous fat has decreased by 1.3%. My visceral fat has dropped by 7 points. My body water has increased by 2.2%. My body protein has increased by 1%.
In fitness terms, I have gone from having the strength of a 52 year old back in December, to having a strength age of 31 (I am actually 45). My bio age has 64 to 50. In December my strength test on a leg press was 103lbs. Now it’s 375lbs. I can comfortably run up three or four flights of stairs without getting out of breath.
In January my resting heart rate was 74bpm. Now it’s 64bpm. My Sp02 (blood oxygen saturation) has gone from 93% to 95%. My cardio fitness score has gone from poor to average. My average step count has gone from 2384 in January to 7040 now.
When you look at all of the above, a slow month on the scales kind of pales into insignificance. Is it annoying that I’m not losing? Sure. But looking at what really matters has put things in to perspective. Even some of the sillier things that have improved count. For example, this week I was able to pick up a pack of new knickers from ASDA. Nothing out of the ordinary about that, you might think - but I cannot remember the last time I have been able to buy underwear in a store and not from an online retailer for obese people. Yesterday I went out with friends and sat in a booth - I didn’t have to worry about not fitting in it.
I’m not done. There is so much more to achieve. Sometimes it is really hard to keep going, but reflecting on what has changed has really helped me gain perspective.
This week I have been back in my groove with exercise. My muscles have recovered from the shock of having a little break and are feeling so much better post-workout.
Food wise has been tricky as I am struggling with a bit of hunger. Yesterday, I had my first ‘cheat day’ since Christmas Day. My best friend who lives abroad was in the country so me and the girls went for a few drinks and a meal. I had been to the gym in the morning and we did a fair bit of walking, including popping to see Black Sabbath Bridge while the tributes to Ozzy were still out. My lovely friends were (lovingly) encouraging me to have a day off tracking things - but I tracked stuff anyway and I ended up consuming some 2331 calories. My goal for the day was 1414 - but with exercise I had an extra 1555 to play with. In the end I still had 638 calories left over. However, having that many calories in a day is unheard of for me now, so I must admit that I did feel rather unsettled by it. There is still that hangover from years of toxic diet culture that makes you feel like you have blown it all. That toxicity is an incredibly high mental hurdle to jump over. But again, reviewing the facts has helped me put it in to perspective. I had 648 calories LEFT OVER. I did not fail - I actually succeeded.
I confess I had a brief thought yesterday about cutting back for a few days to make up for it. Again, that toxic diet culture clawing at my brain and trying to steer me towards toxic choices. You will be glad to hear that I have chosen not to punish myself for having a beautiful day with my best friends - something I rarely get to do. Everyone deserves a special occasion - even me! That is a huge mental shift - a sign that I am repairing my relationship with food and leaving that toxicity behind.
Mounjaro wise, there is nothing to report this week.
I’m not done. I’m not giving up. I’m going to keep it pushing. I will succeed.
Wow. That was a long one, eh? If you have made it this far then thank you for taking the time to plough through my diatribe!
Have a peaceful and pleasant week.
K x
SW: 23st 2lb (18/11/24)
CW: 17st 3.8lb
Total lost: 5st 12.2lb (25.4
and we are all sending positive vibes for those scales to reward you next week.