TGIF! I’m happy to report that I’m finally tracking my eating again, after not doing so during the full course of my recent two-week vacation, and four days after my return. Those following my updates saw that I gained much more than expected during my time away from home. Stress eating and illness unfortunately played a part.
I posted my weeks 5 & 6 Friday Fitness and Weight Loss updates (vacation weeks) this past Monday. Today is my week 7 update, just five days later. Below you can see what happened these past five days. It’s pretty significant, I think.
Week’s weight change: -2.8 lbs (-1.27 kg) in just the last five days! I am very relieved about this loss, though my current weight is still 0.8 lbs (0.36 kg) up from my week 4 weight, before my vacation.
Total weight loss to date (over 7 weeks): -7 lbs (-3.18 kg)
Week’s exercise (above & beyond): Untracked. My exercise amounts plummeted in the last several days compared to the days during my vacation. I did, however, get some exercise running through airports this past Saturday (long story), and was quite physically active the day before yesterday (again, long story). Most of the other days I was literally in bed.
Earlier this week, I was quite ill with a combination of a bipolar disorder episode with mixed features (click here to learn about them), and stomach issues. Because of them, I did not resume dieting until yesterday. Though some days I just ate what was easiest (i.e. pizza), others I didn’t eat much at all because of some nausea I had. My increased energy levels during my bipolar episode surely contributed to a quicker burn of calories. It was probably because of these factors, and ones I mention below, that I lost the 2.8 lbs (1.27 kg) in just five days.
The day after my husband and I returned home from vacation, we did a small grocery shopping trip. We bought vegetables and fruit, milk, and a couple lunch/dinner options. Though most of these first meals at home weren’t tracked, they were at least reasonably healthful choices. Even a few of the meals we ate out after our return, were good choices. We also practiced good portion control, unlike during the vacation. I plan to do a larger grocery shopping trip this weekend.
I’m glad that my vacation and special celebrations (like my recent anniversary) are over. It’s true that U.S. Memorial Day is this weekend, but we haven’t any special plans for it. Maybe we’ll grill something, but that can be a low fat/calorie option. We’ll skip the mayonnaise-based salads. Routine and “normal” days are so welcome right now. I’m also almost past the jet lag I had.
Interim goals: This week, I want to be sure to track my eating every single day and resume pre-planning meals. I would also like to add in more exercise now that I’m feeling better. It would be great to lose the 0.8 lbs needed to get back to my week 4 weight. I hope I do that, but even if I just maintain (or even gain an ounce or two), having resumed tracking will be an accomplishment.
Rather than post a recipe, I thought I’d provide a link to a post I wrote about portion control a while ago. It’s one of my most “liked” posts on diet issues. It’s a good reminder for me, too. Click Total confusion about portion sizes? to see that post.
To read about the weight loss plan and tools I chose for this effort, click My Fitness and Weight Loss Plan Described. You can also read my very first post introducing this effort at Long haul healthy weight and fitness efforts – creation of a Friday post series.
Bird Flight 