Hello, there. I’m posting this update a couple of days later than usual. It’s been a pretty busy time! We celebrated a few family birthdays (not exaggerating) over the weekend and it’s only Tuesday but I feel like it’s been a big week already! I say that every week, so yep…
Anyway, this past week (Week 4 of the school term) was a bit disappointing but I do have a pretty clear conscience, so I guess shit happens.
Here’s where I’m at…
Look. I put ON weight. I plateaued all week and by the end, registered a 300g gain. I was not very pleased by this! This was a great exercise in why the numbers on a scale aren’t everything. They can be important when you need to lose weight, but they aren’t everything – especially if you can tick off the list that you’re doing as much as you can without having a friggin’ eating disorder (and I promise am not making light of it). I was really disappointed at first. I asked myself what I could improve, but I realised that short of becoming disordered in my behaviour (or burning out against my better judgement), I would just have to keep plugging along and ride this out.
I had to look at other signs that I was getting results. I weigh daily and get a weekly average. My average was down by 100g from week 3. I guess that’s better than no improvement at all? Also, my body fat had slowly and steadily decreased throughout the week.
I also realise that I felt bloated and yuck for half the week, but I was kind of relieved to feel it and hate it, because I was probably like that all week, every week before I started trying to be healthier (again). I wouldn’t have known the difference and now I do.
I also have to hope that it was just fluid retention (f*ck being a lady) and even some building of muscle. Hopefully I’ll have better results by the end of week 5.
My clothes still generally feel better on me. I’m more comfortable and I am even realising that despite the fact I can’t afford it, I may need to buy new tops for the summer! I had floaty things that skimmed over my problem areas (mostly the mid section), but they seem to be a size too big for me now and I just look silly in them or larger than I am. I like how I look in a t-shirt – I have a little bit of shape again. I was starting to feel boxy.
This could be due to no big hormonal changes (blah blah shit fertility blah blah) this cycle, but I like to think that maybe my diet and my sweating out of toxins has improved my skin! Sure, I could be a PMSy, pimply mess seconds after posting this (and jinxing myself) but for now I am stoked that I feel much more confident only wearing a light layer of BB cream when I head out of the house.
My step count wasn’t amazing (51,018 out of 70,000) but I did exercise properly 3 times throughout the week.
Good choices I made…
I was at a couple of birthday events over the weekend. There were opportunities to eat cake and potato everything and pizza and all kinds of carb loaded things. I can’t say I didn’t consider having some – so tempting! I was really good, though. I kept my pre-meal nibbling to a minimum (no crackers and rich cheeses for me) and I chose my main meals wisely. Nothing is perfect when you’re eating away from home, but I think I did so well and I enjoyed myself, which is the main thing! I think my desire to stay on track was bigger than my desire to eat my old favourites. I didn’t want to sabotage myself just because my weight was plateauing – an old unhelpful habit.
Also, nobody shamed me or guilted me into eating anything I didn’t want to. What I put on my plate was of no consequence to anyone but myself. I love how I can make these choices without having to cause a fuss.
Things I could improve next week…
I could keep my step count up. I say this every week. Ha. At least I keep on trying? It’s good to have my eyes on a goal and to keep aspiring to reach it. I know I am doing more than I would have without that goal (or the motivation I get from being in challenges with my Fitbit friends). I guess that’s something, but I can always improve!
Drink more water! I need more H2O in my life! I have been terrible at this. I know it will help my overall health, flush out my digestive system etc. I just have trouble remembering to keep on sipping! Any tips?
How are you going this week? What healthy habits are you working on?
You can follow my efforts with the hashtag #kezgetsphysical on my social media
