We have a forum on my Phit-N-Phat site special to me. It’s the Onederland Forum where women who are over 200lbs share support and get help from me on getting into the land that start with ONE. It’s special to me because I remember being 250lbs and dreaming of stepping on the scale and not seeing a TWO as the first number.
In that forum we really hit the nail on the head about what it’s like for women in the 200’s. Today was one of those days I felt like my advice needed to be shared with more than those girls. I hope some of you reading this will be inspired to join us over there or at least get some thought-provoking ideas.
The brave and raw question posted to me was…
How can you be so fat and struggle to get calories in when "on plan"? Is it that I am just that bad when "off plan"?
I know my mom probably ate about 2200-2600 calories a day of really crappy food (Jack In the Box) in one sitting back before she lost her weight. She didn't overeat all the time. She just didn't move much outside of general life and she would maybe eat a couple things a day like milk and a few crackers. She NEVER ate breakfast and once she got off work she hit the drive thru and was done. On weekends she would eat more meals because she wasn’t working and be in the 3000 calorie range for the day (sometimes more). Over time her metabolism went down hill, her body was getting mostly non-nutritious foods so it shuttled a lot of it to her fat stores, and she did that whole starve/feed/store it up as fat thing.
A lot of the heaviest people I know, myself included back in the day, didn't binge all the time. We simply didn't eat a lot and when we did it was a lot of calorie packed foods.
I know you read my journal. I've kept a record of two splurge meals. LOL. Splurge my ass! The old Corinne would have DEFINITELY called my splurge what we do when we diet. Chicken and pasta with marinara, a Ruby Tuesday salad without dressing and salads, no croutons, no cheese, etc. a few fries from Chris' plate. Maybe have two glasses of wine and decaf coffee with splenda. And, for dessert I make a 400-500 calories protein powder oats thing at home. May be a splurge today but back then that was dieting!
Do you see what I am saying? You are in a cycle when you "diet". You do "well" with starvation (1200-1400 calories) a few days because you are motivated, well planned, got the groceries, and everyone knows momma is on a diet. After a few days or weeks, you can't get to the store, someone gets sick, motivation is GONE because you are starving by this point, and the plan stinks because it makes you hungry or has no FUN food you normally eat when OFF plan.
Then the hubs walks in wanting to go get food from a place you normally says sucks. You go with good intentions but can’t make great choices and leave having eaten 1200 calories in one sitting which is what you ate the day before. Your body holds onto it and because you did "bad" and that leads to you having a "bad" weekend or week. Your body is STILL holding on to all that food you put in and it's easily going to be more calories than you think.
This is why I say in the beginning for people with a lot to lose you should track no-matter-what. It might not be pretty some days but that’s OK. It might be embarrassing but only for a couple of times because you would notice your own patterns and be able to fix them. It will help you to plan better, know what foods you need in your plan and what you don’t really care about, etc. Right now you don't know where your own breakdowns truly are outside of just something happens, I give up, and don't know why I can't restart.
If any of this sounds like you, join us in the Onederland Forum and get support. We’d love to chat with you!
