I am just amazed at how quickly the weight has come off this time. I'm not doing anything spectacular, just staying within my calories and making sure that those calories count (protein, veggies, fruit). Lots of water. And exercising as much as my untrained body will let me. I have had times I've been too sore to exercise or too sick, which feels a little ridiculous to have had both issues in such a short time period. But, I'm really trying to take lessons from all the other times I have tried to lose weight in the past and apply the pieces that worked and change the pieces that didn't. So far my inner mantra has been "balance." I'm shooting for quality foods, and maintaining my blood sugar so that I can stabilize my cravings. So far that has meant staying far away from sugar and fake sugar which both make me want more. Eating protein at every meal and really measuring everything.
The hardest part for me was getting through the first 3 days. That's usually my biggest hurdle. I don't know how many times I've thought I should lose weight and go all out for 3 days and then give up for every reason in the book - tired, hungry, sore, hormonal, social events, etc. This time I'm reducing the number of social events that are back to back, and trying to stick to the basics. If I'm going to have a big treat, I need to have a big work out. Calories in always count, so keep track of all of them.
Then, there is the emotional side I'm trying to hack. I'm working on separating the idea of "deserving" food for doing something. I'm trying to focus on food as an energy source that I make decisions about each day and paying attention to how the food physically makes me feel separately from how it makes me feel emotionally. I'm aware that different foods trigger not only emotional associations, but also release different neurochemicals. So, as I'm making a choice about which food I want, I'm trying to find the most basic reason that I want the food balanced against the other foods that I've had that day. So my reasoning looks like this:
1) Am I really hungry or am I thirsty?
2) What type of food did I eat last, and when?
3) What nutrients am I short on? Do I need protein, fiber, carbs, veggies, good fats?
4) When is my workout - is it coming up soon - eat light or wait. Just finished working out - drink water and eat some carbs and protein.
5) How soon is bed?
6) Have I eaten enough today or not quite enough.
This is my version of trying to find balance. It's far from perfect, but seems to be working this time, so maybe it will be fine for me.