Sabotaging My Own Weight Loss

Posted on Dec 1st 2010 1:00PM by Ashley Wisniewski

Filed Under: Motivation, Tipping the Scales

Well, Thanksgiving sure did come and go quickly, didn't it? One day it was Wednesday and I was leaving work early and then it felt like the next I was setting the alarm to wake up for work on Monday.

I surprised myself by sticking to my Thanksgiving plan. The morning of Thanksgiving, I woke up early and walked 5k on the treadmill. I don't really understand why, but walking on the treadmill is more painful on my knees than running on the treadmill. It took me a couple of days to recover from the pain.

What was most shocking for me was that I stuck to my one-plate rule! Prior to the Thanksgiving meal, there was a vegetable tray. I think filling up on carrots, celery and a lot of water helped to keep me from overeating during the main meal.

Although I handled Thanksgiving fairly well, I did fall into some old traps over the long weekend. Because my knee was bothering me, I didn't stick to my workout plan. Because I was simply lazy, I made poor food choices.

It is crucial to be prepared, and I followed a very detailed, well-thought-out plan through Thanksgiving; however, I was unprepared for the cravings that kicked in following my indulgences during the holiday. Don't get me wrong: I loved having time away from the office, but since I didn't have my schedule to guide my eating, I didn't pick up where I left off prior to Thanksgiving.

I love my husband for many reasons, one of which is his honesty. As I was sitting there practically begging him to let me order a pizza, he firmly asked me why was I trying to sabotage myself. I realized two things in that moment: One, I still have serious problem with my relationship with food. And two, he was right. (In case you were wondering, we didn't order the pizza.)

As I learned last week, when I actually prepare and execute a healthy plan for my meals, snacks and exercise, I lose weight. When I skate through the process, I either gain weight or I stay the same. I can't put forth 50 percent effort and expect 110 percent results. If I want exceptional progress, I must put forth exceptional effort -- and not for a few days at a time, but for weeks and months at a time, to produce the results I deserve. I keep telling myself this, but it definitely didn't sink in post-Thanksgiving.

I am feeling really frustrated right now. I really think my husband was on to something when he asked me why I was sabotaging myself. I'm nearly halfway into my yearlong blog project, and I'm still making some of the same mistakes I made five months ago. I have lost weight but sadly, only about 10 pounds since I started blogging. I do have some very good weeks, and I have had some success along the way, but I really thought I'd be well under 200 pounds and racing towards the finish line to my goal by the time December came along.

More on Tipping the Scales:
Eating Healthy Is Harder Than I Thought
Can I Lose Weight and Enjoy Thanksgiving?
My Wii Told Me I'm Fat

After decades of dieting only to gain it back, two That's Fit readers have decided to finally rethink their relationship with food and exercise over the next year to move toward a lifetime of fulfilling, healthy living. Come by every week as Ashley and Lee share their successes and challenges as they tip the scale.

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Tags: emotional eating, lose weight, tipping-the-scales

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

Koren 12-01-2010 @ 2:51PM

Ashley, I really appreciate your honesty and openness. I am a nutrition coach and I reposted your Thanksgiving post because it had such great tips! I'm glad you acknowledge your successes because that is as important as looking at what we're doing wrong. Thanksgiving is a super tough holiday to stay on track because of that long 4-day weekend. Keep up the great posts :)

Linda 12-04-2010 @ 7:24AM

I could have written Ashley story. I was so excited how well I did on Thanksgiving day only to totally blow it the rest of the weekend. Much to my surprise I only gained 1 pound when I weighed in at Weight Watchers. I'm back on track and loving the new WW plan. Hopefully it will get me through Christmas. Fortunately, my two daughters are both Weight Watchers and the total for the three of us is 210 pounds!! They inspire me! Thanks for your comments!

Pearl 12-03-2010 @ 9:20AM

It's so important to have the support of loved ones! www.suesueandsue.com It helps get over these "out of control" moments!

Toby 12-04-2010 @ 7:53AM

I have been cooking food for myself.. and that is how I have found ways to cut my calories.. but the problem was I didn't know how to cook till my wife got me this hilarious cookbook for Xmas last year..it is a bit politically incorrect so I won't say the name here.. but if you have a good sense of humor and can take a good joke.. google "whipped and beaten culinary works" to find it..but don't go if you can't take a good joke.. seriously.

Barbara 12-03-2010 @ 9:59AM

I am a compulsive overeater. I either go whole-hog, or I cheat once, and consider I've failed. Years ago I joined Overeaters Anonymous. I lost down to my goal and maintained it for a year and a half. Boy, was I proud!!! I got through Thanksgiving and Christmas, also proud. AFTER the holidays, I broke my diet on breaded, fried BROCCOLI, for Heavens sakes! I later learned that we sometimes are scared by our own success. We have nothing to strive for and can't stand it. Hope this also helps. I'm now trying again, on my own, not being so smug, and not being so fanatical.

Barbara

JZ 12-03-2010 @ 6:45PM

It is so hard to stick to an eating plan when you can't exersize.
If you try walking outside instead of on a treadmill you might be able to walk longer with less pain(Cold weather burns more calories). When you go off your eating plan make sure you exersize a little longer to burn the extra calories you consumed. If you want to eat something, make the choice to wear the calories off. This works in reverse as well, if you do alot of exersize, give yourself a small treat. This will make for a more balanced success, and be easier to sustain over the long haul.

Think of it like a prepaid credit card. You pay in your work(exersize)and you get x amount of expendable calorie intake. The key is keeping a credit on your account.

GR 12-04-2010 @ 7:18AM

I failed spelling at an early age. Never even passed the fifth grade. Try exercise instead of exersize? Duh...

Janice 12-03-2010 @ 12:07PM

I used to walk on a treadmill practically every day for three miles. Then I decided to try out for our local sheriff's department and started running at a nearby track. Well, my knees gave out. I went to the doctor thinking I might have torn something, but it is actually tendonitis. He sees a lot of bad knees, and he feels it was the shoes, not the walking or running that messed me up. I did some research and have found there is a movement to go barefoot, especially on treadmills. Apparently, while the shoes are great at protecting the feet, they reek at preventing the wobble that stresses the knees. Ashley, don't get discouraged. I kicked up my resistance training and do more Pilates. Yoga also. (The Pilates does make the knees feel better!) While I don't get the same exercise "high", I'm keeping in shape and giving my knees a chance to heal.

Christine 12-05-2010 @ 11:38AM

I am a big fan of barefooting it on the treadmill--and for many workouts. After doing yoga for a couple years (barefoot all the time), you start to notice how unstable you really are in some sneakers.

Marie 12-03-2010 @ 12:26PM

I'm on an Edgar Cayce remedy diet, water and grape juice to drink only (instead of soda), and it's been working. I haven't had soda in so long that's it's no longer like I'm depriving myself, so it doesn't feel like a diet at all. I've never eaten terribly badly; I listen to my body and eat what I'm craving, which could be anything from red meat for my iron levels to broccoli for the greens. A little bad thing here and there, not to deprive myself of anything, but no real binges on sweets. Unfortunately, I've now started Seroquel, which makes me crave chocolate; a false, *chemically* induced want. For a while I was going through *tubs* of chocolate frosting. So I know what it is to sabotage myself, and I'm still going through these false cravings like my body *needs* it when it doesn't. My mother was the first to notice and warn me that I would start gaining weight back; it was a shock, as I hadn't even noticed it.

I know it's not easy, especially since I had a dream about Hershey's bars *dancing* just last night, but it's definitely worth it to be able to look in the mirror again, and you'll never feel happier than when you get a comment on how much weight you lost, how skinny you are. And this is without adding exercise, though it's taken a year or so. Water flushes out toxins and grape juice boosts your metabolism; cut out the soda and try it. It may not be all you need to do, but it will certainly help. (Real grape juice by the way, 100%.)

tistyen 12-03-2010 @ 12:58PM

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who has trouble staying on an eating plan when I'm off work. I find that it's much easier to maintain a healthy diet (and my blood sugar) when I'm working because then I have a structured meal schedule: breakfast in the car on the way to work, yogurt between 10 & 10:30, lunch between noon and 1, a light snack between 4 & 4:30 to keep my blood sugar under control, and dinner when I get home. When I'm off work, I don't have any kind of schedule, so I tend to get sloppier about what I eat and when.

Floyd Back 12-03-2010 @ 2:44PM

You must understand, that as far as diet goes, any processed wheat(bread, pizza, pasta) is bad for you. Substitute Quinoa or Wehani, or Japonica Rice instead. As far as treadmill work goes or any aerobic machine, you have to understand that you do NOT begin to lose fat(weight) until the 40 minute mark. All these health clubs that put a 30 minute limit on these machines, are not doing their clients right. Also important for HEART health is that on these machines it is necessary to change the speed by .3mph every 3 minutes, up or down. A pyramid is best. The heart is a muscle that needs to be trained in all its ranges. Change the speed, throw away the IPOD, turn off the TV, do not read either. Exercise is defined as "Making The Mind-Body Connection". You can't do that with these distractions. Back to diet; eliminate all caffeine, all citrus especially that sugar loaded orange juice(drink Mega-green) Eliminating dairy wouldn't hurt either. No Butter or Margarine. Use sprouted wheat bread for sandwiches. Ezekial or Alvarado Street(in the frozen section). Red Quinoi(pronounced Keen-wha) is the best grain you can eat. Make it just like rice 2/1, add some coconut oil for flavor. Do not eat dark poultry, or red meat(once a month). Do resistance training correctly. It is my observation that 80% of the people in any given gym are doing it wrong, spinning their wheels, their bodies never change. Find a trainer that knows what he/she is doing, they are rare. Most of them are not good observers which makes them ineffective trainers. Put this together and you will change your body, for the better. Be more disciplined than you have ever been in your life, but do allow a few goodies. You don't have to be 100%

Tammy 12-03-2010 @ 3:01PM

You must never give up. Take set backs in stride always with the idea in the back of your mind to get at it again for the next meal or the next day. Keep plugging away because you will reach your goal. No food is so important to eat that you can't get by without satisfying your craving. It is just simply that, a craving. Think about what the food tastes like and mull it over in your mind for a few minutes, and then move on. Give yourself a day or two to eat what you want. This will keep you sane to stick to your diet the rest of the time. It is what I do and I have kept 131 lbs. off for nearly 4 years.

eric 12-03-2010 @ 3:19PM

I lost 76 lbs. 4 years ago. We take responsibilty for what we eat every time we put something in our mouths. Eating becomes a pathology when eating or not eating becomes obsessive. It is difficult but the more time that passes the less important food is to me. The initial period was bad and I had problems in social situations but now I don't care what others eat or think about what I eat.

kittylit 12-03-2010 @ 4:10PM

Compulsive eaters should read "Women, Food and God" by Geneen Roth. It gives great insight into the struggle and constructive suggestions as to how to win this fight. I am neither associated with the book or the author nor religious in any way, but read it myself and found it very helpful.

anaconda 12-03-2010 @ 4:40PM

Take it from someone who has lost over 50lbs - EAT! What you should have done during Thanksgiving is to allow yourself a free eating day(without stuffing yourself sick, of course). It sounds like you were deeply depriving yourself leading up to the holiday,and pushing yourself physically on top of it. Adding insult to injury, you remained the Good Dieter on Thanksgiving. As the old saying goes, "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

There are many people who have lost large amounts of weight while still being able to indulge, including me. I looked at it as learning a new skill for myself. I read long term weight loss success stories, and learned how to budget my treats into my daily intake of between 1400-1600 calories. You will achieve your goal if you adopt new eating habits that will last a life time. Good luck!

Julie 12-03-2010 @ 6:21PM

Ashley, I completely agree with Anaconda. Dieting is not easy for anyone, but I think it causes more harm to deny yourself simple pleasures in life. Don't beat yourself up. If you stick to your goals - which should be realistic, then treat yourself every now and then and don't feel guilty. The more you deprive yourself, the more your going to want it. If your not happy with your current diet plan, then maybe you should check out others available. I wish you all the best.

knuckles 12-04-2010 @ 2:34PM

Hi
How did you count your calories? Did you use an online program, or did you look them up in a book and write them down? I think your idea is great. Allow treats now and then, just count them. Can you let me know?

Gia 12-03-2010 @ 6:09PM

That's what the holidays are for! Getting together with loved ones and friends and eating good foods and desserts and NOT WORRYING every second about your butt or your turkey waddle chin! WHO CARES! Live life, have fun and be the best person you can be. If people don't like your outter exterior then F THEM!

Betty 12-03-2010 @ 6:52PM

Before I read the article and any of the comments I will make this comment: Don't we all sabotage our diets? I will admit that among the exercise equipment and the diet products I have, I still keep a supply of chips and dip, and cherry vanilla ice cream. And I do indulge often. Now I will see how far off topic I am.