Another change of tact

I ditched the Lose It app routine-- it was a handy tool for establishing a baseline with food but now I feel it forces the wrong numbers to my attention.  I am maintaining daily weight bearing and cardio-- still have yet to integrate tai chi or yoga but I'm avoiding being too strict at this point.  I rushed into this over ambitiously and I think I set myself up for sabotage too much.  Calorie reduction should be gradual and exercise should be challenging but not really painful.  Especially with a condition that shoots deceptive pain signals!

So what are the important things I've noticed?  I am going up and down stairs easier, less exertion.  I am tiring less easily and sleep quality is a little better.  This isn't some quick miraculous change-- it has been gradual but noticeable.  The heel pain is less pronounced after low impact exercise.  High impact is far too risky because of the weight bearing damage it has taken being a cashier.  Again, chronic pain makes this something I have to be more intuitive about.  Skin and muscle feels firmer around my joints-- neck and shoulder muscles, knees especially.  I look slimmer all over even if weight isn't "melting off".  I wouldn't want it to anyway; I'm not up for plastic surgery if I end up with saggy skin from rapid loss.  I'd be miserable doing that anyway.

My stomach and digestive system is tricky and sensitive so I do have to pay attention to that too.  I've had to keep milk of magnesia in stock just in case I misjudge that.  Again, since I've established a baseline for food, this occurs less but is still a factor.

Overall, I'm happier.  I have heard that the numbers I should focus on are the inches.  Weight loss does not indicate the extent of the healthy process I'm going through.  Right now, I'm actually content to not chase any numbers.  The benefits felt are enough to keep me pushing ahead.

Still going....

Well, I'm not really sure what to say about this week.  I went on a half hour brisk walk each day and cycled for a full hour as well.  I kept my calories between 1200-1400, kept fat intake high but not too high and I made sure to get plenty of protein.  The only thing that can be harder to keep low would be carbs, but you'd think it wouldn't matter for as hard as I'm pushing myself with exercise at this point.  The only way I can possibly explain that I can't get out of the 200-205 weigh range is that maybe my muscle growth is accelerated at this point and the loss will take some time to kick in. It's really hard to distinguish normal pain from too much when you have chronic pain, but I push myself to the point that my muscles throb and pulse and there is aching, but I'm not too sore to keep exercising.

I'm no less motivated to keep going but I'm a bit discouraged not to see any weight loss.  Sure, I feel a bit better, but I'm more than 30 lbs overweight and that's not healthy.  I want to start moving that along.  I really can't think of anything else I can do at this point, so I'll keep going.  I'm really doing all the right things at this point so I can only hope that maybe I'm overachieving on muscle gain and it will get the fat burn kicking into high gear soon.  Looks like I have more research to do.

Hopefully, I have better news when I weigh in next week!