Weighty Wednesday

I'm discussing the phantom weight gain. Well, it really isn't phantom, it's very real, but it could be brought on by various situations. The key is to look at it analytically and not emotionally. This is where being an analytical-minded Virgoan who used to work in a hospital laboratory comes in handy.

Gaining and losing weight is an emotional rollercoaster. Many of us eat when we are happy, sad, depressed, socializing, evening noshing in front of the TV, through boredom, yadda, yadda, yadda.

--I'm a boredom eater.

Since I work out of the home now (writer, remember), temptation is less than six feet away. Yeah, I have my computer in the kitchen. This summer, I've been doing really well, in the sense that I'm not constantly trolling for food. But now that school is back in session and my kidlet is gone--I'm alone . . . with a pantry and fridge full of food.

But this is a slight tangent from my planned topic.  Still relevant, but a tangent none-the-less. :-)

As you know, my 50th birthday was last Monday. I weighed-in and loss a decent amount of weight (YAY), but then the spiraling downfall began.

Let me preface this next section by saying, 1) I am still writing everything down, 2) I am still walking (rapidly) every day for 45 minutes, 3) I am still getting my daily healthy checks in, 4) I am using my weekly points and have some left.

But I gained 5--yes, FIVE--pounds in less than four days.   What the heck is going on?? 

On Monday, we ate dinner at Flemings, a steakhouse and, though I had planned my Weight Watchers points, I made my first strategic error. I ordered their Prix Fixe meal--AND ATE IT ALL.

Note to self--don't order a Prix Fixe meal and eat it all. Shrimp came with the steak, but it was tough, and yet, I still ate all three pieces. I didn't eat the entire dessert, but that was only because I didn't want the ice cream part next to the lava cake--I still gulped down the cake past the point of feeling full.

Tuesday--I ate a large slice of chocolate turtle cake hubster had bought for my birthday. Leftover chicken piccata from Zios. Plus I made chocolate chip cookies--though I substitued 1/2 the butter w/applesauce and all the sugar with Splenda products, it was still BAD.

Wednesday--I ate 1/4 of a 4-inch square chocolate cake that Flemings gifted me with. Made the dough for my kidlet's amoeba project. Regular chocolate chip cookie dough w/o the chips.

Thursday--I ate another slice of chocolate turtle cake. Made icing for the amoeba--see how these tiny tastes add up?!

So, if I'm still within my points range (and using my weekly allowance), why am I gaining weight?  What the heck is going on??

There are a couple of things happening here. But first I must say--don't let this little weight increase derail your overall efforts. This is where being analytical comes in handy. If I reacted with emotion (trust me, in the past, I would have!) I would eat and I would fail. It's as simple as that.

This is my personal opinion and observations of my own weighty idiosyncrasies. The reason I am sharing my thoughts is because what I know might help another person on their weight-loss journey.

1)  Four days of eating a sugary dessert is three days too much. It's fine and dandy to have a good time eating and/or drinking alcoholic beverages, but limit it to one day a week.

2) Pasta and bread are NOT my friends. Though I do not have Celiac Disease, I have found that when I eat products made from wheat--I bloat. Yes, if I eat pasta for dinner, I will gain 3 lbs by the next day.

--After talking to my SIL, I found out that some people do not process flour the same way as others, even whole wheat pasta with a low glycemic index. If you suspect this might be an issue, take a little test. Don't eat bread or flour products for three or four days. That's it. If you start losing weight, then think about cutting it from your diet. Grains (oatmeal, quinoa, couscous, rice) don't seem to have the same effect on me, but you might slowly introduce them into your diet. If you eat out, ask for a gluten-free menu. Many restaurants have them, but you have to ask. I know I ate a WONDERFUL chicken dish at Zios once where they substituted fresh spinach for the pasta. It was incredible!

This next comment is for my women readers. I don't know if men have hormonal fluctuations that effect your weight, but I KNOW women do! 

3) About a week or so prior to our monthly event, the body is 'preparing' for the off-chance that we might get pregnant, which means we retain water. Over the years, my symptoms have changed, but there are two things that I can always count on: breaking out in pimples (yes, even at 50, I get the damn things!) and tenderness/heaviness in my boobage . . . AND a weight gain. This is a temporary issue. Once your period starts, you start peeing like a racehorse! That might be a little TMI, but it's true!!

Hope this helps y'all on your journey! Don't freak with a weight gain, just keep following the healthy checks and keep you WW points plus within your daily range. If after two or three weeks, you don't see a change, then amp up your exercise or lean up your food.

Later, Peeps!