Year One, Week Fourteen: Full Belly- Fantasy vs. Reality

Ah, the holidays...

Christmas is often spent in indulgences, and this year wasn't much different. But instead of gifts, we made food.

We usually bake a ton of goodies, but that wasn't happening this year due to the move. Our standard cookie baking binge is about 150 dozen; However, cookies for this year were a big fat zero.

And speaking of big and fat...

This was me during Christmas Day. I'd told the family I was opening my window completely, eating when they do, be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner. And snacks- let's not forget the snacks.

Despite our severe lack of cookies, I did pretty well in stuffing my face. Some of it was junky, but I ate good, belly-filling food for the most part. And like this cat, I ate myself into a food coma.

Last week I'd had a breakthrough- I'd finally broken my plateau and was on my way to my next goal of 300 pounds. I'm sure some of you are not happy with my complete lack of discipline, but I also bet some of you did exactly as I did. Maybe some of you are feeling guilty for doing so.

As for me, my guilt meter isn't even registering. Why? Because I planned to free-range eat for that day- and only that day.

I ate less the day before and the day after. And I learned something important. I never want to do that kind of eating ever again- even on my free-range holiday days.

I was so uncomfortable and bloated! I think I'd have done better eating smaller portions of everything I'd wanted instead of regular servings like everyone else. I might've even had room for a cookie or two had I baked them.

Yesterday I ate for a two-hour window and still felt a bit bloated. So today is going to be a light day.

And before you ask, I didn't even consider getting on the scale. All that will do is sabotage my mindset. I'd planned to eat that day, and though I had no idea it would affect me two days later, I also know my body is trying to figure out what the heck I did this weekend! So I have no intention of stepping on the scale for at least a few more days.

The fantasy was definitely better than the reality. IFing shrank my stomach more than I thought it did, and not just in the weight department. But now I'm back on track with my windows and my portions, and the only 'holiday' I have left is my birthday in January!

Year One, Week Thirteen: Who Said Thirteen Was Unlucky?

My mind is completely blown.

So much has happened this year, but not much concerning my weight loss. Week after week, I struggled with windows, exercise, and the food on my plate, trying everything under the sun and reading the FFR book to gain new insights on how to break this plateau.

Last month, I thought I'd finally broken the barrier and was on my way- at least until I saw the scale this month. Then, I was back behind the wall that weighed 326 pounds. So frustrating!

There was one thing I didn't do that I should've done. Talked to others who are taking the IF journey. I joined a Facebook group when I started, and they have been kind enough to allow me to share my posts. But when things got frustrating (and, to be honest, there was no progress at all), I decided to shut everyone out and tough this out on my own.

Part of it was shame; I started out so well! Part of it was because life became chaotic, and then after the move, we didn't have the internet for over six weeks. The isolation was voluntary during the former and involuntary during the latter.

After that, I simply didn't think to ask anyone for help.

But then I posted my blog last week, and someone decided to be bold and contact me.

Carin, the IF Facebook page owner, messaged me, letting me know that she understood my frustration and asked if she could do anything to help. I didn't want to tell her at first (she's maintaining, and I'm still way too big for my britches), but eventually, I opened up, and after a few critical questions from her, she realized why I'd been struggling for so long.

The funniest part is, she wasn't subtle about it- just like I am with my friends. I like that in people.

"Why are you hanging on to 4-6 hour eating windows?"

She wasn't being mean; she was incredulous. After all this time, she said I should have been down to two hours or less a day, which was probably why things weren't progressing.

I was dumbfounded. Because I'm still so big, I only did two hours or less during my OMADs. I was afraid of tanking my metabolism because I also have hypothyroidism.

"I suggest you do two-hour or fewer windows for the next 1-3 months. You definitely need to lessen the daily insulin to kick start your body into depletion mode."

Oh.

The next day, I did as she suggested. And the next, for the entire week. I thought it would be more challenging, but it was more manageable. I was also eating less because by the time the two-hour window closed, I wasn't hungry enough to eat anything significant, if at all. But I made sure that I didn't have two OMADs in a row. Starving myself wasn't the goal.

This morning, I stepped on the scale and was shocked to see a smaller number. A much smaller number.

I'd shattered my plateau. I squealed for joy like a kid at Christmas!

I won't share the actual number yet- I'm saving that for my monthly weigh-in. However, if things keep going this well, I'll be posting pics next month!

Thank you, Carin Joy, for your FB page and fantastic advice. You are a true friend!

Year One, Week Twelve: Uphill Climb

It's weigh-in week!

Maybe it's the holidays. Maybe it's getting distracted while snacking when on the internet. Maybe it's the lack of exercise since I've been writing and working on my laptop since we finally got internet two weeks ago.

Maybe it's all three. 

And the fact that I found myself ravenous this week didn't help. We didn't even start our Christmas baking yet!

We're not going to do our typical binge-baking sessions like the previous years (50 dozen each of three different cookies, for a total of 150 dozen), but we still intend to make more than the average elf.

This week was more challenging than usual, and I can't even tell you why. I was just hungry, and everything tasted so good! I didn't even have seconds, though I did snack more than I should have- and it shows, dagnabbit.

Here are the numbers:

                   4 weeks ago:                       Now:                          Difference:       

Weight           324                               326                             +2 lbs.

Bicep           19-1/2"                          19-1/2"                          same

Chest           57-1/2"                          58-1/2"                           +1"

Waist           54-1/2"                          55-1/2"                           +1"

Thigh           30-1/2"                          29-1/2"                           -1/2"

Neck            17-1/2"                          17-1/2"                          same

Hips             62-1/2"                              63"                            +1/2"

All that progress down the tubes. Ugh.

I'm beyond frustrated. Being busy on my laptop keeps me from starting my windows too early, but being on my butt for most of the day is detrimental to losing weight.

I need to be more mobile, and there's just no way of getting around it- excuse the pun.

This morning I was frustrated enough to take a quick walk around our property. We have a gravel road around the border, and the property is a third of an acre- almost square. That's a little less than one-tenth of one mile. If I can get into the habit of walking it two or three times a day, that might get the blood pumping.

At least it's a start.

One of the biggest hindrances was not having food prepped to make my OMAD salad ahead of time. I kept forgetting to boil the eggs and sear and cool the chicken so I could slice it thin for tossing in my salad.

I'm prepping my ingredients for tomorrow as soon as this blog is published!

This month's goal is to walk more, have an OMAD twice a week, and cut snacking down by half.

And to drown the hungries with big glasses of water!

Year One, Week Eleven: Fighting the Good Fight

Why are bad habits so hard to break?

I managed to do an OMAD in the middle of the week, and I intended to do the same on Sunday since it was easier to skip breakfast and eat when we returned home after services. 

But everything tasted and smelled so good; I not only had two meals that day, I had three.

Usually, I'd say 'oops' about now, but that implies that the two extra meals accidentally fell into my mouth. Sigh. If only...

So today was the day. I was not only going to do an OMAD, but I was also going to low carb it. 

I had plans. Strategies. Ways of keeping myself occupied so I wouldn't eat too early.

My husband, however, had bacon, ham, and cheesy eggs. 

Now, I could blame him for making it ahead of time, and me, not wanting to waste good fresh food, would be obligated to eat it to save the earth. But no, he asked me before he made it, and I asked if he was making breakfast for everyone. He was. Being the social creature I am, I told him to go for it.

It was delicious.

Okay, so I ate early. No big deal, right? I was still low carbing it, so as long as I kept myself busy, I could try to forget eating for the rest of the day. There are still tons of boxes to unpack and things to be decorated and wrapped...right?

And then my husband mentioned we were having people over for lunch, and he had to make fresh rolls because we were going to have sandwiches with freshly sliced turkey and ham.

For those who don't know, we plan to open a bakery cafe here, hopefully by next year. Our bread is fantastic. At first, I resisted, but I caved and made myself a sandwich when I saw everyone else eating that yummy-smelling fresh bread.

Fresh bread from the oven and newly sliced lunchmeat (we slice our own)...can you blame me for indulging?

Okay, okay, so I'll be good after that. After all, it was one roll, and I put a good amount of meat on it. So I shouldn't need anything else until tomorrow.

After our guests left, my husband announced that he was making pork chops with fresh broccoli and carrots for dinner.

Guess what happened? It was low carb, so it counts as a good thing...right?

My stomach loves me right now. My brain, however, is contemplating leaving me for my foibles. Double sigh.

Tomorrow will be better. I just bought a fresh head of lettuce to make my chicken cobb salad for my OMAD. I just have to boil an egg, and instead of chicken, I can alleviate my brains' worry over waste by dicing up that one porkchop leftover from dinner tonight. Maybe then my brain won't leave me.

Maybe.

I'm still fighting fat- There are a lot of battles ahead before I win this war. And I will win this war!

Year One, Week Ten: The Hard Road

(postdated Monday, 11/29/21)

At the beginning of my IF journey, it was difficult to hold off from eating. Eventually, I trained myself to wait and savor the moment when my eating window opened. 

But the road got more manageable with every step forward. Getting started was (I thought) the most challenging step I'd ever take. But, once the ball was rolling, it was an easier road to travel.

And then, complacency set in. The path became level, and I was headed straight for the Wonderful World of Plateaus.

I stayed there far longer than I should have.

For months I stayed at the same weight, almost content that I wasn't gaining weight- but I wasn't losing weight either. Weight-loss limbo was where I resided, and when I wanted to get out, it was like Jabba the Hutt trying to get out of an overstuffed recliner.

If I wanted out of limbo, I had to fight for it.

It's almost like I had to restart my journey because I'd forgotten one key factor to keep moving down the slope to losing weight.

Sacrifice.

I was overeating, and I knew it. Nevertheless, I thought I could fool myself (and others) into thinking I was still doing well. I refused to believe I'd stopped progressing, even though the scale and the measurements told a different story.

Taking a good, hard look at your eating habits isn't easy. Changing them for the better is even harder, but I needed to make some profound changes if I ever wanted to be a thinner, healthier me.

Oddly enough, it was my son coming for the Thanksgiving holiday that helped me see what I was doing to myself.

My son told us he was losing weight, and it showed. When he first arrived, he was eating a lot less than before he moved away. But as the week progressed, he fell into his old habits, and food started disappearing. Fast. Like me, he was surrounded by good food and had gotten comfortable in his environment. And his diligence relaxed.

Mine was nearly comatose. 

So, for the first time in months, I'd made a few changes. I now eat breakfast with the family and have lunch as my last meal instead of starting my window in the afternoons. I don't feel deprived of their company because we all have breakfast together, lunches together most of the time, and dinner has been on the fly. I can skip dinner most days, but when we cook a family meal twice a week, I open my window wide for that day.

I also plan to have one of my giant chicken cobb salads as an OMAD sometime during the week. Unfortunately, I stopped doing OMADs, which was one of my biggest mistakes. I'll have to make a few substitutions (like leftover turkey instead of chicken), but the premise remains.

Sometimes it helps to get mad at yourself!

Complacency is a weight-loss killer. So I need to stop coasting and start that downhill trek again. 

Next stop- Three-hundred pounds!

Year One, Week Nine: The Weighting Game

 (postdated Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021)

I swear, if I have one more service company no-show, I'm going to chew the woodwork.

Remember last week I was waiting for the propane guys? Well, they didn't show. Again. We called the service, and they said for sure on Monday.

The Monday before Thanksgiving.

We'd been eating out of the freezer for three weeks, and I'm not going to lie, I checked myself on the scale each day because I desperately wanted to stay under my breakthrough weight. The numbers were higher, but not by much, and I think this was the only thing keeping me from stress-eating too much.

I did stress eat.

The good news is we finally got our propane on Wednesday- The day before Thanksgiving. Better late than never, but we didn't get to make everything we wanted for the holiday.

We can finally bake after almost seven weeks!

The freshly baked rolls are going to be fantastic. Don't look at me like that- I know I'm supposed to ease off of the bread- it's going to be Thanksgiving, and I'm intending on being thankful!

As for the stress of no internet, we're supposed to be getting it on the 29th. I'm praying so hard that they'll come, but there isn't much influence to get the job done expediently up here in the boonies. We shall see.

We're picking up our son later today to stay for a week. We also have our first visitors coming on Sunday! My husbands' cousin and his wife are stopping by for lunch after dropping off their son at college, and we're on the way back from Philadelphia. Now that we have a working range, we're planning on making homemade cream soup- something we haven't had since before the move on October 9th!

I'm trying to focus on the good stuff. So far, so good, though my son isn't happy that we don't have internet service yet. He's usually plastered to his phone screen. We're wondering if his head will implode from lack of stimulus. 

I'm hopeful things will work out by the end of next week.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Year One, Week Eight: Breakthrough!

(postdated Tuesday, Nov.16^th, 2021)

I've been plateauing for months. Eating windows went haywire. There was a lot of stress- both good and bad- and many adjustments- both good and bad.

I finally had a weight loss breakthrough!

I'd love to say I have it all figured out, but this breakthrough was due to something unexpected.

Remember I told you about that cool, clear, fantastic tasting water? Apparently, I'm one of those people who needs to get used to new water sources. The water itself is fine (my daughter and husband aren't affected), but I had a full two days where my body decided to clean house.

Have you ever been to the bathroom so much you felt hollow? I felt like that for three days! I was so wobbly-kneed, I wound up resting on the recliner for two of those days. Ugh.

Oddly enough, those two days were meals of Chinese take-out because that was all that seemed tempting to me. Unfortunately, there was no home cooking because our range had to be removed for the new model. The old oven didn't close, so we couldn't bake, and the burners were tilted to the center because the previous owner used a giant canning pot the size of a small state, which bent all four burners inward.

The new model is lovely but isn't electric- it's all propane- and the propane company forgot to add that to our order when we ordered propane for the fireplace. So, no range for at least a week. We're hoping to get propane in today, and I'm holding off eating breakfast until it's installed.

And that's why we had Chinese food in the fridge. Thank God!

I learned a lot about my body this week. I think the reason I haven't been losing so fast is I'm still overeating at my meals. This week I ate much smaller portions, and for a few days, I didn't eat anything snacky. I also ate slower and found myself having more energy the following days. I didn't eat much bread. I hate to say it (especially since we will open a bakery in the next year), but I might have to put bread on the Rarely Eat list.

Let's look at the numbers:

                   4 weeks ago:                       Now:                          Difference:       

Weight           326                                324                             -2 lbs.

Bicep              20"                             19-1/2"                           -1/2"

Chest             58-1/4"                        57-1/2"                           -3/4"

Waist              55-1/2"                        54-1/2"                            -1"

Thigh              30"                             30-1/2"                           +1/2"

Neck               17-1/2"                       17-1/2"                          same

Hips                62-1/2"                       62-1/2"                          same

Apparently, I'm still going pear-shaped, but at least I'm headed in the right direction!

It might only be two pounds, but this marks a significant hurdle- I've finally broken through another weight loss goal! The goal was set at 325 lbs.- the next goal is 300lbs.

Onto the next breakthrough!

Year One, Week Seven- Maintaining My Energy

The past week has been an energy roller coaster. I've been going full tilt or completely in hibernation mode. I can't tell you how many times I cat-napped in the middle of the day. Part of me really wonders what the heck my body is up to!

One minute I'm running like a rabbit, the next, I'm snoring like a bear. And nighttime is fraught with insomnia or waking up every few hours to release the dam. Either way, I'm awake when everyone else is in dreamland.

We worked on many things in the house, including bringing in our freezer from the store and reorganizing it. Now that I know what we have, I can keep better track of my eating habits. Most of what we're eating now are meals I made way before the move (yes, we're still eating food I made months ago!) I'm so glad I pre-prepped! We finally unburied all of it, and it's all organized and sitting where it needs to be in the freezer for easy access. 

The oven still hasn't been replaced due to a postponement of our propane. We have the new range for the house sitting in the store, but it won't work without propane. So no baking just yet. I hope we get it hooked up before Thanksgiving! Kinda hard to crockpot a turkey...

No worries- we do have an electric roaster- just in case. Somewhere.

The crockpots are still packed, but I have a mission this week to find them so we can do more than frozen foods (even if they are homemade) and breakfast tortilla sandwiches. 

I also bit the bullet and bought a scale.

Yes, I know- don't look at me like that! I know it's not all about the numbers. This scale reads BMI and several other neato things to figure out what's going on in my body. But, unfortunately, doing measurements isn't encouraging me enough- I'm one of those people that needs to see the scale numbers to stay on track. At least until I get closer to my last goal. 

My daughter, who gained a lot of weight these past few years, is also using it. She weighed as much as I did when I got married and is already down seventeen pounds. She, too, is encouraged by the numbers on the scale.

I, however, won't weigh myself until next week. It's tempting, but after looking at my pear-shaped numbers last month, I want another week to maintain my composure- and my energy. 

We should be done unpacking in the next few weeks, and then it's off to clean out the store and transform it into our bakery cafe. I'll be getting plenty of exercise during the winter!

Year One, Week Six: Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Hello, Internet- It's me, Beth. I've missed you!

Unfortunately, this is a drive-by meetup. We still don't have the internet at the house and had to find an alternative. I'm in a Starbucks about an hour from home.

(Hugs EVERYONE)

The new place is shaping up, and my IF windows are leveling out. OMADs haven't happened at all this week, but the meals themselves have been smaller. They're also getting a little healthier.

I should definitely be eating more greens, but the farms are nearly done harvesting, and not many have fresh greens left, so I have to wait until I get to a store. Since the closest one is seven miles away, daily trips are becoming a nuisance. It's also time to stock up on goods since we have no idea what the winters are like. 

The new oven arrived yesterday, but the propane to run the stovetop won't be in for a week. So we've decided to stick to using the old stove for now, since the electric burners still work. Either that or we hook up the new one and only do baking. Not gonna happen. Sigh.

Hunger pangs have been weird lately. Sometimes I get them really early in the morning, and other times not a peep. Either that or I'm just too busy to hear them! 

I'm happy to report that I didn't eat a lot the other day, and the next day my energy was back! I've missed being energetic for so long (probably because I spent it during the move) that after a good rest and light meal, I was good to go, go, go!

Image by Capri23auto from Pixabay 

Okay, my go-go is the pace of a tortoise, but I'm still moving in the right direction. After all, that amphibian beat a hare, so any movement towards the finish line is a good move!

Year One, Week Five: Keep Moving Forward

(postdated Tuesday, October 26, 2021)

This weekend, we moved our last load of boxes from storage into the house. Sort of- most of them went into the store since it’s conveniently attached to the house and is nearly empty.

Now, all we must do is sort everything. Like that’s a small job! Most of the unpacking will be done by me because my husband is working on repairs, improvements, and painting. My daughter will be helping us both when we need it. Poor kid.

The eating windows have varied in a good way this week, but the weekend was a mess because of the final moving of all our junk- I mean valuable merchandise. Only one day went by where my window was open an insane amount- thirteen hours- and I felt like a slug the entire day. Can you guess which day that was?

Maybe I’m still in a ‘diet’ mindset. Eat when you can, where you can really doesn’t work well for me, and I wonder if I should have made days like those into complete fasts instead.

I learn and I keep moving forward.

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay 

Surprisingly enough, I took two days to do some canning. Tomato season is over, and I’m surrounded by farmers, and all of them were practically giving away their produce by the days’ end. I wound up with about six gallons of tomato base with peppers and onions. Yum!

When we were in Philly getting our stuff from storage, I took a side journey to get a load of fresh ginger, thyme, and rosemary. I’m going to be making a huge batch of my cold and flu-killing tea ice cubes today as well- hopefully, these will last for the next six months to a year. 83 cubes to be exact!

I hope I can find someone who grows ginger here, otherwise, I might have to start ordering it! As for the rosemary and thyme? I can grow that myself if no one around grows it. Maybe the ginger too. My husband is building a mini greenhouse in one of the upstairs bedrooms, so there’s a good possibility I can do a little self-sustaining gardening.

The biggest hurdle is not eating when my family does in the mornings. It was so much easier when my husband and daughter worked out of the house, but now they’re here full-time, and it’s difficult to not eat with them. Eating is the only time we really socialize because the rest of the day is filled with things to do.

One habit we’ve started is in the evenings when the work is done. Instead of watching something (since the internet is out still), we settle in my sewing room and read, sip our favorite drinks (mine is water, they usually have tea), and read, chatting about our day.

We found the DVD player the other day and I admit, it was like sitting in a movie theatre when we watched a movie. Before we moved, the TV was packed, and we watched shows on my husbands’ small laptop. Our TV screen feels enormous now!

However, we still prefer that quiet time as the sun sets just to be together, enjoying our books. I’m working on moving the furniture around in my sewing space a little, so we have a family reading nook that won’t interfere with my sewing. Tea spills and fabrics don’t mix!

Each day a little more progress is made in both the house and my IFF journey. I get farther every day. The weight took decades to put on, and it will take a lot fewer years to get it off. I just need to be patient with myself, and keep moving forward!

Year One, Week Four- Going Pear-Shaped

 (postdated Monday, Oct. 18^th 2021)

It’s measurement time!

Luckily for me, I found my IFF notepad, so I can at least figure out how well I did this month. The downside is we still don’t have internet access and no phone service because our phone upgrades are still somewhere in the postal system. Thanks a lot, pandemic!

Let’s look at the numbers:

 Original numbers:      4 weeks ago:          Now:              Difference:       

Weight 363 lbs.                ?                       ?                       ?                  

Biceps- 23"                   21"                      20"                    -1"               

Chest- 61-1/2"              59-1/2"             58-1/4"               -3/4"                 

Waist- 58"                    54-1/2"              55-1/2"                +1"           

Hips- 69-1/2"                  62"                 62-1/2"                +1/2"              

Thigh- 32"                   29-3/4"                 30"                   +1/4"          

Neck- 18"                    17-1/2"               17-1/2"                same             

My top is getting smaller, and my bottom is getting bigger. Egad, I’m going pear-shaped!

 Image by PIRO4D from Pixabay 

This month was a series of events that created a lot of chaos- eating windows were too short, or too long, too much food versus OMAD, and a lot of ‘eat it before it goes bad/gets packed/gets tossed’ moments. Moving wasn’t good for me during my IF journey, despite my plans. But a lot has changed this week that surprised me.

Good stuff.

I find out here in the country, I’m not as famished as I was in the city. I’m a lot more mobile (unpacking a massive amount of cra-…er, I mean valuable belongings does a body good, except for the cramps from muscles long since unused to such expenditures.

Move it or lose it, indeed!

The water here is all well water, and I must say it is the best water I’ve ever tasted! Straight from the rocks; the locals told us they would show us the origin of our spring when we’re more settled. We used to filter our water in the city, and even then, it smelled faintly of chlorine. Ugh.

As for eating, mostly everything we’ve had so far has been from our freezer or from the local restaurants or diners. Eating out allowed us to do double duty- One, take a break from moving in, and two, check out the competition for our own business when we get started.

But that’s another blog post for another day.

Unfortunately, the current stovetop oven doesn't work well, and only the burners are functioning. The oven door doesn't shut properly, which is good for making jerky in the winter, but not much else. I have no plans to use it at all. Our new oven should be here in a week or two.

My family usually has a big breakfast in the early morning, and I usually don’t eat with them because that’s just too early to start my eating window. Even mid-morning was too early because once I ate, I felt more than a bit sluggish. Not good when you need to work all day unpacking. 

One great thing about country life is there’s lots of peace and quiet to hear your body talk!

After some experimentation, I found myself much happier and more energetic if I eat a light breakfast (aka half of what I normally eat) around 11:00 to Noonish and eat again before 5:00 or 6:00. I’ve eaten after that time on occasion because there just wasn’t time to eat at that point, but for the most part, this has been my eating routine give or take an OMAD that wasn’t scheduled.

I’ve decided on days that I start eating after 2:00 or 3:00, that will be my OMAD instead. I’m not planning them anymore, but I’m going by just how hungry I am instead. And no two OMADs in a row if I can help it.

Mobility has always been an issue, but I can honestly say this move had been the best (if painful) thing I could do for my body. I ache like crazy at the end of the day, but not overly so; it’s something I can work through. The feet swelling has been gone since the move, and the previous owners left behind a recliner that I use after the day is done.

After removing my husband, daughter, and cats from it, that is!

All in all, despite my pear-shaped beginnings, I think this move was the best thing I could do not only for my health but for the health of my family. I hope to report smaller numbers next month!

Year One, Week Three- Changin’ and Rearrangin’

(postdated Tuesday, Oct 12^th 2021)

We moved into our new home this weekend!

There were a lot of hiccups. A lot of stress. My eating windows were practically non-existent. We had to eat when food was available, and where food can be found.

What do I mean by that, you ask?

When food was available- that means out here in the mountains, there aren’t any fast-food places. No franchises of any kind. And diners are few and far between. Most are only open a few days a week.

Where food could be found? Well, because of those lovely hiccups, time was running out and the unloading crew put all the boxes in one spot in the store- including our fresh food. We’re still trying to find most of it.

So we ate when we could, when we found it, be it a diner or food box.

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay 

At the time of this post (which will be post-dated due to no internet service), we have most of our stuff here and are planning to move the rest in a few weeks.

There’s also a lot more to fix than we thought, so stress levels are still high, but hopeful.

Things should settle soon so I can get back to Intermittent Fasting full-time. Because the eating schedule is so odd, it’s hard to listen to my body tell me what it needs. But there’s some good come from all of this; being out here in the country is just what we all needed.

I don’t feel the excessive need to eat, despite the stress. I find myself sleeping a lot more instead. Unfortunately, my allergies are running full throttle, and sinus headaches are putting me off from eating as much as I normally would.

We have an electric stove. I used to use one as a teen, but when we switched to gas that was a huge game-changer concerning cooking! There are no gas lines up here, but there is propane- though it’s expensive, we plan to buy an electric/propane hybrid so we can cook with flame on the stovetop, while we use the electric oven for baking. It should be in by the end of October.

However, the propane to use the stovetop won't be in until late the first week of November.

I’m looking forward to buying produce, meats, cheeses, and milk from the locals. Talk about fresh! Most of the food up here is naturally organic, and we can get milk in its raw state- not something that’s allowed in the city.

Next week is measurement week. Good thing I know where my measuring tape is! However, my little notepad with my previous measurements is buried somewhere, so if I don’t find it in time, I’ll just post them as is in my notes and compare them later.

I'll keep you posted as much as I can!

Year One, Week Two- Up, Up, and Away!

These three Philly birds are ready to fly the coop!

Image by burtamus from Pixabay 

We're days away from moving to the mountains. Lots to do, lots to pack, lots of last-minute monkey wrenches. Because this week is so chaotic, I've opened my windows wider during the weekdays and nixed the down days entirely- but just for this week. I'll get back to my regular feeding schedule when we can actually have a schedule!

We measured all of the furniture. Later this week, we'll be going to the new place to measure the rooms. I'll have half of a day to figure out what furniture goes where, and what will stay and what will go. Unfortunately, one of our friends with a truck had to cancel, so we're down to two-thirds packing capacity.

There was a slight possibility that we might take everything, but that chance has also flown the coop. As a result, our mini convoy can only take so much in one trip, so the rest of our things will have to stay in storage for a few weeks until we can fetch them.

Stress levels aren't as high as I thought they'd be, but for someone who eats when stressed, it's high enough that I need to open my eating windows or start gnawing on the furniture we intend to keep.

My son moved out last weekend and has already started a new job as of yesterday. His first steps into becoming completely independent have begun, and I couldn't be prouder.

My daughter already made a few calls for employment opportunities close to the new house and has a job lined up in her expertise as a horse therapy trainer. I think they want us moved almost as much as we do!

Lots of changes, most of them good. There are still a few hiccups that need tending, but God's got us covered. He's cool like that.

I know many of my recent posts have been more about events happening than my actual fasting journey. However, significant life changes are a part of how and when I eat, especially when stressed, and I want people to see the good and the bad in the background, not just what I ate for the week. It all matters because I'm an emotional eater trying to train myself into a better, healthier lifestyle.

At least after this move is finished.

Maybe you agree with my decision; perhaps you're thinking I'm slacking. Either is okay. We're all different, and I need to make the changes I feel are better for my well-being. That's why I love the IF lifestyle so much. It's adjustable. Perfection can be left at the fridge door. Why? Because I'm human and stressed, so I'm changing my eating windows without guilt this week.

And next week, there will be a whole new set of challenges. But Intermittent Fasting won't be one of them!

Year One, Week One- Beginnings

There's a lot of fresh starts happening at home. And only one of them is IF-related.

For example, we're supposed to be moving on October ninth. My son, however, moved out yesterday. So he's flown the nest.

Image by minka2507 from Pixabay 

Not to college, not to a friends' house, but moved out on his own to start a new life just like us, in a small town about two hours away from our hometown. He needed to move, and we needed him to move- That doesn't mean we won't miss him bunches and bunches! He'll also be about two hours from our new place, so at least we'll get to see him once in a while.

As for my fasting, the week went well, and I did even better this weekend. Perhaps because we were too busy sending off our elder child. Maybe because I've been incredibly distracted from eating by doing research for the new business and writing my butt off.

Sometimes I just plain forgot to eat my evening meal. Sometimes my window closed while I was busy, and projects took longer than my eating window allowed.

I also ate lighter for the most part, and I found myself feeling much better when I did. Bad habits and a bit of nutritional paranoia can wreck a perfectly good fast.

My biggest hurdle is a fear of not getting enough nutrition, so I make sure I eat more than enough to compensate. The tarnished side of this coin is that I overeat. We eat almost everything from scratch, so there isn't really a nutrition issue, but as of late, meals have been more carby than they should, and veggies haven't been a major food group in weeks. We're still living out of the freezer and fridge until the move.

So this week, I bought extra carrots and some broccoli and plan to make at least one giant vat of soup and two casseroles. All the extras can be frozen for the near future or after the move, whichever comes first. I also made some yummy chicken salad with fresh purple onion and celery. Crunchy munchy!

The foot swelling has gone down a lot, but I don't know if it's because the heatwaves have given way to cooler weather, or I've been eating less salt. Maybe a combination of both. Either way, it's nice waking up to see 'skinny' feet!

Oh, I forgot- two more significant changes are happening this week! First, my daughters' last day at work is Friday, and second, my husband is leaving his job of almost thirty years this Friday as well.

New beginnings, indeed.

Next week, we'll be gearing up for the move, hopefully settling on this house and the new one and packing up the essentials. It's going to be a crazy fantastic week!

Week Fifty-Two: Happy New Year!

 Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 

Has it been a year already?

Fifty-two weeks. It's been an exciting year, for sure.

Significant changes for the first six months, not so many changes for the last six. But I've learned a lot about myself in the previous half-year.

Before we get to that, let's look at the numbers!

Original numbers:        4 weeks ago:            Now:              Difference:         Overall

Weight 363 lbs.                  ?                        ?                        ?                    -37 lbs.

Biceps- 23"                     20-1/2"                 21"                   +1/2"                 -2"

Chest- 61-1/2"                57-1/2"               59-1/2"                +2"                   -2"

Waist- 58"                      55-3/4"                54-1/2"               -1-1/4"             -3-1/2"

Hips- 69-1/2"                    62"                    62"                     same                -7-1/2"

Thigh- 32"                        28"                   29-3/4"                +1-3/4"            -2-1/4"

Neck- 18"                      17-1/2"                 17-1/2"                 same                -1/2"

I might've been maintaining, but look at the end result for the year- especially my hips! Yes, it might've been more if I used last weeks' results, but that's okay. All of the numbers are in blue instead of red!

It took me three decades to get this big, so for one year of IF, this is some significant progress. Of course, I want to do better this year. I will do better this year. Even if the weight loss goes down another 30-40 pounds, that's fantastic progress. This isn't a sprint- it's a marathon. I'm just getting into my stride.

In the beginning, I think I started cutting down too fast. By the end of the first week, I'd gone from 4-5 meals a day down to two and a snack. The book says to cut down on one meal a day, but it assumed you were eating three a day. I still wonder if cutting my food and windows so significantly in the beginning is hindering my metabolism now.

But I can't blame a fast start for everything.

I still have trouble with portions. I'm down to one meal a day three times a week, but that meal is more significant than it should be. My two meals a day during the week are also problematic because one of those two meals is also pretty substantial. The weekends remain open with a 6-8 hour window, eating two to three larger meals, and sometimes seconds.

I see the patterns. I know what to change. The issue is changing it!

Want to know something funny? I'm starting to not like eating as much as I used to, despite the food intake. I get sluggish, sleepy and have nodded off more than once after eating a heavy meal. I do much better when I eat lighter. And I'm starting to crave salad again!

Unfortunately, due to my van dying and the financial strain of selling, buying, and moving from one house to another, I'm eating what I can make out of the house storage because there's little time to shop after my husband gets home. Also, we're trying not to take a lot of food up with us because space in the trucks is limited.

Stress is high. I'm still fasting, but I could do a better job- especially now when the packing is done, and I'm sitting around an empty house all day waiting for the settlement to happen.

I know things will change drastically in the next month. Moving, unpacking, and getting geared up to start a new business will bring a lot more stress in my life, good and bad. 

I'm looking forward to being too busy to eat! 

Now don't take that the wrong way. I have no intention of starving myself. But if I only have enough time for a small meal once a day after moving boxes, unpacking, and walking from room to room as I put things away, then I consider that time better spent on burning fat instead of gaining inches and feeling like a slug.

Life is about to get more challenging but more fun! We're also going to be posting about our journey through the move and starting a small bakery cafe in a new blog soon, so if you're interested, I can post the link after its' creation. 

The future is looking bright- and thinner!

Week Fifty-One: Almost there!

One more week until I reach my first year of Intermittent Fasting! How awesome is that? 

We'll also be celebrating the pending sale of our home and moving onto our next adventure- A new home business. We'll be living in a small town for the first time, so this will get interesting. 

A new year, a new life, a new experience in my IF journey.

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay 

For now, it's a time to breathe, rest and recoup before the next step.

The house is empty. The TV is in storage. My crafts are gone, and most of my writing stuff is packed. We have a two-to-three-week gap between the sale of this home and the settlement of our new home. So, for now, there's nothing left for me to do except relax.

This is a good thing initially, but boredom will set in eventually if I know me (and I do). And when I get bored, I tend to graze. Part of that problem is dealt with- I packed most of the snacky stuff. Yes, it's still in the house (no food in the storage unit), but I have to really make an effort to get to the goodies. So if I want to munch, I'll make myself work for it first. This is where laziness can be beneficial.

Most of the work I'll be doing now is mental. I'm glad I didn't pack my laptop- this thing is my primary source of distraction from nibbling outside of my eating windows. So maybe I might not be bored after all.

And I don't mean by watching cat videos either.

I need to set up the preliminary pages for our new business. We want to promote better food for better eating- all as close to farm-fresh and from scratch as possible. Business T's and I's must be crossed and dotted before we launch. Social media accounts must be created, websites made, and forms need to be filled out.

This move will get us next door to so many farm-to-table sources that even if we weren't starting a new business, we'd be eating better. Surrounded by fresh meats, milk, and produce with the giant mega-markets about an hour away, all we need to do is drive around the neighborhood to get almost everything we need.

Of course, winter will be different, but we can still get good quality produce for a lot less money because we'll have access to restaurant supply stores. We might invest in a greenhouse in future years, but for now, we'll use what's available until the farmers have crops next year.

Did I mention I'll be the primary baker in our Bakery Cafe? Yep, and when I bake, I usually don't eat. But, like I said before, this is going to get interesting really fast.

One thing I'd made sure not to pack was my measuring tape. I'll be using that next week for my one-year check-in!