Rob's Diary

Status
Not open for further replies.
As far as I am aware there IS no evidence that cupping has any therapeutic effect (other than on superficial blood supply). I can't and don't diagnose people through a computer screen but quack medicine upsets me.
 
Got it. Right, I don't think either of us were under the impression this was a solid treatment avenue. All of it including the cause of the pain and how my sciatic nerve is being pinched are "just theories". Not much clear evidence on dry needling either but it does seem to have some type of effect. Not interested in your diagnosis or your expertise with regard to my specific case other than how it informs your opinionated comments. Obviously it's your prerogative to share your general knowledge for the benefit of others.
 
bensanon said:
Hi Courtney, Kind of. I don't really have an accurate way to estimate how many calories I expend with exercise. I can get pretty accurate with intake though. Over time, I've kind of gotten a sense of an ideal deficit after taking into account the exercise.

Your goal for the holidays sounds great. Often just being an example is a great motivator. Showing them it can be done and a way is huge. Sugar seems like a good thing to target first. Many people say it's like an addiction. In my experience, once that is under control, other things become easier.
Click to expand...
thank you for your answer Bensanon! We started with my husband to stop sugar, we try to motivate each other, and so far when one failed, the second try to stay on track! However, it is just the 4th day now, let's see if we can keep motivation until Christmas! From my part, I complete with meal replacement for lunch to ensure I keep my calories intake under control! I complete with 1 bar in the afternoon! My husband so far is not motivated to do more than sugar restriction, I hope he will find motivation after Christmas time as I am scared from a Health point of view, as he is approaching 50's. Let's see if we can have result soon!
 
bensanon said:
Today was mixed. I started off OK and then my mood went down but I was able to exercise and I feel good tonight.

For breakfast I had eggs, vitamins, yogurt with banana, and OJ with a fiber supplement. For lunch I had salad with chicken and balsamic vinegar. Tonight I got a Mediterranean salad bowl with chicken. Snacks were pistachios and tomatoes. Total calories in were 2417.

I did about 14 miles on the elliptical at about 8.2 mph. I also did hip bridges, side bridges, bird dogs, Pallof press, and stretches for my sciatica. Fitbit says 4.3k calories out, 28k steps.

6hr 9min sleep. 53 RHR. Weight was 193.6, still coming down from the weekend binges. No meditation. 2 days no binges.

Low mood, negative toward myself before I exercised and now after the exercise I feel a lot more positive and comfortable with myself.
Click to expand...
Gosh, 4300 calories, that can't be right?
 
Courtney2 said:
thank you for your answer Bensanon! We started with my husband to stop sugar, we try to motivate each other, and so far when one failed, the second try to stay on track! However, it is just the 4th day now, let's see if we can keep motivation until Christmas! From my part, I complete with meal replacement for lunch to ensure I keep my calories intake under control! I complete with 1 bar in the afternoon! My husband so far is not motivated to do more than sugar restriction, I hope he will find motivation after Christmas time as I am scared from a Health point of view, as he is approaching 50's. Let's see if we can have result soon!
Click to expand...

That sounds great, Courtney. Sounds like you're making progress. One thing at a time. Let us know how it goes!
 
JuliePulie said:
Gosh, 4300 calories, that can't be right?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how accurate Fitbits are with calorie estimates. It might be somewhere around there. That day I did quite a bit on the elliptical. You reminded me that I do create some pretty big deficits sometimes and I believe that leads to bingeing.
 
My original goal weight was 189 by the end of 2019. I accomplished that on September 24. I revised it to 186 which I hit on October 12. I think I'm slipping and I'm in the low 190s now. I'd like to lose more but I don't feel organized about it. I'm going to try to sort through some things here for a couple days before I begin.

Outstanding health issues to address in order of importance:
1. stop bingeing
2. rehab my knee and get back to running
3. achieve a 175lb maintenance weight
4. transition to maintenance

These are all connected and I think that's why I'm having difficulty. Also, I didn't see my running injury coming and I certainly didn't think it would still be no better off more than 2 and a half months later. :(

I know walking works for me. Perhaps better than running or other activities in terms of managing energy in/out and not creating huge calorie deficits. I have to go far though and it takes awhile. My dog needs the activity now so it makes sense to start doing more of this again. I would also be outside more and that always has a good effect on my mood. Going to think about this stuff more.
 
Hi, Rob. Your getting a dog was the tipping point for me deciding to get one. Dogs need walking & they need us, but they also really lift your mood. Dogs make me smile. I will try to be careful with the type of dog I get, which is harder when you get a pound dog. I want to be able to easily wash it myself, ie lift it up into my laundry sinks, but don't want to get a small yappy dog. Thank you for being the catalyst for me making up my mind about it. I'm really looking forward to it.
I really hope you can get back into running again soon. I think you are right about calorie deficits on high energy out days creating the urge to binge. It makes sense really. On Wednesday nights after a day playing golf (pushing a buggy) I want to eat everything in sight (& more). I need to watch out for that in future & plan my food better on those days.
You'll get this worked out.
 
Cate said:
Hi, Rob. Your getting a dog was the tipping point for me deciding to get one. Dogs need walking & they need us, but they also really lift your mood. Dogs make me smile. I will try to be careful with the type of dog I get, which is harder when you get a pound dog. I want to be able to easily wash it myself, ie lift it up into my laundry sinks, but don't want to get a small yappy dog. Thank you for being the catalyst for me making up my mind about it. I'm really looking forward to it.
I really hope you can get back into running again soon. I think you are right about calorie deficits on high energy out days creating the urge to binge. It makes sense really. On Wednesday nights after a day playing golf (pushing a buggy) I want to eat everything in sight (& more). I need to watch out for that in future & plan my food better on those days.
You'll get this worked out.
Click to expand...

This is great, Cate! Cam is bringing me joy even though she is a bit of a puppy still. Yesterday, I walked her about 6 miles in the morning and then took her to TG dinner with my family. There were other dogs there and lots of people and kids and she did really well. Everyone commented on how sweet mannered she is. They seemed to enjoy her quite a bit and I felt good with her there, the attention and the energy we all got from her. She was completely wiped out last night which was perfect.

I understand about a dog from the shelter. I hadn't planned on getting one but when I came across Cambridge, I felt OK getting her there and feel I got lucky. I was thinking about a medium sized breed but didn't really come across any that I liked. My family had an English cocker spaniel when I was growing up. Great dog and loyal, really beautiful red coat. Not too big and not yappy.

Thanks for your comments on the running and calories. I hope something resolves soon with my leg too and the bingeing behavior. I was holding on tight to what works and what the exercise does for me when I go that hard. Another stubborn behavior. It's wonderful but I need to be better aware of it's effects and fit it in realistically long-term/in maintenance.
 
Read through this article today. Returning From Injury - How to Return to Running Stronger It was an inspirational story in the beginning and then they went into reframing your mindset when you're injured; how to set goals including being specific, accountability, iteration, identifying obstacles, and celebration; and redefining success.

I found it helpful and validating. The process and ideas can be applied toward anything really, including weight loss. The loss of identity and having to let go of old goals and create new ones is somewhat unique to an injury. Seems to me to be the most difficult aspect and something I did not have to encounter with weight loss. I knew the identity I wanted to achieve. It was there, it became about how to reveal it.

The other things that I struggle with are the specific objectives to set and how to measure progress. I thought I would have been able to rely on the PT services more for this but am feeling quite let down. In fact, we didn't discuss the steps for me to take and what I should be looking for as a sign of progress other than in "about 4 weeks" I should've started feeling better. I find it difficult now to do my stretches every day or get my core exercises done at the gym 4x / week. Now I realize again that I'm alone with this, I'm not much better off than before and I don't have a better idea of what to measure and look for or a timeline. No one wants to be held accountable for an unsatisfactory outcome including the people that you're paying to be held accountable for the outcome. No one even mentions that the outcome may not be good long-term. More research that I dig out myself is needed to find the answers.
 
Rob- I think getting a pound dog is the best option especially for the dog, but also it feels good to "rescue" a dog that has been abandoned or neglected. I am a terrible softy when it comes to dogs though & must be careful not to fall in love with a dog that I am allergic to. Your TG dinner with Cam sounds lovely. Dogs do bring you joy & sharing that with other dog lovers brings its own camaraderie.
I do think we have to do our own research. I haven't totally lost faith in the medical profession, but definitely find I need to be my own advocate. If I hadn't persevered with my GP & insisted on a referral to a cardio, I would never have found out I have an aneurysm. I now get that monitored regularly.
 
Day 1, no binges.

Breakfast, 390
eggs, yogurt with raspberries and banana, vitamins, fiber supplement

Lunch, 834
salad with chicken

Dinner, 700
restaurant salad bowl with chicken

Total: 1924

1.5 hours walking
 
Day 2, no binges.

Breakfast, 380
eggs, yogurt with raspberries and banana, vitamins, fiber supplement

Lunch, 774
salad with chicken and chicken sandwich

Dinner, 955
restaurant salad with chicken

Snacks, 355
Turkey meatball chili dish

Total: 2464

1.25 hours walking
5 mile run
 
Thanks, all! I felt good yesterday but need to be mindful of my deficit today. I'll eat more as I hopefully get back into running.

Cate, the pain is still there but I haven't put it to the test fully and have very mild indication after that run yesterday that there may be some improvement. Yesterday, I fired my PT and I reached out to my doctor again who referred me to an orthopedist. The head PT then talked to me and I'll follow-up with them as needed.

Yep, I take Cam. I'm trying to do about 2 walks a day with her and for as long as time allows. Nice to be outside.

Cate, have you had more thoughts on getting a dog?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top