Intermittent Fasting -- April, 2008

[sazzie]

G'Monday morning, IFers,

Am finally able to get back after a wonderful visit with our daughter. We made some good memories this past week.

My eating was less than stellar this past week, but that is the nature of any eating pattern, so I'm going to go with the flow and do the best I can to re-group. I continue to feel well, and that is my priority, so all is well.

I see that this past weekend was a slow one here on the thread, but I'm sure that will change soon.

I'll bbl to check in to see how you're all doing.

[Missalissa]

Good Monday morning peeps! Hope all is well in the land of IF!

Trying to get caught up at work from last week where everything got put on back burner for the party. Bday party for boss went great.

BBL!

[carolinasweetie]

Happy Monday IF'ers !

Just a quick check in from work, while I have a short break, because I know I will have to spend a couple of hours tonight on my project. It is going well, just taking up a lot of my free time, so I will be glad when it is finished ! But, that will not be for several more weeks. Trying to fit in time for my social life with Jeff, time with my grandbaby and family, time with my girlfriends and time with this board, along with my more than FT work load and this major project, has been a huge challenge ! Whew ! I am tired again just typing all that......needless to say, my life is extremely busy, but I miss you guys and I miss posting every day. I will still be here reading the posts and I will jump in when I can.

Congrats to all the losers.....KUTGW !

Barb ! Wooohoooo ! The scale is moving for you....WTG ! Hang in there....you are doing so well....you are a real trooper and remind me so much of myself....we are defintiely two women "on a mission" !

I have not seen any posts from Rachel lately....hope everything is OK with her....she is probably just real busy also !

Well, my break is almost over, so I need to get back to the "salt mines" !

Stay strong and focused everyone ! WE CAN DO THIS !

[Ragdoll24]

Originally Posted by carolinasweetie

I will still be here reading the posts and I will jump in when I can.I have not seen any posts from Rachel lately....hope everything is OK with her....she is probably just real busy also !Stay strong and focused everyone ! WE CAN DO THIS !

CarolinaSweetie So glad you had a chance to pop in & post. I sure do miss your encouragement.
I'm also wondered about Rachel. Hope everything is going o.k. for her & that she is just busy with getting her online writing course up & running.

Glad everything is going good for Sazzie & Missalissa, Kim & Mommie22boys. Where is everyone else? I miss you guys!
Hugs, Barbara

[Missalissa]

My goodness this thread is quiet today. Where is everybody?

[Ragdoll24]

Originally Posted by Missalissa

My goodness this thread is quiet today. Where is everybody?

Missalissa If you think today is quiet, you should have seen this weekend. I really miss all our previous posters. Hope they are all doing well with whichever plan they choose.
Barbara

[BrandNewMe2004]

I'm troubled. Not eating well. Hoping for inspiration. Wish I could take a retreat to search inward. Not sure why I feel I need to do that. <shrug>
Will try to come back more and check in. That helps keep me tethered to LC.

[Ragdoll24]

Originally Posted by BrandNewMe2004

I'm troubled. Not eating well. Hoping for inspiration. Wish I could take a retreat to search inward. Not sure why I feel I need to do that. <shrug>
Will try to come back more and check in. That helps keep me tethered to LC.

Melissa you can get back on track.

Good Morning IFers I walked in the mall yesterday & will get out soon to do the same today. So far so good the new number has stayed the same today. I'm hoping to see a bit of momentum with the scale this week.
Have a great day everyone & stay strong. Bathing suit weather is approaching quickly! Barbara

[Missalissa]

Originally Posted by Ragdoll24

Missalissa If you think today is quiet, you should have seen this weekend. I really miss all our previous posters. Hope they are all doing well with whichever plan they choose.
Barbara

Just not used to this thread being so quiet!

Originally Posted by BrandNewMe2004

I'm troubled. Not eating well. Hoping for inspiration. Wish I could take a retreat to search inward. Not sure why I feel I need to do that. <shrug>
Will try to come back more and check in. That helps keep me tethered to LC.

One day at a time chickie. Sometimes we make things harder than they have to be!

Originally Posted by Ragdoll24

Good Morning IFers I walked in the mall yesterday & will get out soon to do the same today. So far so good the new number has stayed the same today. I'm hoping to see a bit of momentum with the scale this week.
Have a great day everyone & stay strong. Bathing suit weather is approaching quickly! Barbara

Yeah for new numbers!

[Missalissa]

OMG peeps! She tried to kill us in kickboxing last nite. I am so sore~!

[SuzeZee]

Good Morning to Everyone! I've been just lurking for awhile because I have been super busy with family stress issues. They aren't going away any time soon but am getting back into the swing of things. I found that CAD doesn't work for me very well. I am exercising by walking 4x/wk and doing maybe 15 mins of weights for upper body 3x/wk. Truth is I just have an appetite and eat too much. I never have trouble maintaining but I can't lose easily. So, it's back to square one and the old "eat less, exercise more" thing". I actually do lose if I keep my cals. at 800-1000/day, and think it's bull that they say don't drop under 1200. I am looking at each five pounds and making that my goal, thinking that "anyone" can lose five pounds. Also, I am quite isolated and don't leave the house often, nor do I have any real outside activities except walking my dogs, seeing my daughter and brother occasionally. Retiring certainly took me out of the mainstream I can tell you! My DH is a trucker and is home maybe every 10 days or so for a couple of days. Get my drift? So all that being said it's back to good ole' will power to get control of the hunger. Stay tuned, as I will begin today (again) with two Atkins drinks opening my window at 1:00 and for tonight having roasted chicken wings and zucchini.

[Missalissa]

Originally Posted by SuzeZee

Retiring certainly took me out of the mainstream I can tell you! My DH is a trucker and is home maybe every 10 days or so for a couple of days. Get my drift? So all that being said it's back to good ole' will power to get control of the hunger. Stay tuned, as I will begin today (again) with two Atkins drinks opening my window at 1:00 and for tonight having roasted chicken wings and zucchini.

SuzeZee, good to see again! Good luck with your window today!

What does your DH haul? Van, Reefer, or Flatbed loads? I work for a small mom and pop trucking company. We have 5 trucks. We haul fresh produce and meat loads on 48' reefers.

[shamrock67]

HI everyone!!

I am still around- haven't checked in here in quite a while- what I have done was switch to a calorie rotation diet- lost 5 lbs and am down to 225- after months of being stuck at 230- but, I want even faster results as summer is quickly approaching, so I started a whey protein shake diet yesterday- 5 shakes per day with added fiber and fish oil pill supplements- not very appetizing, but I am determined to lose another 15 lbs by Memorial Day- this is supposed to be a 28 day plan......I just bought my bathing suit, which is kind of tight, so I need to make sure I can get into that soon....also, started tanning- I never did that before, but it does give me some incentive- I know some people say it is not good for you, but, I don't do it all year round- just want to feel better about myself.....so - I am going to try to check in periodically- take care everyone!!!!!

[Missalissa]

Originally Posted by shamrock67

HI everyone!!

I am still around- haven't checked in here in quite a while- what I have done was switch to a calorie rotation diet- lost 5 lbs and am down to 225- after months of being stuck at 230- but, I want even faster results as summer is quickly approaching, so I started a whey protein shake diet yesterday- 5 shakes per day with added fiber and fish oil pill supplements- not very appetizing, but I am determined to lose another 15 lbs by Memorial Day- this is supposed to be a 28 day plan......I just bought my bathing suit, which is kind of tight, so I need to make sure I can get into that soon....also, started tanning- I never did that before, but it does give me some incentive- I know some people say it is not good for you, but, I don't do it all year round- just want to feel better about myself.....so - I am going to try to check in periodically- take care everyone!!!!!

Good to see you shamrock!

[Missalissa]

3 Ways to Stop Negative Thinking
Don't Let Negative Thoughts Sabotage Your Efforts

1. Look for Hidden Thoughts and Assumptions

The process of moving from an event (like going over your daily calories) to a conclusion about the meaning of that event (I’ve blown my diet) and what you should do about it (keep eating, start over later), typically involves several more mental steps that you probably aren’t aware of. Psychologists call these intermediate steps automatic thoughts because they are habitual, happen quickly, and feel so “right” to us that we don’t even notice them.

Although you can’t completely prevent automatic thoughts from occurring (after all, they naturally help us make good decisions in a hurry), these thoughts are not always accurate. Chronic negativity about yourself or your situation is a good sign that your automatic thoughts are inaccurate.

Luckily, it’s not difficult to learn how to identify your automatic thoughts, figure out if they make sense, and change the ones that aren’t working for you. The first step is to develop the habit of asking yourself: "What would have to be true in order for the negative conclusion I reached to be justified?"

For example, what would have to be true in order for going over your calorie limit to mean that you've “blown” your diet? Wouldn’t it have to be true that your diet is a one-day event that requires a perfect performance on your part? You know that's not the case.

2. Learn toArgue with Yourself

Once you recognize some of your automatic thoughts, you can inspect them and, if necessary, argue with them. The flaw in the above example is pretty obvious: Permanent weight loss is not a short-term project, and doesn’t require perfection. But sometimes the flaw or assumption won’t be as obvious. If that's the case, then you may need to do some investigating.

Before you jump to conclusions or attack your own character, ask yourself a few basic questions:
If someone I respect did exactly what I did, would I come to the same conclusion about them that I’m coming to about myself?
If someone came to me asking for advice about how to deal with this problem, what would I say to them? Would I tell them it’s a lost cause?
How does my conclusion help solve the problem? Does deciding that I’m a "lazy slug" without willpower empower me or enable me to do better next time? What thoughts would do that?
Is this a problem that lots of people have or am I the only one facing it? What do other people think or do when they run into this problem?
Is this problem a general pattern in my life or am I blowing one incident out of proportion? Are there times when I do well at things that clearly require willpower and self-discipline—like going to work every day and taking care of my family?
Have I put the same amount of time and effort into thinking about solutions as I have into listing the problems?

The more of these questions that you ask yourself, the more easily you’ll be able to spot—and correct—your negative automatic thoughts that are lurking underneath your tendency to assume the worst whenever things don’t go the way you planned.

3. Do What Doesn't Come Naturally

One reason that negative thoughts become so automatic and pervasive in our minds is that they are consistent with our typical feelings. If you find yourself jumping to negative conclusions about yourself, your abilities, and your options and opportunities, it’s probably because that feels “right” and comfortable to you.

This doesn't mean you have to figure out why it feels "right" to feel bad about yourself. Again, you'll simply respond better to doing things differently, rather than spending hours rooting through emotional baggage.

Changing those negative thoughts and judgments into realistic and reasonable ones is going to feel uncomfortable and unnatural. In fact, feeling uncomfortable is probably a good sign that this is exactly what you need to be doing to get past your problems.

So when you're unsure about what the problem is, your best bet is to do what doesn’t come naturally. When you find yourself arriving at a negative conclusion about you or your situation, stop thinking that and start thinking the exact opposite. If you’re thinking that there’s something fundamentally wrong with you, tell yourself the problem is in the situation—not in you—and look for ways to change the situation. If you think you’re "doomed to be fat forever," tell yourself that success is unavoidable if you want it; if you’re feeling like a "lazy slug," tell yourself that your “true self” really does want to exercise. You get the idea.

No matter how big, bad or scary the problem seems, you're always just one thought away from turning it into an opportunity for change, growth and progress. All you have to do is find that thought.

[sazzie]

Hi All,

Barbara, so glad to see your numbers down......congratulations!

Shamrock good having you back.

Suzezee good to see you...it's good that you have some free time to take care of yourself with the good eating and exercise habits.

Missalissa, yes, it sure has been extra quiet lately.

It is sort of chilly here today; very refreshing.

Not too much to say this morning, except that all is well.

Bbl

[Missalissa]

Goals that Help, Goals that Hurt
Remember to Think Positive

We know that the people who succeed at permanent weight loss are the ones who have chosen their goals wisely and pursued them vigorously.

But how do you know if the goals you set are "wise"—i.e., the right goals for you? Setting goals that don’t suit you can be the root of much avoidable suffering. You can determine whether your goals are helping you or hurting you in three easy steps:

Step 1: Take a close look at the words that express your goals.
Take a moment to read over your goals. If you keep them written in your head, jot them down on paper quickly before you read further. Done? Now look through your goals for any of the following words: NO, NOT, NEVER, STOP, LOSE, REDUCE, LIMIT, or QUIT. If these negative words (or similar ones) play an important role in the way you have stated your goals, you may be setting yourself up for problems. Here’s why.

Words are very powerful! They focus your attention in one area while other possibilities fade away. When words are negative (like those above), their results are negative. When you say, for example, that you will "Stop eating chocolate," what are you really doing? You are focusing your attention on the very thing you want to avoid—chocolate. IF going without something you want when it is always on your mind were easy, this might work. But, we all know that "out of sight, out of mind, out of reach" works a lot better.

Step 2: Do your goals deprive you of something you want (or think you want)?If so, you’re just setting yourself up for feelings of deprivation, resentment, and rebelliousness. How many times have you gone a day, a week, or even longer without caving in to a food on your forbidden list, only to find yourself binging on it later, as if out of sheer spite? Contrary to belief, making something off-limits isn’t the best way to maintain control. It'll get that 2-year-old inside us really geared up to do battle.

Step 3: Do your goals set you up for failure?
Framing your goals in negative terms creates an all-or-nothing situation, where even one small slip means failure. And we all know where this leads—"Well, I’ve already blown it, I might as well enjoy it and start over tomorrow," which turns into next week, next month, or next year. Soon you feel like you can’t control your own behavior, but aren’t sure what to do about it.

It all starts with the words.

The great thing about having the capacity for language is that we can use words to help ourselves want what it is best for us to have.

Framing your goals in positive terms makes reaching them that much easier. Positive words allow you to:

Focus on what you really want, and on what is helpful and achievable. This creates positive energy and momentum instead of feelings of deprivation and resentment.
Adjust your plans when you have the inevitable slip-up or bad day. Instead of giving up when you mess up, you can make small changes to balance things out.
Check in with yourself before you act. Ask yourself if what you are about to eat will help you reach your goals.
Have true freedom of choice, rather than forcing yourself to rely on will power alone. We just aren’t designed to white-knuckle our way through life, always resisting what we think we really want.

So, go through your goals with a fine-toothed comb, and make sure they are positive. Focus on what you DO want to eat and what you WILL accomplish—not just on how many pounds you want to lose. Keep track of your calories as a necessary tactical measure, but don’t confuse going over on any given day with "failure." There’s more going on than what happens on any single day, and well-framed goals can help you keep that in view.

[Ragdoll24]

Shamrock & Suzezee Great to have you back. We're here to support you.
Missalissa Great posts on negative thinking & what we tell ourselves. We all need a reminder of these points.
Sazzie Left a message for you yesterday. Will try to reach you again today.

I did take the walk at the mall & can feel it. Just heard this on the noon news:

The pills people take to decrease blood pressure could also help them lose weight and body fat, according to a new study on mice.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers are blood pressure drugs that block key steps in a system that helps control blood pressure and reduce fluid build-up in the body.
This pathway is known as the renin-angiotensin system. Previous studies have suggested that the renin-angiotensin system plays a role in body fat and obesity.In the current study, Michael Mathai and colleagues in Australia examined mice that were missing a gene that encodes for angiotensin-converting enzyme, a key protein for the renin-angiotensin system. They discovered that those without the gene weighed 20 percent less.The lightweight mice also had about 50 percent less body fat than their heavyweight counterparts, particularly in the belly area, reports New
Scientist magazine

[Missalissa]

Today's Empowerment:

"Food is simply food. While it may seem to have human or super-powers that control me, it does not and I alone choose what goes into my mouth with respect and cheer."

[DeniseBBW]

Originally Posted by Ragdoll24

Melissa you can get back on track.

Good Morning IFers I walked in the mall yesterday & will get out soon to do the same today. So far so good the new number has stayed the same today. I'm hoping to see a bit of momentum with the scale this week.
Have a great day everyone & stay strong. Bathing suit weather is approaching quickly! Barbara

Don't you feel good after you're done walking? I really love it and because I'm still so big(though losing slowly) I feel it's easiest for me to do right now. I go to the gym with my husband sometimes and use the treadmill. I always feel so energized when I'm done walking.

[Confession]

Missalissa- I really liked those articles- "3 ways to stop Negative Thinking", and the one about goals. This really fits with what I have been doing with my own eating. I had been trying recently to use a system with lots of rules and tracking, but it just kept tripping me up! It was like the more rules their were, then the more likely I was to fall. Now I am just keeping it simple with the Low Carb and keeping a calorie maximum. I am feeling so much better emotionally, and haven't had as much struggle to keep on plan. Like we always say-- KISS.


Suze- I can really relate to what you said about keeping the calories low. It must be tough to have your DH gone so much.

Shamrock- Hope the shakes help you to "shake" things up a bit.LOL

Denise- I love how a good walk makes me feel. It gives me a positive feeling, and more energy for life.

Barbara- Thanks for that info on ACE inhibitors. I passed that along to my mother who is on one.

[quirkyrabbit]

Hello you all. I've missed you!

My computer was seriously dead, and I was only signing on from work (bad idea) or from the library. Now I have the computer back, and it still has issues, but I'm slowly getting my programs back. Sigh.

The good news, however, is that I seem to be IFing with my computer too! I'm a carb addict AND a computer / internet addict, so having the computer gone was a GREAT boost to me. So, I'm really trying to limit both food and computer interaction. Heck, mebbe I'll even find me a human!

Today I weigh 132. My eating is under control, except yesterday, I went to subway and they had a foot long for $5 and I bought it. Natch, I ate it before bed. Next time, I'll limit myself to one HALF foot of hoagie.

I do have a problem that, if I have food in my house, I eat it. ALL. With that old ad "I can't believe I ate the whole thing!" Fortunately (I guess) I do not purge, just binge.

So, I hope you are doing well too. I haven't gotten any thinner, but at least I haven't regained.

HUGS!