Not So Proud Moments

     I was proud when I had lost 100 lbs and then 101 and was only 3 pounds away from my goal. I figured I'd be writing about hitting my goal the next week. Nope. I'm now 7 pounds away from my goal. I managed to gain about 5 lbs in a week...well, less than a week. It is amazing and unfair, amazingly unfair and unfairly amazing that one could gain that much weight that fast. I could tell you why and make excuses, but it doesn't really matter. Rather I'll share what I learned from the experience. For one, no matter how good the sale, it isn't a good idea to have 6 pints of Ben&Jerry's Core ice creams in the freezer. Secondly, the idea your body can only absorb so much fat or calories at one time so eating a bunch at one time isn't as bad as spreading it out--probably BS. According to Myfitnesspal I was 8,861 calories over my goal for the week which would have been a 7000 deficit which means I ate an extra 1,861over what I burned which is a little over 1/2 a pound. According to my scale I gained 5 lbs. The ice cream itself had a total of 6,800 calories, 392 g fat, 716 g carbs (620 sugar) which is 1.94 lbs of body fat's worth. We did eat out twice, there was some racooned Easter candy, a waffle and I did eat more than normal, but I'd think by the numbers I just shouldn't have lost weight. Granted, I did not weigh everything and there was guestimating after the fact going on, but still, actually gaining 5 lbs seems like my body over reacted! At one point I was weighing in 10 lbs higher than my lowest--the 5 is after giving my body time to flush out bloat. Not cool. 

    I'm thinking sugar might be the trigger. I'd thought it was wheat, but I could lay there and eat almost a day's worth of calories and want more...but then again, when that day's worth of calories is only 2 cups I guess that isn't saying much. I'm thinking I should never have more than 1 pint of Ben & Jerry's in the freezer. I also will say that the core ice creams are not all I thought they would be. They had been in my freezer for over a month, waiting for when I was ready for dessert. I'd figured I'd have 2 servings (1/2 a pint) once a week. Nope. There were 2 days when I ate 2 pints. Not only do I wish I hadn't eaten that much, but I wish it had been Everything But The which I like better.

     So I learned I should really never stockpile Ben & Jerry's and that I can gain a lot more  and faster than I'd think. I also realize that I really would have enjoyed seeing the number on the scale going down rather than eating ice cream. The ice cream lasted minutes. The feeling of accomplishment lasts all day. It made me realize how careful I really am going to have to be. Even without splurging my weight can pop up temporarily by 3 lbs so I hadn't really worried when it first popped up. I weighed daily. If I didn't I'm sure I could easily gain 10 lbs "relaxing" a bit. Now I know to multiply what I think I'll gain by 3. I make up for those inmates who couldn't gain weight despite eating up to 10,000 calories a day. (link). It is stuff like this that makes me really irritated when people say it is just math, that you gain or lose a pound for ever 3500 more or less than we burn. Not always. Looking back through Myfitnesspal to weeks where I was losing I still lost much more "on paper."

     I think it is also important to just move forward. If you fall all off the wagon, you just get back on. It is easy to get discouraged. Mistakes are learning opportunities.