Thursday, September 27, 2007

Getting a bit of help

There's a nutritionist/dietician I went to see after I was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis. She helped me figure out what I could eat that would be healthy and would avoid the various foods that I need to avoid. She's very skilled, reasonably priced, and also nice. She questions the wisdom of many things that the mass marketers tell you (like to eat a lot of dairy), just like I do. I really trust her.

I emailed her a couple of days ago to ask her whether she thinks my weight loss stagnation, which seems strange to me given my eating habits, could really just be because I am gaining so much muscle. We decided that I would meet up with her to do a test that measures my metabolic rate--that measures how many calories my body burns in a day. I offered to do a week's food diary as well so that she can see what I have been eating. Despite having purposefully not calculated the calories/fat/points/etc. of anything I have eaten in the last nine months, I think it makes sense to go in to visit the dietician with as much information as possible. So on my sidebar until she and I meet, I will be recording what I eat to the best of my ability.

After emailing her in frustration a few days ago, this morning I woke up and pulled on a pair of pants I've only worn 2 or 3 times since I bought them and had them altered. They are really big on me in the waist and are sliding down on my hips! In the last few days, too, everyone has suddenly been telling me I look smaller again--even people who see me regularly. My husband says he can definitely tell I'm smaller when he wraps his arms around me. So tonight, I'm taking him to the mall with me (getting him to agree to go clothes shopping is a big deal), and I'm going to try on some 14 pants in the mall. If they fit, I will know that I am on track even though my weight isn't dropping.

Honestly, I wish I had measured my various body parts--upper thigh, waist, etc.--a long time ago with a tape measure so that I could measure progress in inches as well as pounds. I would encourage any of you who are taking on an exercise regimen to consider measuring yourself once a month in addition to weighing in case you get at a weight loss stagnation point like I have. I guess I should start measuring myself now, anyway, since I can still see progress over the coming months!

6 comments:

Grumpy Chair said...

The first day I started my "new healthy living" plan, I took measurements and pictures. I agree with you, do it at the beginning, but it isn't too late to start now with the measurements. I was taking pictures every week too (for my own benefit, but quit doing that in November, need to start it back up again).

Congratulations on all the nice compliments, too.

Good luck with hubby at the mall. (Hee hee).

Laura N said...

Hi! Thanks for your comments on my blog. I love finding new weight loss folks to read and chat with. Great job on your loss so far! It's awesome to finally have people notice. Have fun buying smaller clothes.

You started at around the same weight I did. And I read your goal weight of 150 in a previous post, and you saying a size 10 would be okay by you. Girl, if you are at least 5'5'' (that's how tall I am) then you'll be a size 10 by 165. And by 150 you'll be a 6 or a 4. Seriously. I am a 6 now in regular pants & skirts almost everywhere I've shopped (except Target--all their stuff runs smaller) and a size 8 in jeans. And I weigh 155 right now. It really makes me wonder what "really skinny girls" wear! That must be why there are size 00s now.

Cory said...

Glad to hear it on the clothes thing. That's awesome. Not a bad idea to track and see the nutritionist though. It might help.
Congrats on your new-found compliments, and getting the hubby to go shopping with you!

Anonymous said...

Yay for baggy pants! Measuring can give more affirmation and encouragement than a lifeless bathroom scale. Definitely measure now, even though you're more than half-way to your goal. You've inspired me to do the same.

melancholic smirk said...

Woo hoo baggies!

I had to just throw out my scale. The body is a weird entity. It kind of does everything possible to defy reason. So even if you're "on plan," sometimes you don't see the number you want. That doesn't mean you're not progressing.
:)

Sally JPA said...

Grumpy, you're right--I will measure this weekend.

Laura, you think?? I can't imagine being that small. I know I was a size 10 at 150 pounds in high school. I am an inch shorter than you, so maybe it'd be more like an 8 for me. We'll see! I may stop before 150 depending on how my body does and how I feel as I go lower.

Cory and Les, thanks! Les, I think you will be very smart to measure, too.

K. Renee, scales can be a bitch, can't they? I went out and got a Tanita Innerscan model that is actually accurate, and it does show a drop in my body fat. . . . It's so easy to get hung up on what the scale says, even when I know better.