Made it through yesterday and so far today without weighing. I REALLY needed a break from the scale. Got to focus on what good things are happening and not on what that little digital demon is telling me! So far, so good. I feel like yesterday went really well! I didn't start the Vitex, but I will today when I eat my breakfast. So far, I've not really felt hungry. We had our late dinner of steaks and salad and I drank more water. I think the steak has kept me really full. Nothing even sounds good right now. Usually, I wake up somewhat hungry and ready for breakfast. But not today... I don't want to not eat and then be starving, but I don't want to eat when I'm not truly hungry. Guess I'll give it a bit more time and then decide.
2hotinhere mentioned in the last post's comments about how important sleep is. She's right. I SO wish my baby would get that memo! Aargh! We were up twice again last night. And I feel like part of the reason I'm not losing is because of that. You see, I've always been the sort who needed sleep. My hubby and my kids seem to be able to have less sleep and function, but I've never been like that. I've always needed more sleep than others to feel good, function, and be in a good mood. When I don't have it one day, I am ok. But I am going on over a year of not great sleep. And I think it has taken it's toll.
This got me to thinking, how much of my decisions are affected by my lack of sleep? I would say a lot. My emotional state at times is lacking for sure. I feel neurotic and like crying one minute, and fine the next. I know, I know... this isn't a constant state, but there ARE days I feel like that. Those days tend to be the days I was up for most of the night. I had a night recently where oldest had nightmares and was up at least 3 times. Youngest was up 2 times for bottles and then a couple of times just because falling back to sleep wasn't working. So, I had gone to bed at 11:30, but I basically was up all night because I never went into deep sleep. I was an emotional WRECK the next day. I had a hard time making basic decisions, so I'm SURE making food choices wasn't good, either. But not only that... I was PHYSICALLY hungry. I really think that was because with my body so tired from lack of sleep, it was craving extra energy to get up and running. But because I was so tired, I couldn't do much. More cals + less energy = fat.
Now, there's not only that... it's not only the diet. But with my emotional state all over the place I feel sure that it's starting to run into every aspect of my life. Like I mentioned in a previous post, I DO have fears about losing but is that creeping in MORE than I think because of being so tired? Is fear coming to the forefront since I'm more tired than I would like to be so I can't fight it or confront it as I should? OY. So many things to think on. Without getting adequate sleep, I don't know how well I'm doing! And I worry that until youngest is sleeping better, I'm not going to see any significant change in my weight. I don't know what I would do if the hubbs didn't try to let me sleep in some as-is. He tries, but he is so use to sleeping through that many times I still wake up. He will get up, but by that point, my sleep cycle has been broken. Starting to think I need a girl's weekend just to go away and SLEEP. LOL
*sigh* So much to think on. And even more reason to not let the number be my guide but to try to listen to my body and use my head to make decisions. AND, take the time to think before I act. Even though I want this weight off, I can't push my body beyond what it can handle when certain aspects are out of my control. I can only do what I can do and go on with it, ya know? And I've got to quit stressin'. The hubby loves me as I am, my kiddos don't care, and the real friends and my family just want me healthy and happy. I need to want that for myself and quit trying to live up to this image I have in my head of what I SHOULD be.
Ok, well, I am going to quit digging at my brain right now and get off of here. I am starting to feel a smidge hungry and I have several things I might try to do today. I'm not sure what all I will get done, but I would like to try to do a few things. Plus, I need to price a couple of things online and I can't do that if I am on here typing. LOL Have a great week and I will talk to you all again soon!
Sleep makes so much of a difference! I'm a very sound sleeper & need my sleep, these days. Our youngest didn't sleep through for the whole first year. That was the roughest year!
ReplyDeleteI had suggested to hubby that he do something similar, but he's struggling with the "right" thing to do. I've decided that I'm going to leave it up to him. We've said before that we wouldn't do any more work for family or friends, but it hasn't stuck! Thanks for the suggestion, though! If hubby keeps griping about it, I'll have to bring it up again.
It sounds like you really DO need a girl's weekend! Or at least a Jewlz weekend. I think that you may be right about sleep seriously affecting your weight loss, becaue it does affect your attitude and your motivation. But some things do have to take priority in your life, and maybe right now you should focus on maintaining instead of losing. Maybe your body is trying to tell you it needs rest!
ReplyDeleteOH, I hope I didn't scare you about my last comment! :) Like i said, sleep is important, but it is only 1 factor/ component that contribute to your weight lost goal. So, not all is lost. Also, I always believe that if there is a will, then there is a way. So, for your sleep problem, have you try taking a nap during the day?
ReplyDeleteFor me, when I start studying for finals, I usually get little hours of sleep, thus, in order to keep me active during the day, I would usually take a 30-45 minutes nap once or twice a day to keep me refresh. B/c if your lacking sleep, a 30 minute nap may be able to help refresh your body for about 3-4 hours. (remember to set your alarm clock, if you do try..) Also, I must warn you that, try not take a nap for more than 1 hours, b/c after that, it will be extremely hard to wake up, b/c your body has now enter the "sleep" mode...and it will resist you from getting up.
Lastly, I feel that you shouldn't settle for less. Your family and love ones will always love you through the thick and thin. However, losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle is something that you owe to yourself. You have to constantly remind yourself that YOU ARE WORTH IT! Don't lose sight of your goals, even if it might be extremely hard to accomplish. You can do it. Really, if you notice, you have ALMOST lost 20lbs this year and you have manage to keep it off! That, in itself, is an accomplishment.
Thus, when you feel tired or hopeless about your situation, don't give up on yourself. You can find a way to fix it. You have already come along way and have probably surpasses several challenges in order to lose that "almost 20lbs" and be where you are today. Thus, think of this as another challenge that you need to overcome in order to reach to your next goal. Remember, at the end of the day, you are doing this for yourself, b/c you are worth it, and you deserve to 153! :)