My blogs have been erratic, I know, and Substack reminded me this morning that I haven’t written for a while. I have no excuses. With that, here is an update on my intermittent fasting, as promised.
In a nutshell, I think it absolutely works to keep weight down, but like every other program, you have to do it.
Since I returned from Greenville, S.C., in late November, where I was very careful with the food thing (see earlier blog), my weight has fluctuated within 2 pounds… but sadly, it’s generally fluctuated up rather than down.
In the interest of transparency and to make this is an accurate - and I hope useful- diary, I am going to start by sharing my weight. (YIKES.)
I am starting right here and now, and I plan to give weekly updates. I am going to be honest. I have noted my weight on a somewhat daily basis for years, and I know that may be a bit extreme for some people, but it usually keeps me in check. It can be up as much as 5 pounds in a weekend…a few too many snacks here, a birthday cake there, or just a dinner party... it doesn’t take much.
I believe the weight is a lot about timing the food, as well as quitting alcohol, which I did on that trip. With alcohol, it’s the extra calories, the fluid retention it causes, and the screwed-up sleep after drinking even a glass of wine (a normal part of life for a long time.. maybe not every day, but frequent). So maybe this will evolve into a sobriety thing too. Not 100% sure about that though.
Anyway, here it begins, and I hope because this is public, it will keep me on track and accountable.
The morning I left New York for the S.C. trip on Oct. 30, I weighed 129.4 pounds. I returned from Greenville on Nov. 26 and weighed 124.8 pounds. These are not big figures I know, but at my height (5’1”), every 5 pounds is a dress size, and since I wear my clothes with little room to spare, this was a lot. I was so close to my goal – 121! Today, I am 126.6.
I confess, I have not been doing the intermittent fasting, and I am convinced this is the result. Whether it is due to precisely how many specific calories are ingested or whether all calories are equal, too many meals or even drinking again, I can’t be sure. I will share thoughts on all this going forward.
I have maintained working out: I joined Pure Barre in Danbury, go at least three times a week and love the program. I am convinced the weight gain is the food/drink routine.
I use a Tanita Inner Scan scale that is at least 10 years old, maybe 15. It seems to be accurate. How do I know? When I put my rings on in the morning and they are tight, I almost always weigh more. I assume that’s fluid retention, but it still makes the scale move.
So here we begin. I will report every week and include links to related articles, etc., I find worthwhile. I will continue to share about trips and daily foibles, but the weight journey will be a big part of it.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
P.S. And thank you Substack for the reminder! It’s Day 1. Again.
I really appreciate this! You are great at explaining something complicated. I traveled with nephews and my brother-in-law that eat the #IF way- we shared an apt for two weeks - Every a.m. I had toast and espresso and they just drank water or had black espresso. We ate on that trip around noon every day. And even though I had food in the a.m. I didn't have more energy, and they seemed very relaxed. I have adapted it when I'm not feeling great and I do think digestion requires too much energy so especially when I have to travel or do some physical activity I just don't eat. I wish our social construct would not be a B, L, D meal and probably everyone would be healthier.