Discussion Board

a very big congrats coming at you! it is amazing what all you have gone thru to get where you are now!

WOW - that is awesome! Congratulations many times over!

It's been a while since I've updated my journal here. I've been posting regular weight loss updates on my blog, Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy for anyone who wishes to follow there.

It is not official weigh-in day. That is every other Sunday and this is the off Sunday. To catch you all up to speed my weight loss has been tapering off over the past two months and I knew a plateau was imminent. I had a couple off-week weigh-in's that showed no weight loss and only after adding more exercise did I manage to show a loss by the next weigh-in. Then, two weeks ago, my last off-week Sunday, I stepped on the scale to see a 2 pound increase.

I refused to let the 280's be where my weight loss stopped, and I had no desire to plateau, as I made a commitment to myself that I would show consistent weight loss at every weigh-in period this entire year. I've made it this far and wanted to finish out the year sticking to that commitment.

The problem isn't hard to finger. It's my volume eating. I eat insane amounts of food and it is an absolute testament to this way of eating that a person can lose 200 pounds while eating that volume of food! Thank you Dr. McDougall! But I knew eventually I'd reach my set point for that volume of food and it appears I was at it or very close to it. So when I stepped off the scale two weeks ago I realized it was time to confront my volume eating head on.

The first week was painful. Reminiscent of past starvation diets I've been on. But I knew the pain would lessen over time. I knew my stomach would shrink over time. I knew the food I was eating was what my body needed and wanted. So I took a step of faith believing that if I suffered through the pain long enough my body would adapt and I would learn how to eat like a normal person. Or at least more like a normal person.

The results: After one week I'd lost the 2 pounds I'd gained plus 3 more for a total of 5 pounds in one week and letting my "official" weigh-in period reflect a loss of 3 pounds over the last weigh-in. In the week since then I've lost an additional 10 pounds bringing my current weight to 269 (I won't update my ticker till my official weigh-in next Sunday).

Observation One: 10 pounds in one week and 15 pounds in two weeks is too much weight loss too fast. It far exceeds my goals or desires. I have to slow this down. I'm hesitant to add in more food because the whole purpose of what I'm doing is to let my stomach shrink and learn how to eat less food. So this week I'm going to start adding in more calorie dense foods. Today, Pizza!

Observation Two: I have no clue what hunger is. Truth is, in my entire life of 47 years I have NEVER known what hunger is. I literally have to learn from scratch. I cannot trust my senses and I certainly can't trust my feelings.

Observation Three: Week two was easier than week one. It was less painful. I expect week three will be easier still. I honestly thought I added in a bit more food this past week than the first week, but at twice the weight loss I'm not sure. Maybe my stomach has shrunk more and it only feels like I've eaten more food. One friend suggested I keep track of all my food intake, weight and calories, so that I'll know. I can see the logic of that but I refuse to do it at this time. The point being that my body has to learn what is enough food and my mind has to learn to be satisfied with that and I believe that in time that is exactly what will happen.

Observation Four: I am glad I did not reduce my food intake sooner. I've maintained good weight loss for a long period of time and reducing my food intake sooner would have resulted in much too much weight loss too quickly. Further, and probably more important, I've had over a year to adapt to this way of eating and to prepare mentally for this day of having to confront my volume eating. I've had so much success up to this point which boosted my confidence to the level that for the first time in my life I actually believe I can conquer my compulsion for volume eating. It would have been too big of a step any earlier than now, as well as an unnecessary step.

Observation Five: I do not in any way consider what I'm doing to be portion control. I do not believe that most people need to count calories or limit portions. Neither does Dr. McDougall. But I am not a normal person. I have a mental disorder causing me to compulsively overeat and I am in the process of overcoming that obsession! I'm not counting calories. I'm not denying myself food. I am, temporarily, reducing my food intake to allow my body and mind to learn what it should already know. We should learn early in life what to eat, when to eat, and how much to eat and it should be a natural part of living and we shouldn't even have to think about it. I've spent the last year or so learning WHAT to eat. Now I'm learning WHEN and HOW MUCH.

Comments and suggestions are welcome.

-Norm

Wow, Norm. As always, your posts in this journal and in the forums are informative, well-reasoned, well-thought-through and full of things to make me pause and think.

Congratulations on anticipating the plateau, and taking steps to deal with it head-on without pretending you did not need to.

I have been trying to find what real hunger is for awhile, and I find it really difficult. Still not nearly there, but I have been helped by the book "Shrink Yourself" and the free pocket hunger coach that is a part of his (pay-for use) program, which I don't pay for or use. It deals with emotional eating, which is my problem with overeating.

I'm a volume eater too, so I can empathize with knowing when to say "enough" to your stomach. Good for you for dealing with a stalled scale so well. Always enjoy your posts too.

Norm, I just gotta say, you are amazing! The pics on July 18 are mind boggling! I mean, weight loss aside, the glow of health radiating off of you just makes me happy.

Way to go! Impressive stuff, man.

and your courage to keep plugging along, through the volume eating thing...yeah, you're doing it. I can hardly wait to see your pics when you are at your target weight

Norm,
I just caught up on your journal, and I must say...WOW!! Congratulations on all of your success and especially on tackling each and every problem as it arises. You have found your way, that is for sure! I have NO DOUBT that you will find your way in terms of teaching yourself how to listen to your body's own hunger and fullness signals. I've been working on the same thing this summer. It's not easy, but look at what you've done that hasn't been easy!!!

I've spent most of my life struggling with compulsive overeating and binge eating, and only the MWL way of life has offered me any relief. I've tried all kinds of emotional and spiritual approaches to try to "fix" what was wrong with me, but honestly, I believe it was the food! Have you seen the lecture from Doug Lisle called "How to lose weight without losing your mind"? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAdqLB6bTuQ

Staying away from concentrated foods (eating only foods low in calorie density) is the only way I've been able to manage my overeating. I have to stay far away from all bread, nuts, and any high fat or sugary foods, or I will fall right back into my old patterns. But you already know all about calorie density...what I really wanted to tell you was that when I was first trying to learn what hunger and fullness felt like (because, like you, I had no clue), I gave myself the parameter that I would only eat when my stomach growled...then I would know without a doubt that I was experiencing real, physical hunger. It was a learning process. Knowing when to stop was actually harder, but I realized over time that if my stomach emptied to the point of growling a few hours later, that I had eaten the right amount of food. Sometimes it didn't, and I wouldn't eat until it did. I don't know if this is helpful, but I thought I'd mention it because it was a game-changer for me. Now, I am different. I don't eat because I "feel like eating" or because I'm having an overwhelming craving. I eat because I'm physically hungry and I have learned to stop eating because I recognize the sensation of fullness.

I wish you much success and can't wait to watch you blow through all your goals!
You ROCK!!!!!

Thank you. I knew a plateau was an eventuality and was actually surprised it didn't come sooner.

I can understand that. I don't think I'll understand what real hunger is anytime soon.

I can't wait to share those pics!


I have watched that video and share it with others. It is full of good stuff. I too have struggled with these issues since early childhood, but my days of struggling are limited. I have no intention of having to fight this the rest of my life.
Sunday will mark 3 weeks of eating reduced amounts of food and I have learned so much in this short amount of time. It is no longer painful. I am amazed that I have reached this point so quickly. It's not always comfortable but the level of discomfort is much less than it was in week one. My stomach is definitely shrinking. I'm feeling full on the reduced volume of food I'm eating. The compulsion to continue eating after I reach that point is still there but it's more manageable. I'm still dropping weight much faster than I want to even though I am trying to eat more calories than last week. For instance, on Sunday I ate pizza. Today I intentionally ate breakfast much earlier than usual, ate more breakfast, and for the first time in forever actually ate a mid day meal instead of just grazing here and there.
I'm learning. I'll find the volume of food and frequency of eating that gets my weight loss where I want it to be and then I'll let my body learn to be satisfied with that amount of food. I'd have never thought it would be possible to do this, let alone do it so easily. I see two key factors in play here... First, I spent a lot of time learning what I'm supposed to eat and letting my body get used to it and like it, and second, in the process of doing the first thing I gave myself plenty of time to find that mental place I need to be in to push myself through this learning curve. I guess a third factor is the step of faith in believing that just like my body learned to like, love, and thrive on the right foods once I found them, that it will also learn to like, love, and thrive on the right amount of food once I find it. I believe that, and I believe my compulsion to overeat can be overcome if I continue further down this same path.

Progress! And the prize is in sight!

-Norm

Your insights and perseverance are so inspiring, Norm. I've also noticed a need to eat less but a desire to keep on eating beyond satisfied, then feeling overfull for sure.

There have been different times when I was mentally dicombobulated about getting smaller and kind of forced myself to stay at that weight for a few months. I think I was scared of the change. Maybe it's more of a female thing, but just not sure who I was at the smaller weight and not sure how to be me if I got smaller. Has that ever happened to you?

Thank you for sharing your journey. You have surely helped many.

Change is scary for everyone. Some embrace it more readily than others. I haven't been the weight I am now since about 1991-1992. That's a long time and I'm not used to it. I still think like an extremely fat person. I still pay close attention to where I step when walking on porches and up/down steps to make sure I'm stepping where the supports underneath are. I still size up every chair I sit in to make sure it'll support me. I still think all too often "I can't do that" simply because for so many years I couldn't.... I too am not sure how to "be me", but I'm enjoying the process of finding out. In this regard I feel like a kid again!

Thank you! I have been through a lot in life and being able to help others gives me the perspective that all those years of life weren't just wasted. That what I'm now learning to overcome can be of benefit to many more people than just myself. I'm reminded of this often enough. Just last evening as I was walking a man drove by in a car and stopped to talk to me. I don't recall ever seeing him or speaking to him and have no idea where he lives, but he obviously lives nearby because he said he has been watching me walking this past year and the transformation he's seen in me has been motivation for him to get his own health in order. He told me he's now lost 80 pounds! I have no idea what he's done to lose that 80 pounds but it made my entire day to know that I was the motivator to get him started!

It's a great feeling!

-Norm

Norm, I have greatly enjoyed what you have shared about your plateau and how you have dealt with it. Your willingness to look at your motivations, habits, and options is truly astounding to me. Thank you so much for sharing this, it has helped me.

Fulenn

What a feeling that must be realizing that your life touched his so powerfully. Sort of like receiving another bonus gift from all that are coming your way now. I find that happening, too. Surprises related to what I can do and wear and how I look. Just last week I realized for the first time that I really do look different. I didn't recognize me really, in a recent photo. I'm withyou in feeling like a kid, too. Rooting for you, Norm!

Weight Loss Update: 09/09/12

The direct assault on my volume eating has shown good results on the scale. I'm down 13.5 pounds since my last weigh-in 2 weeks ago. For a much more detailed update, which I will refrain from typing out again, see the update on my blog at: Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy!

An observation I didn't include on my blog is the following. I've been asked just how much less food I'm eating than before. The answer is, a lot. I don't count calories and I don't weigh portions so it's hard to say exactly, but here is something I've noticed. Since the reduction in food volume I consistently weigh 2 to 3 pounds more at night before bedtime than I do in the morning after using the restroom. This has been consistent throughout the 3 weeks I've been at this. But before then, I consistently weighed 5 to 7 pounds heavier at bedtime as compared to the following morning after a bowel movement. That's 3 to 4 pounds difference in the night time weights, and I'd venture a guess that this accurately reflects the change in volume of my daily bowel movements. That's a lot, and you can consider it food for thought. Or not!

-Norm

Congratulations on your new weight loss, once again! Very cool

This is interesting:



I find a similar discrepancy between my am and pm weights - on the days when I know I have overeaten, I can weigh six more pounds than I did in the morning, whereas when I don't overeat...maybe 2-3 pounds more, at most.

But I am not into measuring just yet, either. Trying to avoid it forever, in fact.

Dear Norm

I have just read your journal from start to finish for the first time (I had a few days break in the middle). I am so impressed with everything you have done. Thank you for posting, it's been a very inspiring and interesting read.

Your recent pictures look great.

I'm just off to start your blog!

Best wishes Sue