I mentioned that I had a story for you, and some photos and videos to share with you.This is just me, talking openly, about whatโs going on in my lifeโฆ
I weighed in at 144.4 pounds this morning. Thatโs 10 pounds heavier than my low weight a few months ago.
I havenโt gone off plan, Iโve been eating pretty much the same as usual, and I am simply NOT losing weight.
Iโm bloated, squishy and gross โ which means Iโm NOT in ketosis (which is the weight loss issue).
I really miss that โketo leanโ feeling. ๐
Iโve been sick for more than 3 months. I just finished a second 10-day round of antibiotics, among other prescriptions & OTC meds. I also went on and off an antidepressant during that time. So I can only guess those are the factors in my weight problems: the meds, and just being sick in general.
Work on what you CANโฆ
Iโve been getting in some GOOD exercise lately, at least.
Iโm just going to have to keep it up and play the long game here. Especially now that I am OFF all the meds, which will hopefully help. I look FINE at this size anyway (dressed at least, lol) โ so I am NOT allowing myself to stress over it.
I know that stress can stall your weight loss, keep you from getting well, and just plain isnโt fun โ so thereโs no point stressing, lol.
I decided to work on what I *can* for now (exercise), take good care of myself, try to work out the emotional end of my life right now, and focus on the positives..
Iโm in a size Medium in my Fabletics now, down from a Large (and XL in some pieces). Iโm wearing a size 8 pants/shorts โ with plenty of room in them, and have to wear a belt to keep them up actually.
So a size 6/8 right now. Down from sizes 18, 16, 14, 12, 10โฆ
โEverything is fine.โ
Thatโs what I keep telling myself, and I think itโs actually true.
Although Iโve had some very UNfine moments over the last week or so.
Thereโs been A LOT going on in my life that is too personal to share here, but suffice it to say โ itโs been a โone foot in front of the otherโ kinda phase.
It mightโve been a rough week. ๐
It WAS a rough week. And not just physically.
I donโt know if you can see the discoloration below my kneeโฆ
That was 3 adventures ago. ๐ Hereโs how THAT happened (or what was going on right BEFORE the โI didnโt make itโ happened, lol):
Oh wellโฆ throw on a skirt & heels anyway, right?! lol,
Theyโll go great with my adventure scars. ๐ช๐ haha
Iโve been making it a point to stay ACTIVE as much as I possibly can lately, so when it comes to my downtime โ and especially social time with friends โ Iโm trying to get as much exercise out of every โget togetherโ as I can.;)
It started with a night out dancing last Saturday, where I made it a point to dance almost EVERY song and get in more than 10,000 Fitbit steps doing it. ๐
I got in trouble though, so I had to change clothes. I actually got asked to LEAVE, but I just changed into shorts and came back. ๐
I was determined to get my 10,000 steps! haha
And, let me just say: Dance like nobodyโs watching. Dance even if you canโt. Dance for the FUN of it! Dance by yourself evenโฆ like I did, in this video:
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I had a great time, but I danced HARD and I danced for HOURS, and I danced so long and so hard that I ended up with puffy bruises on my feet:
You canโt really blame the 5 inch heelsโฆ
That was all me.
Iโve been pushing myself too hard lately, in too many areas โ with no results.
This deserves a fair explanation for those of you that havenโt been following my story over the last year or so: I used to be an emotional binge eater. I would shut down and eat myself into a carb coma when I got upset, sad, lonely, pissed, whatever.
I had to create new habits, and overcome the issues that caused me to become so unhealthy and overweight. I decided anytime I feel upset, I would โpound it out on the pavementโ instead of eating โ so I took up walking.
My great dane and I could do 4 miles in 42 minutes on the worst days. lol.
Last weekend I was staying out of town, with my hotel being beside a Dunkin Donuts, and directly across from a Krispy Kreme and Baskin Robbins ๐ all within eye shot the whole time. Not to mention the on-site pub with nothing but fried (comfort) food.
My night was going so bad the bartender gave me a free jello shot. I was seriously tempted โ but it was full of sugar, so I passed. And danced instead. Hard. For hours.
Iโm proud of myself for making good choices! Or the better of bad choices, lol.
I continued the next day on the trails.
I still felt like I needed to go pound it out, or work it off, or sweat it out. And so I did โ bruised feet, a bit of a hangover, and a very bad (sad) mood evenโฆ
See that belly roll on me in the picture below?!
That is NEW. Ughโฆ
It was a gorgeous Spring day here in Tennessee, and I started off at the top of Cummins Falls. Not the overlook lol, literally the TOP of the waterfall.
Itโs the perfect spot to sit and thinkโฆ
Think about whether Iโm up for this hike or not. Think about all the things swirling through my mind. Just STOP thinking and start feeling and experiencing the nature all the way around me.
Getting down to the bottom of Cummins Falls in Cookeville, TN requires a pretty strenuous (and very natural) hike. But itโs worth every step!
See that arrow I added? Thatโs where I was sitting earlier. ๐
It was HOT for April, and the sunshine and exercise werenโt helping much. I also wasnโt in a mood to care what people thought, soโฆ armpit tits, belly bulgeโฆ whatever. I was too disgusted with other things going in my life to be disgusted with myself in that moment. ๐
I decided I was NOT up for the hike.
I pushed myself to complete it anyway โ all the way to the bottom and back.
Thereโs a point where the trail ends and you run out of rocks to climb over, and youโre forced to cross the river. The key is in finding the right spot to do thatโฆ
This is when I discovered my Fabletics Fanny Pack โ which I LOVE for hands-free hiking, especially when Iโm feeling adventurous ๐ isโฆ WATERPROOF! (lol)
I fell in the river and completely submerged itโฆ and nothing at all got the slightest bit wet. NICE. ๐
I did make it to the bottom and took a nice long rest on the big rocks facing Cummins Falls. Itโs a gorgeous sight. I wasnโt in the mood though. All I was feeling though was sad and exhausted and wishing like h*ll my feet werenโt so bruised โ because navigating those river rocks was a b*tch! ๐
Blah. I canโt believe how I look right now. Itโs not horrible I know, but I worked SO hard last year losing that weight and toning up really well.
What are you going to do though? Give up and gain it all back? Not me. Iโm going to do what I *can*, like I said, and push myself to just keep moving.
Itโs not JUST about the exercise for meโฆ
My hikes and outdoor adventures are therapeutic in so many ways. I always feel better for doing them, even when I donโt feel like taking that first step.
Nature has a way of showing you whatโs important, and how the little things are really the big things, and the things you think are big thingsโฆ are totally insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Or something.:)
I decided to push myself a little harder on the hike back out, and ditched the trail to climb the bluff instead. People do it all the time. Before the state bought the property and cut the trails, this used to be the only way down to the waterfall.
This particular climb is definitely a full body workout, requiring upper body strength when youโre unsure of your footholds, and a lot of focus and core balance.
I made it, of course. ๐
That was last Sunday. Since then Iโve been hiking & camping (Wednesday) and did a little dancing this week โ plus I went water skiing yesterday (on Saturday).
I wasnโt wearing my Fitbit most of the day on Saturday (yesterday) on the boat because I didnโt want the tan line โ and itโs not waterproof. ๐
I wore a cute Fabletics tank & skirt as a cover-up over my swimsuit for the day on the lake. It was another gorgeous day for April!!
I still wasnโt feeling my best, but dressing nice definitely helps.
As does a few beers โ low carb beers of course. ๐ Itโs entirely too easy to โdress how you feelโ โ which does nothing for feeling better. ๐
I did have an awesome day. ๐ A perfect day, even.
One full day of sunshine, music, exercise & smiles!
Michelob Ultra is 2.6 carbs per 12oz bottle.
Did I mention I feel GREAT in my clothes?
I do.
I need to keep them on. ๐ Ack! ๐ณ
I had two choices: get disgusted with myself, or DO something about it.
The water is ice cold in April here in Tennessee, but I couldnโt exactly go for a run or a hike inside a boat, soโฆ I decided to water ski. ๐
Skiing is a GREAT full body workout!
Check out this video (lol)โฆ
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Here are the low carb foods I had in the cooler, which I ended up eating for dinner since we stayed out on the water pretty late:
Iโm more active now than Iโve ever been in my adult life, and Iโm in better physical shape than Iโve ever been. Even though Iโm not in GREAT shape (yet!) I do have more strength, especially upper body strength, and Iโm able to do things I couldnโt do at all before. Like pull myself up and over a ledge while climbing a bluff. ๐ Or ski for more than 30 seconds, lol.
After all the sweat, sore muscles (sore feet!) and โdates with natureโโฆ I do feel better. Through all of that I found the answer I needed: Work on what you CAN.
Thatโs exactly what Iโm doing.
Iโm forcing myself to wear clothes that FIT and clothes that FLATTER. All week Iโve been sorting and organizing, and Iโm coming up with 3 piles: Fits Fine, Too Big, Too Ugly. Iโm bad to wear the โtoo bigโ and โtoo uglyโ instead of the newer โfits fineโ clothes. ๐ Baggy, unflattering comfies are going OUT!
Thatโs been good therapy in itself โ letting go of the โold meโ with a commitment not to go back, or even wear โherโ clothes again. ever.
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Iโm also FINDING new and different ways to exercise โ outside of the gym.
A friend of mine is moving this week, and I offered to help โ just for the exercise. And to be a good friend of course, but he didnโt seem to want any help. ๐ I was just thinking what a great upper body workout it would be to do some lifting and carrying some weight for a couple of hoursโฆ
Plus it would get me out of here, and get my mind off things for a bit.
Work on what you canโฆ
Iโve gained two full pounds this week. So what?
I ate healthy, I ate low carb, I stayed on track, and I got tons of exercise โ and had some GOOD moments and time with GREAT friends.
Iโm just going to focus on the positive, put one foot in front of the other, and power through. Because thatโs what you DO. Or thatโs what I do NOW instead of pull the covers over my head with two pints of ice cream. ๐
By the time I got to sit down and write you this note, and share my week with you, things are already looking up. Or looking way less down. It was true what I said to myself: Everything is fine. Or at least it will be. ๐
Onward and upward! And staying on trackโฆ
Best,
Lynn Terry,
aka @LowCarbTraveler
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Discount Code: LOWCARBTRAVELER
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Oh, Lynnโฆ Iโm so sorry you are going through all this. You are an amazing person and such an inspiration to so many. Itโs our turn now to lift you up as you have done for us. Youโve got this! When I went through a major life change several years ago, I would tell myself daily (hourly if needed), โthis too shall passโ.
You are doing all you can within your power and it WILL show and payoff. Keep the faith! You CAN and WILL do this! I will keep you in my prayers as well. Take care and things will work out!
Deb
Hate to hear youโre having such a rough go lately but you need to know you are as beautiful as ever inside and out and it is so great that you are just doing what you can
โฆ because thats absolutely all we can do when we feel weak, destroyed, depressedโฆ. I have been OK lately but on Friday I was a bit afraid of some of my decisionsโฆ I felt that if I continued on with a small choice I had made I was self sabotaging and asking for trouble. I had unblocked an ex and he started chatting with me. Nothing inappropriate but if my loving bf knew I even did that it would crush him. So he is reblocked and I am feeling proud because stupid little things like that are hard for meโฆ just sayingโฆthat was me saving myself from a very stupid unnecessary disaster and icky feelings. We do what we can.. I want to be strong and good and smart and feel good about my decisions. Im ramblingโฆ. I am so proud of you and appreciate you so much. Smile, beautiful. This too shall passโฆ
I like that way of thinking. I appreciate you showing your real life, and that even though you have gained, you have still shared. You are so REAL. Iโm still powering back from taking the summer and fall off. When the most recent challenge started I joined and recommitted. Made it thru 2 weeks now, maybe 3 I canโt remember what week we are on, but down 9 lbs. Hoping I can stay committed. I love this WOE, but I was weak. Last week my mom died, and I had ever oppty to cave and eat carbs, since I was so stressed, I found it ez to eat less. Ii used to think I was stress eater, but I am now thinking it was a boredom eaterโฆ.I have made it thru, and Easter today, I made it thru brunch with not one cheat. Feeling Strong! Thanks for your thoughts. And still envious of your hikes, who takes your pics? Like when you were sitting in water and took from distance.
Sorry to hear that you are going through some tough times. Even though you are you continue to inspire us by making the right keto choices ๐ btwโฆyou looked like you really know what you are doing on the waterskis!
Iโm happy to hear that through all the tough feelings you are working at being at peace! Peace be with you, and all of us. Hang tough
Girl, you just donโt know how much I needed to read this tonight. Iโm going through the same type of funk and just trying to pull myself out of a funky situation. Just know, you are not alone in your โfunkโ! ๐ Continue to dance like no one is watching. (this totally make me laugh and put a smile on my face) lol You go girl! Weโve got thisโฆโฆโฆone step at a time!
Iโm pretty sure that I gained 10 pounds this week!! I have been on a sugar high that I canโt get off of. Iโm totally disgusted with myself. It has been a gradual down hill slide that I canโt climb out of. Thank you for sharing. Maybe I can get back on track because I am miserable.
You can do it Cindy! My sugar dragon is a beast and shows up at my weakest moments. But remember weโre all adults. We have to make the tough choices. We can all do anything if we put our mind to it!
You can do it Cindy! My sugar dragon is a beast and shows up at my weakest moments. But remember weโre all adults. We have to make the tough choices. We can all do anything if we put our mind to it!
I could so have written that myselfโฆ hanging 5-10lbs higher than I want to hangโฆI was at goalโฆstress in my life, 2 courses of antibiotics this winterโฆtrying to be more active and trying new thingsโฆ.and yes putting one foot in front of the other. Nothing seeming to budgeโฆ.<3
Be kind to ourselves and one day at a timeโฆ
You are such an inspiration and are beautiful. I admire your ability to bare your soul and tell it like it is. Not everyone can do that. Thank you for all your tips and everything you say and do to boost everyoneโs spirits. You are the best and I look forward to your posts every week.
You are an inspiration! You are real! And thatโs what I love about you. Keep going, one foot in front of the other. You have a great team of followers here who appreciate your candor! I know I do! Getting weddings ready hasnโt been easy, but you are a mentor to me! Thank you for sharing. And remember we are our own worst critic. I think you look fabulous!
Like you Iโve been battling depression. I thought I was keeping it hidden but I got called out. My cravings were maddening so I gave myself a day that turned into a week to eat whatever I wanted. 24 hours after eating carbage my depression began to lift. 2 weeks ago I went back to LCHF and I still have not achieved ketosis. Not sure what the deal is. Iโve been reading everything I can to try and figure out whatโs going on.
I hope you can find a solution for you too. Just know your not alone in this
You have my curiosity peekedโฆ why were you asked to leave the bar? Were you misbehaving?
Thanks for this post. So much hit home with me. You have our backs and we have yours. Keep on keeping on!
Thank you for always keeping it real, Lynn. Even though weโve never met, I love ya and I am praying for you.
Treasure yourself, you are awesomeโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆ.Always remember that and be happy!
Wishing you health and all good things. Keep up the good work.
Keeping it real! Thatโs why I look forward to your posts. Thank you for all you do to help the rest of us here. Iโve been where you are due to some serious health issues. Some days, weeks, months it feel like an uphill battle. But I keep thinking of the view when I finally get to the top! So as youโve encouraged me, you just have to keep on keeping on! Iโm praying for you!
I appreciate you being so transparent. You are brave. You are an inspiration. Thank you!
I hate that you are going through a rough time โฆ but itโs also nice that you share the bad and the good. You truly are an inspiration to all of us Lynn and hope you know (and Iโm sure I speak for all of your fans) that we are always here for YOU as you are for us. Hang in there โฆ and donโt beat yourself up. You are human!
Just curiousโฆwho is taking the photos of you and what did you do to get in trouble and be asked to leave the dance club? So depressing to me that with all that exercise you are not losing more weightโฆ I am stuck also but donโt do all the exercising you do!!!
Just curiousโฆwho is taking the photos of you and what did you do to get in trouble and be asked to leave the dance club? So depressing to me that with all that exercise you are not losing more weightโฆ I am stuck also but donโt do all the exercising you do!!!
I had both of these questions!!
My lack of weight loss was to do with medications I was on. It turns out the antibiotic threw me out of ketosis โ I didnโt know that would cause that. Good to know!
I usually take my own photos using voice commands and the interval shots feature with my cell phone โ unless I have friends with me. ๐
As for why I got asked to leaveโฆ just because the guy was being a jerk. ๐ lol
For someone I have never met, I have never been so inspired ! Lynn, itโs definitely an inspiration to see you not be so hard on yourself and know that bad days happen. I read your blog daily and you have helped me through more than youโll ever know! Hugs to you and thank you for walking this journey with so many!
I appreciate your honesty Lynn and you are such an inspiration, even when things arenโt going well.
I have to ask, cos Iโm nosy like that. What they heck did you do to get thrown out of the dance hall?
Thank you for sharing your highโs and lowโs. You are inspiring!
Take it from me, you do NOT look disgusting in any of these pictures. Give yourself a break! Hope you feel better soon!
Thank you so much, Tom. ๐ Sadly, my feeling โdisgustingโ was so much more about internal things than external appearances. It was to do with how I was being treated, and things that were said to me, and how I allowed that to affect me.
Lesson learned โ in my choice to accept and internalize such things, no matter who they come from, even if itโs someone you love. Because in the end, you must love yourself equally as much, if not more. *cheers*
Thank you, all of you, for your support and encouragement.
The last 6+ months have been a mind-spin of a whirlwind. P
If you havenโt had a chance to read my update, itโs here โ and I really hope these โlessons learnedโ prove as helpful to you as they have for me: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/16937/weight-loss-mindset-and-challenges/
๐ *cheers*