I am not “fat”. I’m overweight, yes, but I wouldn’t classify myself as fat. A year ago? Yeah – maybe then. But I have lost 25 pounds eating low carb, and am now working out regularly. I’m well on my way toward my goal of being in good shape & health. 😀
This last week I did five workouts in five days. I really enjoyed my free pass at Curves Fitness Center, and am definitely going to sign on and continue going.
It felt great! Now that I have lost the majority of my weight, I really want to tone up and work on what’s left “under there”, LOL. I am loving the circuit, and especially the machines that work my arms – as I’ve never had upper body strength. And I really want the kind of arms that look great in a little black dress. 😉
So why do I feel fat? I’ve been feeling that way all week. It’s because I’ve been eating “junk food”. Yes, I’ve fallen off the wagon – again. And not only have I been eating badly, I’ve also been doing a bit of emotional overeating lately. A bad habit I find all too easy to slip back into when life gets a little nutty…
While I haven’t gained back a significant amount of weight, maybe five pounds (give or take) at the most – and really, that’s shocking considering some of the stuff I’ve eaten, lol – it’s not actual pounds that makes me “feel fat”. It’s the bloating and water weight that comes with eating carbs. Ugh!
I also find that when I FEEL fat, I just tend to eat more junk. As if that helps! 😛 I was thinking about that this morning, and how motivated I am to eat healthy – and to stick to super low carb meals – when I “feel skinny”. Thoughts and feelings gain momentum, turn into actions, and result in feelings becoming reality.
I wish it was easy as just saying “I feel skinny”, but the brain knows when you’re lying to yourself – lol. Fortunately I DO find it easy to get back into that mode. All I have to do is “eat clean” and within a day or so – literally – the bloating and water weight disappear (like magic!) and then I really do “feel skinny”.
Or at least skinnier. 🙂
I’ve been putting a lot of thought into this over the last week, while also putting a lot of food in my mouth (lol). I refuse to be hard on myself, or feel guilty about it, but it does have me wondering why I tend to regress back to this state. I would love to get to the root of that problem, and figure out a real solution.
Meanwhile, I just have to keep forcing myself back on track. Which is exactly what I’m going to do this week.
Les says
Great post Lynn. The important thing is that you recognize what is going on and why you fell off the wagon. So, now it sounds like you are ready to jump back on. You remember the old saying, “It’s like riding a bike. So when you fall off you just need to pick yourself up and get back on”. Okay, not sure if I got that exactly right. As to the emotions, try to keep in mind all the great things in life that you are surrounded by (ex. your kids, family, friends, success and so on and so on).
Keep up to great work that you do Lynn 🙂
-Les
Lynn Terry says
Thank you Les! Of course, you should see me riding a bike. LOL. I am quite clumsy and a bit shy of graceful. haha – No wonder I’m constantly falling off the wagon and getting back on. 😛
It really does help to put things in perspective and focus on the positive, which is what I’ve been doing. Considering everything I’ve been faced with in the past week – you know how when it rains it pours? – I’m pleased I’ve handled it as well as I have.
I’m sick and tired of feeling sick and tired, though. I miss feeling GOOD, which is the trigger that always gets me back on track. 😉 *cheers*
Satu says
I think I usually feel fat when I’m in a bad mood. Now I’ve felt more fat than usual because I made a little video of myself and had to watch my double chin and flabby underarms in it (I even waved my underarms to emphasize how flabby they are) and that was a big mistake. 🙂
I’m relatively good at “eating good” these days, except when I get migraines. Then I get all kinds of odd cravings and can’t control my eating or don’t have enough take energy to take care of myself.
It’s interesting to see you morph into a gym goer.. 🙂
Lynn Terry says
LOL Satu. My daughter and I were waving our under-upper-arms (what do you call that area???) at each other the other day. 😛 I so can’t wait to get rid of that and have pretty upper arms!
I used to get migraines a lot, but rarely since I started eating low carb. Even when I get off track, I just don’t have them like I used to. What do you do for yours? I always slept them off.
Tom says
Thanks for sharing such a personal post and congrats on 5 days in a row of workouts. There is no doubt everyone has “felt fat”, if not physically then at least emotionally, I know I have. It is definitely why they call it comfort food and sometimes you need a little comfort and a little “splurge”. You have the right perspective on it to look to the positive though. It’s tough when good people get handed bad things, but you are such a positive force in so many lives every day I know you have a huge number of people thinking good thoughts for you. I also know that it all will turn around and come back to an even better place for you because you are so positive. You rock! 🙂
Looking forward to more great posts.
Tom
Lynn Terry says
Thank you so much, Tom 😀
I really appreciate your nice note and kind words.
Speaking of comfort food, I shared mine here:
http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/2789/comfort-food/
Now to get back on track… 😉
Catherine Blair says
I know that feeling–I can spiral down to eating sweets and sneaking in a few cigarettes! I was doing curves and yoga and just got out of the habit–an emotional run that feeds on itself. I’m also watching my husband trying to mix low fat and low carb–does not work. Enjoy your posts-thanks-cath
Lynn Terry says
Ack – yeah, that doesn’t work very well, lol. I really got stalled several months ago, and finally realized it’s because I wasn’t eating enough fat in my low carb diet. It’s meant to be LCHF (low carb high fat) for the “magic” to work. 🙂 Poor guy! Maybe it would help to show him details on the science behind the way it works?
I smoke. I started back about a year and a half ago. I tend to smoke more when I’m eating “junk” though. I don’t know why. Maybe it all goes together – whatever triggers one triggers the other. Perhaps a little spot in our brain that says “Be horrible to yourself, you deserve it!” (for all the sense that makes, lol)
Sherie Smith says
Hey girl, hang in there! Tom, thank you for expressing our thoughts so perfectly and giving our favorite lady great encouragement and wisdom.
I’m feeling sassy again so, following your lead, I’m starting my free Curves week Monday morning. I’ll let you know how it goes, but I doubt I’ll get 5 workouts logged in 5 days like you. That is impressive!
I can’t think of anything any better than what Tom has already said except maybe – do we need to schedule a trip to Tullahoma? LOL
Lynn Terry says
I spent the weekend in Tullahoma actually. Totally unplugged, with friends. It was SO nice, and a much needed break. 🙂 But yes, we should definitely schedule a girls’ afternoon out with a great low carb lunch/dinner!
I can’t wait to hear what you think of Curves. I’m really looking forward to going back this week. Mine is closed on weekends, and I found myself missing it both days! 😀
Janine Holman says
This is a great post Lynn. Thanks for sharing. I’ve been in this phase the last week as well except that I only got in 3 workouts – no 2 workouts (Monday was a rainy day) – because my workout Wednesday night kicked my butt and forced me to 2 days off. Monday was a rainy day so I couldn’t run outside and I was absolutely way too exhausted when I got home to move any more. I’m sitting here now in my room during my daughter’s 18th birthday party feeding my face ruffles, fritos and ranch dip and thinking this doesn’t even taste good. I’ve set aside the plate now and don’t plan on eating anymore. Funny how we will still eat things that don’t appeal to us anymore. I’m getting back on track this week as well and my eating plan is low carb clean eating. Great post at the right time. Thanks again.
Lynn Terry says
I can so relate, Janine – about eating foods that don’t even appeal. I have no idea why we do that, or think it even seems like a good idea.
Here’s to a clean-eating low-carb week!
And feeling TONS better for it 😉
*cheers*
Christina Clauson says
I think you would be happier eating low carb, rather than very low or no carb. Your weight loss would be slower but the greater variety of foods you could have would keep you from slipping off the path. Just a thought…
Lynn Terry says
I do eat low carb. I eat up to 20 net carbs a day – sometimes a little over even. My dips lately have been due to a lot of BIG changes and stressors is all. That, and some very bad habits (eating habits) that are hard to change overnight…
Dr. Mike Tremba says
Thanks for opening up and truly sharing, Lynn. I know I’ve never met you, but from reading, I’m so excited that you’ve come as far as you’ve done through this past year.
Even with the little ‘bumps’ in the road, I truly hope you keep your chin up 🙂
Wishing you all the best!
Lynn Terry says
Thank you Mike! I agree – even with the “setbacks”, I really have made A LOT of positive changes this past year, and I am so much happier – and healthier! – than I was a year ago. I’m really pleased with that, and happy too that I’m getting closer to kicking some lifelong bad habits. It’s a process… and I’m not doing half bad. 😉 *cheers*
Jedha says
The root of the problem and finding a real solution is in doing what you are already doing…realising your short falls and then getting back on track as quickly as possible! I think we ‘fall off’ because it is a deeply ingrained habit. When we get stressed or emotional we opt for the bad foods even though we know better. We try to tell ourselves it doesn’t matter, we don’t care, but deep down we know we do. So the real solution to the problem is making it a habit ‘not to fall off the wagon’. I think this takes time and effort but you get there eventually because you know it’s not worth it to ‘fall off’. Each time you bring yourself back around, the time delay hoepfully gets shorter and shorter until you no longer need to do it. It’s funny how we feel we want to sabotage ourselves further when our life is going bad in other areas, you’d think it would be the other way round?! Thanks for sharing your experiences Lynn 🙂
Jedha says
By the way Lynn…I don’t even think you’re overweight. You are looking fabulous 🙂
Lynn Terry says
That’s so true – I was just commenting on that above, about how we make ourselves MORE miserable, as if that’s a treat! 😛
I’m excited about how far I’ve come, and about my vision of where I want to be. I’ve learned so much about myself in the process. Just being AWARE of what I put in my mouth – and why – has been enlightening. LOL.
And thank you. For an American (haha) I’m probably average or so. But according to proper statistics, for my height and such, I’m “overweight”. Three professionals I’ve spoken to say my ideal weight is 128. No way I want to be that thin again, though. I’m happiest around 140…
Garry Woods (Call to Action) says
hi Lynn,
Tell me you not Pregnant are you, make you feel fat ha ha ha only joking but yes I know to well the feeling of feeling Fat, don’t worry I fall off the wagon as well but only maybe 24 hours till my thinking kicks in again but I never punish myself for it I just start again and remember ; Don’t stop giving up, to start all over again it will get easier, my coach tells me that all the time I’m now nearly down to my desired weight, of 175 lbs i’m down to 187lbs as of Sunday 25Th down from 210lbs when I started, on my Christian Diet, as I call it because my Coach / Dietision is a Born Again Christian.
So i’m pretty Stoked about it all and Feel a whole lot more energy, go for walks every morning and night and now all the kids in our area come along with me I love kids, they are fun to be around, you can learn so much from them as they do us older people so Lynn we are Praying for you as well, and that you will find your level where you will be comfortable, and not keep falling off But Girl I really do Admire your stick ability, you will win I know you will and keep smiling and the world will smile with you. Life is great I would not be dead for Dollars, Warm regards from Garry W.
Lynn Terry says
Thank you Garry 🙂 And no, I’m not pregnant, LOL! That cracked me up 😉