Maintenance Weekly 22nd May 2006 - Growing

[Mitra]

Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.
Chinese proverb (this week's quote from the Staying Power journal section)

During the intervention stages of PP, you're clearly making progress: maybe seeing changes in your blood sugar, improvements in various aspects of your health, weight loss ... When you reach maintenance it can feel as if you're working at just standing still.

What do you do to keep growing?

Do you work ever harder at your exercise and diet to wring out the last few drops of physical improvement? Do you move your focus to new learning or to your mental/emotional/spiritual health?

For me, I think there is always a bit of revision/refinement going on in the physical arena, but it's no longer the primary focus. I'm looking at learning and at meditation, neither of which is new to me, but I seem to be in the position I was in with exercise a couple of years ago - there's a lot of starting and stopping going on. I'm at that stage where I have to keep reminding myself that there's no limit to how many times I start again.

This week's dietary tip from Staying Power was, "No food is free - there's a metabolic consequence to every bite you eat. It may be a good one, or it may be a disastrous one, but one thing is certain: when you eat, something is going to happen. Your choice determines whether it is good or not." I get the impression that most of the regulars in this maintenance section don't have too hard a time staying on plan with their food. For me, it's more interesting at the moment to apply this principle to the things I feed to my mind. Is this book, film, music, game, outing ... going to nourish me? Will I feel better or worse afterwards?

[banshee]

I seem to be in the position I was in with exercise a couple of years ago - there's a lot of starting and stopping going on.
I'm definitely at this stage right now with establishing exercise as a habit, but I continue to try! I like the quote, because with the exercise, results are definitely not showing up overnight like the weight loss was. Sure, I feel stronger, but I still can't climb more than 2 flights of stairs without my breathing getting harsh, and I'm not seeing a change in size like I had hoped from the exercise. :( (Yet.)

I keep telling myself that it doesn't matter because I'm planning on doing this for life, and eventually I'll see results, but it's tough when you don't have the instant feedback! I try to celebrate the little things. I've noticed my face looks thinner for some reason, and I no longer have the little jiggly, flappy things under my arms. :p

I also made a small change in my diet last week. I finally bought some of the Eat Well Be Well sugar-alcohol free chocolate bars. I've been tempted by the chocoperfection bars, but I just can't see paying $3 for a candy bar, no matter how good. :eek: The Eat Well Be Well ones are more reasonably priced. I was a little disappointed in them because they are a darker tasting chocolate than I usually prefer, but I've found that if I use them in the 2-minute brownie recipe that Randy posted in the Carbquick post, the other ingredients/flavors help smooth out the bitterness. While this probably isn't going to reduce my "snack" calories much, I'm hoping that removing the sugar alcohols will be healthier, and the extra fiber in the chocolate can't hurt either!

[Relief]

well I've just gotten involved in a new business venture; if all goes according to plan I should be in the six figure income range in less than 3 years. I figure this should keep me too busy to eat!

[Mitra]

Mary, I'm sure the stairs will get easier - is it because of your asthma? I've climbed about 20-30 flights of stairs a day since several years before starting PP, so that one doesn't present a problem for me any more, but I remember how sore my knees were when I first had to do it :(. (It also didn't stop me from getting fatter and more unfit.)

Deborah, how exciting! I hope you'll still find time to drop in here :) - and to eat.

[cmcole]

Well, I'm exercising more and I'm looking forward to completing a ten-mile (yes, even in Canada there's still places that measure "traditional" races in miles) trek in July (the Tely-Ten).

I can't say that I'll be able to run it completely, but my hubby and I are trying to at least train so we can complete it.

I would love for the scale to say something different, and that is the 'standing still' part that I don't like. On the one hand, I think I'm a fine size, but on the other hand, all the charts think I'm still overweight. I hate those charts.

[banshee]

Mary, I'm sure the stairs will get easier - is it because of your asthma?
Yes, it's one of my "gauges" for how much my stamina is increasing. It is better than it used to be - I used to be gasping and panting, barely able to breathe for over 5 minutes after 2 flights, and now I'm just slightly out of breath for a couple minutes, but I'm not completely "gasp free" at that level yet. Actually, it probably is time to push things up, but I don't think I'm up for a full 3 flights yet. Maybe I'll start doing 2.5 and then walking back down the half flight...

I have a young friend with asthma (high school age) and she's gone from not being able to run more than half a lap in school at the beginning of this year to doing a couple laps before she has to stop. It is possible to increase stamina with asthma, it just takes a very long time, which makes it hard to stay motivated.

[Shadow]

Mitra - As always, what a wonderful and thought-provoking post :D! Let me take a moment and thank you for your dedication and hard work every week at keeping us inspired and on track!

As for the "standing still" feeling, I must say I find it unpleasant and hard to handle. I felt far better - mentally and physically - when I was getting visible results :o. I realize that "standing still" in itself is a result but somehow it's just not as rewarding as seeing the scale go down, or the tape measure move downward, or looking in a mirror and seeing a difference :rolleyes:.

Since I go in spurts, right now I'm attacking the exercise with extra vigor. I was being extremely strict with my eating (as you well know with all my journaling & so forth :lol: ) but not seeing any change. So now it's the "gym" where I'm trying to squeeze out some final changes. Ah.... the quest for perfection :razz:. Not that I plan on getting there, but being a bit closer would be wonderful, I will admit :slywink:.

[Shadow]

Well, I'm exercising more and I'm looking forward to completing a ten-mile (yes, even in Canada there's still places that measure "traditional" races in miles) trek in July (the Tely-Ten).

I can't say that I'll be able to run it completely, but my hubby and I are trying to at least train so we can complete it.
cmcole - What a wonderful goal :D! And it's definitely a bonus that it is something you and your DH are doing together. How very exciting - even if it is grueling work at times :)!

I would love for the scale to say something different, and that is the 'standing still' part that I don't like. On the one hand, I think I'm a fine size, but on the other hand, all the charts think I'm still overweight. I hate those charts.
In all honesty, I think it's how you perceive yourself that counts the most :thumbsup:. Those "charts" are a one-size-fits-all nightmare and downright unrealistic for anyone with any decent LBM. So, if at all possible, appreciate where you're at because you look great and have every right to enjoy right where you're at :)!

[Shadow]

well I've just gotten involved in a new business venture; if all goes according to plan I should be in the six figure income range in less than 3 years. I figure this should keep me too busy to eat!
Relief - How exciting! Please do keep us posted! Hopefully you won't be too busy to not eat - or to visit - as that would not be good at all :eek:!

[Shadow]

Yes, it's one of my "gauges" for how much my stamina is increasing. It is better than it used to be - I used to be gasping and panting, barely able to breathe for over 5 minutes after 2 flights, and now I'm just slightly out of breath for a couple minutes, but I'm not completely "gasp free" at that level yet. Actually, it probably is time to push things up, but I don't think I'm up for a full 3 flights yet. Maybe I'll start doing 2.5 and then walking back down the half flight...
Banshee - What a wonderful sign :D!!! Way to go on working on that aerobic capacity :)!

It is possible to increase stamina with asthma, it just takes a very long time, which makes it hard to stay motivated.
Oh, but surely the positive results keep you inspired! After all, breathing is a really good thing :p!