Howdy all...been a busy week! I'm doing just fine with my eating and still enjoying abundant energy.
After forcing myself to eat more food when I wasn't hungry at the end of the day because I hadn't consumed my 26 points, I made the decision this week to not do that. I feel much better! Some days I have points leftover, some days I eat them all, a few days I've used some of my earned activity points.
Weight Watchers tells you to "be sure" and eat all your points for each day. They've determined the point system based on meeting minimum nutritional needs for each weight range. They feel that if you don't eat your full points allotment, you're not meeting minimum nutritional needs and your health may suffer.
I'm thinking that perhaps because I've been making such wise choices and my food is nutritionally dense, it's filling me up more and leaving me satisfied. In any case, it was uncomfortable to eat extra when I wasn't hungry so I'm not going to do it anymore!
I went to my 3rd Weight Watchers meeting yesterday. I'm shocked and amazed at how much I enjoy the meetings! It's truly hilarious to me after so many years of disparaging them...hahaha
So more "hahahahaha"...I got a sticker for losing 5 lbs. so far...it's actually 6.4 lbs... and I was so proud to show Petey my sticker that he thinks it's super-funny and is getting lots of teasing-time out of it. I don't care...I AM proud of my sticker! Oh, I should post a pic = )
Anyhow, what I really wanted to talk to ya'll about is a very interesting article that I linked to through an email I got from the Livestrong Foundation...Lance Armstrong's foundation.
Here's the link...http://www.livestrong.com/blog/the-end-of-dieting/
It's a discussion on something called "intermittent fasting". I've heard of other people using scheduled fasts to help with weight loss. Of course I've read about fasting many, many times in the Bible. But this article validated the way I most like to eat!!
I've often told people that I'm hungriest between 10am and 4pm and then not hungry at all before and after those hours...that is, as long as I consume God-created-awesome-nutritional foods. If I eat junk during those hours, then I just stay hungry, all the time!
And also, if I ran long or hard that morning and didn't consume enough calories during those hours, then I will get hungry later in the evening. But for the most part that's how I'd like to eat.
But...I've read SO much info on how important it is to keep your metabolism revved up by eating 5 or 6 small meals spaced throughout the day and never go more than 4 waking hours without eating something, that I've been following those guidelines. And obviously over-eating = (
My two-fold problem has always been portion control and staying away from junk. I have a tendency to eat larger portions of healthy food than my body really needs and I am tempted by junk, which then tempts me more, and more and then my energy level drops because I'm feeding my body junk and I don't feel like moving, then I gain more weight and I don't have the energy to cook my healthy foods...the vicious cycle...which I KNOW exists and I'm determined to not fall prey to it again!!!
"Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:17 Yes, I acknowledge that I am sinning when I do not feed my body in a way that pleases God.
So, the house is stocked with healthy foods, I'm measuring my portions, I'm stopping when I feel full, I'm staying away from junk, I'm allowing myself small portions of treats that really mean something to me, such as ONE block of white chocolate after lunch or dinner. Petey brings this chocolate home from Germany...it's the perfect way to finish off a meal...seems to signal to my brain that I'm done and satisfied...just 2 points = )
And now, I have scientific studies that back up my desire to eat for 6 hours and fast for the other 18! I've naturally done this for most of my adult life, forcing myself to eat alot of times when I wasn't really hungry because I thought I was hurting myself somehow if I didn't.
I certainly won't TRY to do it...if I'm hungry outside of those times, I'll eat healthy food. But if I'm not, I'm not going to force myself to eat.
What say you?
