The scale simply cannot tell the difference between muscle and fat, and while fat is bulky and lumpy, muscle is sleek and shapely. Muscle also gives you strength, agility and power. Muscle tissue can be used as fuel, but it is not your body's primary fuel source.
Fat on the other hand is a storage fuel for times of famine. It also shields our body's organs and provides a protective layer from the outside world. Without some body fat we cannot survive, and without some muscle you'd not have the strength to get out of bed. But while fat is necessary, many of us have a bit more saved up than is necessary.
Most of us never consider our body's ratio of fat to muscle. We instead rely on the bathroom scale. We've been told we need to weigh a certain amount, or be within a certain range to the point that many who start eating well and exercising consistently abandon their plan when they don't quickly see a difference on the scale. Even when their body is visibly changing, they still are disappointed if the scale won't budge.
You may own and operate a car? Do you take care of it the same way you take care of yourself? Do you store gasoline in the trunk, in case you can't find a gas station? Probably not. Do you stockpile extra oil and batteries? No, probably not. Then why do you worry about dinner when you haven't finished eating lunch? Have you ever gone ahead and eaten something because you might get hungry later? Why do we worry so much about food when there is no scarcity that I've noticed? Where I live there is food at every corner, 24-hours a day, at the bank, the gas station and even the neighbor's garage sale.
Interestingly, I've found that when the scale suddenly showed a loss, greater than expected, it seemed to induce in me a desire to remedy the situation. I'd overeat that day and the next, somehow unraveling any good I'd done previously. Even with all the knowledge and sense in the world, we still become unsensible in the face of that judge, the bathroom scale!
Get a small notebook or journal to take notes. If you want a fancy, leather-bound book that's fine, but don't stall on starting this exercise with the excuse you don't have the supplies. Use a scrap of paper you found on the ground if you have to, but starting today, you are going to track your hunger levels all day long.
A 3 could mean you're hungry. Not starving, not going to come unglued if you don't eat, but hungry. A two is waiting a bit longer than you probably should, and a 1 doesn't occur except when you're simply tied up and cannot stop to eat or you've gotten yourself stuck in a situation where there simply is no food long past when you've gotten hungry. You should rarely feel the hunger of a 1 or the fullness of a 9 or 10.
You must decide the levels for yourself, but I'd suggest making an effort to wait until you are a 3 or lower to eat and making an effort to stop at or near a 5 or 6. Sometimes you may notice the sensation of hunger, note your hunger level, and then choose to wait. Don't worry about it whether you eat or not for now. The purpose this week is to make a chart and get used to keeping track of something besides your weight.
Your goal is to achieve 5 or more "rewards" for the week. If you only manage two is that bad? Heck, no. It's fantastic because it's an improvement over the week before. Next week make an effort to at least achieve what you did the week before and possibly exceed it. Slowly you'll develop a new habit, until you're achieving 5 or more days every week of waiting for real hunger, and stopping at satisfaction. When you learn to understand your body's various hunger signals, you'll start losing pounds and inches, I guarantee it.
Inches lost, is what matters. I couldn't care less how much I weigh. What if my body was solid gold? It would weigh a lot wouldn't it, and would I care? No, I'd feel pretty darn good about it actually. I'm worth my weight in gold, and so are you.
Reading an account of Callahan's survival in the face of sure death was inspiring to say the least. My husband is making arrangements to build a boat designed by Callahan, a 22-foot sailboat so he too can take off on a singlehanded sailing adventure across the seas. My husband believes he could survive as Callahan did, while I'm telling myself I'll die of starvation if I don't eat in the next half an hour. Adrift puts these things in much better perspective, I'd say.
By Kathryn Martyn, Master NLP Practitioner, EFT counselor, author of Changing Beliefs, Your First Step to Permanent Weight Loss, and owner of onemorebite-weightloss.com
Get the onemorebite-weightloss.com: Weekly Mini-lessons Using EFT and NLP to Stop the Struggle with Weight Loss.
I received a telephone call from a lady last week.... Read More
Magnetic weight loss is the newest fad diet supplement to... Read More
New studies suggested once again that citric fruits including oranges,... Read More
I made myself a sandwich today and thought I'd be... Read More
You've seen them a hundred times: "Before" and "After" pictures.... Read More
R...real foodE...exerciseS...spiritual stuff first and the other stuff secondU...ultimately, you... Read More
Summer is about to be in full swing, and it's... Read More
As the dieting phenomenon grows, with a new "diet guru"... Read More
Cellulite is a recent addition to the English language. In... Read More
If you are looking for a way to lose fifteen... Read More
When approaching your goals for a better you, every game... Read More
New Years Resolutions do not work because you are really... Read More
Which is easier to do ? turn a car's steering... Read More
There are many diets, all of which boil down to... Read More
In this age being ignorant is like committing a crime.... Read More
Mindfulness is all about paying attention. It's amazing what can... Read More
It is very important for low carb dieters to stick... Read More
Several months ago I was in desperate need of weight... Read More
Cellulite is a condition for which cures are commonly sought.... Read More
A healthy pregnancy almost always involves weight gain. But now... Read More
Dr. Hagglund's Healthy Eating Tips(All wheat products, bananas*, breads, rice,... Read More
Weight loss can be one of the most difficult things... Read More
Many people today are interested in weight loss and weight... Read More
You know what is so amazing? We get to keep... Read More
Rules of day to day no longer apply as you... Read More
"I am going to start a diet tomorrow". How many... Read More
Life is extraordinary filled with wonderful people to show up... Read More
Diet advice ? a million "experts", hundreds of snake-oil miracle... Read More
I received a telephone call from a lady last week.... Read More
You are going to be pleasantly surprised! Most people think... Read More
All of us that have had a love-hate relationship with... Read More
Lose Weight - Get A Break ---------------------------------------- The American Obesity... Read More
April 14, 2005 federal judge Tena Campbell of the federal... Read More
Thinking about weight loss surgery? You're not alone. Over two-thirds... Read More
A common question among weight loss professionals...If fad diets don't... Read More
Foods that are high in fiber and protein are the... Read More
Are you weighted down with delusion, depression and on the... Read More
Cellulite - Reduce The Appearance --------------------------------- Sallie Elizabeth has always... Read More
Most people are unsure about how to begin a fat... Read More
Don't diet, just eat and lose weight!First, the following "diet"... Read More
With weight loss comes a lot of dedication and change... Read More
Fat Loss in GeneralThis morning I conducted a search engine... Read More
Recently, I read an article from Japanese magazine that by... Read More
Stop Being Influenced by Food Ads on TVThere is much... Read More
What if by making a few small changes in your... Read More
An Interview with Success Story, Caitlin JohnsonIf you don't know... Read More
Twenty years ago, I did not expect to accomplish what... Read More
The holidays are now officially over and it's time to... Read More
Before you even think of taking diet pills to lose... Read More
Body wraps can help tone and tighten the skin, improve... Read More
Weight Loss |