Revelation about Weight Loss
CW for mention of ED
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I managed to reach my goal weight after about six months of CICO (mostly) and working out (less than I'd liked due to health reasons) and have been on maintenance for about three months now.
With COVID-19 and some other bad stuff going on in my life at the moment, I've noticed that I've started to eat for comfort again: Much more snacking, more sweets in general, less protein in total (partially because I'm not drinking shakes at the moment since I can't go to the gym). Most days I still hit my calory window (I'm aiming for a 200 calory window as it's easier than hitting a specific number; my maintenance TDEE is somewhere within that window), but I have days like today where I go over by a few hundred (today it was due to ordering Chinese take-out--I'm a sucker for fried noodles with peanut sauce, not really the lowest calories...).
Some thirteen years ago, I had a time where I was close to slipping into anorexia so this whole weight loss journey that I started last year was filled with worries of relapsing. I was very careful about not obsessing too much about weight, scale movement, and calories (so if I went over, I tried not to freak out or punish myself, which I thankfully managed quite well--surprised myself with that, but maybe the caution and not wanting to go down that road again helped). Still, a little worry stayed, more so now that I'm on maintenance (what if I gain gain? what if...)
Today it hit me: I've managed to lose 24 pounds in a healthy way since last August, and maintained it. IF I gain weight again due to comfort eating to help me through this time, I already know I can lose it again too.
Of course I won't just quit my maintenance efforts now, but this thought did give me a new perspective. If comfort eating helps me, I'm allowed to use it to cope because it won't cause irreparable damage. No need to feel guilty. And this actually did stop my worries and let me enjoy my food today (logging in at 550 calories above my maintenance window, and I'm currently thinking about having another chocolate bar for dessert after finishing my leftovers for a second dinner). One day of eating too much, or even several days of eating too much, won't cause irreparable damage. If I gain because of it, I can get back to losing it again once I'm in a better headspace. Food is not an enemy, it's a tool and it's nourishment, and sometimes it helps me cope with other things (e.g. by giving my brain enough sugar to work at its best under stress).
TL;DR: Had the realisation that even if comfort eating right now makes me gain weight again, I already know and have proven I can lose it in a healthy way and then maintain my goal weight, so overeating won't cause any irreparable damage.
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from loseit - Lose the Fat https://ift.tt/2Z6UzWe
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