The title says it all.  I’m getting impatient.  I had hoped that the progress I was making in the first 8 weeks would continue straight on through.  I have been pretty consistent in staying within the the Big Four Rules (no flour, no sugar, measure and 3 meals/day).  What I haven’t always been consistent around is dinner and adding extra fat in the form of peanuts in the shell.

This past week I realized it was slowing my progress.  I believe this is for two reasons:  1.  Even though I don’t have any fat at breakfast, the extra fat added at dinner is at a time when I need the least amount of calories (i.e. before bed).  2.  The body can put up a bit of a fight with the consistent weight loss, and the low 170s have tended to be the point at which I typically get frustrated which leads to me being less focused around making the consistent efforts.

This week I gave up peanuts on all but one night.  I witnessed the little mind games going on in my head.  I resisted the urge to top off the evening with what has now taken the place of dessert.  Granted, it’s “not so bad.”  But I know how my little lizard brain works, and if I want to get to my goal more quickly and stay motivated, I have to get back to being hardcore.  One of the blessings on this journey, 64 pounds aside, is getting to know me in a different way as far as my relationship to food.  I’m learning different ways to deal with stress and anger.  I’m learning not to turn it inward.  I’m learning to let it pass and not make food the band-aid.  It’s a work in progress and patience is not my personal virtue.

There’s been a lot I’ve read recently about how the body fights you to lose weight.    It makes sense that the body would go into conservation mode and weight loss may slow.  I believe that’s happened for me.  As I lose, my body requires less calories to run its systems.  When I think about how much effort it takes to carry around 64 pounds, it’s a lot.  I’m still making progress, it’s just slower progress.  My Hashimoto’s also has something to do with it because weight loss affects the T3 levels, as in it lowers it, thereby reducing the RMR (resting metabolic rate).  And guess what else impacts T3?  Lack of sleep.  The last couple of months I haven’t been as vigilant around getting enough sleep.  Sleep deprivation causes hormonal stress and can affect the T3 levels.  The metabolism does go a little lower as weight loss continues.  It’s just a fact.  It’s the body’s natural way of preventing utter starvation.  So guess what I shouldn’t do?  I shouldn’t lower the amount of food I’m eating.  That’s right.  That can also cause a body stress.

In the coming weeks, I’m going to be more vigilant about getting sleep.  I’m going to be mindful that stress isn’t worth holding onto.  And, even though it’s been a slower ride of late, it’s been so worth the journey thus far.  I’m in this to go the distance.  If it means getting there a little slower, so be it.