A New Year, A New Plan-MACROS

Another 6 months have passed without accountability on this blog. Sigh. Yeah. I have this thing about not wanting to face things when they aren't going so well. For those MONTHS, there were things that worked, but most things didn't.

I had laser beam focus in May 2020 and got to the lowest weight I had been since beginning this 100 pound weight loss journey. I was hella focused to lose weight for the impending doom I knew was going to shatter my very existence when my ex would become my boss in August. Yeah. Dramatic. And stressed. I started gaining weight. I had traveled with my family to NC. I was eating more off program than on program. I was snacking on Snyder cheddar pieces pretzels and comfort foods. In spite of the kick boxing workouts, I was eating too much. All that work from May had been reversed. By October, I was back to being 100 pounds overweight. It was disheartening and took a lot of effort and self care to not go into a downward spiral of negative self talk. I would say that is one of the best things that happened. I refused to beat myself up for the weight gain. During this time, I did lose some inches with the kickboxing routine that I actually enjoyed doing, yet my diet was a disaster. The cravings were out of control.

In November, I had a Friday afternoon appointment with the nurse practitioner I usually see when I visit my endocrinologist. She is this petite, young, Ariana Grande doppelganger and seems to think because I am obese, I am diabetic (even if my numbers say otherwise). She seems to not understand my struggles and issues with my weight and food. She is usually very vocal about my weight and tells me about fruits and vegetables, as if I don't know what they are and have never eaten them. It's stressful to face her. I knew I was going to hear about this latest weight gain. She told me I was hypothyroid. Her take is that the weight gain made my hypothyroid. I think the stress caused the hypothyroidism and the weight gain came from that. But, I'm no doctor. I'm not even a nurse practitioner. I was proud of my ownership of the issue; my earnestness. It was a moment for me to not collapse and assume a submissive, defeatist posture with her. She actually listened. She was as kind as she had ever been. She wanted to prescribe some sort of $100 a month diet pill that I wasn't sure I wanted to try. I knew telling her I would try a new program was hollow. I had said it before. I have remained the same size. I figured it couldn't hurt to have access to the medication, maybe try it? Yet, the internet went down before she could finish whatever had to be done online to get me the meds. She made a note in my file to finish the process on Monday and said she'd call. By the time Monday rolled around, there was no follow up from the office regarding the medication. I didn't pursue it.

I floundered around a bit with my diet, until December when Redefining Strength showed up on my Face Book feed. I purchased a macros plan that had already been figured for whatever information I plugged in to the system. I immediately shopped and began following it. Not only were the recipes amazing, I had much better energy and was able to stick with the plan, even during the holidays. I feel healthier and more balanced. I maintained this until week 5, when I lost my focus. So, I restarted the plan in January for a reboot. I hoped to add in exercise, but wasn't consistent.

I feel like I've found the thing that really is going to help me make a lifestyle change now. Macros. The big picture about using this plan is that I no longer have these wicked cravings for forbidden foods, especially when I'm stressed. I feel like I'm fixing any damage I have done to my body with all the yo-yo dieting. I find I really don't really miss sugar as much as I thought I would. I don't dream about cupcakes or cake. Sometimes, the sweets are disappointing and I don't finish eating them because I don't like them. Part of this could be giving myself a cheat day. I have an entire day to eat what I want. I look forward to eating pizza that is on real crust (not cauliflower crust) or egg rolls. I look forward to sugar cookies or a coffee roll. I look forward to sugar in my coffee. It's working for me. There are no foods I limit or don't allow myself. I just have to wait until cheat day to have that food. And allowing myself to eat what I want, I am usually reasonable with my portions. As far as the scale victory is concerned, I lost 4 pounds in January. I've lost 1 pound in February; I haven't been drinking enough water, nor have I been eating my macros correctly (I'm not eating enough). My clothes fit better and the energy is amazing.

This week is the first week I am figuring and planning the menus for my macros. I'm cycling 40% protein, 30% carb, 30% fat for weeks 1-3; 30% protein, 30% carb, 40% fat for weeks 4-6; and 45% protein, 20% carb, 35% fat the last three weeks. The math is easy enough and with MyFitnessPal, it is easy to track the macros. I'm learning what foods work best for my body. I am also adding in workouts. I'm using the 21 Day Fix workouts because they are 30 minutes long and good, solid workouts. They work. I know I will do them and feel a sense of accomplishment for completing them.

This is a journey and a lifestyle. This isn't a quick fix. As I continue on this journey, feeling invigorated and motivated, I need to only flip through my own blog to see how my motivation ebbs and flows. I know all about plateaus and dead zones (when things are happening that we don't see). This is all part of the path. I lean in. I pay attention. I keep dusting off and picking myself up. I refuse to give up. No matter how many times I start over or tweak or start again. It's all necessary for the journey. Here's to a new year and a new plan. I hope to not wait so long for my next check in/accountability.

As a peace offering for my absence, here is my modified recipe for 21 Day Fix chocolate cookies (on program cheat cookies---1 cookie would be 1 yellow container if you were doing that program):

1/3 C 100 % pure maple syrup

1/4 C unsweetened apple sauce

1/4 C. lite coconut milk (I used silk's unsweetened coconut milk---the recipe calls for "lite canned coconut milk)

1/4 C coco powder ( I like Hershey's)

1/4 C whole wheat flour

1/3 C coconut Flour

1/4 C chocolate chips (or pecans, dried cherries, almonds, raisins---I use Hershey's special dark chocolate chips)

Mix until entirely blended (I'm sure if you use a mixer, it would be a better consistency---I was too lazy and just stirred).

Drop tablespoonfuls on a greased cookie sheet. (makes 14 or 15)

Bake at 350 for 12 minutes or so (until firm).

The texture is a bit weird, but the flavor is really good).

Enjoy!

Walk in beauty and peace, my peeps.

Mahalo! \m/\m/

*The recipe calls for 1/4 C coconut oil---I find it too much. I use a splash of olive oil.