How I kept losing weight without exercise:
Weight loss for the last two months has been slow and a little rocky. I wasn’t able to exercise so I had to monitor myself very closely. I did not want to slide backwards- I’ve worked too hard to let one thing get in my way. I’ve told you I’m stubborn, right?
While I was at work, controlling food was not so horrible, plus, before the surgery I had a very strict diet to follow so that I could actually have the surgery. After, I was allowed to eat anything I wanted, and I was stuck at home, bored. Like a lot of people, when I’m bored- I eat. For a few days I also felt like it was a challenge, eat all the food I could never eat before, and see if I still got sick. It was almost like I was just making sure they actually removed my gallbladder.
Eating whatever I want, and not exercising, was not a good combination, so here is a look of a typical day for me (post surgery), before I was able to run again.
I do not think that relying on what you eat is a good way to lose weight, people need to get up and move around. Shake your tail feather a little. But if the Doctor says you need to do nothing other than sit on your couch, all your progress doesn’t need to fall to the wayside.
What I ate when I couldn’t move:
(Note: This is a typical meal plan for a day when I’m working. I usually work until 10pm, so I don’t generally get to cook dinner)
Breakfast: Banana, 2 slices of wheat bread crust cut off with apple butter, 2 cups of black coffee.
Lunch: Fresh fruit smoothie made with Greek Yogurt.
Dinner: Salad made with all fresh vegetables and beans, some fruit, and sugar free jello.
Snacks: Almonds, a spoonful of peanut butter, pretzels
Water: I drink 3 liters of water every.single.day.
I’m not saying this plan will work for anyone else, or is proper for anyone else. It works for me, I’m never hungry, I make sure I’m getting enough nutrients, some people need more calories a day, some need less. Now that I am able to work out again, I will be definitely needing to eat more. And I love eating, so, this is a good thing.
Are you trying to lose weight? How much?
What is your normal eating like in a day?
9 Comments
Man, you really must have had some dedication. I think it is tough when you are so restricted in movement but you have some willpower girl. I am glad your running is going well now!
I’m impressed with your dedication! It’s so hard for me to lose weight when I’m not active. And, if I had to be in a resting state like that, I would probably use it as an excuse (a very backwards and unreasonable excuse) to eat whatever I wanted. Kudos to you!
Oh, trust me, I did for a few days but then I got a slap back into reality!
I was almost at goal weight (I’d lost about 85 pounds by then) when I had to have surgery. My doctor said I had to take at least 2-3 weeks off from exercising (especially swimming, which was my favorite exercise). I was so anxious and stressed out about it. I thought for SURE I’d gain the weight back. (Really? I’d gain 85 pounds in 3 weeks??) I thought for sure that I’d fall of the wagon and not go back.
That wasn’t the case. I noticed that I didn’t feel great while I took the break. Exercise did make me feel better. So while I was recovering, I was careful with my calories and I walked a lot. It was better than nothing. And I didn’t gain any weight!
I also had to take 2 months off from running a few years later. Same scenario on what I thought would happen. Instead, I started lifting weights and I lost weight, felt great, got stronger and healthier.
I 100% thought the same thing. I really believed I would gain ALL the weight back that I had lost in those two months. I just had to stay on track with my food!
Wow, you drink a lot of water! Impressive! I know I should drink more but I just forget. Do you have any tips for getting it all in?
I’m not trying to lose weight, but I am trying to eat lots of good, whole foods to fuel my running. A lot of the same prinicples that you’ve talked about apply, though.
I have a labeled bottle water, that tells me how much I should drink by what point in the day. It’s really handy, I would never stay on track without it!
Whoa. Not being able to move would make it reallllllllly tough!!!! I’m always trying to lose the last few, but they like to hang around!!
My last few are hanging around a little longer than I would like them to!