Experiment Results

 Well, the experiment results were non existent. In other words, changing "when" I ate didn't really have any affect on my weight or Blood glucose results. If anything, I likely ate a bit less and I ended up sneaking in some candy at night. I might have done the candy sneak even if I had regular eating window but trying to eat a dinner type meal at lunchtime is just a big fail. 

I don't have the time to make a big dinner so it usually ended up being soup/sandwich or eggs, or something leftover. I think I finished most days around 1300 calories.  But then I added candy on top of that. So..... nothing really to report. 

When I started the experiment on September 19th I was 177.4 on the scale. Today I was 175.9. So really no change. My weight got down to 173 but then jumped back up again on the weekend. 

My issue? It's not when I eat... it's the damn weekends!!! I need to somehow figure out how to stay on track during the weekends. 

But that's been something I have struggled with the last 3 years and really my whole life minus the 2 years where I was very focused 

It's so frustrating. My sleep is good, my blood pressure is good. I just would love to see a new number on the scale. I'm in my 50s now so I know it's going to be harder to shake the excess weight but I know it's doable. It is just going to take more willpower than what I'm giving it right now. 

Changing things up a bit....

 Well, fall routine is back. Get up early with the family, work, take dogs for walk, make dinner, watch some TV, take dogs for walk, night time bathroom routines, read book, bed....

At least that is my Mon to thursday routine. On the weekends, I change it up a bit. :) 

I thought I would change up my routine slightly as it's been pretty much the same for years and my eating pattern has been pretty much the same all summer. 

Get up 6:30, black coffee at 7, electrolytes at 11, protein smoothie at 1, lunch/snack at 2:30, dinner around 5. 

Although I'm not really a breakfast person, I think that is likely due to the fact that I've just been in such a regular pattern that I just haven't missed it.  So for the next few weeks I'm going to change only WHEN I eat. I'm going to eat pretty much the same foods, but just change when I eat them. 

On Mon to thursday I'm going to get up 6:30, black coffee at 7, protein smoothie at 9, electrolytes/snack at 11:30, lunch/dinner 2:45 - finishing up eating by 3.  

So essentially I'm changing my eating window from 11-6 to 9-3. I am eating the same pretty much the same amount of food, but I've been doing some research that changing the time you eat can trick your body in how it uses the fuel. I also start winding down my day at 8:30, so if I'm finishing up at 6pm, that's really not a lot of time between my last meal and when I go to bed.  It's really only a few hours different so might not make any difference at all, but worth the experiment. 

The caveat is that on Friday/sat/sun I'm going back to my old routine. I just enjoy going out for dinner on Fridays and cooking dinners on Sat too much. Sundays are family dinners so it's easier if I just eat with the family. 

It's only been a few days so I haven't noticed any really big changes. I do feel slightly more tired at the end of the work day (between 3-5) but then my bed time routine and falling asleep has been about the same. 

At the end of next week I'll check in with weigh in as well as how my blood glucose looks. I've been peeking at the scale and so far I'm happy.  But we will see how it goes over the weekend and into next week. 

At least it keeps things interesting for the next little bit! :) 

Adios Summer

Summer.... I love ya to pieces but it's time for you to move on. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE summer. I love long days,  the heat, picking up in the evening and going for a ride or a walk or out to socialize with friends.  Summer is one long party. 

As much as I love the 3 month long party,  I don't like the havoc that it puts on my body. I drink too much, eat too much, don't sleep as well and my skin takes a beating with the sun even though I do try to wear sunscreen all the time. 

I miss routine. I miss starting my evening routine a few hours after dinner and shhhh don't tell anyone, but I miss the early nights.  I don't mind when it gets dark out at 8 cause I'm one of those people that goes to bed at 8:30! It just makes more sense to me to go to bed when it's dark! 

I need badly to get back into a routine. Good sleeps, less food and drink and taking better care of my body. 

I gained 8 lbs this summer. On monday I was back up to 178.6.  I never got into the 160s like I had vowed to try and do each and every calendar flip.  I'm not even going to say it now cause I feel that making goals, just makes me feel like a failure when I don't achieve them.  So all I am going to say, is that I'm vowing to take better care of myself.  If the weight falls off (which I hope it does), great. As long as I'm eating better, sleeping better and moving more, that is all I need. 

So adios Summer.... it's been fun as always. See ya next year! 

Aug???

 I can't believe after such a slow start to our summer, that we are already over a week into August. Summer to me is July. 

Once August arrives, it feels like it's just all down hill.  Grass is dewy in the mornings, nights have a chill to them and of course, days get shorter. 

We rarely plan any family vacations in August, just cause it's not hot enough and back when the boys were playing hockey, august was all about training camps and getting ready for the upcoming season. 

Now that the boys are older and not playing hockey anymore, we have decided to reintroduce august vacations.  Well, at least for myself and hubby. We will take a few weeks off at the end august/early september and officially finish off summer. 

No plans currently made but we were unable to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary a few years ago due to covid, so I'm hoping we can go somewhere just the two of us, if even just for a few days. 

As far as July went, it felt like we were on one long vacation. We had our family vacation at the start of July and then we had a few celebrations at home with friends and then our trip to Portland at the end of month. 

All in all, great vacations and celebrations and uhm.. food. Lots of food. 

My weight was up and down all of July. Before our family vacation I managed to get my weight down to 171 and then when we returned it was back up to 174.4.  Then spent a few weeks getting it back down again to 170 and then went away to portland and it bumped back up again to 174.4... I guess that is my happy vacation weight right now!! 

So, I'm still working on getting it back down. 

I know I've said it before but I'd love to finish off the month in the 160s... maybe this time I'll be lucky?! 

One thing that might help me is that hubby is currently "dieting" too... not really following any specific plan but he's cutting back carbs and sugars.. he's seeing results already which will be motivation for me to join in too! 

So here is to august!!...

1 vacay down....

We got back from our vacation on Saturday. Had an amazing time. There were 32 of us in total that went away staying in 5 different homes. The weather was not as warm as it typically is when we go to Veranda Beach, but it was still nice. Saw some friends, relaxed and ATE and DRANK way too much. 

I knew it would happen. I just didn't think I would be sucked into all the sugary, floury treats. UGH.. 

And I'm paying for it now. My skin is on fire. It does not like processed carbs at all and I am basically one big eczema/psoriasis rash right now.   And I'm up about 3-4 lbs. 

Left about 171ish and came back at 174.4. So not terrible as I know much of that extra weight is bloat and if I get back on track it should disappear soon. 

I do worry because we are heading away again next Wednesday (20th) for our trip to Portland with friends. We are all taking our bikes as we plan to do a lot of bike riding but the food and drink is so amazing in Portland... and we all like to think ourselves as foodies so it will be a challenge. 

But after that, we are done.  Well at least done with group vacations.  The hubby and I have booked off 2 weeks at the end of the summer but that will just be us and so I can control the food and drink!

Going to spend the week getting back to IF as I seemed to eat from the minute I woke up until the minute I fell asleep when we were away.  Yesterday was the start and it went well. Did a 20:4 day with lots of water and electrolytes to rebalance! 

Now back to my laundry as there are heaps of it in my laundry room! 

1/2 way to vacay!!

At the start of the month I had some recovery to do from the crazy month that was may. Although I didn't show a gain at the end of the month, my weight did some crazy fluctuations during May and I know my body needed to do some healing of that. 

So how did June start? I started the month at 174.2, right about where I have been for the last 4 or so months. I had one final birthday celebration and although it included exercise (biking), it also included many stops at breweries, cideries and with a final end with a BBQ at home with the crew!  We had a blast and it was worth it. I knew that after this celebration, I was going to have to get serious and buckle down if I wanted to get things under control before vacation. 

oh - take a look at this adorable cake my girlfriends got me!! 

So right after my "final" birthday celebration, I decided I needed to buckle down. And then my period started. I had had a surprise period in May, so I figured I wasn't due until the end of June but nope.... it had made another appearance!... 

With that came the bloating and the cravings etc etc. 

I'm happy to say I stayed on track. Doing my IF 20:4 and even got a 22:2 in a few times and the scale finally started to budge. This week I was down to 171.5. I'm so happy about that. 

I've pretty much eliminated dairy, nuts (with the exception of peanut butter) and any snacks. 

I often break my fast with a protein shake with peanut butter and then I don't have anything until dinner which is usually a large serving of protein (beef, pork, fish or chicken) and veggies/salad. 

Feels so good that the scale is finally moving and my clothes are fitting better. I have some nights where I'm not sleeping as well as I'd like, but that could also be my allergies and allergy meds that I'm taking. 

Been sporadically measuring my blood glucose and it's been perfect.. Between 80-100 before and after meals! 

Hopefully I can continue this comfortable rhythm into vacation as I know that's going to be another hurdle. 

Father's day weekend this weekend and another family dinner out, but I'm not too worried about it. 

Oh... and the warmth has finally started to arrive!

Uhm, it's June!

Where did the month of may go to!? 

It's been a whirlwind.  Lots of celebrations this month, a few vacation days sprinkled in and not much to report in the weight loss department. 

I started off May in the mid 170s and with the known celebration dates in the month, I fully expected to end the month in a similar position or possibly worse! 

I also had a surprise visit from Aunt Flo mid cycle... so that caused some serious unwanted/unplanned bloat! 

On Tuesday 24th of May, I weighed in at 179.4!!! Uh...no thanks. Way too close to get back to the 180s.  It scared me because I had vacation planned that week, my birthday and a 25th anniversary party. All in one week. 

I still had the bulk of celebrations in the last week and I was determined to not enter the 180s for June! 

My plan? Intermittent fasting 20:4 and making sure I was eating enough during my eating window. Lot's of protein and fat! 

My birthday weekend involved a few slices of cake, a few drinks and a bunch of dinners out but I managed to keep within my plan. 

Today, June 1st - I weighed 174.2. 

Not bad. I will take it. 

Going to continue with the same plan for the next month as we have our main summer vacation planned July 2-9th. We are going somewhere warm so there will be shorts and bathing suits.... and likely bad choices with food and drinks! 

Would love to lose a few more lbs in the next month but I will be happy if my weight stayed the same and did not get higher. 

One month!!