(Stuck at 230 lbs (down 22 lbs) and FRUSTRATED!)

Howdy again, friends, family, fiends, foes, and all of you funky folks!

Welcome to this week’s (Week 8) of my weight-loss saga, or as I like to call it, the “Damn, I’m Fat Again” chronicles. I’ll be honest — I’m frustrated. After two months of diligently logging my meals, hitting the pavement, and even trading my beloved ice cream and potato chips for less wonderful items, (celery, carrot sticks, and the like), the scale seems to have a twisted and dark sense of humor. I’m stuck at 230 lbs, and it’s not budging.

Now, before anyone tells me those trite sayings, “Muscle weighs more than fat,” or “It’s all about the journey,” I’ve got to say — I know all that. (My wife rolls those out at me all the time.) But it doesn’t make staring at that same lousy number on the scale any less irritating. It’s like the scale is playing a cruel joke on me: “You’re doing great! But nope, you’re not moving the needle down at all.” Thanks, pal. hahaha

So What’s Going On?

So, why am I stuck? Here are the prime suspects I have in this weight-loss conundrum:

1. Calorie Creep
   I’ve been O.C.D. disciplined, but there’s this thing called portion distortion. Have I been a little too generous with my serving sizes? Sneaking a second helping of whatever here and there? Nope, not even just a little, my O.C.D. stops me from doing that stuff.
2. Not Enough Variety
   My workouts have been almost non-existent, (shocker, right?)but I do average about 10,500 steps per day, at the car lot. My off days are fairly stagnant, maybe that’s the problem. The same steps, and little to no other workouts– perhaps my body’s gotten too comfy. It might be time to shake things up and try something new. (Just don’t ask me to do Zumba. I’ve seen myself dance, and it’s about as ugly as an Olympic power lifter.) Truth is I will probably just try to step up my walking both on my work days and on my off days, and hope for the best, as I don’t want to be a slave both physically and financially to some gym that smells like a well used sweat sock. (Ick)
3. Stress Levels
   Stress is sneaky. It can trigger cortisol, and that hormone loves to cling to fat like it’s its bestest (you southern folk will know) friend. And let’s be real, life is awfully stressful. Balancing work with a new boss, personal projects, and staying away from Vito’s pizza or Cold Stone Creamery is no small feat.

So Let’s Get To It

Here’s the thing, folks: progress isn’t always a linear ride. This plateau isn’t the end of the world; it’s just a hiccup or a pause. And maybe, just maybe, my body is adjusting to some of the changes I’ve made. I have noticed my pants are a lot looser, my shirts are now too big at a 3x or even some of the 2x’s. So, maybe I am overreacting. It’s easy to get discouraged, but instead of throwing in the towel, I’m going to tweak a few things and see what happens:

1. Shaking Up the Routine
   Next week, I’m going to add resistance bands to work out here at home, a few reps of upper body exercise won’t hurt and may help me. (Fun fact: muscle burns more calories at rest, so maybe I’ll finally get rewarded for watching re-runs of Friends or Becker on the couch.) I hope I don’t hurt my rotator cuff again, but I will take it easy to start and figure it out.
2. Food Audit
   Time to re-evaluate the meals and snacks. Less processed stuff, more whole foods. I won’t even flirt with intermittent fasting. I try to graze and pick as best as I can to keep the metabolism rockin’ like Motley Crew on a meth bender. (It isn’t but I can dream)
3. Stress Management
   More laughter, more music, and maybe some dedicated quiet time to reflect. I’ve always believed rock and roll heals the soul, so SKY7music.com is going to get an extra long workout this week too.

It’s Not All Doom, Gloom and Depression

Despite the stall, there are a few wins I need to celebrate. My energy is a bit higher, my clothes fit looser and better, and I’m starting to like what I see in the mirror a little more each day. The scale may not be moving, but this deal isn’t just about that stupid number. It’s about feeling better and being healthier — and I’m getting there. (slow but sure)

So here’s to Week 9 and whatever it brings. Maybe it’s a breakthrough; maybe it’s another lesson in mortal patience. Either way, I’m not giving up. I’ve come too far to let 230 be my forever number. Here’s to 200 and beyond!

Dean Benson, “ The Dean of Rock & Roll”

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