Being an impatient person, I was very sad that my illness has delayed my weight loss program. My mind has already been changed and the body is a lagging indicator, so I am always a bit impatient with that. I was even thinking (poor me) that being ill revealed a unique disadvantage to this weight control system. That is, when I am ill, my appetite changes, my hunger cues are messed up, and I don’t have the energy to maintain the system of anticipation and reward I use to keep eating less.
But what diet goes well when you are are sick? I didn’t gain any weight, so I am no worse off, except for my impatience. One way of looking at this is: I took an illlness-induced break from dieting and nothing bad happened. Now, I have started to get better. My appetite is returning to normal and I have been hungry when it is time to eat!
My food intake and calorie count
Breakfast – 1 cup Kefir (200); chicken wrap (260)
- 460 calories
Lunch – 13.5 ounces vegetable curry (350); flatbread (100)
- 450 calories
Dinner – 6x pizza slices (100)
- 600 calories
Snacking – ham slices (100); hummus and pickles (200)
- 300 calories
Total for the day: 1810 calories (limit 1800 + 500 bonus from swimming, total 2300)
A very good disguise
Why would someone be excited that they are hungry? Well, it is my goal now. I use hunger as a positive. Being full is now a negative for me. In my past, I ate to be full, which is a job that never ends. Result: overweight. Now I prize hunger, so I am careful not to eat too much. My goal is to be hungry for the next meal, and the next. Result: a small portion of food is highly anticipated and rewarding. It makes the sacrifice worthwhile. The sacrifice is myself; that is, I give up the mild pleasure of anticipating a full stomach. What do I get instead? Try it yourself and see. Eating a small amount of exactly what you want and have been anticipating, exactly when you are very hungry for it, is a powerful and satisfying experience. A second serving is disappointing by comparison.
Hopefully this next week will find me completely better and back in my new lifestyle. As you have been reading, it is an intense and rewarding experience to lose weight, and to live, this way. Maybe being sick for a couple of weeks and taking a break, was a blessing in disguise. A very, very good disguise.
-The Doctor