The Dangers of Tiredness to Your Weight-Loss Efforts

Today is a difficult day.

It's Monday, the day after a lovely Father's Day Weekend. We had a great time, going for long walks at the beach and playing in the ocean both days. Despite dinner out at a great pizza place in Dover, NH (Weeksie's), I managed to stay within my caloric limitations that I set for myself--I'll explain further in another blog, but I try to keep between 1800-2000 calories, especially since I continue to breastfeed.

Before anyone freaks out about my losing weight while breastfeeding--yes, it's OK! I have my doctor's full knowledge and support! I am just not to lose too fast. More on that in a later post.

Anyway, last night Kent got frustrated at the fact that there are two more days left of school and the house is something of a wreck. I'm afraid that's my fault. As a stay-at-home Mom (officially, now, since I quit my teaching job last week--again, more in a later blog), I should really be staying on top of this. However, Kara gets bored quickly doing the same thing over and over, so we take long walks in her jogging stroller and, of course, that helps me get fit as well. We all win.

Except for the house.

OK it isn't awful, it's not dirty, but it's cluttered. Or it was, rather. Last night Kent went on a cleaning tear and decided to straighten up the library downstairs. Not to be outdone, once Kara and Maddy were asleep, I tackled the upstairs.

Three hours later, the house looked fabulous and it was 1 a.m.! Eek!

Why do we always try to declutter at 10 p.m. on a Sunday?

Normally, I'd have convinced Kara to take an early nap and napped with her, but this morning I went for breakfast with Allen and Annie, two dear friends of mine. Annie is my former partner teacher from 5th and then later 8th grade, and Allen was our teacher's aide in 5th. We liked to say we fought over him! (He liked that too!)

Anyway, once we all went in different directions professionally (me to a different middle school "team" and he to a different school), we decided to meet periodically for breakfast to catch up. Today was just such a meeting, since my now-former school district's year ended last Friday.

Naturally, being early risers, they wanted to meet at 8:30. I would probably have chosen 10:30, personally, just because I'm a night owl, but I'll do 8:30 for them!

Do the math. Go to bed at 1 a.m., up at 7 a.m., plus two feedings in the middle of the night, and I got fewer than 6 hours of sleep.

Tiredness is absolutely DEADLY to weight-loss efforts, and I am fighting today to stick within the caloric limits!

My problem is that when I'm tired, like most people, I start "grazing". This was probably half the problem I faced for seventeen years as a plus-sized woman--when I was tired, I would eat for energy. It is absolutely compounded by the fact that I have hypoglycemia, or "low blood sugar", as diagnosed during a 5-hour glucose tolerance test at my local hospital.

What that means is that when I eat sugary or starchy foods, as is true for most of the population, my blood sugar would spike, then drop. So why did I eat them? It's what my body craved. Unfortunately, in my case, my blood sugar would spike, then drop below fasting levels, leaving me more hungry and tired than I was initially. That would set up a rollercoaster effect that had me eating all day long, usually the worst things for me.

Another reason this is so bad for anyone trying to lose weight and get healthy is that every time your body sends out insulin, it's telling your body that, "Hey, there's plenty of energy to be had. Go ahead and store this stuff as fat against a future shortage!"

Had I known that ONE fact, I would have probably tried to eat very differently over the past seventeen years. However, I didn't know, and so I continued my fatigue-eat-crash-eat-crash-eat pattern, day after day, for years, until last April I hit 259 pounds, my all-time high.

I am aware of what I'm doing now, which makes it understandable, but not easier. My body is craving food right now in the WORST way! I have eaten enough for the morning and lunch, and I am choosing to avoid eating anything else for now. I tried to get a good balance of carbs and protein (whole-grain bread and yogurt, a few green olives, and a small piece of dark chocolate), so that my blood sugar won't spike and send me into overload, but that doesn't make the tiredness go away. The temptation to eat to boost my energy is unbelievably strong!

I have attached a link to an article that explains this a bit. It's from OnHealth.com.

Meanwhile, I will continue to battle through my fatigue.

The temptation is to skip my workout today, which consists of 30 minutes on an elliptical trainer at 80% heart rate (for me, that's 143 beats per minute), and 45 minutes of strength training on weight machines, starting at an easy weight for 15 reps, then going progressively heavier for 12 then 8 reps each. I finish with stretching. However, much as I know I want to skip it, because I'm "so tired", I will go--I have been there, done that, and know that as soon as I'm into the workout I'll perk up, and afterward I will feel so much more energy.

Therein lies the paradox. Only by expending a lot of energy will I regain mine!

I should take a nap, but Kara just woke up from hers, so that's out. I will deal with it for another hour, when I can pick up Kent and Maddy from school and hand Kara over for a couple hours.

Then I will finally get to kick this tiredness to the curb!

Tonight's goal: not to eat too much, and to go to bed at a reasonable time. Naturally there is an interview with Princess Diana's boys and Matt Lauer tonight, at around 10 pm I think, but I will tape it instead.

Sleep is more important. I don't want to repeat this tomorrow.

Have a great day, be well, and get out there and move!

Yours in Health,
Karina

LINK: http://www.onhealth.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=56540


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Disclaimer: Look, I'm not a doctor. However, I am a teacher certified in both California and Maine to teach science curriculum, including the human body (and health/nutrition) to kids in grades K-8. This blog is my attempt to wade through the current thinking on weight loss, and to present it in a way that makes sense to everyone. As a woman who is successfully recovering from obesity herself, I feel it's even more important to help others understand what I did to lose the weight; what worked, what didn't, and what the struggle has been like as I went from morbid obesity to fitness. It doesn't mean that I have all the answers, however. If you want to lose weight, by all means, read my blog--I think I can provide some help and clarity. BUT, please know that I am NOT a medical expert, and you should most definitely consult with your own doctor or family physician before undertaking any weight loss efforts yourself. Weight loss is a personal journey. I'm making mine visible to the world, but each of us has to take our own steps with our own doctor's guidance; please make sure you check in with yours before you try to do anything I have done. Good luck and God bless!