So, after my last post in which I saw my biggest weekly weight loss since starting this program in December, I had a business trip to Paris which I also mentioned.
I came back from the trip feeling really positive about myself. I had avoided all of the obvious temptations completely. Not a single slip, despite the fantastic food on offer, the urge to partake in croissants and other pastries, etc.
But while I avoided the “obvious” temptations, it’s always much harder to avoid the hidden pitfalls when eating on the road and where you are not in complete control of everything you consume. Also, while on this trip, I did not fast, nor did I maintain my usual regular exercise schedule. This is not a trivial change.
The result of all this was I weighed in this morning to find I’ve regained 6.1lbs! On the surface it would be easy to feel like I’ve just wiped away all of the weight loss I was so proud of last week in one fell swoop! But we’ll address that.
It would be easy to get disheartened, but as I’m sure you’ve seen if you are a regular reader of my blog, these kinds of rapid gains (and losses) are invariably just water weight, and to do with flushing and reloading water and glycogen stores rather than actual fat loss/gain. Glycogen is particularly tricky – it acts almost like a sponge. Every gram of carbohydrate stored as glycogen carries about 3 to 4 grams of water with it.
It’s also worth noting that just prior to leaving for Paris, I completed a 36 hour fast, during which I also included a 1.4km swim, and also a walk/run – in which I had increased my usual running schedule so instead of 2 mins run, 1 min walk, I did 2.5 mins run, 1 min walk.
What this effectively did was empty out all of my glycogen stores, completely draining those sponges, priming them to soak up any hidden carbs while I was away.
And the most important thing for me to remember is that losing weight is only part of the picture. An important part, sure, but is it actually the most important? Not for me! Being type 2 diabetic, having early stage diabetic neuropathy and retinopathy – the single most important thing for me is controlling my blood sugar. And this is the reason that I can come back from a business trip like this, find that I’ve put on 6.1lbs, and still feel pretty good about myself. I did NOT fall off the wagon in terms of my food choices. I stuck to the best possible options at every stage. Yes, there were some hidden carbs that I missed, but these would have been very minor in the big scheme of things.
I love French food and especially French pastries, and so this was a massive test of my resolve, and I passed with flying colours. Some day, when I’ve got my blood sugar back down to a normal, healthy level, and am in full diabetic remission I will be able to eat those things again, precisely because I’ve now developed the tools and awareness necessary to manaage my blood sugar effectively.
So, now back to it! I just completed a 22 hr fast straight after coming home last night (Friday), and have been swimming this afternoon (Saturday). Tomorrow (Sunday) I’ll aim for at least another 18-20hr fast, and also get another run in, and then I’ll be back to my usual 3 x 36hr fasting protocol as of tomorrow (Sunday) night.
I imagine it won’t take me more than 3-4 days to get my weight back to where it was pre-trip and get back on track.
When you understand the physiology of exercise, fasting, and your diet it becomes much easier to avoid getting disheartened by these “blips”. You just need to accept that “life will get in the way” of your plans sometimes, and that’s fine. Just make sure to get back on track when you are able, and the results will continue to follow.
While it sometimes feels like I’m taking “two steps forwards, one step back”, the net result is still one whole step forwards each time! And that’s how we get to where we’re going, one step at a time!
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