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Sunday check in

I would like to keep better data and wondered if you could explain what and how you track and review your habits on a weekly basis? Do you use a particular spreadsheet design? If this has already been covered somewhere else, please let me know. Thanks!

I have been following HSM since December and lost 20 pounds, 5 more to go but am now pausing for a maintenance trial for two weeks. I am wondering do I work on keeping it at 150 ( my weight ) or does it make more sense to maintain within a pound or 2 give or take and more importantly, do I add up my calories for the day as I go or wait until the next day after I do the paper/pencil task. I am 70yo. - never tried this way of weight loss/management. I really want to learn maintenance for the long haul.

Continuing to Lose After Ending Weight Loss Injections

Hi Heather, I just completed an 8 month journey on weight loss injections. I had lost almost 40 lbs, but I had a falling out with my provider over some concerns about my blood work. I wasn’t planning on being on them for the long term due to cost, so I’m ok to have stopped. My concern now is that the food noise is starting to come back as well as the fearful thoughts I have over the possibility of gaining it back. I did meet with a dietitian and have established a calorie goal and some other goals around healthier eating habits. I’ve also addressed this in counseling. I just have always had trouble sticking with a plan and am concerned about slipping back into old habits. I know this is probably a problem with my thoughts and was wondering if you have any resources or podcast episodes that may be helpful as I move forward. I have considered joining the Academy, but again am fearful it would be one more thing I start and don’t use. I have really enjoyed listening to your podcast as I have started to navigate this next leg of my journey. Thanks so much! -Kelly

I can’t Decide What I Want to Eat

I paper/pencil plan every morning- and track my calories- I am in maintenance at around 135 - I have been lower in my life but this weight keeps me at a happy medium sized 8/10. My problem is I can no seem to decide what I want to eat when I’m planning- At 5am - All I want is coffee- nothing sounds good - When I get hungry at 7am - Then I can decide- I have written down 12 different breakfast options to choose from - most are definitely healthier options and fit into my goals Lunch on work days is very easy- I prep - but weekends… same - I usually have no clue in the morning what I’m going to want (I live alone) - It could be just cheese and crackers- or a can of tuna with Avocado- Or I could pick up something if I’m out Dinners - same problem- I try to have stuff on hand - frozen meals- bag veggies - I’m tired and not going to cook - I can pick up something- and that can be 2 meals -(Longhorns pork chops are 3 meals) I want to follow this plan - but how do I decide?

Hunger and fullness versus calorie counting

Hi Heather, thank you so much for your advice and the opportunity to speak to you, this helped a lot! Now I find myself confronted with another dilemma. I first worked on my binge eating and emotional eating for 14 years before I started with a calorie limit again one year ago. The thing is, the limit turns into a target and I tend to eat all the calories even if I am not hungry anymore. Relying only on hunger and fullness helped to maintain but not for weight loss, but having a calorie number seems to outweigh the bodily cues, I guess this is a mind thing. I would like to combine the both, to have a limit to promote weight loss and to pay attention to my body and not eat more just because I can. I don’t seem to find a solution to this, any thoughts are appreciated. Thank you, Candida