MWWWD (or Moonwatcher's Weight Watchers Diary!)

[Atomic pink]

Metabolism reset - the story so far.

I know a few of you are interested in how this goes, so some facts and figures for you.

My calculated TDEE using 3 exercise sessions a week in the calculations is 2160 calories per day. There are different calculators and equations around, but this figure came up the most. One did give me 2235 calories a day, but initially I decided to go for the 2160. It was extremely difficult to accept I could possibly eat over 2200 calories a day and not pretty quickly regain all the weight I have lost so far!

Calorie stats:

Saturday 14th (day 1) 2194. (+34 cals) Start weight 15st 1.6lbs
Sunday 15th. 2166 (+6 cals) 15st 3lbs (expected a gain here - body replenishing glycogen stores)
Monday 16th. 2165. (+5 cals) 15st 3lbs
Tuesday 17th. 2170 (+10 cals) Didn't weigh
Wednesday 18th. 2110 (- 50 cals) 15st 3lbs
Thursday 19th. 2547 (+ 387 cals) 15st 2.2lbs
Friday 20th (today) Don't know cals yet. 15st 2.6lbs

Only managed one session of exercise. Was going on the school sponsored walk today, which is about 7 miles and I was going to count it as two sessions, but am actually off work today. Horrendous headaches and glands sore yesterday, aching all over today and generally feeling bleugh, so it is a duvet day for me!

Official weigh in tomorrow, but as I am so amazed by the scales this week, thought I would post this now.

So, a gain yes, but only one pound total as of this morning since Sunday, and look at the calories I have been eating! Plus it appears I may be on the way down slowly.

Now I need a bit more research, as I think possibly I may need to up my calories. Yep, you read that right - I may need to eat more! The metabolism reset is supposed to be around 8 weeks, with some weight gain - more at the beginning which then levels off to maintenance. If I stay roughly around 15st 1lb - 15st 3lb then I suppose I am OK, but if I drop below that I think I will need to increase my calories to maintain during the reset, especially bearing in mind I haven't burnt the calories I had allowed for from exercise.

I feel great about what I am eating. Last night OH came back from the shop with chocolate and crisps. I looked at my stats and thought OK, I can eat these. I knew it would go over my daily allowance, but as I had dropped nearly a pound that morning, it didn't matter - maybe I need more anyway! Even if I don't, it was 200 or 300 calories. Normal (ie: 'naturally slim' and non dieting) people wouldn't worry about it, and after all the aim of a metabolism reset is not just about the calories, it is also about letting go of the 'two bites of that will make me fat' mentality.

The other interesting thing is my attitude to the scales. I have always tracked my weight regularly, and generally it doesn't upset me if they fluctuate during the week, but obviously there is still an emotional attachment and that down feeling, for instance when they suddenly go up for WI, after showing a loss all week. I have found I am very detached about what they are going to say - recording my weight regularly is for analysis of how the reset is going. I don't feel that this week's overall gain defines me. I suppose because I am eating properly and there is not that hard done by feeling you get when you have been so good and don't see the results.

It is too early to say this is a success, but so far I am extremely happy with how it has gone - much more successful than I expected. Despite everything I had read, I fully believed and was resigned to the idea that I would easily gain half a stone the first week!

Nutrition wise, I have been a bit low on my protein intake, but that is mainly because I have been using up what is in the house. Once I have done a bit of shopping I will have some good protein-y snacks in.

Atomic - if you have got this far, what do you think about the calorie levels? I want to do this right, and if that means I need to increase my calories to 2235 a day, then I am prepared to suffer that! My average over the last six days is around 2225 after the chocolate and crisps last night, so I'm sure I could do it!

Starving now (again) and ready for my eggs on fried bread breakfast!

It all sounds pretty encouraging so far The scales didn't jump up immediately for me either. I went up about 1-2 lb in the first 10 days and then they stayed the same for another 10 days or so and then they jumped about a bit. But its interesting that you are already feeling some of the psychological benefits of not feeling so defined by the scales. I think its a lot easier not to feel disheartened by what the scales say when a) you are expecting a gain rather than a loss and b) you've eaten alot of fantastic food to get there!

Which is the calorie figure given by the spreadsheet I linked you to? I would say that you should start by using the calories from that as it accounts for body fat % in the equation from all the measurements it asks for. For everyone who isn't in the "normal" BMI category calculations that don't account for body fat are going to inflate your TDEE. Its not an exact science anyone - everyone's bodies work a bit differently so you will need to do some tweaking along the line but its a good plan to stick to one calorie target for at least 4 weeks at a time before switching.

Its interesting that you've managed to switch your thinking to be able to reconcile a couple of hundred calories every now and then as neither here nor there. I think it took me quite a bit longer to deal with that. Its a bit easier now I am on a cut as if I end up wanting something that will take me over my calorie target I just end up eating at TDEE for one day.

But all in all really encouraging. Really pleased it seems to be going well for you. Not so good about the not feeling well today so being off work, but enjoying a duvet day doesn't sound too bad!

 

[moonwatcher]

The spreadsheet figure was one of the ones that came out to 2160 (actually I think it was 2157, but what's 3 calories between friends - and I did guesstimate my wrist measurement as I couldn't be bothered to get up to get the tape measure again! I am reading 'You Are Your Own Gym' at the moment and his figures come out to about the 2160 with the same level of exercise too. If I start following his plan (moderate activity 3 - 5 times a week) it goes up by about 250. I'm quite happy sticking to 2160 for now, with an occasional trip into 200 or 300 over like last night, especially when it comes with no guilt. When I have finished his two books I will probably start on his plan, in which case I will need to increase them then to match the new activity levels.

 

[Atomic pink]

Sounds like it might be worth sticking with the 2160 for now then. But as you say the odd trip past that isn't a problem. Some people actually recommend eating just above TDEE for reset purposes but that scared me a bit!

Haven't heard of the book you are reading. What's it like?

 

[moonwatcher]

Sounds like it might be worth sticking with the 2160 for now then. But as you say the odd trip past that isn't a problem. Some people actually recommend eating just above TDEE for reset purposes but that scared me a bit!

Haven't heard of the book you are reading. What's it like?

I found it recommended in the MFP Eat more... forum. I wanted something that covered bodyweight training without weights,
and/or with hand weights only. I got both his books actually - the second one is geared up for women, although he says in his first book you don't need to train differently as a woman! It looks pretty good so far. He is very anti cardio though. I was going to get the New Rules for Women book, but decided on these two in the end. Have also got the app with his workout videos. All I need to do now is actually read the book and then start the exercises!

 

[moonwatcher]

Food for today Friday 20th September

Breakfast - 3 pieces of gluten free bread and two eggs, all fried on a little sunflower oil spray, tomatoes and a squirt of HP woodsmoke bbq sauce

Lunch - one and a half ounces of cheddar in a gluten free toasted pitta bread, with chopped pickled jalapenos, cucumber and low fat salad cream, an apple

Afternoon Tea - piece of flourless chocolate cake with double cream

Dinner - three gluten free pork sausages with baked beans and fried tomatoes, cooked spicy plums and custard

Evening snacks - one finger of twirl and a packet of cheese and onion crisps

Drinks - water, three cups of earl grey tea with semi skimmed milk, one coffee with cream, half a glass of cider

Total calories 2310 - the cider took me over my planned calories, but thoroughly enjoyed with a packet of crisps!

Not really having official weekly weigh ins for the next 8 ish weeks
but will be interested to see what the scales say after a full week on these caloties.

 

[moonwatcher]

Well girls I caved in last night and had the other half of the twirl. That made my calories yesterday 2425! Jumped on the scales this morning, not sure what to expect, and they say 15st 2.2lbs! Granted that is an overall gain this week of 0.6lbs bit I have gained more than that on a 'good' WW week, and since Sunday, after the initial gain of 1.4lbs, I have dropped by more than half of that gain. My calorie count for the week? 15,873, which works out to an average of 2267 per day. Quite fantastic so far. Can't wait to see what next week brings. Nothing in the house for breakfast as felt too rough to get shopping yesterday, so about to go shopping for some birthday/christening presents and some food. Will stop at local health food/deli for something to have in the car as am starving again. I think a visit to Costa's may be in order too. I'm sure I hear a gluten free choc brownie calling my name! I hope 'The Hunger' doesn't last too much longer - not sure my bank balance can take it!

Have a good day everyone,

 

[Lanarkwitch]

Sheesh this is so interesting MW, in all honesty I would be terrified to to do, like you I would have assumed my gain would be just well never ending!

 

[Atomic pink]

Great news the scales are behaving themselves, but even better than you are enjoying the new calorie intake.

I also went over my calorie target yesterday due to a sneaky cider. But very much enjoyed so really not bothered.

Hope you have a successful shopping trip this morning with lots of things that will placate The Hunger. It lasted about 7-10 days for me but definitely tailed off towards the end. I only had 1 slice of toast with peanut butter at 8am yesterday and didn't have anything else until lunch at 1pm. I was hungry but then, but not crazily so. So it does definitely subside.

 

[moonwatcher]

Sheesh this is so interesting MW, in all honesty I would be terrified to to do, like you I would have assumed my gain would be just well never ending!

I know, it is quite incredible. I mean, I read the science behind it and the details of how Atomic got on with her reset in her diary, but I still find it hard to believe it actually seems to work for me! I suppose that shows how diet indoctrinated I have become! Of course the proof of the pudding will be at the end of the reset time, when I start to cut my calories a little.

Great news the scales are behaving themselves, but even better than you are enjoying the new calorie intake.

I also went over my calorie target yesterday due to a sneaky cider. But very much enjoyed so really not bothered.

Hope you have a successful shopping trip this morning with lots of things that will placate The Hunger. It lasted about 7-10 days for me but definitely tailed off towards the end. I only had 1 slice of toast with peanut butter at 8am yesterday and didn't have anything else until lunch at 1pm. I was hungry but then, but not crazily so. So it does definitely subside.

Last night was obviously a night for cider. Tonight too for me! Shopping went well - kiddies birthday presents and christening present, meat from the butcher including some new gluten free sausages to try. Also got a dress for the christening, which is why I have only just got online. The moral of the story here is that no matter how much you like it, how good a bargain it is etc., NEVER buy a BIAS seamed dress with a fluted hem type top net and velveteen layer and an underneath layer that you will need to turn both of them up immediately, on the evening before you want to wear it! Four and a half hours later it is finally ready and back on the hanger!



Today's food, Saturday 21st September

Breakfast - one Mrs Crimble's macaroon and two kallo chocolate topped rice cake thins (wouldn't bother with the rice cakes again)

Lunch - one Americano with cream and one gluten free chocolate brownie at Costa's

Dinner - after the morning's sweet food only fest and very little to drink while we were wandering round shopping I started to feel a bit faint and sick by 4.00 ish (definitely not fueling my body well) so we called into Wetherspoon's and I shared a plate of nachos with cheese, sour cream, salsa and guacamole with the OH, followed by peri peri chicken and pepper kebabs with salad

At home later - one of a multipack of Cadbury's flake, one packet cheese and onion crisps, half a small glass of cider

Other drinks - water, one earl grey tea with s\s milk, one coffee with cream, pint of diet Pepsi

Total calories 2335 - 175 calories over (pesky cider again, and also because I wasn't recording my food as I went along, but bearing that in mind, not far off on hitting the calories. Quite a treat day, with only one proper meal, but won't be making a habit of it.

'The Hunger' is definitely subsiding - I was only ravenous twice today -when I first woke up, and also late afternoon, but that wasn't surprising looking at what I had had. Earlier on in the week I was starving every two or three hours or so.

 

[Atomic pink]

Definitely cutting it fine with the sewing! Glad you got it done, that's the sort of thing I always used to do - leave outfit alterations until the day before and then get really stressed by it. Fortunately these days my wardrobe is so bulging with options for EVERY eventuality there is always a back up plan. Clearly there are some up sides to my clothes buying addiction

Being a bit over on the odd few days during the reset really isn't that important at all. I think in alot of ways its much more important to make the psychological changes with how you see food and you are definitely making leaps and bounds with that. Food sounds really good, the nachos appeal especially. I quite like those Kallo chocolate rice cakes. I get the dark chocolate ones sometimes.

Is the christrening today? Hope it goes well and you have fun

 

[UKSerena]

Hey Moonwatcher! Just checking in to say I'm back and looking forward to tiring myself out with your busy updates once again ;-) x

 

[moonwatcher]

Definitely cutting it fine with the sewing! Glad you got it done, that's the sort of thing I always used to do - leave outfit alterations until the day before and then get really stressed by it. Fortunately these days my wardrobe is so bulging with options for EVERY eventuality there is always a back up plan. Clearly there are some up sides to my clothes buying addiction

Being a bit over on the odd few days during the reset really isn't that important at all. I think in alot of ways its much more important to make the psychological changes with how you see food and you are definitely making leaps and bounds with that. Food sounds really good, the nachos appeal especially. I quite like those Kallo chocolate rice cakes. I get the dark chocolate ones sometimes.

Is the christrening today? Hope it goes well and you have fun

Yep, the air was a bit blue when I realised quite how sewn on the bias it was - seams practically diagonal! As I only bought the dress yesterday I didn't have much choice though!

I really didn't like the choc rice cakes, but then I don't like any of the rice cakes generally. OH bought them for me, so I had to at least try them. I did briefly consider topping them with cream cheese and peanut butter to make a sort of peanut butter cheesecake, but decided I'd rather just have the peanut butter on its own!

I think you are right about the psychological side of the reset and how going over on some days shouldn't be an issue. Especially as I checked the scales this morning and have gone down again by a little to 15st 2lbs now!

Yes the christening was today. It was a lovely day but after 4 hours in the local hall with around 12 kiddies under 8 my head was buzzing! Will update with food for the day in a while.

 

[moonwatcher]

Hey Moonwatcher! Just checking in to say I'm back and looking forward to tiring myself out with your busy updates once again ;-) x

Hi Serena,

Lovely to see you back on the forum. I am following Atomic Pink's lead, and am doing a metabolism reset at the moment - so far successfully. Just about to head to your diary to see how you are,

 

[UKSerena]

Hi Serena,

Lovely to see you back on the forum. I am following Atomic Pink's lead, and am doing a metabolism reset at the moment - so far successfully. Just about to head to your diary to see how you are,

Ooooooo exciting times ahead for you then, how long will you plan to reset for? X

 

[moonwatcher]

Ooooooo exciting times ahead for you then, how long will you plan to reset for? X

I'll probably aim for around 8 weeks. I have just reached the end of my first week and am amazed at how well it is going so far.

 

[Nessa29]

Hey Hun just checking in, I am still here and still following just don't know much info about doing a reset.
Glad to see if is going well for you and keep up the great work xxx

 

[UKSerena]

I'll probably aim for around 8 weeks. I have just reached the end of my first week and am amazed at how well it is going so far.

Yey that's good news, 8 Weeks sounds reasonable from what I picked up from Atomics Thread, I bet you have lots of yummy delights planned x

 

[moonwatcher]

Food for Sunday 22nd September

Breakfast - gluten free ciabatta roll with HP woodsmoke bbq sauce and a gluten free sausage. It was the christening today, followed by first birthday party, so as I wasn't sure what the food would be I took another one of these with me, and a Mrs Crimble's macaroons, just in case there wasn't anything I could eat.

Lunch - there wasn't a huge amount of stuff I could have as it was typical buffet food - lots of pastry and sandwiches - but I managed to have the following... a good tbspn of humous with carrot and cucumber to dip in, green salad, one ounce each of cheddar, camembert, edam and stilton, with grapes, three cheese and pineapple on sticks, two strawberries and a handful of blueberries. Was hungry later in the afternoon when we left, so had my other sausage ciabatta roll and a macaroon in the car on the way home,

Didn't have an evening meal as such - cooked some pork pieces with five spice powder until just crispy and nibbled on them with some BBQ sauce

Other snacks and drinks - one galaxy bar, one bucks fizz, one coffee with milk and two large Pepsi max at the christening party, two earl grey teas with s/s milk. Currently having a small glass of cider.

Total calories 2185, 25 over reset calories, but not at all worried about that!

 

[UKSerena]

Food for Sunday 22nd September

Breakfast - gluten free ciabatta roll with HP woodsmoke bbq sauce and a gluten free sausage. It was the christening today, followed by first birthday party, so as I wasn't sure what the food would be I took another one of these with me, and a Mrs Crimble's macaroons, just in case there wasn't anything I could eat.

Lunch - there wasn't a huge amount of stuff I could have as it was typical buffet food - lots of pastry and sandwiches - but I managed to have the following... a good tbspn of humous with carrot and cucumber to dip in, green salad, one ounce each of cheddar, camembert, edam and stilton, with grapes, three cheese and pineapple on sticks, two strawberries and a handful of blueberries. Was hungry later in the afternoon when we left, so had my other sausage ciabatta roll and a macaroon in the car on the way home,

Didn't have an evening meal as such - cooked some pork pieces with five spice powder until just crispy and nibbled on them with some BBQ sauce

Other snacks and drinks - one galaxy bar, one bucks fizz, one coffee with milk and two large Pepsi max at the christening party, two earl grey teas with s/s milk. Currently having a small glass of cider.

Total calories 2185, 25 over reset calories, but not at all worried about that!

25 Calories over, is that all! Wow! That sounds like a fab days worth of food and drink! X

 

[moonwatcher]

Hey Hun just checking in, I am still here and still following just don't know much info about doing a reset.
Glad to see if is going well for you and keep up the great work xxx

Hi Nessa

It is basically eating your calculated maintenance calories (known as TDEE - Total Daily Energy Expenditure.) to reset your metabolism back to normal after years of dieting has messed it up. A lot of people who have dieted for a long while, initially with success but then struggling to lose more, losing and regaining the same few pounds or having to cut calories lower and lower etc., have dome it successfully. Once you have finished the reset you reduce your calories but not by as much as other diets, to start slowly and steadily losing again.

Although I'm not doing WW at the moment I decided to keep my diary on here, as I do like it here and a few people are interested in to seewhat happens with the reset. I don't think my food diaries are going to be very useful at the moment to those on WW though, but everyone is always welcome for a chat!