Fall/winter weight management thread

[Catrin]

I could not give up dinner (or any meal). I know my limits with grains and I am ravenously hungry when I totally cut them out, even when I up my protein. Catrin, I do think genetics play a role (as I sit here waiting for DS and DIL to meet me for brunch). Have you thought of having the real scientific body fat test? I know it's expensive, but maybe just getting an accurate reading once would help.

I agree with Crankin, I wouldn't give up any meal. Now, it is also true that some in the Paleo community have found Intermittent Fasting to be helpful - but the idea there isn't to cut calories but to decrease the "eating window", so to speak. Some who practice this do it daily, some do it a couple times a week. For example, someone may choose to only eat one meal or two meals a day, but to get in all of their calories in that time. Research appears to indicate that this approach works better for men than women, although some women swear by it. I tried it once and my body couldn't seem to handle the increased calories for the meals I did eat.

Crankin, yeah, I suspect my Eastern Euro & Scot genes are partly to blame here, and the rest likely to do with not having a reproductive system (no HRT), and no thyroid. I've always had to work harder than the average bear to get my body's attention. I agree that getting the real scientific test would likely be helpful and at some point I may do that. Right now my approach is to make certain that my diet is what it should be, fuel my activities, as well as to uncover and deal with any food sensitivity issues that may still remain. I've a few that are known about and not all have symptoms that would seem related to diet. In the end I may just have to accept that I will always be a bit....fluffy, but I want to do all I can within reason first. Abdominal fat deposits are known to be correlated with nasty things like diabetes, and worse.

I AM adding an additional kettlebell workout on Sunday afternoons that targets metabolic drive and body fat. Also, with winter coming, I don't want my Sunday workout to be something that I MUST go to the gym for - I've enough toys at home and I want to take advantage of them when the snow flies. My coach has given me a workout that revolves around 500 single arm kettlebell swings that are mixed with low rep body weight exercises with my Jungle Gym/TRX in between sets. I would LIKE to work out 5 days a week, but I've noted that at this point in my life that 5th day makes it difficult to recover properly. With an impaired shoulder, I need to be smart about all of this. It is all well and good if I go to the competition in January and dominate in my class (assuming there are any other women there at my weight who are lifting as light as I will be), but destroy my shoulder by not allowing enough rest would not be good...