Winter weight gain / spring shed cycle

[jjcac1]

I love the 10% idea.. it is true that moderation is key. For me I can't deny myself of the things I love and be successful long term. The 10% rule is a positive way to think of things, so as to not get down on yourself for being "perfect" or such.

[maillotpois]

I love the 10% idea..

When I was first typing that in my initial reply, I typed 10% nutritious, etc. foods and 90% more relaxed! Freudian slip!

[yellow]

I don't have stuff around for snacking (Ok, I try but with WrenchBoy around it's almost impossible).

Ummmm...I beg to differ on the not-having-stuff-around-for-snacking. Yes, it may be WrenchBoy's fault, but there are a lot of VERY DANGEROUS THINGS in your kitchen!

On topic, I usually have a reverse cycle...lose weight in the winter, gain it back in the spring/summer. When the pants get tight, I focus on cutting portion sizes (my trick: dish up your meal, then take half of it away...works especially well in restaurants) and that will usually do the trick as long as I'm exercising.

[SadieKate]

Ummmm...I beg to differ on the not-having-stuff-around-for-snacking. Yes, it may be WrenchBoy's fault, but there are a lot of VERY DANGEROUS THINGS in your kitchen!

But I'm not working on loosing weight right now. When I get serious, all that stuff is banished or hidden by WrenchBoy. Once in a while he knows that an order is an order.

Not to mention, it is Girl Scout cookie time and I bought other stuff that was supposed to be our Solvang Century snack supply.

[mtbdarby]

Sarah & Cycla,
I'm just the opposite. Since having a baby I went hyper - Graves disease. I'm on meds, weaning off actually! I don't have any energy these days either but I put on 12 pounds this winter and I can not get it off. It seems the more I watch my calories, cut out fat and junk, I gain weight. I don't get it. I see a new endo April 17th (I don't like endos!). So I figure the best I can do is eat well and keep riding.

[maillotpois]

Darby - isn't Graves also an auto-immune thing (but the opposite effect of what I've got)? I think the whole childbirth thing tends to lead to these auto-immune issues.

Sorry you're struggling. I agree - regardless of what end you're on (hypo or hyper), having a thyroid thing presents an unneeded extra challenge to the whole weight issue.

[Lise]

On the sweet/white potato thing: I've discovered a new snack trick for myself. I buy these Sweet Potat-oh!s. They come shrink-wrapped in plastic, and you throw them in the microwave for 7 minutes. It's a great snack with a little fat and salt thrown on, and keeps me out of the Girl Scout cookies.

I also buy bags of sugar snap peas +/- baby carrots, and nosh on those. Fills me up, and keeps me out of whatever else I might grab at the moment. I do not tolerate being hungry very well, and I will eat the wrong stuff if I don't have the right stuff on hand.