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How I’ve Been Feeling Lately

Lisa Eirene

About Lisa Eirene Lisa lost 110 pounds through calorie counting and exercise. She swims, bikes, runs, hikes and is enjoying life in Portland, Oregon. Her weight loss story has been featured in First Magazine, Yahoo Health, Woman's Day and Glamour.com.

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26 Comments

  1. Kim

    You can do this!!! You have had a lot of stress the past few months (even though a lot of it was the good kind of stress) – hopefully now things will be more even which will help you as you try to lose those pounds. I like your idea of trying to mix things up with your workouts!!!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Thanks Kim! I appreciate it!

  2. carbzilla

    Oh sweetie – I’ve been there so many times. I would recommend getting your bloodwork done just to see if it’s thyroid or something else. Each time I need to lose, I have to change it up. This summer I did something drastic and lost weight really fast, only to put it right back on. Now I’m on My Fitness Pal and doing my new bootcamp, but in my heart I really want to go back on WW where I can eat anything as long as I count it. Points seem more generous than calories for some reason. Just keep trying different things to see what works. I know that adding a ton of veggies always helps me get things back on track. Big hugs – you’re not alone.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Thanks!
      I had my blood work tested last summer and besides being anemic, everything was normal. I use MyFitnessPal too and I changed the goal so it reduced my calories a bit. Maybe that will help me eat less when I see the calories so much lower. I’ve been doing pretty good with my food for the last two weeks. My hope is that I see some progress here soon.

  3. Courtney B

    You’ve got this! It definitely sounds like you could change it up though. Have you ever considered focusing on heavy weights?

    I haven’t been blogging nearly as long as you have, but when it becomes a chore it’s time to step back. I decided that I would update a minimum of once a week, and it seems to be ok.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I told myself that I’d quit blogging for awhile in 2015. Then I had a few brainstorms for posts and started writing. I still think I will take a break (maybe not quit but definitely a break) soon.

      I want to lift heavier but I am so nervous about injury!

  4. Lori

    Lisa, I know (believe me, I *know*) that there is the feeling of get it off, get it off, GETITOFFNOW!! However, at this stage is it going to be really slow. People who have lost a lot of weight have slower metabolisms by something like 10%, so be cautious when using your HRM and it’s calorie burn.

    The other thing I might suggest, which might be really hard, is to take a break from intensive exercise for a few weeks. You are really active and have been for a long time. Do walking or something for moving, but really take a break. Then start back up and your body will respond better for you. Professional athletes don’t train hard all year long and yet the rest of us have that tendency to work hard all the time all year round. Build in your periodization.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      You make some good points. Yes, my metabolism seems stuck. I’m not sure how to jerk it out of it’s rut short of massive restriction (which seems unhealthy to me).

      As for the exercise, I have been backing off a bit. I quit the Warrior Room mid-December with the intention of taking a month off, doing swimming, yoga, running and some weight lifting but on my own and not too intense. Then I was going to go back to the WR this month. But I’m still wanting to take some more time off so I might wait til February to go back. It’s just such an intense workout and my body needed a break.

      I don’t know how I would do with stopping fitness completely other than walking. I think it would stress me out. But I get what you are saying…

  5. Andrea@WellnessNotes

    A couple years ago I gained close to 20 pounds back after having maintained a 50+ pound loss for many years. It was very hard, and I can relate to what you are going through right now.

    At the time, I realized that I had to take a new approach. I was still eating quite a few packaged foods at the time, and I decided to let go off them and eat only whole foods (which was scary as I couldn’t count calories as easily). But the switch was a good one as it left me more satisfied. I also said goodbye to alcohol for good. Like you, I was already working out a lot and eating (overall) healthy, and I realized that the easiest way to cut calories was letting go of alcohol. I replaced it with “interesting” herbal teas. Finally, I took a good look at my carb intake, and I realized that I could cut carbs and still feel satisfied. I replaced hash browns with veggie scramble, made lettuce wraps instead of sandwiches, and started eating pasta sauce over sauteed or “spiralized” veggies. All this was actually very helpful when I confirmed my gluten sensitivity two years ago as I didn’t have to make too many changes…

    You can do it!!! Take all the time you need away from the blog. What matters is that you do what is best for you and that you are accountable to yourself.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I like all your suggestions. I’ve implemented some of them already (like no alcohol for awhile) and we don’t eat pasta much but I do eat the packaged meals and I need to get away from that. You are right, they are not satisfying.

  6. Andrea

    This is very interesting. I have been reading you for years. I find as I get older, that in order to maintain my loss I have to do things differently. For me, that means less carbs (from any source) and alcohol. Sad, but true. I think you may be in a transition and your target is moving. What worked in the past, no longer works. Good luck in finding your new sweet spot.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Thank you for reading for so long Andrea. Yep, the liquid calories add up and I went a bit crazy over the holidays. Once January came I reigned that in. Except for this coming weekend (my birthday) I am going booze-free for awhile.

  7. Jane

    Lisa,
    I tooted my horn and preened when I lost 220 pounds. When I gained back 15 I was silent and fearful, perhaps afraid I would become the person who ‘gained it all back’ ? I don’t know what would happen. Then I gained back a few more pounds. I labeled myself a failure and beat myself without mercy. I hid. I lied, I hurt in silence. It didn’t help me lose a single one of the regained pounds. Today, ten years since starting, I still maintain a weight loss of 195-200 pounds. This is not my lowest weight. I have a couple of dozen more pounds to lose and today I reject the label of ‘failure or slacker’. There isn’t an expiration date stamped on my arm that says I am a failure if I have not lose all my excess weight by the date someone else sets. I am a person who is maintaining a sizable weight loss. Losing 200 pounds without surgery or medication is nothing short of miraculous. I am a miracle in progress. You are a miracle, too. Stay positive and stay honest. You will get past this.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I love this. Thank you so much! I am not labeling myself a failure (yet) but I was getting close to feeling like I was. January came and I started making little changes here and there to take back control. To avoid crossing over into the “failure” category…

  8. Jaime

    You are not alone! I am right there with you. I lost 100 lbs and over the last 6 months have gained 15 lbs. The journey ahead of losing that weight seems much more daunting than the 100 I lost before. Yeah, go figure! I’m learning how to navigate through this next part of my journey and I agree it is a slippery slope that once you start gaining it is so easy to continue. I love reading your blogs as they are real and help me remember that I am not alone in my journey and while there are days I struggle, I’m encouraged to keep taking one step at a time to reach my goal!
    Thanks so much for continuing to share your story!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I’m really glad that you are finding some value in my posts and it’s helped you! That was always my goal–prove that weight loss is possible and maintenance can still be fun. For the most part it still is. Right now I need to buckle down though. Thank you for your comment!

  9. emmaclaire

    I’m so glad that you’re continuing to blog even though you’re in a tough place, weight-wise. I am also up 11 pounds and agree with Lori’s feeling of “GET IT OFF NOW!!”, as if it will multiply faster the longer it stays on. After being depressed about it for a few days, I tried to recapture some of the mind-set I had when I lost my initial 60 pounds. I’ve pulled out the motivational phrases to stick up around the house, I’ve started asking myself “is this the behavior/choice of a person who really wants to drop some weight?” (THAT’S an eye-opening question, if I choose to be honest with myself [which I don’t always do] ), dropping the alcohol, but for a set time-period so I don’t get discouraged, and incorporating more grain-free days, which helps my calorie count immensely. So far I’ve dropped a little bit of weight, but I’m feeling a bit more in control.

    I hope you are able to find a effective balance between tweaking the exercise and monitoring the calories, and that you can take some satisfaction in the positive changes you continue to make in your life!

    Hang in there, Lisa 🙂

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Yes, there is definitely a “get it off now” feeling! It’s so freakin’ slow!

      Thanks for your advice. It sounds similar to what I’m trying to implement…

  10. Fran

    I think we all have this at some point (or more often). Nothing is harder than keeping off weight. It’s a long life battle and sometimes you just don’t have the energy or for other reasons to watch carefully and you eat more. For us that results in a gain. Just don’t give up, you will lose it again. Right now I’m also in a position where I gained weight that has to go again. But as Lori says it gets harder and slower, especially when you get older.

    Changing your exercise schedule a bit might certainly help.

    And I hear you on disappearing and then come back only to mention you have gained a lot. I read the blog of Ben does life who even wrote a book about his weight loss. He hadn’t blogged in months and now he’s back, almost as heavy as back when he started.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      There have been a few bloggers that disappeared and came back to admit the gain. I am trying to change my habits before that becomes an issue.

  11. Biz

    What makes you different from the other bloggers who just tune everyone out and come back a year later and say “let’s do this again!” is that you have stopped yourself in your tracks, have made note of where you need to change and are doing it loud and proud.

    You’ve got this!! Hugs!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Yep, I have recognized that I was sliding, pretty early on. I’m trying to change that before it becomes too much of an issue!

  12. Lisa

    Hi Lisa. I just read that Polar has the worst accuracy when it comes to calories burned – up to 40%! Maybe it’s time for a new brand? Hope this helps.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I haven’t heard that. Do you have a link?

  13. Melissa

    It is good to know, I am not the only one stuggling with gaining some of my weight back. But I am not giving up and will fight for healthier body again (but it is super tough this time). Good luck, I am sure you will do great!

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