Coping with Stress, Changing my Goal

I took a break from blogging for a while.  I got down to about 131 pounds then crept back up to 134 and am somewhere in between.  (We'll see what I weigh in at tomorrow.) Last Sunday, I weighed in at 134. 

I had a really difficult few weeks where I let stress get the better of me, and I was not eating well.  I got worked up about our homeschool year starting and kept staying up late, looking for ideas on the Internet, ordering books, etc.  I would stay up until 2 AM but still have to get up at 7 or 8, which isn't enough for me.  When I don't get enough sleep, I get really hungry, have less self-control, and start mindlessly snacking.

I kept thinking to myself, I canNOT let myself go just because I get stressed out.  And then I realized that that is just never going to happen.  I have to deal with the stress in a better way, so that it doesn't mess up my sleeping and eating.  I'm working on it.

I also realized that losing these 5 pounds has been such a struggle that I decided to set my goal weight at 129.  If I get up to 130, I will work on losing weight.  If, over the course of praticing portion control and exercising, I get below 129, I certainly will not try to gain back the weight, but I think 129 is a better goal for me that 125.  I don't care that much if the size 4 jeans never fit me again, and I'm tired of stressing myself out about it. 

Here is the plan I've made up for myself:

1)  Use healthy ways to deal with stress (making to-do lists, walking, running, yoga, gardening), so that I minimize sleep loss and mindless eating. 
2)  Get enough sleep.  Go to bed, not to computer, when sleepy.
3)  Practice portion control.  Stop eating when full.  Eat five times a day (3 meals, 2 snacks) and no more.
4)  Exercise every day.  Get cardio (even if it's just walking) 5 times a week for at least 30 minutes and strength training 2 times a week. 
5)  When I realize I've fallen off the eating-exercise wagon, get right back on. 

I think those are do-able rules that will keep me healthy and lean. 

Sleep: I Need It

I've never been a good sleeper.  I love to stay up late and sleep late.  If I have to get up early, I've always liked to have a nap in the middle of the day.  This worked well at certain times in my life.  As a homeschooling mom, however, I don't have much time for naps.  My children are too young for me to really feel comfortable shutting the door to my room and having a real nap.  The best I get is a light doze in the living room, where I can hear them playing and know if they open the front or back doors.

I went on vacation with my husband.  We had a cabin with east-facing windows (no curtain) that streamed bright light into our bed early every morning.  We hiked all day.  We went to bed early.  I felt awesome.

I came home and didn't want to go back to my old schedule of staying up late every night, dragging myself out of bed each morning, and dragging myself around all day, drinking coffee and diet soda continuously.

So, I haven't.  After the children go to bed, I get in bed with my Kindle, and I'm asleep before 11 PM.  I realize that isn't early to some people, but it sure is to me.  And then I get out of bed at around 7.  I  find I'm needing to set my alarm for 6:45 to do this because I just don't wake up well.  (Probably may be an ADHD-type thing.)

The word on sleep deprivation and metabolism is pretty bleak.  I've been reading about it for years.  So what if I leave emails unanswered or chores undone?  It'll be a lot easier to do anything the next day if I get enough sleep.  Also, chores can be caught up on, but sleep is extremely difficult to catch up on.

I've been feeling that my sleep deprivation has been holding me back, as I've really struggled to see any changes on the scale these past few months, despite modest eating and exercise changes.  I know I've built up muscle, and my clothes fit better, but it hasn't translated into any weight loss.  I did see a slight loss about a pound, coming back from vacation, which I think was due to lack of stress, increased exercise, and better sleep.  I ate plenty, including dessert (homemade cookies or brownies and S'more's trail mix!) twice a day. 

Anyway, there is no other way that I know of to help myself lose weight while remaining completely imobile, other than getting enough sleep.