I've heard it takes some time at different weights when you are so close to goal, to live there, and see where you want to be. Maintenance is hard, but it's a hard that all of us would much rather be dealing with than the losing hard. Congrats on being so close to goal.
You know, this is an interesting idea - that it takes time at different weights to decide where you want to be. I'm struggling a little with knowing where I want to be, too, and this is a good way of thinking about it. Kind of like taking different weights for a test drive, I guess.
Well.... my weight has not really changed significantly in the right direction lately.... in fact, I have been within the same 5 pounds since about last November! But at least I am not gaining. And I figure that EVERY WEEK that goes by when I DON'T gain, I am learning a little more about what it takes to maintain a healthy weight. That said, I would LOVE to be at goal by Easter. My motivation has definitely been DOWN lately and I need to do something about that. I will have a few SUPER days and then a few crummy days... hence the mostly maintaining I have been doing. But I was encouraged by getting OUTSIDE to run earlier this past week and hopefully as the weather improves I can continue to do more things like that!!
Pamela - glad you're back and safe and sound as well. What a winter!
Maintaining is so much better than the alternative. It's great that you are balancing the rough days with the great days at least. The weather has been so crazy this winter. Hopefully it will settle down and you will feel more back to normal.
As for losing the last few pounds before Easter, you can do it!
I am looking forward to my time alone in Epcot this weekend! I love exploring in the World Showcase but we rarely watch the shows. I hope to catch some this time since I'll be flying solo. Work is getting in the way of our Food & Wine trip - not sure we'll get to go at all this year.
And my favorite dark ride is Indy too!
Great minds think alike, I guess! I'm not exactly sure what I'm doing on Sunday after the races and all. I am thinking Epcot, of course. Let me know if you want to meet up for a Welsh Dragon or something - it's a great remedy for those tired post-race legs! Or so I tell myself.
I'm feeling pretty good about my progress. I am 2 pounds from goal and I'm going to try to step it up this week so that I can finally get there. This weekend I tried on my 3 pairs of pants I've been trying to get back into - 2 out of the 3 fit! The third one technically fits, but it's tighter in the rear than I'd feel comfortable wearing to work.
I don't know if I'm less motivated now than at the beginning of this challenge, but I do feel myself easing up since I'm so close to goal. Which is silly, because if I just stuck with my plan, I could be done in 1-2 weeks. In a way, it's nice to be happy with my weight and size, so I'm feeling like that final pound or 2 is pretty irrelevant. But it was my goal, so I am going to get there! To keep motivated, I think I just need to keep trying on my NSV clothes.
The last few pounds are the toughest, but you can do it! Your plan for getting there sounds great! Nothing wrong with easing up before the final push, of course, but it's so nice to get to your goal, too. Keep us posted!
Good afternoon!!
I'm having a great day! I'm so excited to share this with my BL friends... On Saturday, I went to Old Navy and bought a pair of jeans! Not a pair of plus size jeans... a regular pair of jeans. I was so excited! I wore my new jeans yesterday and I think they are already a little too big. I should have gotten a smaller size. Annnnnnnddddd..... I flew past the -25 pounds this week and I am now down 26.5 total.
Right now I am feeling great about my progress. I am more motivated than I was 2 months ago.
Woo hoo for regular jeans and 25+ lost! It's so great that your motivation is increasing. Way to build some momentum!
I'm feeling like I should be making much more progress. Losing 2 ounces is not exactly much to show for all these weeks. Maybe I should have been a maintainer, since I seem to have mastered that.
I should be more motivated, and I'm trying to think of ways to shake up what I've been doing (and get more workouts in and eat less), so I can move forward again.
Maria
Maria - thanks for sharing your story. Grief is a tough thing to grapple with and it's not surprising that our weight goes up when we're overwhelmed by it.
As for making much more progress, I can totally understand being frustrated at this plateau. It's amazing how few points it takes to shift the balance from losing to maintaing, really, though. Cutting back the food is always hard. When I needed to shave another point or two, I'd do things like changing from 1/2 c. oatmeal to 1/3c. (before cooking), using half as much 2% cheese, switching from 1 cup whole wheat pasta to 1/2 cup and bulking up the dish with frozen vegetables. I don't say these are the best methods, but they're some ideas, anyhow.
At one point I about slipped an fell when there was a big glazed sheet going up a hill! I have decided that only the truly crazy people (like us) run outside in Minnesota during winter!
I saw quite a few runners out today! I'm starting to get the itch myself, I must confess, but I think there is still too much ice out there for me. I do love running in the cold weather, but the ice scares me. I did see that they have several ice-gripping options at Run-n-Fun when I was in today (Burnsville, rather than St. Paul) buying some new shoes. And a new lime green camelback water belt.
Be careful out there, for goodness sake!!!
H
Im feeling great about my progress. Esp this week. I am also doing the C25K program. I am really loving it. I never in a million years thought I could run. I was always jealous of those people running by me. Well this week I have come to realize I am becoming that runner I always wanted to be. I can now run 2 miles without stopping after only 7 weeks on the program. Today was the best run I have ever had. I had to run tonight after work. The weather was perfect 62 crisp clear with a huge full moon on the horizon. It was just a perfect workout. I didnt even glance at my watch until I was 24 minutes into my run. I am feeling amazing and becoming addicted to running. I think I am more motivated now than when I started and I am almost 20 pounds lighter than when I started so I am really happy. At 41 weight loss does not come as easy as it has in the past but I am doing it. Ok that was long winded enough. I hope everyone has a fantastic day/evening!!
Wow - what a change in such a short period of time! Congratulations on becoming a runner. Be sure to note the day you started C25K - that's your "Runniversary" and you'll want to celebrate it next year when you're doing things you can't even imagine now.
I am envying your gorgeous weather! 62 is such a great temp for running.
I'm eating well and rarely have a craving or temptation. I'm very proud of my progress of being control of my food. And exercise is becoming less of a drudgery. I'm very lucky because the pounds are falling off with little effort. But I think looking in the mirror makes me wonder if it's worth it, because I still see the same person that was there two months ago. I think I need to treat myself to a haircut and waxing and start wearing contacts instead of glasses. Maybe even go wild with a touch of makeup.
I need to make myself feel good so that I feel motivated to keep working to look and FEEL my best.
I'm also a creature of habit and use the treadmill exclusively. I get frustrated though because sometimes I just want to take off sprinting, but I'm limited to walking with short jog bursts due to a heart issue. I can walk LONGER (but really, with MY schedule?), I can increase incline, but I can't go faster. I need to find other exercise before I burn out. I plan on spending some of our tax return on a nice bike (haven't had a bike since high school!) and biking with the kids this summer.
Wow - it sounds like you're doing great with your program. I know what you mean about getting frustrated by not seeing the changes after all that work. Sometimes I have gotten frustrated because even when my clothes are smaller, my body still looks like just a smaller version of the same body shape - eventually it does look different, but it can take a frustratingly long while.
I didn't get in my workout today - it was a day off from running, but I was planning on getting in some walking or XT. Well, tomorrow is another day! At least I was within my cals for the day on food.
Nothing wrong with a Pure Rest Day. Don't get me wrong, I love the XT as much as anyone, probably more than most, but there is no substitute for just letting everything repair for 24 hours once in a while. You're going to feel great next time you run for having taken the day off. Not to mention, you know....it's taper time!
Well I still stayed on track today despite a late night hankering for pizza. Given I held off a KFC craving for four days on my first week though, an hour of pizza fixation is nothing! Did the exercise, drank the water, ate right - so hopefully scales tomorrow will be kinder. The scented candles really help - I burn them in the evening and the scent reminds me I'm doing a good thing.
Way to resist the call of the pizza! I love what you wrote about the scented candles helping - what a great reward - every time you use them, you get to enjoy the fragrance while you are reminded of your accomplishments so far.
Is anyone else here familiar with the Nutrition Action Newsletter put out by the Center for Science in the Public Interest?? I got it regularly a few years ago, but stopped receiving it. My Mom got me a subscription recently and I am really enjoying it again.
I was not familiar but it sounds great! I'll have to look into that!
3/1 Monday QOTD: How are you feeling about your progress? Not just the number on the scale, but the other healthy changes you've made. Are you still as motivated as you were a month or two months ago? As we continue into a new season, what can you do to keep motivated?
I go back and forth between feeling good about where I am and feeling guilty for not doing more or better or wondering if I picked the right goal weight or if I should be striving to be smaller instead of settling for where I am. This is kind of scary "edge of precipice" type thinking for me.
I am definitely continuing to feel motivated to continue with eating well, working out, getting faster and stronger. I am trying to increase my push-up capacity. Today I did 20 toe-push-ups. This is amazing for me as it used to be a challenge to get through 10. I can do a lot more knee-push-ups, but there is something so cool about being able to do the harder version now.
I was searching the WISH threads and was so surprised to find that there really aren't any threads that seem to be mainly concerned with maintaining weight. Does anyone know if I'm just missing it?
3/2 Tuesday QOTD-List 5 good things in your life that you are grateful for.
So, so many things, but I have to choose 5? Sorry, no can do.
My family, friends far and near, health, freedom, food, water, electricity, a safe place to live. And also showers. Man, I love showers. And that Smoked Chipotle Tobasco sauce.
Good list 
can always wait.
(and if theres something you want to know, just ask me!)
Why does work have to interfer with life 
I'm usually off tuesday nights...After the dust had settled my son is going to take a spring class at the community college--just to get his feet wet--and we are going to take a walk twice a week again starting this week and go to the pool once a week. He goes every Friday with my stepdad also. If we do this every week we will reward ourselves with a movie.
