down, down, down, but not in the way you're thinking!

[firecracker]

My weight is not down, I am down. I've gained about 3 pounds this week...the first real gain since I started in July. I lost quickly and kept losing and now I've hit a brick wall.

My body wants to give up, my mind is begging, "please don't give up now." The Bible was right...the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

I've bought almost a new wardrobe (all size 12 and 14) and gotten rid of all the 18's and 20's. I look better than I did in July, but not great.

I think that looking and feeling great is just too much work! I'm tired of caring about carbs. I hate carbs! I mean, I love carbs!!!

I'm down 42 pounds since mid-July. I lost 7 over the Holidays, but since New Years I've been way off-track eating wise. It's like a resolution in reverse! AAARRRRGGG!!!

Can anyone give me more profound advice? I KNOW all the "oh, I've come so far!" "Oh, I'm only 16 pounds from goal...don't give up now!" But it's not keeping things out of my mouth!

What's wrong with me?

Carmen

 

[ZerasPride]

Hi Carmen,

I feel for you, really I do. Do you think it's possible you are scared of success? I know that probably sounds silly but it sounds like it's a mental battle with you. You have come so far and maybe, just maybe being so close to goal is frightening. I don't know you personally but I know how I feel the more successful I was becoming at this woe, the more frightened I got at being successful. Normally I would sabotage my efforts. It sounds like that is what you are doing to yourself. This time though I was able to find the mental and emotional strength not to give in to that negative voice in my head that was coaxing me to give up this way of life and go back to the way I used to eat.

I know you have bought the new clothes but have you allowed yourself emotionally and mentally to really see yourself as thin? I appreciate this process taking a bit of time so I can get used to me being smaller. I have been overweight all my adult life and can't imagine what buying size 10 and 12 clothes are like but I know when I get down to that point there will probably be some soul searching going on.

You deserve to be the size you want to be. You deserve to be as beautiful on the outside as you are on the inside. You have to believe it yourself only then when you feel safe will you stop sabatoging your efforts.

Of course I could be totally wrong about your situation and just projecting the way I will more than likely feel when I get close to goal on to you. I'm sorry if that is what I am doing and if I am totally off base. I do hope you figure out why you feel the way you do so you can reach your goal.

{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}

 

[DoeWDW]

Carmen, first here's a ! You are entitled to feel your feelings, whatever they are. They do not totally define you, though.

I'm also getting close to goal. I feel like I've been battling it so long and I just get tired sometimes. I don't FEEL like counting carbs and drinking water and exercising. I want a simpler life where I don't have to constantly be thinking about my decisions and actions. Is this what you're feeling?

I think I'm very close to taking a maintenance break. I haven't decided to do it yet, but I'm thinking about it. Maybe I can just focus on staying the weight I am now for a month, rather than losing. That means maybe I can be just a little more lenient with the carbs and the exercise.

With that said, I do need to think of it as a temporary break just to let my life settle a bit. Being realistic, my body NEEDS healthy foods - I can't feed it junk and expect to feel good and stay well. My body NEEDS exercise - it isn't an option to be a couch potato for the rest of my life if I want to avoid the effects of aging, muscle loss and bone loss. My body NEEDS a certain amount of water every day, maybe not as much as I've been making an effort to drink, but a certain amount, like maybe 64 oz.

Some of this stuff will need to be a permanent lifestyle change if I want to be healthy and treat my body well. I can relax for a short time but I truly must watch that scale and NOT let the weight I've lost creep back on. A maintenance break could be a risky proposition, but if the alternative is giving up and eating junk food, skipping exercise and not drinking water, then maybe a maintenance break is the answer.

Good luck with whatever you decide, Carmen!

 

[LisaTx]

Lisa and Doe have some good things to consider.

My weight has always gone up and down a lot. It's never been a steady loss.

I've been feeling rather blah about the whole thing lately too. I don't want to quit by any means, but I don't want it to be so much work either. When I first started I used fitday to record and track everything. I was religious about it. Around mid November I quit using fitday every day.

Now I don't even count my carbs. I just try to make good choices. Much like I will after I get to goal. I'm still losing, just not quite so fast. That's OK with me.

The winter blahs may be coming into play as well. I need sunshine and warm weather! Maybe when the weather warms up and we're able to get ouside more we'll find our motivation again.

Hang in there. You can do this!

 

[disboo]

Think about how good it feels to be in control of your eating! You have obviously been able to make good choices for many months now. Would it hurt so much to take some time off from the strictest version of your plan? Why not give yourself and your body a break - have a treat or two, but balance it with more activity, plenty of water, and a resolve to restart in a week. Just remember that if you go off your plan, you will probably gain water weight (at least I always do) so what looks like a 5 pound gain over the course of a week whooshes back off.

I know how frustrating things can feel. I lost 80+ pounds in about 10 months, and practically nothing has come off in the last three months. But, I haven't (AND WON'T!!) put it back on.

We all feel for you - keep posting and let us know what's going on! HUGS!