On Friday I went to Old Navy because they were having an incredible sale. I tried a pair of size 14 pants that I own in another colour and they were too tight, I thought this is weird, and then I tried the 16s and they were tight too.. I almost burst into tears. Instead I decided that I really need to get back to it in a very serious way. So I’m joining your bandwagon! Let’s do this!

In some ways I think it’s a really good thing that you’re managing your weight the way you are. I think the fact that you’re able to maintain your wt in a narrow window (+/- 5 lbs) is EXACTLY what people recommend for maintenance. And maintenance is essentially what you’re doing - making effort and not seeing the scale go down.

It’s interesting that you’re “treading weight” at 185-ish — that’s the weight where I stabilized after starting at 250 (and dropping to 165 briefly). I maintained around 185-190 for over 5 yrs before I gained back to 220 over the past 2 yrs (been losing again since March, am back down to 190-ish). For me, at least, this weight is comfortable because I’m back in “regular” size clothes (at least in the US) & in daily life in the US I felt normal-sized, not plus-sized. I live in Paris where everyone is much thinner & sizes are much smaller, so at the same weight I feel like a cow here & shopping is still a nightmare, so here the same weight is more burdensome (good motivation for me to continue losing) but I remember really clearly in the US that this weight range came with huge relief. I wasn’t near my “goal” yet, but it was comfortable for once, and I think that’s why I got stuck for so long in the 180s. I probably spent almost a year bouncing around in that weight range before I finally got it together to find a new plan of attack & then my wt started moving down again. (then I moved to Paris, and 20lbs came back, but that’s another story).

I do think you need to be careful about the “3 days of eating crap” cycles you’ve been doing — so far you’ve caught them & re-lost from them, but it’s probably pretty dangerous behavior.

Can you think of any little thing you could do to help stay on track through the holidays (next week through after New Year’s)? For me one of the things I do in ‘danger times’ is go back to blogging regularly (if I’ve fallen off) or go back to keeping a food diary (even if I allow myself to eat the temptations, I’m always a better eater if I track it). What works for you?

I do not think that your problems sound boring to others, not to those who care about you. But I know the feeling and know that it`s temting just to stay quiet and eat your feelings instead…

Congratulations on losing 4 lbs and breaking out of a stall!!

Even more congrats on getting out of OBESE!!! That is one of my Biggest Milestone goals. In fact, although I hope my stabilisation weight will be lower than that, it’s the last concrete goal I can identify right now- so I can imagine (even remember) how it feels!

GREAT JOB, I am very proud of you!

My advice would be to plan a nice night for the two of you- get the kids a babysitter and have a wonderful night out, and when you are there have a serious chat- not a long drawn out one but just shower him in love and affection and let him know “hey, if a guy flirts with me it doesn’t mean a thing because YOU are the person I love, you loved me when I was such and such weight, and you love me now. I just want you to know you will never have to worry about me being unfaithful to you. :)”

Guys act like they don’t need love and affection or attention but they do- I bet a great night out with you paying attention to only him will rock his world