How do you stop the dreaded "Creep"?

[Tara D]

Hey everyone...it's been a long time since I've written. Life has just gotten in the way! Anyway, I cam back here and found this post, which is exactly what I was looking for. You guys are so great! Mind readers!

The truth is, I've been "creeping" since December. For a while, I told myself that it was a positive thing (see next paragraph). I think I was about 119 before the holidays, 120-121 after the holidays. Over the last several months I went up slowly. However in the last couple weeks I reached the 125 mark, and have even been temporarily as high as 127.

The good news is I felt best at 122-123. I wasn't as cold anymore, and I felt I looked better than at 119. The problem with 125 is that I don't want to be above that, and from a practical standpoint, above that weight some of my clothes are a little too snug. I don't want to buy new clothes. I'm at about 125 now.

It wasn't until last week that I started to make a committment to getting back to 122-123. I've changed my diet a bit, started Fitday again, and I'm trying to get a workout in during the work week. Probably most importantly, I've decided to stop overeating on the weekend. Last weekend was the first time I was able to do this in quite a long time.

I'm hoping this will work~ Wish me luck!!!

Thanks again, guys!

[MBN]

I don't know about you guys, but I'm finding that my weight can fluctuate wildly in a few days - like, 10 pounds or even more! For example, I just got back from 2 weeks vacation in the mountains. We were super-active during the trip, including lots of hiking and biking (55 hiking miles - loved it!!). The first week, I was really watching everything and dropped to a low of 108, which is really lower than intended. The second week, I went a little out of control and ate anything and everything, and I do mean everything. I arrived back home and weighed in at just over 121! But, then I dropped back to 113 within 3-4 days. I know it's water/bulk/bloat mostly, but that's a way bigger swing than most people discuss.

When I see the scale go up over my 115 upper limit, I go back on my 1200 calorie/day weight loss plan, try to eat really clean, minimize carbs, and drink lots of water and of course, keep up the daily exercise. As long as I don't binge out of control for days on end, that seems to correct my weight within a few days or so and then I can ease back to maintenance mode eating. So, in a way, I've learned not to totally freak out over high weight measurements, because it usually is a temporary aberration and not an indication of a more permanent, actual, fat gain.

Am I just wierd?

[traci in training]

I guess I can't say I stop creep - I just let myself gain a few pounds in the name of sanity over the last month. So far this week two of those pounds are gone again - nothing like a little obsession to get you on track! For me the most important thing I do everyday is step on the scale naked - right out of the shower. Good, bad or indifferent it's the fact of the day and I don't want to ever bury my head in the sand again and then one day ***bing*** over 250 pounds on my body.

I knew when I signed up for these fast track classes that I was going to see that scale go up, but watching it creep pound by pound made my food choices more controlled everyday. I think I logged seven whole hours of exercise in 28 days but only gained about six pounds. Without the scale that gain could have easily been doubled.

I think half the battle with creep is acknowledging it.