I have been dancing around (and over and below) the 160 mark for months now. It is beginning to make me CRAZY!!
Last week, I was down to 156.2...today up to 160.8. WTF?!??!?! I can't seem to break past this wall and I am beginning to feel like I should just give up. Maybe I am not meant to get to 150? Am I torturing myself for nothing? What if I get there...after who knows how long....and then can't maintain it?
I am watching my diet, running like crazy, just added in some hot yoga sessions....what else? I did some calorie tracking and found that I wasn't likely eating enough (some days it was 600 cals...others more like 1000 but rarely more than that) so I upped my calorie intake (now it is closer to 1200-1400). That should still be loss mode, right? How is it that I am eating those kind of calories, running 7-15 miles a week plus some "other stuff" (either yoga, hot yoga, strength training or Wii exercise games) and the scale is showing me a 4 pound gain over the last week and a half?!?
ARGH!! Some moral support would be appreciated...and any advice on how to figure out what your "real" goal weight" should be.
The last X pounds are the hardest and you need lots and lots of patience. Fluctuations happen and when you are in a lower weight range they seem much more significant and very depressing when they make such a big difference in your distance from goal.
But -- OMG look how far you've come. CONGRATULATIONS!!! Take all the skills and patience you have developed and throw them at these last ten!
I often think there should be a separate forum for folks on those last ten pounds. It's very different from featherweights who often don't have much to lose from the get-go (though last-ten-pounders are welcome there too). I found that maintainers is a good go-to forum for the last ten -- they have certainly faced the "last ten" issues and the mantra is that if you've lost a single pound and work to keep it off, you're a maintainer.
So, if you are looking for more concrete advice, you might try the maintaners forum. Congratulations again and good luck in the home stretch!
Congratulations on your loss and I am sorry that you are struggling with the last few. I don't have any advice but can tell you that the maintainers have a thread like yoyoma describes. It is called operation 5 or 10, I believe. The maintainers are the ones that can help you!
Momof5K-- first, I just want you to know what an inspiration you are! You have accomplished so much, and I really admire your achievements.
I just want to throw in my two cents here. We're the same height and I was an athlete in high school and college-- I rowed on the crew team-- that's a really high intensity sport-- we worked out, ran, lifted, most crew athletes are extremely fit. During that time, my weight averaged right about 150-156. I was fit and slim by any standard, but my body type was more muscular. There were people on my crew team who weighed less than me, but they were built differently-- I was bulkier and stronger. The only time I ever weighed in the 140s was when I was living in a developing country where I had no car, a very poor diet, and chronic intestinal parasites....
You may have another ten pounds to lose... I don't know. But I know that 155 or so can definitely be a fighting weight for a female athlete who is 5'8"
I think what you've accomplished is amazing - congrats!!! And I'd also second the suggestion to try the maintainers forum. It seems like for a lot of people, figuring out whether or not they are at goal is more of a process than an event, and sounds like you are in that process right now.
Jillian Michaels book "Making the Cut" is written for people struggling with the last 10 lbs. I have forgotten most of her advice but here is one thing I remember. Cut out salt. Maybe you can find a copy and take a look.
ubergirl: Yeah, I have been thinking of that, too. I am comfortably in Size 6's and have no intention of being a size smaller than that so... I just wish my belly was thinner. That is where all my weight goes first!
Pink and peanut: Thank you! I remember all to well that feeling too. In fact, part of me feels badly for even complaining about my 160's woes...knowing when I was 260 I would have killed to be here!
ledom: thanks for the book recommendation! That looks like is would be worth checking out
The Last 10 Pounds!!
I'll try over there...
