CW: 113.1
TW:<114
I definitely put weight on last week, and also fat according to the scales which I agree with after all those curries. I've been back to a pretty good diet this week, and back to my daily gym sessions, and am down 1lb again, but still 1lb up on 'normal' so want to try be conscientious this weekend (apart from tonight when we've got visitors and a posh meal out!) and drop back a bit by this time next week if possible....
I'm in the mood for healthy food at the moment but suffering a little bit from the mid-afternoon snack-attack, so just need to be careful for a while.

Lacerta - it is interesting to me that you have charted your knowledge on "pounds won't be lost when >40 hours are worked in a week". I love charting things to see if they are related, at all. Neat.

ange82much - it sounds like you are right back on track.

I did eat out at a restaurant last night. Date night! Our first date night in soooooo many weeks. So, I did indulge and I am fine with that choice. I am not going to weigh myself until Wednesday next week (anyway) and that gives me ample time to continue with my exercise, pay attention to my food portions, and keep up with eliminating late-night snacking.

I only gave myself permission for one late-night snack this week - it was popcorn and it was for one night. I totally DO sleep better when I don't eat ANYTHING after supper and that is the metric I am focusing on when I start roaming around the kitchen at night. "Do I want to sleep? Or do I want to mindlessly snack??????" ...for now, the "SLEEP" part of that equation is winning!

Beeps: It's actually a stress thing for me. Too many hours only happen for me when things are really hectic at work with a lot going on, which stresses me out, which causes me not to lose weight, even if I'm still eating at a deficit. As far as I can figure out, I seem to "stress retain" in significant amounts. So if I could just find time to take a week off, I might drop like 4 pounds that week. I think that is also why I tend to lose the most on weekends, when I have time off.

Week Four
22: 194.6
23:
24:
25:
26:
27:
28:
----------------------------
Total Loss for Week Four:

Progress back into the 194s. I'm hoping to see the 193s again this weekend. Only been there one day so far.

Week Four
22: 194.6
23: 194.8
24:
25:
26:
27:
28:
----------------------------
Total Loss for Week Four:

Week Four
22: 194.6
23: 194.8
24: 196.0
25:
26:
27:
28:
----------------------------
Total Loss for Week Four:

I'm not surprised to be up today. I made the decision to have pizza yesterday, first time in quite a while. So I expected water retention today. I was fine on calories, so I should go back down in the next few days.

Week Four
22: 194.6
23: 194.8
24: 196.0
25: 194.8
26:
27:
28:
----------------------------
Total Loss for Week Four:

So I seem to be the only one left in this thread right now. But anyway, the pizza from Saturday appears to be gone again, so back into the 194s. I really want to get into the 193s and stay there, so I feel like I actually made SOME progress this month.

I feel like I am finishing March STRONG. So, that is a "win".

My "no late-night-snacking" endeavour, while not perfect, is MUCH better than any performance I had in Jan or Feb. I will keep this habit going forward, and think of another "good habit" to add in April.

Wednesday is my weigh-in day....I am unsure I will sneak into the 160s, but surely hope I have dropped from last week.

Lacerta i'm still here, but no-one is really interested that i'm still whinging about whether i'm maintaining adequately or not every day :) No new stories from me so I don't have as much to say.
It is a bit weird though because this thread was going gangbusters a few weeks ago - what happens to people?!?

Beeps - nice work on cutting out the late night snacks, that's a very sensible rule and now a great new habit. I found that I don't even think about consuming anything at night any more, (except my peppermint tea if i'm in for the evening) so it's just not difficult to do at all once you're in the habit. I normally eat last at about 5pm then not til after the gym at about 8am and that works well for me. What are you thinking of for your April tweak?

I know March is almost over, but I'd like to join the challenge. I'm not sure how much I'll lose this month, but it looks like there's a new thread monthly?

I guess my goal for what's left of this month is to lost maybe a pound? That would be nice at this point. We'll see about next month after the end of this one shakes out. :)

I've got a question. I started losing weight a couple days ago. The last time I weighed myself was in the afternoon after eating 'normal' (which is to say overeating with too much junk food) - I was 167.4 lbs. Then I ate healthy yesterday (I calorie count and eat mostly whole foods), and peed a TON (as happens when you reduce food/salt and increase water intake), and this morning before breakfast and after going to the bathroom I'm the exact same weight. No budging at all. Now, I know it's been like a day and a half, but usually there's SOME drop in water weight when you first start, isn't there?

I'm not necessarily distressed, just more confused. Any insights?

Tala: Welcome and yes, there will be another thread starting in a few days, but it is always a good time to join in. As for your question, there can be several pounds of fluctuation throughout the day, so the most important thing if you are tracking the scale, is to weigh in at the same time and under the same conditions each day. So a mid-day weigh in can't be compared to an early morning weigh in. Also, there can be a lot of day to day fluctuations just because of the weight of food in your digestive system. Also, you said you peed a lot, but maybe not as much as you increased your water intake. So maybe you were dehydrated when you weighed in the first time and your body is now rehydrating itself. Also, if you are female, where you are in your cycle could STRONGLY impact whether your body is willing to let go of the weight this week or not.

Ange and Beeps: Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone in the thread.

Week Four
22: 194.6
23: 194.8
24: 196.0
25: 194.8
26: 195.8
27:
28:
----------------------------
Total Loss for Week Four:

I am sooooo ready for this plateau to be over. When I took my mid-month measurements, I hadn't lost any inches either. So a definite plateau. I think I need to spend a few weeks closely tracking my food again, and see if the creep has brought my calories back up to maintenance without my realizing it. I don't track every day because it burns me out too fast, but it might be time to bring in some extra accountability again, because this plateau has gone on long enough. On the plus side, if my goal was to maintain right now, I've got that down cold!

I went shopping on Saturday for some new shoes to correct my heel pain I've been having, for some new goal jeans, since I can fit into all the sizes I bought last summer, and for a new bra, since mine is getting too big in the band. I had hit and miss results. Found a great pair of shoes, which were more expensive than I would have liked, but TOTALLY fixed my heel pain when I wear them. I found a pair of size 8 and size 6 (?!) jeans in the kind I like. I don't know if I'll ever really be a size 6, but it gives me a pair to work toward. The crazy thing is that I decided on a whim to try on the 8s, just to see how close I was, and I was able to get them all the way done up in the dressing room. They looked terrible on me, but I got them on. I didn't expect that. I won't be wearing them for at least 20 pounds, as I'm still wearing my 12s, but still. I also wanted to buy a pair of 10 capris for this summer, but they didn't have any, so I'm going to just order a pair online.

Finally, the bra shopping. I went to r/abrathatfits to find out what size I actually should be wearing. I've been wearing my 42Ds this entire time, since starting the process over 70 pounds ago, but the band, even on the tightest clasp, is starting to get a bit loose. I was hoping I was measuring wrong, because the size I was getting is impossible to find in stores. But no, it came up with that I should be a 36H or 34I. That is not what I wanted to hear. I had heard that Target was going to start carrying larger cup sizes, so looked there first, and heard Nordstrom's sometimes carries larger. No luck in either place. I think I'm going to have to order them online too, which I didn't want to do, because I want to try them on in a store before buying.

Welcome, Tala!




ange82much: maintain under 114 lbs
Beeps2011: -5 lbs
JennyReddy: reach 165 lbs
Lacerta: -5.4 lbs
maylay03: -5.8 lbs
MrsDeenz: -6.8 lbs
Mrsgomez: -9 lbs
Newlyn: -4 lbs
opheliaphoenix: -5 lbs
sgregg: -8 lbs
SnowMama: -3 lbs
Tala: -1 lbs
TealWaters: -6 lbs
VickieLou: -7 lbs

Lacerta - shopping for bra's is the worst. Well done on giving it a go. The jury's out on whether it's better to be a non-standard size or not (if you're standard you have to try on a million different ones, if you're non-standard you just try everything they've got!)

Tala - hi! Agree with Lacerta, just pick a time of day and weigh in at that time each time. Then ignore what it says :) The scales are going to go up and down and you'll drive yourself crazy trying to figure out why. Just make your lifestyle changes and the scale will play ball eventually. I like to plot mine on a graph so that I can see trends more easily and don't get as hung up on an actual number. You're right that most people get a bit of an early whoosh, but i'd say in the first week or so, not necessarily in the first day.

Spin class was tough this morning as my legs were aching from the other weights classes this week, but that's it for a couple of days as i'm working interstate the rest of the week, and have a trek on Saturday. Might try get a walk in when i'm away but realistically it's probably not going to be much more than that. Keen to stick to some food discipline whilst away though.

SW: 261.5
GW: 257.5

1: 261.5
2: 260.5
3: 261
4: 261
5: 261
6: 261.5
7: 261 TOM

Total loss for Week One: 0.5 pounds
.................................................. ....................................
8: 260.5 TOM
9: 261.5 TOM
10: 260.5 TOM
11: 259.5
12: 259.5
13: 258.5 **NEW LOW KLAXON**
14: 258 !!!

Total loss for Week Two: 3 pounds
Total loss for March: 3.5 pounds
.................................................. .................................................. .
15: 257.5
16: 257.5
17: 258.5
18: 258.5
19: NWI
27: 258.5

I'm here, I just haven't been eating, sleeping, or exercising well and I stopped weighing in. I've been super-busy with university stuff as well as my tennis elbow/gallstones drama, but I wanted to stop the slide before it got out of control. The best way to do that is to weigh in and I was slightly bemused to see that I'm the same weight as I was 10 days ago. I fully expected a 3-4 pound gain but I guess it feels as if I've been eating a load of food, which it was compared to normal, but it was actually just maintenance. So here I am again, hoping to end the month strongly.

ange: The problem is that I'm nonstandard enough that "what they've got" more often than not is nothing. I actually found a few online yesterday at Nordstrom's and ordered 2 to try (because apparently I can return them at the local Nordstroms if they don't fit), but they were European brands because apparently no one in the US has big boobs, and so US bra makers don't think it is necessary to make them, even for special order. /sigh. Hopefully, one of these days, I'll lose some mass and get back into the Ds again.

Newlyn: That sounds like a win to me, still weighing the same after 10 days of not focusing on it. I didn't weigh in for just 2 days when I was super busy and gained 5 pounds. So way to go. Also, good job stopping the slide and getting back on the scale. Is tennis elbow something that physical therapy could help with? I had swimmer's shoulder a couple years ago, and my physical therapist was amazing and basically fixed me completely within a couple of months. Did your bloodwork show you have gallstones? Are they going to try to dissolve them, or do you need surgery?

Week Four
22: 194.6
23: 194.8
24: 196.0
25: 194.8
26: 195.8
27: 194.8
28:
----------------------------
Total Loss for Week Four:

Nothing new here. I've been eating very well again for the last 10 or 12 days, but no movement on the scale. Up to this point, I haven't weighed any food, I've just been eating better, making better choices, more healthy foods, less sugar, and moving more. I did measure some in the beginning with measuring cups and spoons to get an idea of portion size, and used guidelines like "the size of my fist" or "the size of a deck of cards" to eyeball portions. I may have reached the point where that isn't enough and I need to actually weigh portions out. I suspected this day would arrive, I was just hoping it wouldn't. I don't anticipate having to weigh my food forever, but I may have to get a food scale so I can get an accurate count of calories for a while. Ugh! It might also make it easier to slowly cut back on portion sizes if I can be accurate with a scale.

Soooo....Any brilliant recommendations for a good food scale?

Sigh. 172. So, no loss this week. Weird. But, whatever....I don't feel like I have been misbehaving and so, I attract no guilt.

Lacerta - I am unsure what my April "tweak" will be....partly because I have 2 out-of-town trips to take, it may not be the best month to add another hurdle to my growing tasks of "if/only"s

I did workout today. My feet are tired. I did not late-night snack last night, but I did have two drinks with alcohol in them - and I am not really a drinker - so maybe that is the pop-up I see on the scale, today? Anyway, the drinks were lovely - I was at an after-work function with my VP and she also had 2 drinks so we were having a great ol' time!

I feel better without my muffin-top, though. I know I do. Summer is coming. I really need to buckle down. I also don't want to beat myself up about it anymore....sigh.

Week Three
15: 140.8
16: 140.4
17: 139.8
18: DNW
19: DNW
20: DNW
21: DNW

----------------------------
Total Loss for Week Three: 0.6 lbs.

Week Four
22: 141.6
23: DNW
24: 141.6
25: 140.2
26: 140.4
27: 139.6

Just keep hovering around 140. It doesn't seem like I'm seeing movement, but when I look at the trendline on my weight vs. time graph, overall I'm trending lower. It's just so slow. Work has been pretty busy, we won a $32M project the same week we interviewed for a $24M project. Good things, just long, high-pressure days. I've been pretty good about maintaining my exercise schedule, but I could be better. I dropped a couple of days. Went on a 22 mile bike ride on Sunday and it was amazing. Took Monday off from the gym because I was a little sore and so hungry. Lol. Went to the gym last night and my legs were still a little tired, so I shortened the duration and intensity of my leg workout. I don't want to push it and re-injure my knee. I didn't have any knee issues during or after the ride, which is fantastic.

I was hoping to get back on the bike trail today, but it looks like I'm going to be sitting at my daughters lacrosse practice instead. Maybe I'll go for an outdoor run if it's not raining.

Over the past couple of weeks I have been hitting up Poshmark and thrift stores to re-build my wardrobe with at least essentials and I've been pretty successful! I found a couple of pairs of Gap/Lucky/Hollister/Joe's/7 4 mankind jeans that were my size and current styles. Couple of pairs of shorts, shirts, sweaters. Mostly loft/Ann Taylor, Athleta, Armani Exchange, Under Armor, Nike, and 2 pairs of my favorite yoga/workout leggings by Zella. I think I've spent $150 or less on 25 items or more. Treasure hunting brings me joy, so I probably have spent more time than most finding what I really want. Just need to start selling the stuff that doesn't fit me now...what a chore!

I hope by the end of this month I can stop seeing 140 at all. It seems so reasonable and close, but also so far.

Week Four
22: 194.6
23: 194.8
24: 196.0
25: 194.8
26: 195.8
27: 194.8
28: 194.4
----------------------------
Total Loss for Week Four: -1.0

If I'm really lucky, I might end the month down over a pound. /sarcastic :woohoo:

Seriously though, this is the lowest I've been all week, and only a pound away from the lowest I've seen. So I'm getting back there. I'm hoping to see a further drop over the next 3 days to end up the month at least back into the 193s. I'm sad that I'm not going to make either of my big minigoals this month. I thought they were JUST out of reach last month, but thought they'd be a done deal this month. Not so much. But I'm going to crush them in April.

On another thread I was just talking about reading Atomic Habits, a book about making good habits and ditching bad habits, which was suggested by another Chick, but reminds me of your approach Lacerta - all those little incremental changes you've been making become habits and will agglomerate to give you the lifelong success you're aiming for. Have you read it? If not, have a look at it - it'll make you nod your head that you are doing all the right things :) and maybe give you extra patience, although you're doing exceptionally well at that too.

I'm at 166 today! Yay! I made my at the start of losing weight)!rt of losing weight)!

Lacerta: That makes sense. My thought was just that I usually weigh MORE in the afternoon after eating and such, but two weights at two separate times may not work to compare because I can't track everything in my body's system.

How does getting goal pants work for you? Is it helpful? I've been considering it but wasn't sure of pros and cons.

gardenerjoy: Thank you!

ange82much: Thanks! Makes sense. :) I might try weighing once a week. At my current weigh I can gain a few pounds without ever feeling it, and while I techinically calorie count (i.e. am aware of the general calories in my foods) I mostly focus on healthy foods and historically I can accidentally eat too much of that too.

Have a good trip!

Beeps2011: That's a big motivation for me too. Not necessarily for summer, but actually feeling better in my body.

Tala: Goal clothes work well for me because it lets me see that I am losing inches in a very visible way. I love the feeling of fitting into a pair of pants that I couldn't wear a month ago.

ange: I haven't heard of it, but may have to check it out. Maybe I'll pick up a few additional tips.

Snowmama: That is amazing that you are almost completely out of the 140s. I believe you when you say it is hard to lose more. You're a fraction taller than me, and I seriously doubt I will EVER get into the 130s, or that I would even want to. With my build, I don't think the 130s would look very good on me. My point is that I assume you are working on those very last few stubborn pounds and those will almost always be very slow to come off. Keep up the good work.

Bonus Days
29: 195.0
30:
31:
----------------------------
Total Loss for Bonus Days:
Total loss for Entire Month:

Are you looking ahead to April?

Here's our new thread: https://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/chi...challenge.html

Ange8 What do you have going this weekend? We like your maintaining posts – we all hope to be there soon. ��

Beeps Late night snacking – that’s a great good habit goal. That was one of my first habits and it made a big difference. What’s your April goal? I’ll join you in good habits for the month.

Newlyn Sorry to hear about your health troubles! My friend just had a gallstone flare up on vacation and they scheduled him for surgery. ☹ I hear the pain is really intense and limiting. I hope you’re feeling better.

Lacerta You have done so well on your journey; your commitment is impressive. Here near the end I’m not sure where I want to end up – I’m sure it will be similar for you too. Especially with your increasing activity and body changes, it’s just hard to know until you’re at the next milestone. Thanks for the encouragement!

Tala Welcome! It’s great to see movement once you commit to losing. I would highly recommend actually tracking every calorie – you might be surprised where you are at the end of the day. And even healthy foods can be high in fat and have an impact on loss. My brother was thoughtlessly eating almonds as one of his go to snacks and couldn’t figure out why his fat/muscle ratio wasn’t changing.

26: 140.4
27: 139.6
28: 138.4
----------------------------
Total Loss for Week Four: 1.4 lbs.

Final Days
29: 138.8

Three days in the 130s – it’s really real! I’m about 8 lbs away from my goal (I think). I’m not 100% sure where I’m going to feel most comfortable, but in my head getting back to a size 2/4 and around 130 was my plan. But it’s not set in stone. I’m a 4/6 right now and I feel pretty good. I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing and see what happens. At the current rate I’ll hit my goal sometime near summer.

I’m working on a vacation plan for mid-April and we’re going to take family photos (my daughter and I). I’ve been avoiding professional photos because of my weight and looking back I’m sad I did. Such a dumb thing to do.

Any advice on destinations? I’m looking at islands in the Caribbean or Bahamas, but would love to hear about places/trips you all have enjoyed. We still haven’t been to Australia and it’s crossed my mind more than once…

Bonus Days
29: 195.0
30: 195.2
31:
----------------------------
Total Loss for Bonus Days:
Total loss for Entire Month:

Bonus Days
29: 195.0
30: 195.2
31: 194.6
----------------------------
Total Loss for Bonus Days: +0.2
Total loss for Entire Month: -0.6

My current measurements (to the nearest .25 inch) are:
Neck: 13.75 -> 13.75
Bicep: 13.25 -> 13
Forearm: 11 -> 11
Chest: 42.25 -> 42.25
Waist: 37.25 -> 37
Belly/Hips: 44 -> 44
Thigh: 25 ->25
Calf: 16.75 -> 17

So that is within the margin of error and I showed no loss of inches this month either.

But hey, I didn't gain anything either, so that is a win and I'm counting it as such. April is going to be better.

SW: 142.8
GW: 139.8
EW: 137.8

Final Days
29: 138.8
30: 138.4
31: 137.8
----------------------------
Total Loss for Bonus Days: -0.6
Total loss for Entire Month: -5

The last half pound was mostly dehydration, I'm sure. But either way I made my goal for the month!