So have you taken ALL your holiday weight off? It might get harder next week! I'm finding the first week I dropped 2lbs, but last week I dropped 1/4, so it's definitely fat under there that I have to work off
Don't get complacent (here's a nice thought for you) - you're halfway to goal... Doesn't that stink!? You've undone half of that good work that you did before. Sorry to depress you, but that should stop you getting complacent surely? And doesn't it FEEL better to be eating healthily and exercising? I felt horrid when I was eating junk... You can do it, but don't stuff your face again - y'hear??
I'm having mixed emotions this evening gals. I've lost about 5 lbs since we got back from holidays. Before you get all excited about that ... it was junk food fluid retention and sedentary flubber bloat, mostly. And there's still more to go.
Now while I'm happy that I am able to rectify the damage I've done, and do it in a relatively short time ... I'm worried about complacency.
It'd be pretty dangerous to get the notion in my head that I can do whatever I want for a couple of weeks because I know I can fix it later. That may not always work as I age etc.
It wasn't even hard. I can't say that I've eaten super clean. While I've done a bit of cardio and a tad of weightlifting, I can't brag about exercise either.
I wonder if I still have a bit of the notion that food is fun ... a prize ... ya know?
Maybe I'm having illusions of grandeur
Hmmm ....
Oh Susan - are you reading my mind?
This is what has happened to me every time I've lost weight: I make good progress in the first week or two, I say to myself "gee that was not hard" and then I relax and reward myself with treats!
For me, food has always been a reward and a comfort. Sometimes I catch myself planning my day around when my meals will be and what I can have. Food is there to keep me company when I go about my daily routines. Food is my pick-me-up when my energy flags or I get bored with yet another load of laundry!
Complacency - self-sabotage - you name it, that's me!
We are biologically made to crave food, don't feel bad that you got tempted while on holiday SusanB. The key is moderation. When you're on holiday, or at a celebration, or really every once in a while, you can have a bit of what you usually don't. If you don't have much to lose or are maintaining, this is not such a big deal. It will just take a bit longer to get rid of that last bit, but what difference does that really make in the grand scheme of life? Maintainers and thin people do this as a matter of course..indulging a bit here and there but then either purposely getting right back on track or, if naturally thin like DH, just losing their appetite for a while. I'm just not a believer in being too strict and disciplined with oneself, because in the long run that either can't be sustained or doesn't make us happy.
Thanks gals! It's so nice to know you are all here for me. Many minds often think clearer than one.
I wonder if what we're talking about here is the heart of a yo-yo dieter?
I know how to do it and I'll do it again ... is this the essence of what keeps us featherweights just a bit up instead of at goal?
It'd be pretty dangerous to get the notion in my head that I can do whatever I want for a couple of weeks because I know I can fix it later. That may not always work as I age etc.
Lord knows it doesn't work for me!!! I am still working on losing the 8 holiday pounds (starting to show success!). It is so much slower than I anticipated. I think you're right, I might have been complacent about the whole thing. But one thing it has taught me~I can't let it happen again! If I can gain 8 pounds in 4 weeks, but now 3 weeks later and I've only lost 1 or 2 pounds, this yo-yo thing isn't working for me. I know that in the future, I need to be diligent ALL the time (okay, in moderation~I still see having nice, decadent meals once in a while~just not daily for a month!).
Many of us tend to fluctuate by about 3 pounds, so when the scale is not coming back down within a few days, its time to slow down. But in our hearts we already knew, before getting on the scale, that it was time to be more diligent again. Moderation being the key. Nothing excessive and completely letting go. So you have that tasty meal with desert every once in a while (and it doesn't have to be a deep friend onion appetizer at 1000 calories or whatever, but still more "bad" than usual), I think that's ok. Thinking you can consistently eat more calories than you burn, and you are sure to put on lots of weight.
Ok, maybe a little but I have this layer on my front. It's about the size of the Sears Christmas wish book. And it has stretch marks and everything. Just in case you ever have the opportunity to stick a wish book under your t-shirt to see
I've been seriously at this since New Years Day. I still hadn't assembled a proper plan of attack but think I've finally settled on Body For Life for Women. Weights, cardio, the usual...
I'd like to lose that layer that SusanB mentioned--the one that feels like I've got a cat on my lap when I sit down. I don't HAVE a cat...!
Today isn't such a promising "First Day", I'm feeling wimpy and sorta wretched [having utterly blown it and consumed 3/4 of a pizza last night!] --BUT I DID start with the first workout. It's a start. It's a 12 week plan and I'll be thrilled to lose 12 pounds by Easter so that's my goal. It frustrates me when I read about the people who can lose that much in a week--you know, like on The Biggest Loser--and I have to inch along. But, being over 40, I guess that's what it IS.
Hey Spanky ... I replied to your post in the BFL for women thread... Hang in there you'll be fine...
Susan said:
Quote:
I know how to do it and I'll do it again ... is this the essence of what keeps us featherweights just a bit up instead of at goal?
That just hit the nail on the head for me!! Dang it all why do I keep getting complacent when I am down a bit? Will that question ever be answered? who know!
I wonder if I still have a bit of the notion that food is fun ... a prize ... ya know?
This is definitely a problem for me and I feel like it's getting worse, not better. How do you get out of this mindset?
I am still up five pounds from the holidays. When I had the stomach flu and couldn't eat for two days, my weight dropped like a stone, but, surprise surprise , it came right back as soon as I started eating again. Last week I was still sick (stomach flu turned into a bad sore throat and head cold) so even though my eating has been okay, this is the first week I've been able to exercise. I thought I was making progress what with the better (albeit not as good as before the holidays) eating, but this week I'm back up where I was. Sigh. I keep saying that next week I'm going to get serious and start losing this weight but I'm starting to wonder if maybe I just need to take a maintenance break for a while.
I am pleased that I stayed on mostly plan with my eating while sick. In the past, a cold has always been an excuse to eat a lot of cookies and other not-so-good foods (isn't there some saying about "feed a cold..." ). I hadn't been sick since I started this whole program and I'd been wondering how I would handle it. But I did okay. Not fabulous, but a lot better than in the past.
Morning everyone! And welcome Spanky.
Apparently we all need Jenfrus to move in with us and whip us into shape. Now, I'm sure that'd be a real kick in the head. A martial arts kick.
All in all, I think I'm having a stint of excusitis. I can think of several reasons why I'm failing right now ... waiting for a better moment to pull it all together. That could be one phase of the complacency thing. When all the moon ands stars align properly I'll get at it and magic will occur. But I'm not sure all those things are worth posting a whining oh-poor-me post about. Unless of course it makes me identifiable, which apparently I am
I'm not sure what that bit of ramble was supposed to accomplish.
Anywho ... I need to lay a little ground work here. I should hoof it to the grocer and get some things, pack my lunch etc. I work one more evening today but I'm only off Sunday so I should make protein pancakes, do a full body workout, cardio my smooshie tooshie off etc.
Two big cookies won't hurt much. Just jump up and down for a few minutes and remind yourself that the cookies are now a part of your sordid past.
Is that you in your avatar?
Sorry it took so long to respond, but I was in vancouver! Anyway, two big cookies hurt when they throw you off, but fortunately I was very good about food this weekend, even though I went to out for a birthday party and party and stuff. It's also good (in a strange way) to know that "blowing it" now means 2 cookies instead of...2 cookies, an icecream sandwich, a plate of fries and slice of cake and any number of other things. Progress!
And yes, that's me in the avatar, I've been meaning to change the picture though, as it's from months ago, now.
Susan, you're always so inspirational in your spirit and how you always get things started! Don't feel down about your goals not being met. What kind of place would the world be if everyone always met their goals More motivation for next week.
And to all the gals struggling with the same 3-5 pounds over and over again. I HEAR YOU!!! Makes me think "there's gotta be an easier way", lusting for new, easier tactics before once again realizing that diet and exercise are the only way to go. Ughhhh, sometimes that's just not appealing. I'm doin' it, though! Here's to a good week!
It might get harder next week! I'm finding the first week I dropped 2lbs, but last week I dropped 1/4, so it's definitely fat under there that I have to work off 
You can do it, but don't stuff your face again - y'hear?? 
... I replied to your post in the BFL for women thread... Hang in there you'll be fine... 
who know!
More motivation for next week. 