I wanna run, too Ilene the Bean! Any hints? Is it really as easy as getting out there and putting one foot in front of the other? Or did you do C25K?

CarbCrazy, I love your username, because I'm a bit carb crazy myself!

I'm heartened by the fact that others have had the other comments. I didn't mean to leave the impression that my get together friends were being negative, because I viewed their comments as quite positive. I know there are no jealosy issues there with them, so I think they were trying to be supportive in saying "You look fine and you don't HAVE to lose weight" which is way better than hearing "You NEED to lose weight". Two different things, I think!

misskimothy -- Running is awesome!! The best cardio ever IMHO... It is as easy as putting one foot in front of the other, c25k is an excellent program which I do with one of my clients, I don't do exactly as the plan says but pretty darn close to it... The first week of the plan you warm up, jog for 60 seconds, walk for 90 seconds... the next week it's a little more running, and so on...

I don't think the comments were meant negatively but only expressing everyone's experiences...

Well off to the gym now... TTFN

Good morning!

I think some times our friends equate what we are doing with "difficult" or "deprivation" or "hard work". I think they think they're giving us a break by saying "you can stop now". Being kind, ya know.

There seems to be some new folks floating around in Featherweights who aren't coming to the chat thread!!! I'll see if I can fetch them in

I'm interested in this Couch to 5k thing! Has anyone else here tried it? I'm a little skeptical if I can actually do it...I'm soooo out of shape.

I am a carb ADDICT I'm pretty sure carbs are really bad for me because I have noticed lately since cutting alot out of my diet I have been feeling MUCH better Carbs are such a hard habit to break!

Hey ladies... I've been lurking in this forum for a week or so now, since I have less than 15 pounds to lose to get to my goal. I'm finally jumping in and saying "hi" to everyone!

The short version of my story for those who haven't seen it elsewhere: I lost from 150 to 120 about 6 years ago, was almost happy, but gained all of it back. Then about 2 years ago I started half-***edly trying again, got down to about 135, and stayed there. About a month ago I seriously recommitted, and now I'm under 130 for the first time in years! I'm hoping to get to 115, just 5 pounds lower than I got the first time, but I have a lot more muscle now so I think it will be enough.

Hi mayness!!!!
You know everyone, sometimes I think that it is actually HARDER to lose small amounts of weight! I don't mean physically, but getting the mindset there.
I've been really big and I know at that time, I was looking at 110 lbs to lose (which means I was piggybacking Ms Mayness around with me ALL the time!).
Now, I've been gracefully accepted into the Featherweight community because I have 35 lbs to go -- not a litte, but not a lot -- and I have to confess that the sense of urgency isn't there.
I didnt understand this at my biggest -- it was like "oh, you only have 15 lbs to go what are you worried about. I have 110!" but now it is "I've lost 75 lbs and look pretty good. WHY WORRY ABOUT THE LAST 35."
Sometimes fear is a great motivator -- fear for your health, fear over diabetes, fear over premature death -- and those of us in the featherweight category don't necessarily have this "advantage".
I use the word "advantage" in quotes, because in a weird sense, it IS. If you have no choice and your back is against the wall and if you DON'T lose weight you'll be on insulin, MAN you become motivated.
When you get to the point where diabetes and increased health risks aren't there, you have to find your motivation elsewheres.
The Featherweight threads are really helpful in reinforcing my motivation and help me understand WHY the small amounts are just as important as the big amounts of weight. It helps me feel that the last 35lbs are just as "valid" as the first 75. Thank you for that!

Rambling, I know. Just some thoughts!!!
Hang in there everyone!

Yes, we struggle most IMHO with complacency. Ya know ... we're OK at this weight, not bad, not big, not small but OK. It's easy to lose focus.

Hi Mayness!

How true I almost settled for a higher goal weight, just cause it was so darn hard to lose those last ten pounds but persistance pays off.

Agree totally about the mindset, and the complacency! I hit my stated goal of under 150 on 10/14, and that complacency set in almost the second I saw the number on the scale. I coasted for a couple weeks and then decided to take it down further because a) there was room for improvement b) I want to maintain "in the 140's" - that decade change is a biggie - and c) I sure as heck didn't want to hit the holiday season in that frame of mind - it was the holiday season of 2008 that got me to my highest weight!

Got into some pizza and pretzels this evening ... instead of supper. I'm at around 1500 cals so ... no big deal.

A nice bout on the elliptical this afternoon. 40 minutes as I recall.

I'm on DS#2's computer. Mine is dying, I think. So I may or may not be here over the weekend. Be good!

To bed now!

I noticed you're coming down again, Susan. Way to go!!!

Hi everyone!

I hear you guys on the complacency issue. Now that I'm at a comfortable weight, I've refocused my goal from losing weight to improving my fitness, building muscle. It helps me stay motivated when the scale doesn't move so much anymore.

But recently, I've really begun to see the results of months of hard work... eating vegetables at every meal and working out most days. I'm so excited to be here again! How I've missed you, fit body! I feel different when I move, walk, bend over, run... more compact, my core feels strong, and my clothes seem to fit better.

There were days when I didn't believe I could ever be in this shape again, even though all possible evidence proves that good diet + exercise = fit body. I'm proud of myself for not giving up and seeing the BIG picture. I feel like I'm reaping the benefits of all those days now. I haven't been in this shape since about 3 years ago.

BUT. Here comes the REAL challenge. Maintenance. The most challenging part for me. And with the holidays coming, *gulp*, it will be a true test of my commitment to staying healthy. I will definitely be needing the featherweights' support to make it through!

Nice to meet all of you newbies!

I, too, think that one of the main differences between now and when I had more to lose was ... fat loss vs slender fitness. The details of eat less/move more ... ya know?

I'm plugging along and getting results. Thanks for stopping by Carol! It's good to see you

Be good everyone (and if DS#2 allows )I'll see you after work.

Good morning!

My "thing" today is hover, waiver, drop ... repeat. It's a pattern that I've kind of got used to as I've lost weight but it's still annoying. Perhaps even moreso since we are losing at such a pokey rate now.
We work away for days to lose .4 of a pound and presto! One morning after being completely on plan for weeks ... we're up 0.5.
There's no good reason for it and we know it will pass.

Thoughts? Can you take it in stride? Does it blow you out of the water?