Time for an experiment
 

This is my post from my blog today, and I thought I would share it with you fellow feathers and get your thoughts...

When I was well over 250 pounds I would read posts from women who were a few pounds away from their goal on weight loss sites I was on and would get so angry reading their posts that they couldn't lose the last few pounds. I would think - sarcastically - "Oh, POOR YOU! You weigh 128 pounds and can't get down to 120!!" Now this is the position I find myself in. For the last 3 weeks at least I have been bouncing between 123 and 125. It is so incredibly frustrating to be this close to achieving my goal weight and nothing is working to get these last few pounds off.

I posted something about this on myfitnesspal, and a friend (thanks Nicole!) suggested I listen to a podcast by Dr. Robert Maki. The essence of what he said is that when someone has lost a lot of weight and is a normal BMI, the harder you work to take off the last few pounds, the more the body fights you on this and hangs on to the weight. (Naughty body!)

I then started thinking - for the last 2 years and 4 months, I have been constantly losing weight. There has literally not been more then a 2 week stretch when I haven't lost at least some weight. In addition to eating less to lose weight I have exercised. With the exception of the time I was recovering from surgery - and most of those days I at least walked a couple of miles - since September of 2011 I have exercised every single day and MOST days I exercised twice for a total of 1.5-2 hours per day. I'm not a doctor or any other type of expert, but this has to have some sort of effect on hormones and brain chemistry and other stuff, right?

So, as of 4PM today, I started a 1 1/2 week vacation. Starting tomorrow, I am going to try an experiment. I'm going to try to not obsessively count calories. I will continue to exercise, but will be maybe a little more relaxed. I am going to listen to my body and eat when I'm hungry and try to just be a normal human being. We'll see what happens at the end of this 1 1/2 weeks and what the scale says.

I am terrified that I will gain weight during this experiment, but, as they say, if nothing changes, nothing changes. And right now, nothing is changing. So it's time to shake it up a bit.

Wish me luck!

Good luck. :) I have no doubt you'll get there.

I found this Lyle McDonald link on the reasons for taking a diet break really interesting:
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat...iet-break.html

And also found this Leigh Peele link useful:
http://www.leighpeele.com/diet-break-plan

Wow, congratulations on your weight loss. You have worked so hard to get to where you are today and I wish you the best on the experiment.

You will be absolutely fine. It may be what you need to get you back on track. I know if I am too strict, I seem to see more plateaus, and when I loosen up, I start to lose again. I think it will work!

I would weigh in daily. Good luck.

Good luck! I agree that we have to give our bodies time to adjust to a new lower weight before pushing it further... I recently took a few weeks off to readjust physically and mentally, and I'm back to losing just fine again. There's no hurry for me so long as I get there.

I'm sure you will be successful. Good luck! I may try this, myself :)

CheryrPie, congratulations on a great loss ! You have done a fantastic job, do not be discouraged. It is perfectly normal for your weight to fluctuate a few pounds, for no apparent reason.
I thought I was never going to lose that last five pounds but I persevered and eventually it came off, yours will, too.

Best wishes Cherry Pie

Personal experience - changing things around for a few days shocks my body into dropping a few pounds.

I Remember hearing about a man who was very very over weight. He dropped a lot of weight but then suddenly he stopped losing it all together. No matter how healthy he ate, he couldn't lose any more. He went to a doctor who told him to cheat a little. Give himself 1 day a week where he could eat what he wanted (in moderation of course) and the rest of the week stay on his diet. Once he started doing this, he was able to have the weight come off again. I think quote unquote "cheating" can help some times.

Hey, How did this diet break go?

Funny that you should ask this today. It actually went great. The week of my experiment I went camping and did hike and exercise a lot, but logged nothing and even indulged. I dropped 2 pounds.

So I decided that the experiment should continue. I haven't formally counted calories since then. I try to eat mindfully and to listen to my body.

I hit 119 this morning which is my goal weight.

Congratulations!! You are amazing.

Wow--you hit goal--congratulations!!!

Thanks so much! I had a birthmark lasered off earlier this week so my neck look like it has a weird leopard tattoo on it! As soon as it heals, I'll post something in the goal section and add some pics.

This site has been so helpful and I want to stay a part of it as I move into maintenance which scares me. Hope no one minds if I stay a part of you feathers for a little while while I make the transition!