I really need some support right now. I have been doing great for approx 2.5 weeks now. Only went over 1500 calories 3 times and had lost 6 lbs. One day I gained 3 lbs and the next time I weighed myself I gained another. Thats 4 lbs gained back!!! I keep telling myself that it has to be temporary, (because I am doing so well),but its hard not to be discouraged because I have done this so many times before only to get discouraged and quit. I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT ANYMORE!!! PLEASE HELP!!!
Okay, debbie, step away from the scale . . . I don't mean to make light of this--I know where you're coming from. All kidding aside, however, I do think you should stop weighing yourself for the time being. If you have been within your calorie count and have been exercising, then you will lose weight. It must be water retention or your time of the month or something.
I went through this same conversation with my sister who weighed herself after two weeks of eating well and exercising, only to find that she'd gained three pounds. I told her to keep doing what she was doing and not to weigh herself for a month. She did that and was a lot less stressed and did end up losing weight. Remember: you are creating healthy habits. Weight loss aside, your good eating & exercising habits WILL benefit your body. Why not wait a couple of weeks to see how that manifests itself in terms of weigh loss? I'll bet after that long wait, you'll see a loss. In the meantime, I think that weighing yourself too often can create a negative experience that will not help you with your weight loss goal in the long run.
You can do it! Ignore the scale and keep doing what you're doing and you will eventually see results.
My sincere apologies for being "out of the loop" for...a long time, it seems!
aphil, congrats on the inches lost!!!!! What a super feeling! and good luck with all your orders. That is great.
debbie, hi, you have been doing so well, so disciplined with your calories; don't get discouraged by that rascally scale! vmelo is right; ignore that darn thing and keep on keepin' on. Check in a month, if you can wait that long. We know that you couldn't have actually gained 3 or 4 pounds in one day; a pound equals 3500 calories; that would mean that you would have had to overeat by somewhere between 10,500 to 14,000 calories! It's water weight that is showing that gain. And others "in the know" here at 3FC say that drinking more water will help banish that gain. I don't understand it, but I believe it. (I'm a great one to preach - I get discouraged by the scale also!!! )
hi vmelo, how ya doin'? I liked reading of your planned ice cream episode. How refreshingly honest! again, I admire your attitude, that it's no use getting worked up over an indulgence, and actually kind of dangerous to get upset, as it tends to "snowball".
howdy Christine! Well, enjoy your Dad's visit; then you and your husband can "work" together at getting on program. How's that little one doing? And I hope you feel better soon!!!
Hello to everyone else!
Eating-wise, eh, I've done better, but also have done worse. How's that for being ambiguous . However, I am sticking to now doing the Karen Voigt Interval tape at least 2X a week, (along with the Gilad favorite stand-bys) and I am thinking that maybe I can already see some subtle changes..a new contour to my obliques is showing, and I am psyched. Mostly I want some calorie-burning/weight loss to occur, but more shaping is fine, thankyouverymuch
GUESS WHAT?! I had my motorcycle out yesterday!!! Only went 10 miles, 5 to town and back, but it was great!! Got lots of thumbs-up from people, and I had a grin the WHOLE time, it felt so good. This will hold me for a couple of weeks until I can do it again. I was afraid that I had, over the winter, "forgotten" how to ride. Duh It came right back. Cranked up to 70 on a straight-away, then back down to a respectable (and legal ) 50 then
Best wishes to all, keep on' keepin' on, as vmelo says, it's consistency that counts!!
Last edited by VermontMom; 03-02-2004 at 07:54 PM.
Wow...been busy here lately, haven't I? It is paying off...because over the past two weeks...I have had ANOTHER loss in the measurements department...this time 3/16" off each of my upper arms...and 1/2" off my hips...although my weight is staying the same. It is definitely the old fat loss/muscle gain equation. Feels great. Ladies...this is where the scale should not always be the focus here...I try not to weight myself except for once every week or two anymore...but consistently take my measurements about once a month. I exercise a lot-strength training and professional dancing...so a lot of times I do not show a scale loss...but end up losing fat and gaining muscle...so my progress is a loss in SIZE rather than poundage...and a gain in definition...a nicer shape...less "jiggly." hee hee
Aphil
Thank you for the encouraging words. I am staying on track, thanks to fitday. I am going to try to stay away from the scales for awhile and am still working out at the gym 3 days per week. I am determined to do this and thanks to you guys I think I can do it this time.
Hi, All. VermontMom, it’s great to have you back! That motorcycle ride sounds like fun. I’m such a coward that even the roar of the motor scares me. As I may have mentioned here before, my sister and her husband are avid riders, and he tries to coax me to take a ride with him sometimes, but I always chicken out!
Debbie, congrats on your good attitude. I know that it can be hard to maintain enthusiasm when that nasty old scale isn’t telling you what you want it to.
Congrats on your measurements, aphil. I don’t know why I don’t measure myself. I always think that it would be a good idea, but I’m not exactly sure of the placement of the tape measure, or sometimes I just plain forget to do it.
My eating has been so-so, but I’ve been hungry this week. I find that sometimes before my time of the month, I can be ravenous. This week is apparently one of those times. I overate on Sunday. This was not a “good” overeating experience like my Haagen Daz day because I tended to pick. You know how that goes: a tablespoon of pudding here, a few bites of brownie there, and all the sudden you lose track. I planned to cut back the next day and did, but I was so hungry by the end of the day that my dog’s leftover food was starting to look good. Then, the next day, I tried to cut back again, but that back lashed and I ended up eating 1750 calories by the end of the day. I decided then and there that I would start fresh (i.e., no cutting back to make up for that bad Sunday) and would eat my whole 1500 calories for the rest of the week. I think it’s important to continually think of strategies for success and in this case, I determined that cutting back my calories on a week that I am especially hungry is just counterproductive. Today, planning out my meals, I’ll end up with 1455 calories. The great thing is though, that I’m feeling satisfied rather than hungry because I’ve allowed myself the appropriate number of calories so far. I don’t have the urge to eat anything in sight or gobble down something as soon as I walk in my door. It’s a constant struggle, but as they say, “whatever works!”
aphil - CONGRATS!!! on your measuring losses!!! Firmer, smaller, leaner you!!!! Way to go!! and I like your new avatar, also!
debbie, hope you're having a good day!
vmelo, how right you are, we all NEED strategies, and planning our meals is a great one. Otherwise, how hard it is to resist when we're HUNGRY! and yes, there are days when that hunger is stronger than other times.
I measured and weighed for this month, and have stayed the same. I am HAPPY about this , though, because I had SO many indisrections for January and February. By the way, "indiscretions" means major amounts of junk at work (cookies, brownies, chocolate). I am encouraged that I didn't gain, and I am feeling good at tackling the new exercise video.
It's still hard for me to live with an Atkin's dieter (husband). Maybe I need to go to therapy
Hey everyone!
vmelo-as far as some days the hunger getting to be too much...I know what you mean. I try to aim for 1400-1600 calories each day for weight loss. I am a stickler and try not to eat too much "junky" things with those calories...ie. not eating 600 of my calories as pretzels, Sneackwells, etc.-rather, I eat lean chicken, sugar free yogurt, fresh fruits-I get different ones each week-salads...things that will fuel my body as an athlete and a dancer. When you work out 5-6 days a week pretty intensely...you ARE an athlete...whether you are doing weight training, treadmill, walking miles and miles each week...or whatever. Your body needs protein and healthy fuel. I am by no means an Atkins follower...because I believe that the body does need carbohydrates...but I choose healthier carbohydrates rather than junky ones.
What I have found...is that during PMS...or days like a zoo outing...or a couple of weekends ago with tons of stress and practice and two live performances...that I am just ZAPPED and starving. On those days...I find it helpful to eat up to 2000 calories on those days-which is at a weight "maintenance level" for a lot of women. In other words...when you get to your goal weight...to keep the weight off-you can eat a little more than you did to lose...but you can't eat like you did before you started...or you will gain. You need to find the happy medium. When I lost all my weight after my first child...and continued to exercise 3-5 days a week...I found that maintenance eating for me was 1800-2000 calories a day.
As long as it is occasional...like I stated with stress, pms, or a period of heavy physical exertion...I think it is a good strategy...at least for me...to eat at a maintenance level for that day. This way...I am fueling my hunger...but it is on a controlled state...and not "Well heck, I am starving..." and then go on a binge and pigging out on ice cream. I deal better that day...and I don't gain any weight back...I don't lose any that day obviously....but it is a lot better than going off the wagon for a week and then gaining 2 pounds and having to re-lose them. I can just start the next morning without guilt...and move ahead.
Aphil
Aphil, I complete agree with you. If I'm really hungry and desparate, I sometimes do eat at maintenance calories (which I've estimated at about 1800). At this point, I'm in this for the long haul and realize that this last ten pounds may take a while to come off, but I'm reinforcing my good habits in the meantime. I think this type of attitude is essential for ridding ourselves of that dieting mentality that made us yo-yo in the past (at least it did for me). A more balanced relationship with food is necessary for achieving success, as you so aptly explained. Thanks for expressing this strategy so well.
VermontMom, congrats on staying the same. I mean that sincerely. On the heels of the above discussion, I'm totally with you on the happiness you experienced at staying the same. I don't really expect to have lost any weight this week (won't be able to tell anyway since I don't weigh myself until next week or even the one after that); I would definitely consider it a success not to have gained any weight.
Okay, that's my last check-in for today. Have a great night everyone!
I am getting used to logging in to this forum everyday,(I think that's how you say it), and its helps me a lot. It sounds like we are all doing great. I am sticking with the program and its not so hard most of the time. I definately loose control under stress. I am finding it hard not to weigh myself but I know I will probably end up p----d if I do.
Yes...I think it is much more satisfying not to weight yourself for 3-4 weeks and then see a pound or two gone...than to weigh yourself each morning and get discouraged not seeing any change.
As far as the measurements...this is something that both Holly and I do. I have a little sheet that I write them on...and measure my biceps, bust, waist, hips, and thighs. I know Holly also measures her calves...which I may start doing as well. You want to use a soft measuring tape...like in the sewing department..not a stiff one like in the tool box. lol You want to measure your bicep around the largest point...about mid-upper arm. You want to measure your bust at the fullest point. Measure your waist right around the anval area...or look in the mirror and look for your natural waist...or where it narrows naturally. Measure your hips around the fullest point...stand sideways in the mirror...and where the fullest part of the buttocks are...that is about right. Measure each thigh around the fullest part...which should be a couple inches from where they meet the body. You want to measure in bra and panties...or a swimsuit...or lyrca type workout wear...and not sweats or something that is going to add to your measurements. Jot down the results...and do it once a month. Now obviously, you are going to most likely get larger losses at the larger points of the body...like your waist and butt. Your calves and biceps are smaller...so the measurements are going to go down in smaller segments...my arms usually go down in 1/16" increments.
Aphil
aphil, good one about NOT using the tape measure from the tool box Good advice on how to measure, also. When in doubt of "is this the same place where I measured last time?" just pick the largest point each time. Yup, I measure chest; waist; two hip locations; both arms; both thighs; both calves.
I am in a GOOD mood as I just got my paycheck from last week (did I mention that it was a **** week) when I worked 6 days...so the time-and-a-half was very nice. Our property taxes are due in a couple of weeks, so that will help off-set that chunk o' dough It sure does help, when one is annoyed at, say, something dopey at work, that we CAN work. Just that little "being thankful for the basics" thang
I believe I am also in a good mood as I did not have any "indiscretions" (cookies, brownies, etc.) at work. I tried to eat something before I got too ravenous, and angry (angry because we don't get scheduled breaks. Against the law, I know, but there are employers who don't give a rat's *ss about labor laws ) Anyhoo, I ate a sandwich IN the deli, flagrantly defying both Health Dept. laws and store policy - but hey, they don't give me an opportunity to eat a bite out of site, so I'll do it when I can. Oh yes, AND I got at least 60 ounces of water in.
I dug out yet another old 80's exercise tape, this one is Leslie Chazen ("National Crystal Light Aerobic Champ" ). I chose this one today, as I was a little sore from yesterday's workout, but still wanted to burn some calories, but do it in a half hour. I did it, with some extra oomph added to make me work harder.. It was cool to feel how my legs felt doing it; with the newer strength that they have.
debbie, logging on here everyday, and even more than once a day, is what got me going, and kept me going! Reading about other's struggles and successes is so helpful. And the support here is just so great.
How is everyone else doing? Is it time for me to do another roll call of those missing...? come out, ladies!
Hi everyone
scale! vmelo is right; ignore that darn thing and keep on keepin' on. Check in a month, if you can wait that long. We know that you couldn't have actually gained 3 or 4 pounds in one day; a pound equals 3500 calories; that would mean that you would have had to overeat by somewhere between 
)
I liked reading of your planned ice cream episode. How refreshingly honest! again, I admire your attitude, that it's no use getting worked up over an indulgence, and actually kind of dangerous to get upset, as it tends to "snowball". 
Only went 10 miles, 5 to town and back, but it was great!! Got lots of thumbs-up from people, and I had a grin the WHOLE time, it felt so good. This will hold me for a couple of weeks until I can do it again. I was afraid that I had, over the winter, "forgotten" how to ride. Duh 
) Anyhoo, I ate a sandwich IN the deli, flagrantly defying both Health Dept. laws and store policy - but hey, they don't give me an opportunity to eat a bite out of site, so I'll do it when I can. Oh yes, AND I got at least 60 ounces of water in. 
