How do I handle the stress? I used to eat Now I just want to eat but try to find something else as an outlet like cleaning, journaling, exercising or blogging.

I've been an everyday weigh-er. Now I think I'm going to try doing once a week. I am getting close to my goal...actually at this weight if I lost inches I would be okay with the scale. And once I"m at goal I want enough accountability to keep me on track but not a slave to the scale everyday (I always used to get discouraged by the fluctuations...and I think I haven't been as excited about my losses as I see them almost everyday in .5 lb increments). So here's my plan...stay with my exercise/Metabalance plan until end of Feb (I do plan on going off plan for one meal on Feb 3 when we go see Dave Ramsey-I want to celebrate. Weigh in once a week. Wherever my body is at the end of Feb is where I want to maintain (I think). If I stay the same, I stay the same and I'm fine there. If my body loses (which it should), then great. Then it's on to stabilization then maintenance...and of course getting my running back up.

I have arthritis in my knees...At 200 lbs it was debilitating. I couldn't get on and off the toilet without severe pain (at age 30!). I asked the doctor if losing weight would help. He said they were so bad it wouldn't. I could only walk like 5 minutes at 2.5 mph on the treadmill. And I told myself if that's all I could do, then I would be happy doing that. 5 minutes became 10 then 20. I got down to 185 and could walk 60 minutes and even jog some. Now at 161 I am able to run 30 mintues (my lungs are a little out of shape now). The weight made a HUGE difference! Just had to share.

nwcgina,
I'm very glad to hear that your arthritis is better with losing weight. My joints are killing me right now! I have arthritis in my knees, ankles and feet. My husband and I are doing Tae Kwon Do together three nights a week and we come home in serious pain. I try to walk on the dreadmill or do Just dance a couple of times a week too. I'm hoping with more weight loss it will get better and better. So far I'm down a total of 65 pounds and am able to do things I couldn't then, but till have a ways to go. Oh yeah, it also doesn't help being an old lady!
Chickadee

what really helps me with stress is focusing on this diet plan - at least i can control the food i put in my mouth! walking helps me the most and hugging the daylights out of my three furry children :-) they are my best walk partners - they are also good listeners. i am so behind in work it's crazy (helping to take care of MIL and doing paperwork for FIL) to get them in an assisted living. so today i'm tackling a to do list a mile long but i can do it! with a jug of water by my side. i have been doing meal replacements when i don't have time or feel like eating. a yummy dark chocolate shake is more appetizing to me than food. the strawberry yogurt protein shake w/ frozen strawberries for lunch. (all from Diet Direct).
Camaswa, good for you w/ getting into the 12's~! the pants i had on yesterday kept falling down and i was tripping over them - they were so long!
Congratulations to everyone that even if you are stressed and gain a little, sounds like everyone is addressing that right away and getting the weight right back off.
Gina- for your doctor to tell you that weight loss wouldnt matter (to ease pain in knees) is just crazy! glad you ignored him.
i've been at the library alot lately and really get lost in good books - that really helps get me to sleep. my DH laughs and says everytime we rent a movie, i fall asleep on the couch! then i have to watch it again - so i told him when i'm asleep on the couch- let me sleep - at least i'm catching some ZZZZZZZZs
keep focused ladies - we have all done so well, so no backsliding. let's lose some more fat and gain some muscle!!

Good morning! Woke to MAJOR snow (very unusual here) so I'm staying home! Yay!

I have been letting the fluctuations bug me, but I do think I still need to weigh everyday for now. One suggestion I read somewhere was if you do that, add them all up at then end of the week and divide by 7. Over time you would start to see your true weekly loss.

Does anyone ever browse around on the rest of 3FC? There is a forum for long-term maintainers that is nothing short of inspiring. Everyone who is close to goal should look at some of those posts! In a nutshell: it never stops! It must become a life change. I still feel far from that. But closer than I once was when I would not check my weight for months at a time because I was afraid to find out.

Bigdog, a few years ago, I went through **** with my parents: dad was dying, mom was in a wheelchair and demented, I had to move her into assisted living, dispose of all their stuff, try to be there for him as he worsened In a Hospice center, plan his funeral, help her cope - all at the same time. It was surreal. I was dieting when it all started and I found that oddly it was comforting to me to have that control of what I ate. I stayed on my plan. It was so surprising to me. So I think I know what you mean. Hang in!

and i bet you were working full time during all this too! we are so strong, it is amazing what we can do and survive. went through that 2 years ago w/ my family (mom's death and dad's dementia - happened right after she passed away)...i felt like a robot and somehow got through it. huge family so that really helped.
W/ my in-laws- we are the only family livng here so it's been a real challenge but know we'll get through this too. the funny thing is when i lost 2 lbs a couple weeks ago, i still did my happy dance!!
my main stress is trying to keep up at work (i'm in sales) so when i'm not my happy little self, kind of hard to sell. but i can do it!! my OB/Gyn tells me that she has seen me bounce back after bad things happen and tells me i'm amazing. it's like what the "Help" says in the movie "The Help" to the little girl- you are smart, you are strong, you are beautiful, etc. i said that to myself headed to a sales meeting last week!! haha. taking it one day at a time and i know things will get better or at least more manageable! one thing i've realized, i'm not gaining this weight back and will work on being as healthy as i can. so whoever is going to be taking care of me when i'm old, it will be easier on them!! :-)

Tamikl, camaswa, patzi, Jen - you are all such an inspiration to me. Patzi - I admire you for continuing to journal your food. It's interesting how things can affect our bodies... mine is just a smidgy-bit bite of something off plan - usually a few almonds or something. I don't know if it's the water or not but it usually causes a stall or a gain for me.

Jen - I know I'm not on maintenance or stabilization yet... but I agree about stress. It has such a huge impact on me. When I'm stressed and lose sleep (even just an hour or so) my weight usually goes up as much as 2 or 3 pounds. Granted, it comes off after a period of rest, but it sucks. The thing that works the best for me is Zumba. I love the exercise and feeling energized with the class. Also, spending time getting lost in a good "chick flick" or scheduling a dinner date with my hubster usually snaps me out of it... I know work is stressful and alot of times it's something we can't escape, but we can try to leave it at work (the best we can) and do something awesome for yourself... just a thought.

Tonight is going to be a late night...one of those nights when I just have a lot that I need to take care of in the quiet of the sleeping house (mainly getting stuff ready for class tomorrow). Ususally this would be my time to nibble while I work and I knew I would struggle, so I made a quick trip to the store to get some sugar free jello...and was tempted to buy a bottle of wine, which of course goes well with chocolate...but alas, I was a good girl and stuck to the jello. Now for the long night ahead sans the not so good for me food and beverage options.

Hi ladies!

Had a great day...had my 10 yr. old daughter with me today at my WI because she had to miss school to see the Orthodontist. I was not only down 3 lbs from last week, but got to sign the 50 lb board finally! The best part?? My little girl, who has been my biggest fan, signed it for me I will treasure this memory forever!!

Just had to share...very exciting. Hit my goal and got the next menu for Stabilization all at the same time! LOL I also apparently won a "drawing" for a free HNS box of my choice! I never win anything!! Very cool...

Keep it up ladies...it is worth it. YOU are worth it!

TAMI-Big wooooooooo hooooooooo! The first thing i noticed was your ticker at "reached your goal!" That is so awesome. You did it. You did it! You did it! You did it.

Tamikl

Tami....
I am so happy for you... You are working the program and it has worked for you... Be proud of yourself, you are doing a great job.

Patzi

Congrats Tamikl!!!!!!!
I'm elated for you! To share that moment with your daughter is AWESOME! GREAT JOB!

Thank you, ladies! So awesome having you all to share these milestones with Your support and words are priceless!

My journey continues...

Congratulations Tami. You must look and feel fabulous!
Chickadee

Something I've been thinking about...the areas where I always felt restricted because of my weight...and how I'm losing those self-imposed restrictions as well. One is for a long time I felt because of my weight I wasn't feminine (I didn't have a concept of curvy) so I dressed in frumpy clothes...in high school and college always mens clothes. That idea of being feminine has developed a bit but I realize now how I thought weight=not feminine/beautiful. Luckily my husband saw different

The other thing is I always thought because of my weight I couldn't do certain things...I remember running for student council my freshman year of high school and narrowly lost...and I thought it had to be because of my weight so I never ran again (a few other opps like acting I thought I couldn't do because of my weight). Looking back I think if I would have run again I would have won. But I had a severe lack of self confidence in asserting myself (especially since I work in the health field, I didn't think I could be taken seriously). I have more confidence and on Monday proposed a wild idea to the department head at the college I teach at...it would really help my career and be a bit trailblazing for that school...I don't know if I would have had the confidence before being successful with the weight. It's not the number on the scale, it's knowing I can do something and knowing my value. And guess what? The idea is flying and they love it.

I am going to spend more time identifying things like that...pant size and the number on the scale only motivates me for so long. Eventually a snicker bar is just going to be more appealing, but if I heap on the benefits in my head, making the right choices will be part of who I am.

Sorry I've been MIA..just trying to catch up here but did see that Tami signed the 50 lb board! WOOHOO..that is SO awesome! My little girls are my cheerleaders too. They remind me (often, whether I want them to or not) that I need to watch my "diet". I have clothes I bought last spring I've been wanting to fit into and my 9 year old reminds me of that ("don't you want to wear those blue pants Mommy?"!

Congrats to all the losers and sorry to those going through difficult times right now. Keep up the hard work. it will pay off.

I'm up several pounds after my weekend away to Orlando and Sea World. I ate whatever I wanted and while it was liberating in a way to not *worry* over every bite, it was a major letdown to see the scale yesterday morning. I didn't feel good eating that crap and I don't feel good now 4-5 lbs heavier. I'm totally back OP today and hope to FINALLY get into the 130s by the end of next week (or 2 weeks from today to be realistic). I think I'm at 145, but was afraid to weight this AM..

Have a great day everyone!