Hi all-

Thanks for the info. on the hair loss, ladies! My loss is noticable, and my hair dresser was quite alarmed when I saw her last. I know 50-100 hairs per day loss is normal. I'm losing about 300 to 400 per day for several weeks! It's kinda funny, every time I hug my husband or kid, it looks like a dog shed on them!

I've decided to go on maintenance for now. Maybe I can get the last few lbs off through exercise and a maintenance program at the low-end calorie-wise (not too low, maybe 1,200 to 1,400 daily) with no "fun" days. It's worth a shot, and in worst case, I can go back to another phase after my hair loss stabilizes.

So I made it through 2 weeks of Phase 3 with a total gain of 1.4 lbs! Not bad considering I was on vacation in a large group and had less control over when/where we ate. I'm excited to start maintenance and to start exercising!

eta:

greeniris-I get the winter blues every year. A long time ago, I figured out that a tanning bed or fla vacation made them go away. Tanning rays is terrible for my fair skin, but several years ago I bought a light therapy box for seasonal affective disorder (winter blues) and it helps so much!

Ishbel and Lizzy -

Just wanted to say thanks for responding to my PCOS-maintainers question. It's very encouraging to know that people with PCOS have been able to maintain. I think I have tried to lose weight so many times, that I have probably given more power to PCOS, believing no diet/lifestyle change will work. It's actually kind of scary to think it will...that's a mindset I'll have to work on! I'll be scheduling my appointment this week.

Ishbel - I saw another comment you had about remembering a parent that had passed at an event?? I saw at a wedding, where they had an empty chair wrapped with tulle/ribbon and a name placard of the deceased relative. (The chair was in the family section, in the front.) It was nice because it recognized the relative and brought them "into" the wedding, without it being a super emotional thing.

My son in law's mom passed away 6 months before he and my daughter got married. They left a seat empty in the first row where she would have sat and his dad laid a rose on it as he came up the aisle. They also had a chair wrapped in tulle and ribbon for her at the family table at the reception.
The kids opted to have a family dance with his mom's favorite song and it was lovely and very touching.

I just have to say I find this thread amazing. I'm just starting my journey(first wi tomorrow) but it is so reassuring that once I do reach my goal there is such a great support system here for maintenance. After yrs of dieting and not having a system to keep it off, I have every confidence this time will be totally different for two reasons:
1. It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change.
2. The support of a maintenance system
Looking forward to joining you all at my goal.

It is a lifestyle change and having suipport in maintenance is so important.

If anyone has been experiencing hunger, chia seeds help. 1 tablespoon is 70 caloriies with 5 fiber and 5 carbs..so the net carbs are zero. They are high in Omega 3..Since I cannot eat salmon 3x a week, I am eating these. They absorb 10 times their weight in liquids and make you feel full. They also have 3 grams of fat. You need to drink lots of h20 though.

Ishbel: I have heard there is water retention when you do exercise in your muscles. I have taken melatonin and it did not hurt my weight loss.

Could it be muscles? I am finding that I am staying on the higher end of my range in the last few months. I also am wondering if it is muscles. I still fit my clothes. How do your clothes fit?

Wow. I don't know about the calorie counter. I know if I are 2000 calories a day I would gain. And I exercise 6-8 hours a week. Hard.

It will be a good experiment,,though. If you try it for a bit keep an eye on the scale and see what happens.

Lots of maintaining is trial and error.

My husband and I both put chia seeds in our morning yogurt or eggs. We started using them for the Omega's but they are filling and we both can go easily until lunchtime without feeling hungry and I have a late lunch and not a lot of opportunity to have a snack beforehand.

mommak Thanks for the link! Interesting bits on there about melatonin...might re-think it.

scorbett et al the jury is still out on the excersise, it may be a combination of everything...just a little disconcerting that's for sure.

rubygirl/lori t et al Those are excellent suggestions...thanks! Never thought of that. I am going with the parents dance...my dad always said "none of this crying business when I'm gone" lol I'm sure he wouldn't want my wedding to turn into another funeral. I just need to tell my sister to 'back off' when she has a bright idea about acknowledging dad (she does it out of love she's awesome ). I think I'm doing a pretty good job with a memory candle, wearing the jewelry he gave me a month before he passed (my sisters are too). He's also in the program "Late Father of the Bride" (so is VIP's mom) and on the wedding program "in lieu of wedding favors a donation has been made in Dad (his Name) and Mom (her name) to the Canadian Diabeties Association" as they both were diabetic for many years of their lives (dad for 58 years!)

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My weight has been what I consider 'normal' for two days (none of this bouncing around)...it's amazing what the bouncing around does to your anxiety.

SO, some of you know this (from previous posts)...I'm in TOPS. I was just told yesterday that I'm the provincial queen runner up. Someone lost 11 more lbs then me! A little spark of disappointment showed up and was instantly extinquished when I thought "I always said I was a princess!" So this year at the provincial rally of TOPS there will be almost 300 lbs lost between the two of us. I got a little teary eyed when I thought of it like that!

Thank you for mentioning this! I had heard of them a few years ago, but didn't really need one then. Will certainly re-think it now. One thing I'm doing now is planning my flower garden for this year. Last year I began a new perennial garden, and need to add to it a bit. Also want to plant flowers in another area of the yard where it's difficult to mow. A friend & I are going to talk about a "flower-garden-planning" party tonight! Should be a fun time

Welcome to IP & to 3FC!! You've come to the right place to be successful, and will find lots of support on this forum.

Thank you ladies for the information on chia seeds. I've added them to my grocery list.

[QUOTE=Ishbel;4640803My weight has been what I consider 'normal' for two days (none of this bouncing around)...it's amazing what the bouncing around does to your anxiety.

SO, some of you know this (from previous posts)...I'm in TOPS. I was just told yesterday that I'm the provincial queen runner up. Someone lost 11 more lbs then me! A little spark of disappointment showed up and was instantly extinquished when I thought "I always said I was a princess!" So this year at the provincial rally of TOPS there will be almost 300 lbs lost between the two of us. I got a little teary eyed when I thought of it like that![/QUOTE]
Congratulations on being runner-up!!!! That is awesome

Hi everyone. Thought I'd jump in here again, as maintenance is on my mind these days... I'm inching closer and closer to phasing off (permanently this time )

Maille & LoriT - like you both, I've used chia seeds in the past. Most often as a gel to thicken smoothies, or sometimes in my yogourt or other soft foods. I've got some in my cupboard now, just waiting for maintenance.

Ishbel - sorry, I don't have any info or suggestions re your weight fluctuations. Your post made me check into melatonin a bit more though, and while a lot of people do seem to use it, feel it helps, and consider it pretty harmless... as you said it is a hormone, and probably best not to take it 'lightly'. I've been doing a lot of research lately about eating programs that help us naturally balance out the hormones that affect weight loss and maintenance, and I have a very healthy respect for all these hormones. They are all connected and inter-relate... get one of them out of balance and it most often affect some of the others as well. Have you tried just eating turkey or or some of the other foods that are high in tryptophan before bedtime on Sunday night? Having a hot bath just before bedtime: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?t...rient&dbid=103

I can really relate to your trouble with sleeping well on Sunday night though - I used to be just like that in my younger years when I had a busier, more stressful job. Most of the week would be ok, but for some stupid reason my brain would go into overdrive on Sunday night. I'm still like that if I have to get up early for some scheduled event - most of the time these days my schedule is much more flexible, so when I suddenly do have to have an early day it seems to create this anxiety that interrupts my sleep several times during that night. I've started making sure that my bedroom is as dark as possible, with no outside lights coming through the blinds or curtains... also that the LED on my clock-radio is below eye level, so it doesn't constantly remind me of what time it is through the night... also if I do need to visit the bathroom through the night I never turn on the lights. All these things seem to help. BTW, I've also started taking some additional magnesium twice a day and believe that an accidental side benefit is sleeping better. I take my cal/mag supplement with my breakfast and dinner, and take 1 100mg tablet of magnesium after lunch and another before bedtime. I was getting backaches between my shoulder blades, and since adding this magnesium it's much better... with the added benefit of sleeping more soundly through the night.

BTW - congrats on being runnerup in the provincial TOPS contest. That's impressive. I also appreciate how you reframed things to consider that you and the winner together have lost 300 lbs. Very impressive.

GreenIris - Happy perennial garden planning. I actually envy you. While I lived in my townhouse, I really enjoyed planning and working in my gardens. The only problem was that I was running out of space!... too many interesting and beautiful flowers to plant. Wish we were neighbors, and I'd volunteer some free labor. I'm looking forward to getting my balcony garden going again, and I enjoy it... but (sniff, sniff) it's not the same as having an actual garden to plan and enjoy.

Momto2cs - From everything I read here, I'm appreciating more and more that successful maintenance is indeed an extremely individual thing, with lots of trial and error. It's wonderful though to have such a supportive group to share experiences with, and learn from.

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Looking forward to soon being here 'for real' and getting back on the maintenance trail with you all. Cheers for now.

Ishbel Congrats on your TOPS acheivement!

greeniris I too have SAD (seasonal affective disorder) or "the winter blues". This year with my weight and sugar cravings under control I have felt it much less than ususal, but I also make sure to spend at least a little time out doors or at a sunny window...in the am is best. I'm not sure if you exercise, but that helps as well. I live in New England and the weather has been horrid here this winter too, but I find that if I take those few minutes of light or activity I am much happier and more productive than if I didn't.

question for everyone....This is my first TOM on maintenance, can anyone tell me what can I expect with the scale?

Ishbel It sounds like you have a wonderful plan to honor your dad. He will be watching over you and smiling! My weight has been fluctuating a few lbs as well and it is a little frustrating. I guess I still haven't found the magic number to stay at, but as long as it is ONLY a couple of pounds I guess I can handle it. Congrats on your TOPS achievement!

I just have to say that although I don't post very often on here, I do follow it and am so thankful when I can read what everyone is posting, especially you veteran maintainers and know that I am not alone in this journey and that others have the same frustrations and celebrations as I do. Thanks!

Isbel, congradulations on being recognised as the princess you always knew you were. WTG!! I have heard those TOPS rallys are lots of fun!

Ishbel: Congratulations on being a TOPS runner up. You are a princess and will have great fun at that rally. Your weight loss is amazing! I am gald the scale is behaving!

Patns: Hello and I hope you are doing well!

LoriT and Evepet: Are you eating 1 Tablespoon of chia seeds?

Green Iris: I have heard that Costco has a good seasonal disorder light machine that is not too expensive.

Mommak8: Good luck with TOM. The winter has been terrible and now another storm is hitting.

LoriT: I also appreciate all of the posting and support here!