My Second Month of Maintenance
SW: 115.5
TW: <119
July 1: 115.5
July 3: 117.5
July 4: 116.2
July 5th: 115.3
July 6th: 115.3
July 7th: 116.4
July 10th: 117.5
July 11th: 116.4
July 12th: 115.7
July 13th: 115.5
July 14th: 114.6
July 15th: 114.8
July 16th: 114.6
July 17th: 114.8
July 18th: 115.7
July 19th: 115.5
July 20th: 114.8
July 21st: 113.7
New all-time low today! I knew I was wee-ing a lot yesterday, so kind-of expected it. Anyway i'm way below target now so I think i'll 'use' it immediately and have a bit more of an indulgent meal tonight

We're debating whether to go out somewhere, or get take out our eat in (well, them's the choices covered I guess, lol). We live not far from a big sport complex, and two big teams are playing at home on two grounds next to each other tonight, meaning the pubs are going to be rammed again, so perhaps a restauraunt (but staying clear of the pubs (little wine-bar maybe?), and eating whilst the games were on) would be good. Decisions, decisions. First up though is a trip to the knitting shop which i'm very excited about. I finished my last project about 6 weeks ago, but this weekend is the last days of the knitting shop sale, so want to get in there and pick up a new project!
JenyReddy and
Rie and
LGW - you're all a bit frustrated with your weight, but all improving the fitness, which is a fantastic achievement, so take the credit and don't worry too much about the scales. I know you're supposed to do diet and fitness as a combo-thing, but personally I find that really hard. It's doing two hard things at once, so no wonder it's hard. And not only that the two can work against each other (you need more energy to improve fitness= more food, plus you get hungrier when you work out). Its an even harder balancing act to get it all right. Enjoy your NSV improvements and let them be your biggest focus, I say

(I know you're doing that already, but it's absolutely right - and i'm sort of envious that I haven't really got a fitness thing happening much at the moment)
I used to do some running for a while. I was always really slow, but enjoyed the fun-runs and later the trail runs. Because I was slow I sort of drifted towards the distance running eventually and did quite a lot of half-marathons (but never a full one). I loved half marathons - it's a great distance and absolutely do-able for all those dreaming of it (and a good excuse to plod along for a couple of hrs and listen to the birds tweating - there always seemed more pressure to go fast all the time in anything shorter!). I miss running now. Every day actually. Maybe as my knee gets stronger I can try again in a few months...… Have to say i'm well under my old running weight right now too, so it seems doubly wasteful that I can't make use of this weight to improve my speed (I always put on weight the more I ran - just got hungry. Sigh...….)
Lacerta ha! you're the one that's got this whole thing sussed - you're whooshing on the scales and whizzing on the treadmill. I recommend you do a little 'happy dance' to celebrate your great week!!
Nicoley - yep, after 50 years of trying I really think that consistency is what made me the most successful with the weight loss this time around. And i'm kind of proving that again to myself in maintenance - i'm eating really similarly to the losing phase, but going off plan 2-3 meals a week, and that's enough to keep the mini yoyo (and consequent no real weight loss) happening. The good news is that the more you stick to plan, the easier it is to stick to plan, so I reckon you've got this sussed and your temptation-resistance brain is firing! Should be a good week ahead and a great end to July
Chunks - you did really well to get that phd grant. Yeah, tell us what you'll be studying! Is it something that you've had to tweak the focus on to get the money - or is it your area of primary interest anyway?
Boatingmommy - look at you!! You're absolutely going gangbusters this month. Fantastic results - I've really enjoyed reading about your progress - you must be so pleased with yourself. Shame that the price is ditching the alcohol. That's a tough one, and one that I've tackled as well this year to a certain degree. I"m sort of settled in to picking and choosing my events now, which is good and easy to do now i'm used to it (like last night, Friday, normally I would've celebrated the end of the week by having a few drinks, but decided that I wasn't actually that bothered so I didn't. In other words i'm better at quizzing myself and going for the alcohol only when I actually want some, and not just because of habit or because other people are. Also i'm a total lightweight at the moment so I can have a couple of glasses and feel quite giggly

So the message is that it is possible to reduce it and not deprive yourself, but it does take a bit of time. Your cold turkey is good practice!
Ophelia - if you're back in to it already you have the whole of your life sussed!!!! Really. It's not our indulgences that matter in the bigger picture - it's what we do afterwards. How are you finding it so far? Is it a bit of a struggle to get back in to it, or is it familiar territory that you've slipped right back in to? Good luck for the next few days as they're probably important to get fully back with the program
momtopands - hi! You're working hard these days. You're also doing super-fab on the dieting. That's a tricky combo to pull off in itself. And next you have a house-move to cope with. Ah well, I guess if you have two places for a few weeks at least it gives you a more leisurely period of time to move things across? Good luck with it all. Have you started packing up boxes and things?