{{{{ubergirl}}}}

You are doing it, I think. Weight loss isn't always linear, and dealing/coping with the stalls and slumps and disappointments is very good training for "life after weight loss." It isn't fun and it messes with our heads, but you are not going off and regaining all the weight! That is huge!

You may already know this/remember it but I went almost 2 years (20 months) fighting the same 15 pounds up and down and not actually losing ANY weight in that 20 months. That's not what anyone wants to deal with, but the time is going to pass anyway and if we can keep battling through and not regain it, we are succeeding. You are succeeding even if it isn't going well at the moment. For me, I had mental/emotional work to do before I could lose more weight. And I think looking hard at your plan and tweaking as needed is a great thing. You seem to be doing a lot of self examination and that's going to help in the long term.

I just really want to cheer you on and say GO UBERGIRL... you are a winner, and these stalls are not going to stop you! At some point the scale IS going to start moving down again. Hang tough!

You hit the money on your post... it's HARD to keep that unwavering laser type focus for YEARS. Month after month. And can I say from experience... that I kept saying "even if I never lost another pound..." and then... I didn't. DON'T allow yourself to become complacent my friend. You CAN do this. I have full faith in you.

oh and...

*major major huge hugs*

Uber, no good advice here. I'm dealing with something very similar, only it is related to the emergency surgeries that I had last month. The net result is that I have to radically change the way I eat and I haven't been able to exercise, and the whole thing is throwing me for a loop.

Hang in there - you're thinking, analyzing, putting together a plan of action and I'm sure as a result you'll find your groove again very soon.

I think that this is excellent advise. I have been working at exactly this. My loss is so slow that I have started considering this a maintenance state of mind. Not that I am stopping losing but rather, settling in for the long haul, trying to have the mind set that I will live this way for the rest of my life and being patient.

Hugs coming your way, weight loss twin!

I wrote about being just a bit "blah" about the process these days. 18 months today. Intellectually I knew things would slow down but I really thought my new behaviours had become habits. Then Monday night I found myself eating cake that really wasn't that good and only working out 30 minutes on Tuesday (instead of usual 50-60 minutes).

My new digital food scale and change of food logging site has perked me up a bit so I second your idea of making that investment.

We can do this!

I really like the way you put this.

I really do feel like this new way of life is automatic to me and I rely heavily on the habits, strategies and techniques I've developed. But at times, I do slip-up. I don't think that makes them not habits.

I also think we have to recognize when it's time to change things up a bit. Things can't/won't stay the same indefinitely. Circumstances change, we change. We've got to adapt along with it.

Like you with your scale!

Dude, you're my hero because (like a few other posters said) you have come such a long way and to see that even now you have a lapse and you just get back up is inspiring. I don't have any advice, but to keep it up, and you'll get out of this funk

that at least I can offer, ha! you've really done an amazing job in a relatively short period of time, for goodness sakes, give yourself credit and a pat on the back!! you've made a lot of major life changes recently, you'll adjust and get into a groove, don't worry.

I love your self talk and I believe in you. You will reach your goal! Sending you hugs!

Everybody who chimed in on this thread, thank you SO MUCH.

There is a lot of food for thought here (which, is much better for me than food for my body, LOL.)

Tammy-- I really relate to what you are saying. It was such a struggle for me to get down through the 190s, and then into the 180s just crawling while I felt like everyone else was just passing me by. So I started thinking that maybe my 49 year old, perimenopausal, lots of extra skin self was just going to weigh in the 180s... and honestly I know I look pretty good and I feel pretty good about myself. BUT, I didn't exercise for 2 weeks, and went above my calorie allowance a few times and suddenly I was looking at a 2-3 lb GAIN. Just like that. No french fries or chocolate shakes involved, still eating my normal plan foods, just slipping up a little-- an extra apple, a handful of almonds, a larger than usual serving of broiled fish....

That is sobering. But it's the reality. Apparently, I'm going to have to work very hard just to stay where I am and not go back, and that's before I've even hit the goal I set for myself.

What I've been doing so far worked really well for more than 100 lbs, but it is not working to help me go down further. But, I'm determined to find a way.