Mmckellen, I have always enjoyed reading you posts and how well you do. And I have been watching this thread you started, trying to decide if I should post, since I myself am going through something at the moment with me and SB.
But I think you do have to have a comfort zone, where you feel you want to be, maybe having a dream weight isn't the thing to do, because you will spend you whole life trying to get there and miss out on life itself. Personally, I want a point in all this where I just feel good, and I don't care what the scale tells me or the tag on my clothes. I want a plan I can live with and enjoy and makes me feel good. The nice thing about SB, if you get off track, it has a safety net (go back to another phase for awhile) and then get back at it.
The best to you, I think taking a break is a good thing, sometimes too much thought on something is in itself, exhausting. Like greyeyedmustang mentioned, be realistic about where you want to be.
Guys, thanks so much for all your feedback. I'm still mulling this over in my mind and probably will be for a while. But for now, I'm going to put weight loss out of my head and focus on eating healthy and getting back into a regular, rigorous exercise regime. The nice thing about all that is I will still come here for support and friendship because SB is all about a healthy lifestyle and that is what I want, even if I never lose another lb.
Matilda, it seems you are not alone in thinking about this. It's certainly the beauty of this group to get such great feedback!
I, too, have been mulling some things over. Yes, I do have some more weight to lose but have to admit if I were your height and weight I might very well be looking straight at maintenance.
I've been transitioning (with help from Dr. Beck) and Beck Complete Diet for Life. In this book her Stage 4 is called "The Think Thin Lifetime Eating Plan". I've been using some of her ideas and adding ideas of my own to come up with a weekly plan for food, exercise, environment, etc. What I've come up with so far seems very comfortable. I want this plan to be a long term thing.
I'd love to hear what ideas you come up with. I'm especially glad to hear that you don't plan to leave us any time soon!
Thanks Debbie. I've been thinking today about looking and feeling beautiful just at this weight. I realized I've put off things like paying attention to pedicures, eyebrows and other personal grooming things "until I lost weight." Not that I haven't been doing them, but I haven't been doing them regularly enough, because I've been waiting...for life to be different. Because of ten pounds or so. Today I stopped trying to hold my stomach in all the time and just relax. It felt good but this is a process. I'm so glad I have all my friends here!
Matilda, I've put several "personal" weekly items on my sheet including using my Sonicare and a footbath that I have but rarely use. BTW-My weekly sheet is a hand drawn flower. All the petals have a task and the center is "balance". It's definitely a work in progress but I'm liking how it feels.
Good for you trying just to "relax".
Matilda, My heart goes out to you. I, too, have been a life long dieter with false beliefs and expectations imposed on me at a young age by my step-mom. She had me on my first home based diet in second grade. I was going to Weight Watchers by fifth grade. I grew up hiding and manipulating food in a very shame-filled environment. I was in my 30's before I started to unpack and seek truth regarding my long held beliefs about myself and about food. I have a long way to go, but I'm in a better place today than I was yesterday. For me, it was a huge step to break the silence. I had held my worst memories of physical and emotional abuse secret for 20 years. By telling my stories to my husband, my best friend and a therapist, I was finally able to start the healing process. Regardless of what your exact situation might have been, it sounds like it still bugs you. I encourage you to keep talking about it. When we bring things into the light, it makes it easier for us to see the truth. BTW: I think you look fabulous!
Thanks to everyone. I have been enjoying my body and enjoying eating on plan foods without thinking about losing weight. Tomorrow I had planned to go to my favorite thrift store, and it is a very strange feeling to think about picking out clothes that will fit now and for a long time, rather than just "temporary clothes until I lose weight" or the old favorite "these will fit when I lose 10 pounds." As long as my current clothes fit, I'm not going to worry. I have not weighed either. It is such a strange feeling. I'm focusing on exercise to get fit, as I doubt my size will change much with exercising without dieting. You all are so great.
Matilda, you've always been an inspiration to me, and now even more so.
*hugs*
