I'll join you for moral support. Hang in there.

Thank you, I need it. Looks like these last 10 lbs are going to be slooowwwww....
Have to admit that I did cheat with some peanuts, almonds, couple of bites of rice here and there. I should stop doing that.

I just wanted to give everyone a little update on my maintenance. I started maintenance the week of Christmas. Yikes! I struggled, like many of us during the holidays, stressing over every little gain, having too many cheat days and too many phase 1 days. But I made it over that hurdle without really gaining. I've learned a great deal about what I can eat in the last 4 months. I still enjoy a "cheat" day once a week, but they aren't nearly as nauseating as they were in the beginning. It seemed at first that I was eating all of the bad stuff I couldn't have the 5 months before just because I finally could. Now, I am much more restrained, not consciously so, it just happened. I make an effort to stay lower carb the rest of the week, but I don't stress over carbs at dinner the way I used to. If the scale is up, I just lower the carbs for a day or two after and I'm good. I phased off at my original goal weight of 160. Since then, I have lost 5 lbs, which is okay with me. My hair has finally stopped falling out at an alarming rate. Now, it seems like normal shedding. My TOM isn't 100% back to normal, but it's getting there. My loose skin is continuing to improve. I've noticed a significant difference under my chin and my neck area. I still have loose skin in other places, but it is better. I can only hope that it will continue to tighten up. If not, oh well. At least it's not globs of fat. I still measure my yogurt for breakfast and I eat it out of the measuring cup. I don't think I measure anything else religously. I still take a long time grocery shopping, because I am an avid label reader. I'm getting better, memorizing my frequently used items. I've tried a variety of healthier foods and am finding which ones will become staples. I've not had a soda since July of last year! I've always enjoyed playing with my kids, but I now have more energy and can last longer. When I get discouraged about something, I try to remember all of the progress that I have made in the last year. I've come a long way baby!

[QUOTE=desperatetolosegirl;4253009]Thank you, I need it. Looks like these last 10 lbs are going to be slooowwwww....


Those last 10 can be very very slow. Hold on..Keep planning. You can do it!!!!

[QUOTE=Paint Lady;4253325]I just wanted to give everyone a little update on my maintenance. I started maintenance the week of Christmas. Yikes! I struggled, like many of us during the holidays, stressing over every little gain, having too many cheat days and too many phase 1 days. But I made it over that hurdle without really gaining. I've learned a great deal about what I can eat in the last 4 months. I still enjoy a "cheat" day once a week, but they aren't nearly as nauseating as they were in the beginning.


Your maintenance is going great! You are discovering things about yourself and keeping that weigh off! Your post was inspirational! Thanks for sharing.

Pixl: It is odd how sometimes we seem to feel like things are clicking..that maintenance is going well and that we can do this. Then you hit periods where your focus can become more difficult. There is little doubt that eating healthy and working pounds off is not work. I joined you in the last few days..of pitty party. With me it is an irrational fear that if I do not get this added pound off, I will gain all of it back..That is nuts, but probably what drives me. Also ridiculous is the feeling that if your weight does not go down right away..that you will never lose it.

I gained a pound for no good reason...however, I lost that pound for a very good reason..I kept exercising and eating correctly.

I am feeling positive today and so appreciate all of you letting me vent.

I also wish everyone well as we struggle to learn how to maintain this weight loss!

Paint - I loved your post... I've been reading labels now. To see what ill be able to have here in a few months... I often look at things that I used to eat... And offer get sticker shock...

I just wrote the longest post only to have my Internet cut out when I was about to hit send. Could just about cry right now. Paint Lady I loved the positivity of your post.
Maile- I completely understand how that one pound represents the whole to you. Each pound from the first to the last is precious and worth maintaining.
Pxlkitty- has the scale moved??? For your hard work and perseverance in going after a few pounds rather than many I hope you have been rewarded!
I, too, am still fighting with 2 pounds. Was on Phase 1 for three days last week and still the same number. Ahh well TOM is looming and I am so hoping that after it passes I'll get rid of these 2! Still fighting and so glad that all of you are too!

Cap I'm sad we don't get to read what you wrote. Your posts are always so insightful. You can definitely beat those last 2 lbs!

Maile I totally identify with your irrational fear of not getting that added pound off. I have to remind myself that even if I never lose another pound, I'm thin not fat now.

Paint Thanks for sharing. You're doing great!

Pxl Sorry you're struggling.

Honestly, I haven't posted in a few days because I feel so great and I know a lot of you are struggling. My four weeks of P1 and two weeks of Phase 2 were hard (I was hungry constantly...very different from the first time around on P1). Now I'm on P3, about halfway through two weeks, I feel soooo much better. It must be the breakfasts. I made a delicious breakfast concoction with granola, yogurt and peanut butter. It tastes like a peanut butter pie. With some WF chocolate syrup, it might just be the yummiest P3 breakfast ever. I am 1.4 lbs away from my goal of 130. I know if I just keep consistent, it will come off. We'll start P4 in about a week so I'd like to see 130 before then.

I've been enlightened by and about exercise. About 9 weeks ago, DH and I started an 8 week get healthy challenge with some friends. We got daily points for various things, one of which was exercise. So I FORCED myself to exercise 45 min 5 x week just so I could get my points (I sometimes forget how competitive I am!). Most days I just walked for 45 minutes, sometimes not even briskly, just walking to say I did the exercise. An amazin thing happened while I was working on my physical fitness...my brain started clearing up! My mood has been so much better, I'm not always grumpy and in a funk like I was before. I'm bordering on optimistic! I'd heard about exercise and endorphins, but I've never exercised over a long enough period of time to experience it. The difference in my mood was really remarkable. So when the first 8 week challenge ended, I jumped into another one so I could keep the momentum going. I've completed my first week of Couch to 5k walking/running 3 days a week and at the gym for circuit training class 2x week with a goal of running a 5k in May and a 10k in the summer. DH and I have been thinking about a cruise in November and I'm hoping I'm fit enough and brave enough by then to wear a bikini

For those of you who are struggling, I encourage you to consider an official no-cheating IP reboot/pancreas reset. It's HARD, but it might be harder mentally and emotionally to struggle with the few pounds gained.

I often have a few almonds if I'm traveling. Have to stop it...

This is a great post! Thanks for kicking me out of my pity party. I watched people at the mall yesterday and wanted to throw up.

Amen... My pity party has to end.

I am still fighting. Just weighed myself and I'm 151.5! Still not there yet, but so much closer than when I was looming around 157 last week. I was traveling the past few days, too, so that was after a business trip.

Good luck with your pesky two pounds and I'm so sorry that the Internet caused you to lose such a great post. I've had that happen and I know how annoying it is.

Lee.. I totally agree with you. I find that exercise keeps me happier and more energetic. I can feel the difference in my life. My current motto is no more than one day without exercise.. You sound happy and positive ..and are so close to reaching that goal of 130!

Cap: Thaks for your support. I hope you get those two pounds down soon! Computers can drive you crazy.

Today is a focused positive day. I am heading off to exercise. I am eating healthy. I am at my happy weight!

This made me laugh out loud... Glad you are doing great. Please always post... your doing well makes the rest of us who are in a funk feel BETTER, trust me. I see that this is working for you and it encourages me. Seriously...

Pixl..Look how much better you are doing..down from 157! You have made very good progress!!!! Hope you do well today! You can do it!

Thanks... I feel much better today.

Paint - thanks for the inspiring and positive post! You and I have about the same start and finish weight. I am also glad to have the energy to play with my child and am battling loose skin.

Lee - every time I do Phase 1 for more than a day I get so very very hungry. It's hard to bring myself to do a full reboot because of that suffering! Hats off to you for sticking it out!

I've been having a bad food week. I've lost focus and have not been eating according to the maintenance plan as adapted for Pauley. I'm not sure what my problem is. Maybe I'm in a funk because it has been raining sideways FOREVER and I can't get outside to run. Stress may be playing into it as well. I need to get a handle on it before I've got real pounds to lose.

Glad to hear positive things going on for the rest of you. You all inspire me and keep reminding me we can do this.