Welcome, Cha! I'm glad you found us.

Have you considered taking a break for a while? I went through something similar several months back. I was not only frustrated but also burned out. I wasn't tired of the lifestyle - measuring my food, exercising, counting calories. But, I was mentally worn out from expecting to see results. I made the decision that maintaining for a while was probably in order. First of all, I was close to my goal so it was time that I start thinking about what exactly would be required to keep the weight off. Plus the scale wasn't moving much anyway so I figured it was the perfect time to give maintaining a practice run. I kept doing exactly what I had been but added in a few more calories and cutting myself a little slack in the exercise department. After a few months I was ready to really sink my teeth back into losing weight and now I have the same determination and excitment about reaching my goal as I did when I started at 214 pounds back in December 2004. Admittedly, I gained some weight over the past couple of months but I'm getting rid of that now so I'm not worried about it. As a matter of fact, I look at the gain as a positive experience because they gave me a better idea of the pitfalls I'll face once I reach my goal and the knowledge that I don't have to regain EVERY pound just because a few sneak up on me. After all, I figure that is exactly what maintainence is going to be.

A maintainence break isn't for everyone but I certainly learned a lot by taking one. Maybe it is something for you to consider?

How is everyone today? Today marks my first week back in full force - eating is completely under control and I've found my exercise groove once again. It has been a while since I had both components on track. Lately it has been one or the other so I'm feeling really good about things!

I am 8 lbs. from goal, as of today. Haven't changed my ticker yet. The first 60 lbs. was pretty easy, with constant scale approvals. These last 20 or so lbs. have been really hard. Very slow weight loss, although I have noticed my sizes have been changing quickly. I remind myself every day that I want to stay on-program and reach my goal. I sometimes think that my body just got used to the way I eat and exercise now and doesn't want to give up any more weight. I had surgery last week and will not be able to exercise for a while and hope I don't gain any weight back. I have been trying so hard to lose weight that sometimes I think it is the only thing I think about. I am obsessed. I still see myself as over-weight even though my BMI is 24 now. My biggest fear is that when I reach goal of 145 that I still will want to go lower, say 135. I am 5'7 and at a healthy weight according to my doctor. I am just unhappy with my belly, it seems to be the last place I lose weight. I try to never get complacent, just the opposite really, I try anything to get the last few lbs. to leave.

Lilybelle, my goal weight has changed so many times over the past year and a half I don't have enough toes and fingers to count them. In my head, I know that is a good thing because it means I'm reaching goals and surpassing them. On an emotional level, though, it feels like I've been spinning my wheels forever! Plus, for as long as it takes me to lose weight anymore it takes even longer to adjust to the changes. I swear, I think my head is still stuck at 180 pounds sometimes! Once my eyes finally to catch up with my body and I start feeling smug about the way I look I'll have a picture made or catch my reflection in the mirror realize that I'm not as thin as I think I am and the process starts all over again! Shesh.

Lucky, you and me are positively spooky! ya know last week when we were talking about "good enough". I got thinking today about a few compliments I've gotten lately and my friend the physiotherapist insisting that I am fit (whether or not I believe it) and my mother-of-the-bride dress needing to be taken in .... it's no wonder we lose focus.
I must remember that while it was nice to be here (hovering under 130) ... I have other plans and that'll be even better. I needed a kick in the thinkin'.

Thanks for the welcome lucky!!! Maybe a break is what I need!! If I can just stay away from the dang fast food places, I think I'd be just fine!! LOL!!!
Hey lilybelle, if I may ask........what kind of surgery did you have?? I am scheduled for a TT in June. So, I was just curious what kinda surgery ya had. But you dont have to answer that, lol.
As far as today goes for me.....DAH!!! I told my hubby around 8am this morning to make sure that I dont get on the scale at all this week, because my monthly is here, and I will just crumble!! Well, being he is a MAN, lol, he made a joke about it, and fell asleep!! DAH!!! Naturally, I jumped on the dang scale!!! EWWWW!!! 3 lb weight gain!! I know its fluid!! But EWWWW!!! Sheesh!! Mabye tomorrow, I can withhold from the scale!!<fingers crossed, toes crossed, eyes crossed> Wow, ok not crossing the eyes anymore!! hahahaha

If it makes you feel any better, Cha, I made my husband hide the scale from me once. I asked him to keep it out of sight for at least two weeks - AND HE DID IT! That was probably the closest I'll ever come to calling a divorce lawyer. LOL. Poor fellas, sometimes they can't win for losing!

I have been debating a TT and a breast lift since I started. I have been so lucky in that I don't have a lot of loose skin from weight loss (knock on wood). But, I've been pregnant 4 times (once with twins) and no amount of sit ups in the world is going to make my stomach snap back! A friend of mine just had one and looks great. I'm jealous!

Hello cha and everyone!

Well, COMPLACENT is what I have been these past 2 days. And I've gained inches!!!! I'm lot even looking at the scales! And I feel sick right now, absolutely full to bursting and I've just eaten my ordinary breakfast so far! I think I'm going to wait till I'm hungry for lunch (well duh...) which could take a while! We ate out Tuesday night, Wednesday morning, Wednesday lunch, Wednesday afternoon, Wednesday night.... Thursday lunch, Thursday evening My trousers are tight - but I'm wearing them to let me know that I don't need to eat! Even the wedding dress I tried on yesterday was a bit tight! And I tried it on a month or two ago and it was perfect! Anyway, now the parents are going home I can be a good girl again! It's something about being around them that makes me eat compulsively. Oh them and wedding dresses! Anyway, I know I'll be ok and it'll all sort out in the wash!

I am off to the gym tonight and so I will be all nice and relaxed for a day's shopping tomorrow.

Oh has anyone been to Morocco??? DF wants to go... for the weekend!

Morning everyone. I'm up and ready for work. I've only got these three shifts this weekend and then I'm off for a week for the wedding.
I'm hangin' in by making lists. My diet is pretty much planned out for the day. I know what errands I have to run on the way home. If the errands pan out properly, I know what wedding decoration things I have to do at home this evening.
Dd will be home on Monday and I'm really looking forward to it. She can help with the stuff for HER big day.
As with many things, it's baby steps. Make a list and cross-out my way through it
Have a good day everyone and I'll pop back in later to make sure that you did.

Ooooh are you all excited???

WEDDING! WOOOO!

Geez I'm excited for both you you gals ...

Well I've got my mojo back today after some soul searching last night, after my running partner and motivator gave me a talking to... So this morning I biked to the gym, worked UB, then ran hills for 30 minutes and now I feel on top of the world ...

Lucky, yup I have doen that too. But sadly Hubby isnt a very good hider!! LOL. I always find it!! Like a I have a radar for it or sumthin!! hahahaha Was just curious, you said you've been pg 4 times, and one with twins. That mean you have 5 lil uns?? I also had 4 pgs, one being twins. I have 5 kiddos. 4 girls and one baby boy!! I am not as fortunate as you though. My skin was stretched to the ultimate!! I have(according to doc) almost 5 lbs of excess skin hanging on my tummy!!! EWWWW!!!! He told me that if he was to do a skin removal on my tummy and thighs, that I would lose 10 lbs just from skin. GEEZ!!!!!!! Can you say gross??!!!! I cant afford both surgeries currently. So the TT will at least relieve me of some overhanging, crappy skin!!! I cant wait!! I am tried of my kids playing with my tummy like its play dough!! They even gave my tummy a nickname....FLOAM!!! OMG!!!! Anyhooooo, when it is all gone, they will have to play with someone else's FLOAM!!! LOL. He did say that there isnt any fat left on me thouh!! Whew!! I have lost everythig I needed to lose, except the skin. So, for the next 2 yrs., I will be going through 2 surgeries to remove whats left. By the time I am done, in maybe 2008-09, I should be at goal just from losing skin!! hahahaha, BUT, I am still trying to lose more weight. I want to be 135 lbs by the date of my TT. This morning, I weighed(yes dang it, i got on the scale again) 144.2 bs. Which means, I have just 9 lbs to lose by June 19th!!! CAN I do it?? I hope so!!!

Cha, we have three living children. Our first son was born prematurely and did not survive and we had a daughter who was stillborn but the pregnancies took their toll on my belly just the same. My stomach looks a lot like what like what you described. I do still have about 20 pounds to go (I'm only 5 feet 2 inches) and I do expect to have more than enough extra skin left on my stomach but I do think I've been spared compared to a lot of people. The most frustrating thing about it is finding pants that fit right. I'm wearing 8's right now but they can be really loose in the hips and legs only to be snug around the belly thanks to the "overhang". My belly button looks like a frowny face. How sexy is THAT? LOL.

Hey everyone-I'm so glad I found out about this website and these forums! Here's my deal...At the beginning of this year, I decided enough was enough. I wasn't able to exercise for most of last year due to a back problem. But I continued to eat like I was exercising! I'm 42 and battling gravity and a slowing metabolism. I met with a nutritionist and we outlined a HEP(healthy eating plan) that involved more protein and less carbs. I started doing that January 1. My starting weight was 155(I'm 5'3") I am down to 145. I've been able to exercise again and have been doing that faithfully. I'm up to 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer 4 times a week(I just graduated to level 2!) I do upper body weights 3 times a week(on the Cybex machine). I have also started walking home from work(I take a shuttle bus in) which is about 1.5 miles 3 times a week. When I started exercising more vigorously, I added some complex carbs back into my diet.

My goal? Hard to say. I've always weighed more than the "recommendations"-even at my thinnest I was above 135 and everyone said I looked fabulous. So I'm taking it 5 pounds at a time, and seeing if maintaining it is feasible. Is that weird or wrong? My immediate goal is to lose 5 more pounds by July 5, which should be totally easy right??? Except now I am in the "Well, I work out so hard, I DESERVE a cookie (or six) phase" I don't have that kind of stuff at home, but it is party season at work(I work in a university at the semester ends in a week) and I cannot seem to control myself around sweets!

I need to get over this hump and I'm thinking some encouragment and support from you all would be worth a try!!

Thanks!

Good Morning my slenderizing friends. Welcome, Miasmom. More protein and less calories, you say. YOu're going to feel right at home here.

I had a long and tiring day yesterday but all shift I had to keep pulling at my scrub pants Annoying but encouraging.

I don't think there are any errands I have to run today. So it'll just be work and home.

Have a good day everyone. I must shower and my oats are waiting.

It is shaping up to be a pretty good weekend. I had an awesome workout this morning and made it home just before it started storming. The rest of my day has been spent being lazy - I even took a two hour nap this afternoon. I love, love, love, to nap (especially while it is raining) but rarely get to. What a treat!

My upper arms had always been a problem. It is hereditary and even at my thinnest (way back in the day!) they were proportionally bigger then the rest of me. Well, I've been really focusing on weights and, in particular, upper arm exercises. Today I happen to have on a sleeveless shirt at the gym and caught a side glimpse in the mirror. WOW! They will never been skinny but, by golly, I've actually got that muscular "cut" in them now. If I can just work off the fat on them I think I'll be pleased with how they look for the first time in my life.

Calories are pretty well under control. I still need to put more effort towards exercise - cardio in particular. I'm going to sit down tonight and check out the new aerobics schedule and work out a plan. That has been part of my downfall. I need to carve out when I am going to workout and then work the rest of my day around that time. Lately, I've been doing the opposite - planning everything else about my day and assuming I'll fit exercising in somewhere and then the day is over and I've still not worked out.

Another thing I've realized is that I've been in a exercise rut. I tend to get into a routine - always going to the gym first thing in the morning or always jogging as soon as we get home from taking DS to school, etc. I end up burned out even if I'm mixing up the type of exercise I do and start avoiding it all together. So, I'm looking to shake up my schedule as well. My goal is to exercise every day this week but at different times/locations than usual.

And that's what I'm working on. What's up with you gals?