Hi there KIM!! Welcome!! I too am new here. But I plan to stick around!! These gals are the coolest!! In answer to ur question......I have been between 138-145 lbs. since December!!! Yup, I said December!! It has been the most annoying experience I have had!! I cant seem to keep my motivation going. I get it then lose it all in the same darn week!! UGH!! Anyhooo, the least weight I was at was 138 lbs, reached and kept in Apr. 2006. However, it slid back up and then up again and then well you get the idea. Now I have been stuck at 144 basically(give or take 1-2 lbs) ever since. I dont know why either. I havent changed anything except exercise. But thats fixin ta change. I will be getting my new BB Bootcamp elite dvds next week!!!! Then, it should be smooth sailing from there!! CROSS THOSE FINGERS GALS!!! I am hoping to reach my goal weight by mid June. Ok, now, to ur comment bout ur weight.....I think its wonderful what you have done!! It sounds like you are doing what you need to do to get those last few off. Maybe you arent losing any weight right now becasue of the weight training. Muscle weighs more than fat!!! Which is a good thing hon!! You may be the same in weight, but slimming up everywhere and just dont see it!! Great job to ya, and dont fret, we are all in the same boat in here!!! Keep up the great job and good luck to ya!! And YES the closer you get to ur goal weight, the harder it is to lose it. Tis ok though, you'll get there.......we all will!!! SMILE!!!

Cha-

Thanks for the warm welcome!! Congrats on your 87 pound lost. You look GREAT. Ahhh those last few pounds...... how they haunt me Oh, well...... I've got nothing but time... .they are worth waiting for.

Welcome, Kim. I am glad you found us here. My, isn't our little group growing?

To answer your questions...My lowest weight was 134 back in December. After getting stuck there I chose to take a maintainence break. I wasn't trying to relax my "lifestyle" per se but, since I wasn't losing anyway, I thought I'd do a little maintainence practice. Practice turned into complacency and complacency turned into 8 pounds and 8 into 15. It has been tough getting my groove back but I'm doing much better. For a while there I just couldn't get more than a few great days under my belt at a time. Or, my eating would be perfect but I wouldn't exercise like I needed to (or vice versa). But, now, I feel like I'm BACK!

I think there are lots of reasons that the last pounds are the hardest. Physically, we've thinned ourselves enough that it takes fewer calories to fuel us and so there isn't a lot of room to work with in terms of reducing our intake. And, most of us, only have so many hours to dedicate to exercise in any given week. I could lose weight in no time if I could spend as much time at the gym as I wanted to but, I've got kids to raise, and more than a couple of hours a day (if that) is all I can afford to schedule. So, I've just got to learn to live with tiny losses, if any, from week to week. That is one of the reasons I've pretty much quit getting on the scale. I used to be one of those people who would weigh myself several times a day. Now, though, what's the point?

Also, I think once you are as close to goal as we are losing weight becomes a tedious mental task. I've accepted that I will ALWAYS have to measure my portions, count calories, and work out on a regular basis. I'm okay with that. But, the week to week expectation of losing weight has worn me out mentally and emotionally (another reason I'm not weighing myself lately).

Being this close to goal (and having been even closer ) has required a complete shift in my attitude towards my weight, my goals, my methods. Actually, it reminds me a lot of what I went through the first couple of months when I started losing. It took incredible effort back then to appreciate losing 2 pounds because I had soooo far to go. I had to make myself keep going for what seemed like very little payoff. Finally, I started noticing the changes and feeling good about my progress. For a few months there it was smooth sailing. I actually ENJOYED the whole process. Now, I'm back where I started only without the 2 pounds a week! But, just like before I will keep pushing myself and waiting for my body to do what it is supposed to. But that doesn't mean I have to LIKE it.

Ilene, I hope your arm is feeling better soon!

Elizabeth, we had the same rain front that you guys did. But, today is absolutley gorgeous! It is usually unbearably hot by this time of year but we've got our windows open - it isn't even humid out. I'm enjoying it while I can, that is for sure!

Hi Kim!

I've been "almost there" since about, well February 2005. however I've lost inches and not pounds since then

Morning all!

I almost conked out at kickboxing last night, I forgot to drink during the day - I think I only had one pint of squash.. I'm on to pint number 6 today already - it's not even lunch!

The scales are being a PITA. Those pounds aren't leaving as easily as they came! I've got 6 good eating days under my belt - I've been to the gym twice, going again today and yoga, been kickboxing for 4 hours... You'd think something would give wouldn't you?

Anyway.. It'll happen, it might be because I'm dehydrated a bit, I hope this water helps!

I've got stupid stress at work. Manageable, but still Roll on the weekend!

Lucky, Superwoman...
Thanks for the sharing your story with me.
You guys are doing great keeping up with it for sooo long. I know it gets hard sometimes. There have been many times when I was thinking "the heck with this". Then a little voice inside me says..... "don't give up". So, I guess we are going to become good friends.

Good morning everyone!

Well, I am leaving in 4 hours to start my VACATION!!! I am really excited. My DH and two children are off to The Beach Club in Gulf Shores Alabama until May 20th. Sooooooo I will be out of touch for the next week. I will catch up with you girls as soon as I return. I am sure I will have brought a couple of "extra pounds" with me so I am sure I will need some serious support to get me back in the game.

I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL week and I will catch up on your posts as soon as I get back.

Thanks so much for making me feel so welcomed here!

Kim, Have a greta vacation hon!!!!

Morning all!! Today was yucky for me!! I drove so much yesterday that I was majorly pooped out when I got home. I slept forever, it seems, but when 6am rolled by, I just did not want to get up!! But I did. I'm up 2 ounces from yesterday. EWW!! Anyhoooo, got my email from the BB website. They got my order and will be shipping my exercise dvds soons!!! YESSSSSS!!!! I am feeling more impatient about the dvds than I am about my TT in June!! LOL!!! Oh well. I ate fairly well yesterday. Had a bad spout with lunch because we were in the car, traveling. I had Arby's. Yup CALORIES from HECK!!! But I had a small salad for dinner with a large glass of water. No meat, fat free dressing. Hopefully now that hubby is gone to work for the next 9 days, I will be able to get back on track!! I always do so poorly while he is home!! We eat out like almost everyday!! But when he's gone, I can actually focus on my meals. Wish me luck!!

Kim, have fun on your vacation! I've been 'almost there' since March/06. Up until that point I had been losing quite consistantly. Looking back over my journals I now realize the fact that I'm not there yet is because of my lack of control over food. DUH! I kept blaming my lack of loss on the last 10-15lbs being so hard to lose. Talk about denial. I guess it just proves I'll have food issues for the rest of my life. Being 'normal' in size isn't the cure after all.

2frus, keep up the good eating the pounds will come back off. Have a great weekend.

Get out of my head would you!! lol I've been thinking those exact same thoughts. In my mind I started all over again on Monday. But this time I don't have 85 lbs to lose (thank goodness).

cha, Good luck with your new DVD's. I've recently started pilates and haven't quite decided if I like it or not.

Elizabeth, Good to hear you're in a good mood. Personally I always feel better after exercising as well.

Ilene, hope your elbow is all better!

Susan, Did you have a good nap? I can't wait until my kids are old enough to make me supper. Actually my dd can make a pretty mean hot dog. lol

I had an awesome week. Thanks to TOM arriving and water weight I'm down 7 lbs from Monday! So I'm back down to 153.

My mom and I are going for Chinese food for Mother's day at lunch but I've already factored it into my calories. My mom likes Manchu Wok(at the mall) and their website has a calorie chart. So I'm set.

Gaylyn

ARGHHH! I just spent 20 minutes posting and accidently closed my browser before it loaded. I hate it when I do that! Now I'm out of time and will have to catch up later but wanted to throw a quick "hello" out there before I headed out of the door. Have a great Friday everybody!

Hi everyone! rehearsal went well and the dinner was fabulous. Those Mennonite ladies sure can make desserts. Oi! I'll bike on Monday. I promise
Tomorrow is the real McCoy folks. I'll officially be someone's mother in law!

Oh, Susan Have Fun !!! I know I'm going to cry like a baby at which ever one will get married first, heck I cried at my son's First Holy Communion ... Now this year he's graduating from HS, I'm gonna cry a gain ... I'm such a baby

Kim have a great vacation!! I've been "almost there" for the last year and a half it seems... I gotta get crackalakin' ... I've done very well this week though I'm happy to say!

My elbow is feel much much better thanks for the well wishes girls ...

Tomorrow I'm going to try to sleep longer. I bought two boxes of nose tissue for today

Susan, I hope you enjoyed the wedding and didn't cause a flood. I am sure everything was beautiful.

Okay, girls, I've got a new exercise plan. I've always been a loner when it comes to working out. I like to throw on my headphones and let the rest of the world disappear. Well, I met up with my best friend from high school for a walk this afternoon and it was sooooo nice. She lives nearby and we've kept in touch but we have the hardest time actually getting together. We'll chat on the phone every couple of months but that is about it. We've decided now that we'll start running together in the afternoons. I'm really excited. I'll be going to the gym in the mornings for weights so I'll still have my alone time and we'll walk or run in the afternoons for cardio. The time will fly by!

Today was a great eating day and it is a good thing. I baked myself a chocolate cake for Mother's day. Well, the kids wanted to do that for me so we did it together. It is going to be hard to have just one small piece tomorrow but I didn't want to begrudge them the gift they wanted to give. Maybe I'll eat my serving and deliver the rest to MY mother.

Have a great weekend!

Thanks everyone. It was an awesome day! I didn't cause a flood but I used a few tissue!

Happy Mother's Day!

I'm sure the boys are going to fix something, so I'll eat what they make me. Besides that I think I'll stick to fruit, black coffee and litres of water! And for exercise ... I think I'll nap

Tomorrow .... I'll read very carefully (because you all are doing so well and are a great encouragement to me) and get my groove back on.

Hi Ladies,

I've returned from my dream trip (to the Galapagos Islands and the Andes) in one piece but I'm afraid the one piece might be a pound or three heavier. No worries though...actually I was fine during the trip because I wasn't thrilled with the food and was pretty active during the trip. The three days since I've been back have been very naughty, however, as I have been indulging myself by eating "real" food that I missed while in South America....nothing too bad (unless you count dinner for Mom today) but nothing too good either lol.

Anyway, even though I've not totally fallen off the wagon I will be getting back on track tomorrow. I'll post my WW stats on Wednesday...keep your fingers crossed for me please!

I'll be catching up with your posts over the next few days so please forgive me if I've missed any big news...it will take me a little while to catch up.

Just a quicky to say that if you haven't noticed - there's now a "Featherweights" section in Support Groups. I pm'd Jennifer to ask if she could move us up there - after all, WE STARTED IT!

I'll be back later - lots of stressy work. But in a good way!