I'm no where near maintenance but can't wait for the day until I am- all I can say is your post really made me think.. I know I even find myself some days looking at skinny people and rolling my eyes when I feel they are obsessing about their weight or so on- I tihnk what do you have to worry about look at me! I have a 100 lbs to loose! but reading your post really made me realize that one day we will all be in your shoes because one day you were in our's it's hard for us bigger gals to look at some one like you and realize that to stay skinny you still have to live the type of life you've lived to get there! I'm super happy for you! Don't feel like your in Funk I truely believe it's that time of year- the sun isn't out as often the weather gets colder- every one gets more depressed around this time! you'll pull through- you have some much to be proud of !!! CONGRATS!

Amanda,

Just checking in with you. How are you feeling?

Anne

I can so relate to this. I wake up and can't wait to get on the scale because I know it just has to be good because I've been staying on plan so well and then... BOOM...a gain. It can be very deflating and I really have to kick into positive self-talk mode.

Thinpossible - thank you for all of the suggestions! Using the skinny jeans usually doesn't work for me...I always end up with the scale higher than it needs to be. But I'm working on looking at my body in a positive, celebratory way and keep a good mindset.

Marriam - thank you for the encouragement...I do need to remember that what my body did and does for me is pretty incredible, and remind myself of that when I get down.

Anne - today is better. Not great, but better. And I'll take that. The half a burger and half order of fries on Sunday helped, as did getting out some aggression at the shooting range. One day at a time! Thank you for checking in.

Accountable...that's when you come here, whine a little, and have everyone tell you to keep going!

Thank you ALL so much. It is really helpful to get this support when you need it most.

I think you win the prize for most-right-to-the-point stress relief!!! Dunno why, but this really makes me smile. And want to try!

Anne

I have a punching bag downstairs for just this same reason...

How are things going today, Amanda? Getting any easier?

This is a great thread for those of us who are still losing.

What, you mean life isn't perfect after you reach your goal? The fairy tales lied to us? You mean maintenance is like everything else in life--ups and downs?
DRAT.

Thanks to all for the insights--I'm going to try to remember them when I reach goal and still find it hard, bacause I know it will happen.

Nada - No one told me, either! It was an adjustment.

Shannon - Regrettably, no! Well, the resentment is a little better, but the scale...is not. I'm still OP but also still frustrated with my weight and the effort I'm putting forth with no returns.

So far, my HRM says I've had enough deficit in the past 2 weeks to lose 6 lbs. And as of today, I've gained one. My last hope is that this is some sort of increased-exercise-related water retention that is taking a while to dissipate (I have seriously changed up the exercise since my elliptical broke). Otherwise I'll have to deal with the fact that, even if I work my butt off and eat 1400 calories a day, I may not be able to maintain the way I'd like...and that would stink.

Anne - I go with my dad - it's a new hobby of his and our new thing we do together. It's surprisingly relaxing.

Amanda, I am so with you. I've been working really hard, been on plan, and no loss. It's so frustrating! I'm counting down the days until my next thyroid test (15 days to go) and hoping that they'll find they need to increase my dosage. Of course, knowing my body chemistry, they'll probably reduce my dosage.

I know I'm late to jump on this thread, but I just wanted to commiserate. Lately I've been in exactly the same funk (that's why I started the "why did you regain" thread in the support forum -- I've been feeling like I could just fall back down the cliff).

All of my coworkers are on New Years resolution diets and it's all they want to talk about but I feel ostracized because it's like you said, I'm already at goal and I have no business complaining to anybody about weight loss or maintenance. I've recently added 100 calories to my daily intake to maintain, and I've gained 2 lbs back and holding (so far...). But it's like I can't talk about it with anybody because it sounds like I'm bragging or something.

I've only been maintaining about 3 months, and even though I've always known that weight loss is a lifestyle change, for some reason it only recently sunk in that this is forever. I can't ever be "carefree" again or I will regain. It makes me feel different from everybody else. But then again, I guess I'm different from everybody else in many other ways as well, so this is just one more thing!

I think a lot of this recent funk has to do with the winter weather. January is just miserable, and the recent horrific cold we've had for the past week has just made it even worse.

Maybe this will make you feel better, at least in a way: If 2/3 of Americans are overweight or obese, then you're not different from everyone else. You're quite in the majority in not being able to be carefree about food. Especially because presumably a portion of the 1/3 at normal weight are actually formally overweight/obese maintainers.

Amanda, this is every maintainer's fear, I think. Discovering that just maybe we don't have total control over our bodies after all... And we'll have to eat this dinky amount of food and stay on the elliptical for hours just to tread water... And then one day we'll get TOO TIRED and be struck fat! Help me!!! This is a nightmare!!

It does not have to be this way. I am certain it does not.

Please read your signature line 10 times now...

I just have one thought--take a day completely off the gym stuff. Scary... but eat on plan, and drink a lot of water. Let up on yourself? The additional stress is probably not helping...

Jay

Amanda, please forgive if I'm being redundant but have you considered increasing your calories?

have a good sunday!!

YES. You have hit the nail on the head. ugh.

Yeah! Yeah! YEAH!!! I could have written your exact words.
My body loves maintenance but my brain is still fighting with the idea that this will have to be for the rest of my life.

Dagmar