Awww thanks Ainsley, that made me feel much better! I cant wait for the "whoosh". Current goal is to by at 128 by Sept. 20 (curretly 138.4). And then 118-120 by Thanksgiving. Fingers crossed!

I have used Sparkpeople before but I like Fitday. Its very resourceful!

Oh, and Welcome!!

Welcome, Ainsley'sMom!

I've been reading posts and threads in the Maintenance Forum about how folks use the different calorie calculators, BMR, BMI, and all those things that are based on averages. It seems that many use the calorie charts and journal aspects of the sites but do not depend on those sites for accurate calculation of their own calorie needs.

I use a fountain pen and a pad of paper to keep track, making all sorts of notes about my research, on those pages.

I guess it depends on what kind of records you'd like to keep.

Sending you best wishes for success!

Thanks for the welcome guys!

Chelsey, here's the thread about the calorie calculator websites I was looking for earlier.

I put in my info at the freedieting website, and noticed that the calories given for the activity level I chose, were the same for ages 55 and 80. It would be a wonder if someone at 80 could lose or maintain weight at the same level of ease as someone at 55. I do wonder how the data is collected and used in the computer programs.

Wishing you all a lovely evening!

Ainsleysmom! What a beautiful little girl you have!

Chelsey, while in theory the 1000x4 should yield you a pound, it's entirely possible that the new exercise routine is causing some body changes. If you can keep on plan I bet you'll see results soon. I started counting cals when my running routine was pretty established so my experience was different. Make sure you stretch after you run! I always do at least these, but that is really the minimum! Work in a few of these, too.

I had a fantastic day having lunch and shopping with my friends. Bought way too much and will have to make returns when the dust settles.

Hi Ainsleymom and

Same7, how nice to have such a fun outing. Those pages of stretches are lovely. I do many of those and they are grand.

It's tea time, I'll post more later.

Hi girls, been chugging along with various degrees of commitment here. Looking back on the past few months, I would say I have at least arrested my weight gain, stopped the compulsive overeating I did that resulted in 30 pounds over a two-year period.

However, I continue to be frustrated at how HARD it is to take off, especially in (ugh) middle age. The scale is so harsh and unforgiving. It allows no indulgence or cheating whatsoever, and the rewards are slow and grudging.

Also, is anyone else experiencing a lot of water retention in the summer heat?

Joan,

Congrats on conquering overeating and preventing weight gain! Youve made the first steps to losing weight! Once you get the hang of things and truly make it a lifestyle, the weight will come off. Exercise really helps with pushing the weight loss along also!

Have a great weekend!

Hi, Joan! I agree with Chelsey. Maintaining is a very good victory, congratulations!

I've been reading many of the threads in the Living Maintenance section of the Maintenance forum. They have helped me keep several things in the back of my mind and given me a good frame of reference.

I went out to eat today, which I rarely do, and ate things I wouldn't have eaten at home. It was nice to have an outing, and I splurged a bit. I came home, did some chores, took a wee stroll to unwind, drank a lovely glass of cold water. It's a relief to know that one unusual meal isn't going to throw off my plan. I find it more and more delightful to realize that I choose what I eat, how I eat, how much I eat, and I get to choose when I eat, too. Having choices is so very nice.

Hope you all have a lovely evening!

Forgot to throw in my $.02 --- I have been using fitday for three months but just switched to livestrong (daily plate). I find it has a lot more foods in the database and I think it's just plain easier.

For me sparkpeople was a little overwhelming. There seemed to be so much going on! And they flooded my inbox. But I think you can opt out of a lot of the extras.

I had an outing on Saturday and ate at a restaurant, and then ate more than I usually do yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised this morning to see that my extra exercise and keeping my records as accurately as I can is paying off. The scales showed no difference.

I'm glad that I can adjust for small splurges. It's nice to see that I can make progress and not have to live so that I feel deprived.

We had some much needed rain yesterday and all the trees and plants are much softer today, instead of being dry and crunchy.

Hope you all have a lovely beginning this morning!

Happy Monday Morning, Feathers!

I hope everyone had a good weekend! I overindulged last night. It was my husband's birthday, and I ate sparingly all day so I could enjoy the special dinner I'd be making. Unfortunately, I enjoyed it a little too much.

One of my favorite tips from successful losers and maintainers is that if something is just going to tempt you too much, just get rid of it! Throw it away! We made these beautiful mini-cupcakes for dessert, which meant three cans of leftover frosting in the fridge. Well, that leftover frosting is now in the garbage after inflicting only minor damage (hopefully). In general, I'm not a fan of wasting food. But really, of what value is frosting after you've used what you needed for your project? It is of no nutritional benefit to anyone. Just bad for teeth, blood sugar and hips. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

I'm easing into maintenance but I'm having trouble believing that I can eat well over 2000 calories per day (that includes exercise). I think Daily Plate really overestimates calories burned during exercise, so I will enter those manually. I realized yesterday a challenge of maintenance is that you don't have a lot of "wiggle room." While losing, if you are on-plan but forget to enter something, or if you eyeball a portion and you're off by 200 calories, it will slow your loss, but unless you are really sloppy, you should still be at a deficit. At maintenance, if you are over, you are over. You are in surplus. ACK!!! So of course to compensate for that I try to stay on the low side. I guess you just figure it out through trial and error.

My husband has the week (mostly) off -- he's off from his main job, but still working one of his side jobs, but fewer hours than usual. I'm hoping for some family time -- wishing it was cool enough for the zoo. I miss the San Diego Zoo! Rarely too hot, nice and shady, ample parking. ~sigh~ Maybe next year.

I realized yesterday a challenge of maintenance is that you don't have a lot of "wiggle room." While losing, if you are on-plan but forget to enter something, or if you eyeball a portion and you're off by 200 calories, it will slow your loss, but unless you are really sloppy, you should still be at a deficit. At maintenance, if you are over, you are over. You are in surplus. ACK!!! So of course to compensate for that I try to stay on the low side. I guess you just figure it out through trial and error.

Same7, that's the part the will be the challenge. I'm discovering a bit of that juggling now, but have really been thinking through the things I've read in the Maintenance Forum. I have a couple of neighbors who like to eat sweets and when I have leftovers from making things for family, I take the extras to the neighbors. I keep a no-white-or-brown-sugar rule for myself. I just feel tremendously better if I never eat it.

Am putting a little more variety into my movement and food plans. It's helping.

Hope you all have a lovely morning!