Okay compared to everyone elses victories this is small but it was HUGE for me. Last week I didn't lose any weight, infact I gained up to almost my original starting weight mid-week (no going off plan, no TOM) I was fed up, thinking 'Have the last 6 weeks been wasted? How can I be at my START WEIGHT grrr' cue the normal time in previous diets for me to binge and go off plan. However I stuck to it - all the while thinking I'm wasting my time -I must admit though I love this WOE so it wasn't too hard-

This week woosh! down 6.5lbs. (my normal weeks are 2 - 2.5lbs)

I feel like I'm becoming a mature dieter, not expecting a loss every week (it's was tough seeing an 8lbs GAIN though) and not expecting things to go fast and not using a bad week as an excuse to go off plan. I'm proud that I stuck to it and am now reaping the rewards.

I really do feel like Focused Lani now

Good for you!! Yay on the weight loss and a BIGGER yay for not giving in!!
I had trouble this week too and it was a fight NOT to give up, but I didn't
either. YAY for both of us. We CAN and WILL do this.

Great job, both of you ladies! These really are victories.

Realizing that you can stick to your plan no matter what is no small victory. You're right to feel proud, because that is a major victory that will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life. It's what I finally learned to do as well and...well, I feel brand spanking new and I'm not even anywhere near my goal yet.

Congratulations on your victory and your weight loss!

I completely identify with the "mature dieter" concept. It's a big step! Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your victory with us.

I too recently morphed into a mature dieter. It took me some time to figure out the plan, and then took even longer to come to fruition. And then I discovered that eating on the new plan, while not melting the fat away at the desired magical rate for which I was hoping, was the cause of why I was so consitently feeling so good! Clear-headed, energized and healthy.

The weight has only quite recently started to come off. I am thrilled with the rate of 1 lb/week.

Congrats Lani!!! I loved when I had that big weightloss after a terrible week before

Lynn

Georgia - I am right there with you. 1-2 pounds per week means 50-100 pounds lost in a year. By just eating and being active in a sensible way. No miracle cure, but a huge difference in the long term. Our brains are not good at identifying small changes over a long term. (frankly, that inability is what got me here in the first place!). But if I just keep thinking, all I have to do is keep losing an average of 1-2poinds per week, and in one year I'll be at least 50 pounds (maybe closer to 100 lb) lighter than I am today. That's my motivation.

I have been through a similar point recently. I had not realized how stressed I was, and deviated a few times from my plan, ate more of my plan foods that normal and before I knew it, I was in a regain mode. Fast as lightening the weight came back on, hitting 247 in 2 months after achieving 229.

It was a real eye opener for me. I had a choice to stop the regain process or keep going. I decided that I was at a turning point. Sure, I was tired of dieting, I wanted more leeway...I was not managing my stress level. All the prime ingredients for regain.

I stopped it. I went back on plan and the regain pounds are coming off. It's always a choice.

I think thats absolutely brilliant, Lani . I've been dieting for 35 years on and off since I was 15. And I STILL struggle with the thought that its about how heathly I FEEL ( and am inside) not just how i look and what size jeans fit - if any, and not to loose focus if I don't loose weight this week, or go off plan a eat a biscuit.

I feel so much better when I eat less and excercise, and yet I choose to not do either for big periods of my life.
So, congratulations to you, and big big step forward you've taken, and I will try to follow!
Jacqui

Congrats!!!! That is a huge victory!!!!

Sounds like a rather big victory to me. Congrats!