Hello, all! I was an active 3FCer for quite a while, but after transitioning to maintenance in 2011 I needed to focus on other things, and I've been gone from the boards for a little over a year. I peek in from time to time and it's been good to see some familiar, friendly names around.
Here's my maintenance lowdown - the good, bad, and ugly.
Good:
- I've been very happy with my level of fitness. Last year I trained for and completed a half marathon, 1.5 years after starting running. Yay! I exercise 5-6 days a week and love my muscles.
- I love healthy, whole foods. Most days I would rather have a salad with lean protein than anything else. (MOST days.)
- I started seeing a great guy last spring and things are going really well.
Bad:
- While in weight loss mode my only "special occasions" were my birthday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Immediately after going into maintenance, I loosened this just slightly because I was convinced I would somehow wake up the next morning back at 200 pounds. When that didn't happen, my definition of special occasion has - unintentionally and unconsciously - slowly loosened until that phrase is meaningless. I can make myself believe that a day that ends in "y" is a special occasion.
- Weekends with a boyfriend (I wasn't in a relationship while I was losing) are HARD. I want to eat what my 5'11", 200+ guy can eat. Yeah, no.
- Alcohol is evil to my diet. After one beer or wine I completely disregard that food has calories.
Ugly:
I, like many around here, have struggled with binging behaviors while in maintenance. This was an occasional problem in the past, pre-weight loss, but now it's almost a weekly/monthly struggle. I know my emotional triggers and food triggers (sugar) but knowing my triggers doesn't always help me not to succumb to them.
So, I'm back. I need the accountability, the support, and the occasional, well-deserved, smack upside the head. You wonderful people are always good for that.
I'd like to lose 10 pounds and get back to 120, but anything under 125 would be really amazing. It's crazy how 5 pounds can make such a difference to the way my body feels . . . and my pants.
My plan:
- Eliminate alcohol period, while in weight loss mode.
- My trigger foods have already been tossed and the cabinets are bare, so standing firm not to buy them.
- Eric, the BF, also wants to lose some weight. It's sensitive for both of us but I want to talk this over with him and make sure we're on the same page as far as food when we're together/out to eat.
- Recognize true special occasions. Right now, the next one I can think of is a friend's wedding in Oregon in late March.
- Check in regularly here and in my journal. I've been keeping up with my calorie tracker but need to process my thoughts and feelings more.
OK, I think that's it for now. Thanks for letting me show up again, everyone. I hope that I'll be able to contribute around here - I've missed my 3FC people!