This summer has been...off. I spent the first half of the summer mostly staying on track, but since then it's been a bit screwed up. I lost 100 pounds from last summer to this one, and now I seem to be stuck in some ways (the scale) but rapidly progressing in others (running, leg muscles, confidence). So ...since I'm sort of floundering, I'm turning to my lovely 100 lb. club friends for support (as I have so many times and probably always will).

I've been trying to catch up on all the threads, and I've lost track of some of them because I've had internet problems and been out of town so much lately. I think that's part of my problem, because 3FC always kept me on track.

Another problem is that I've been running so much that I'm constantly hungry. I think I need more food when I'm running this much, and honestly I'd rather cut down on the mileage and eat less so I could see some weight loss but I can't do that until after my half marathon.

So I'm rethinking my goals, and I want to see what you guys think.

My original goal was 165. I got to 171 a few weeks back, but since then it's been up and hovering around 175 (mostly because of overeating on vacation). I plan to try harder to stick to my calorie level (a slightly increased one to accommodate the running), but I'm not planning to work on weight loss until after my race (which is Sept 3). I'm worried about that idea because I don't want to get in the habit of maintaining before I'm at a weight that I WANT to maintain, you know?

After the race, I want to go back to the lower calorie level I was at when I was losing, and run about 20 miles a week instead of 30. The long runs over 10 miles are what have been killing me, much as I enjoy them in an insane way. At that time, I'll start going back to the weigh-in thread every Tuesday and updating my ticker like I did for a year straight, and I hope to reach my goal that way.

Another thing I've been thinking is that when I reach 165 I still want to lose some weight but I'll go on maintenance level calories (or slightly fewer) and refine my body through exercise.

Ok, so I'm just sort of thinking and rambly posting at the same time, but anyway -- I guess this is what I want from you guys: assurance that I can maintain for a few weeks without completely going off plan (I'm still SO afraid of that) and assurance that I WILL get back to weight loss after my race. Please don't let me go back to my old ways! Eek!

I'm positive that you won't! You've invested too much in yourself. You know you will run better if you continue eating well, and you want to provide an example to the kids you're coaching. Many of us have maintained for a bit before we start to lose the rest of the weight. For me, it's a little up, a little down, but never like it was before. I have every faith that you can do this!

Hi Lisa,

It took a lot of determination and hard work to lose 100 pounds. You are most certainly up to the challenge of maintaining that loss. Since you're feeling hunger,that would seem to be an indication that your body requires more fuel, so I'd eat more calories....healthy ones, of course.

Regarding your goal...and ignoring the number on the scales...how do you feel? Maybe 175 is a good weight for you? I think we sometimes get too focused on the scales and forget to look at our bodies and how they feel. Wasnt it Meg who said she still lost inches after she met goal due to the exercise. Maybe you can stay at 175 and look like you're 165 or lower?

We have faith in you...you can do this!

I want to echo some of what Rhonda said about your appearance, only I'm guessing you look like you currently weigh a lot less than 165.

Weight loss is only one facet of your life. Making and meeting fitness goals enhances that in so many ways, and makes it far less likely that you'll just start ramping up the weight again. Just like I know I will have to figure it out, you will have to figure out how you can maintain the weight without it being the one thing you're focusing on. Rather than subvert your journey, I think it's likely that this experience will enhance your journey and make it more likely to last a lifetime.

Having said that, however, I wonder how much it would hurt your running goals to tweak your food choices a little bit. Again, I agree with Rhonda. If your body is telling you that you need food, it is important to listen to it. However, I know that I have a really hard time listening to my body and understanding what it is saying. I'm sure you're better at that than I am, but maybe it wouldn't hurt to start your meals / snacks with some very low cal foods and start filling up on those first before moving to more satisfying (and higher cal) foods. Maybe then, you can achieve both of your goals simultaneously. Again, I don't think it's necessary to try and meet your weight loss goals while training for the half marathon, but it might be nice not to have to make choose between the goals.

Again, please know that you continue to be an inspiration to me. I remember you triumphantly reporting your first 10-mile run. How incredible it is to have the dilemma you're experiencing right now! Can you imagine discussing this a year ago? I know that you're strong enough to do this in any way that you decide to do it! And even if you never lost another pound, I know from your pictures and posts that you look and feel great where you are now.

Hi there. It's good to hear from you!!!

You have done such an amazing job. You have changed your life so very much - for the better. . I know you have been benefiting for quite some time now from your incredible weightloss and your running.

I think it sounds perfectly "normal" to want to put off the losing portion of this journey for a while. And I know FOR SURE you will pick it up again when you are ready. You're not going back to the old days and your old ways. You're just not. You're enjoying this new life that you've carved out for yourself too much and you're too smart to let it slip away.

I think the plan to cut back on your running is a good one - why in the world would you want to kill yourself? And I look forward to seeing that ticker move down - when YOU are ready for it to.

Good luck with that race come September 3. I'm VERY excited for you.

I don't have any words of wisdom about the race-running side of things, but I've been pondering similar issues this entire year. What IS my goal, etc....

You asked sort of a short term question and a long term question. I think personally, you shouldn't worry too much about weight in the short term. You have a very specific goal with the race and are unlikely to sabotage yourself when your focus is on that. But long term....

I have decided not to set any more weight goals now. My current goal is to fit comfortably in all the size 12 clothes I bought myself last spring (I can fit most of them... comfort is the next step!). Other goals have to do more with fitness and what I can do than with the scale. Oh sure, at some point my weight may move down lower, but right now I'm not setting that as a goal.

Of course, all of us are different and find we have different goals. I think in the long term, you should think about what kinds of goals are important for you. For some it's a number on the scale, others a clothing size, others what they can do --- or maybe a combination. I think if you are focused on SOME goal, whatever it is, and work toward that, then you will be fine. Maintenance is what YOU want it to be. That's the beauty of it. The other nice thing is that it's not like you have to decide right this second, or make a permanent decision.

If you're like me, you never paid much attention to your body before. Maybe now is the time to listen and see what it seems to want too!

Good luck and congrats!!

I think it's a matter of setting priorities. Your immediate priority has to be preparing your body for your race. Whatever it takes to train most efficiently is what you should do.

When the race is over then your priorities change. You've shown so much strength and determination in the past that I don't see why you can't do this. Actually, after such emphasis on your running you might actually enjoy focusing on the weight loss aspect for awhile.

I can't really relate yet as i'm nowhere near goal, but I do see myself having verrrrryyyyy similar issues down the road.

Only suggestion I have is maybe check out a message board for runners they may have better nutrition information/suggestions then most of us have when it comes to special training intake. I think runners world has a message board, and I know there is one at beginnertriathalete.com (yes I have been poking around those sites toying with the idea for the future)

My gut reaction is you're hungry for a reason so give yourself the energy for those runs!

I'm super impressed about your 1/2 M training. You so rock, and give a heavy girl hope.

I agree with the other posters when they say that you are too self-aware at this point to return to the "old" ways. In fact, maybe maintenance until after your race will kind of give your body a jump-start so when you lower your calories again afterward the pounds will go a little more freely. You've mentioned that you're hovering at a specific weight. Maybe your body is just needing to hang out there for a while and if you give in, maybe it will give in to you when the time comes. Keep it guessing, is my motto!

Oh my goodness, I really love you guys!! You already know that, but I just had to say it again!

Every one of these responses is not only encouraging but also thought-provoking and intelligent and everything I needed. You guys are incredible. Thank you so much for supporting me in these changes. You're right that I should listen to my body and give it more fuel if it needs it, and you're right that I can get back to weight loss when I need to. I guess I needed to hear it from you brilliant, wonderful folks before I believed it for myself!

Robin41, I think you're right about how I'll enjoy getting back to the weight loss aspect as a break from all this focus on running. As much as I love running, I think it'll be nice for running to be part of an exercise plan geared toward weight loss and muscle gain instead of running being the entire focus, as it has been for most of the summer.

Tricia, you made a good point about how my body may want to "hang out" at this weight for a while and I'll get a jump start when I change my eating. I'm looking forward to that jump start!

Laurie and Rhonda, I've considered the idea that my body may just WANT to be 175, but I do think I'll feel and look better at a lower weight. I look ok in my clothes (I certainly do NOT look ok without clothes!) but I know I can reach a healthier weight and be fitter than I am now, so I'll probably plug away for a bit longer.

Sheila and Robin, as always, thank you so much for the support. You've been two of my biggest inspirations on this board, and I'm sure you'll continue to be.

idealmuse, I love that you said I give a heavy girl hope! I still feel like I AM a heavy girl, though I guess I'm not compared to a year ago. And one of the most important things to me is to give hope to people who don't think they can change their lives.

wylleen, you've been a constant source of inspiration for me and I just want to thank you for all the wisdom and encouragement you provide here at 3FC. When I first had the idea to just concentrate on maintaining this weight for a bit longer before focusing on losing again, you're the first person I thought of, because I've seen how successful you've been at maintaining your loss.

Sorry to ramble so much again -- I just wanted to reply to all the great stuff you lovely ladies said!! You've helped me decide how to focus my goals and I feel much better about it all now!

LisaMarie, you are a silly goose! There is no way you're going to return to your old ways. Of course you're hungry, you are running 30 MILES PER WEEK!

I've been running/walking more and getting the run to be longer and the walk to be shorter, but I CAN NOT IMAGNINE that I'll ever be able to run ten miles without stopping. It's just not in my realm of possibility. But I keep thinking about you. You can do it. Maybe, just maybe, someday I'll be able to do it.