Diva....I'll try to locate where I found out about the calorie intake. I've read soooo much the last few months, it's really hard to keep track. I'll post it for you tho as soon as I figure out where I learned about it.

Another thing that I have learned and failed to mention is that overeating is my problem period. Realizing that, I have to also realize that even if I'm eating something healthy like carrots or broccoli or whatever, that's no excuse to eat past full. I'm supposed to be eating to live, not living to eat. If I'm not hungry, there is NO excuse for eating whether it's healthy, lowfat, or anything else. I'm not to that point yet where I ONLY eat when hungry, but it's what I'm working toward.

Miki

A plan I can LIVE WITH!!!
 

It was great, MikiG, to hear about the method you are using. I decided a long time ago that if I ever lost weight AGAIN, it would not be because I drove myself crazy with forbidden foods, stomach pain because of hunger, and strict structure. I wanted to find a way of eating that I could LIVE WITH!! I have been hovering between 165-175 for the last two or three years, trying to develop some kind of relationship with food where I didn't keep getting bigger, but clothes in the store not fitting or looking good, pictures of me looking fat and old (I'm 47), a memory of being considerably smaller and more attractive, and a creeping up of my blood pressure numbers has made me decide that hovering is not what I want to do anymore. I'd really like to weigh 140. I've been as low as 122--too skinny for my large, muscular frame. I just haven't been able to motivate myself to kick it up one notch--reducing my sweets just a little more, making those portions just a little bit smaller, and exercising just a little longer and more consistently. I only found this site a few days ago because I felt so frustrated with the whole thing, and it's stories like yours and the other ladies on this thread and others I've contributed to since I joined that are motivating me a day at a time. For me, I think it's going to be small changes all the way. I was wondering if anyone had a similar relationship to the scale that I do. I have found that if I weigh myself too often--for me even once a week is too much--not losing makes me sad and then I eat, and losing makes me feel smug--and then I eat and gain it back. I've been trying not to weigh for several weeks--rather pay attention to keeping reasonable habits. When I do weigh, there's not so much self-esteem wrapped up in the number, and usually I've done better than I thought I did!! Thanks to everyone on this thread for your sharing your struggles and inspirational stories. They have given me "newinspiration"!!!:)

Hey there Newinspiration.. again. :wave: I have had the same trouble with the scales. If you start reading around, there are scads of us here who fight the scale monster. I tried different approaches, from weighing once a week to weighing once a month to daily... I find I'm happiest when I weigh daily, but record once a week. If I don't weigh myself, I feel out of control. It's taken a while - months - of using fitday.com to track my food and weighing daily to understand that I CAN eat and still lose weight. And also to understand that I have a pattern of fluctuation, and that pattern can be totally thrown off by a meal with a lot of sodium, or some particularly tough weight workouts during the week, or my period... any number of things. I am slowly learning to accept the number for what it is. One piece of the puzzle which gives me an indication as to whether my eating plan is a good one or not. But it's only ONE. I also measure, and use photos. Not to mention eyeballing myself in the mirror on a regular basis to see if that muscle or this muscle has defined itself a little more than before that last workout. And I am slowly beginning to accept that for a person who works out fairly intensly, 1200 calories will only wear me down, not help me lose weight. I had to pop my calories up to around 1500-1600 a day to start losing weight again, and that freaked me out completely. But I'm ok now! Sort of. :D It's all about learning.

The scales are a problem with me also. I seem to be addicted to them when I'm trying to lose weight. I cannot walk past them without weighing. Even when I know I've eaten right and exercised all week, if I dont show a loss on Friday, I get frustrated and discouraged. So far, this time around, I havent given up....I just tell myself to ignore it and keep on track anyway. It's like if I dont check often, that I might be gaining and not know it so I panic about that too. I've considered putting them up out of sight for at least 2 weeks but so far havent been able to do that. I know it's crazy to let a stupid scale judge me even when I know I havent done anything wrong foodwise. I do need to work on that.

::does her lil happy dance::
 

Paula,
That is absolutley wonderful! You keep up the great work. I'm so proud of you.

I did it!!!!!!!
 

Finally!!! I can actually say I weigh ONE hundred and something. I admit it's BARELY under but thats ok. Friday is my official weigh-in and this morning I was finally at 199!! Scale had been stuck between 200 and 205 for a month now! Needless to say, I'm very excited and motivated again!

Miki

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
 

MikiG--Congratulations on your 199! I know it's been a great struggle. Keep up the good work. I've been discouraged the last couple of days. You've given me "newinspiration"!!:) :)

Miki!!! Welcome to ONE-derland!!! I dropped into that category not too long ago myself, and I was overjoyed. Congratulations, and :bravo: for all your hard work!

Thanks everybody! I'm thrilled too but I did eat too much today so if I dont watch it, I'll be right back up there. Just not fair that it's so much easier and faster to put on than take off.:dizzy:

Miki

Stick with it, MikiG, you can do it! Yes, it's harder to take off than put on. I'm having trouble getting my number to move at all! I'm going to take your success as my "newinspiration". I'm not giving up, though it can be tempting at times to do so!!:)

Under 200
 

Way to go, Paula! I know just how you feel, it is my present goal, too. there is a big gap between 200 and 199! I have not been getting there, wither so I've joined this group today in hopes of some inspiration, and you've supplied a lot right in the first post I've read! Good luck to you... cross your fingers for me, please!
H.

way to go miki . ihave a long way to go 200. i am doing ww and lost 3.4 yesterday. i'll be glad get mmy first 10 o/o.
:) glen

Thanks Glen. You'll get there too I'm sure. I started out at 242 and made it so you can too. I see we have the same goal weight. Now THATS when I'll REALLY be excited!

Good Job Miki! You've come along way and I know you can make it! Good luck!

Beth

SW 200
CW 156
GW 125

under 200
 

Way to go! That is great that you are under 200...I am currently at 228.5 down from 239 and my first big goal is to get under 200... I will feel so good once I can say that I no longer weight 200 or over, it will be a long journey as far as we have to go but it will so be worth it ...:)