Melissa, I think I catch your drift. We have threads for featherweights, for regainers back in the hunt again, for 300+, for 100+, for older dieters, and for every age group and interest. I wonder if it's time for a thread for "Lives in Balance" for those of us wedging in weight loss/maintenance along with all the other things our life brings, aren't going to sweat every 2oz blip on the scale, measure out each piece of pasta, or give up meeting friends for lunch because it would mean missing a workout. Intensity is great, and being around intense people is helpful when you're in that phase, but man ... the idea of spending the next 45-50 years like that doesn't appeal to me. I want to move beyond the micromanagement, y'know?

I'm a member of the Weirdo Club too. I just passed my 18-month weight loss journey anniversary and have around 30 pounds to go before getting to goal. I really thought I would have reached goal by now, but my brain and thyroid apparently don't agree:(

And now I'm stuck at or around this weight for the near future as I get help to break my binge habits (best thing I ever did for myself is to get help; already feeling so much enter). I went up in weight as I binged through October and November, but am back to where my ticker says I am - perhaps even a couple pounds lower. I'm not supposed to weigh myself during treatment so I'm not 100% sure. Will know for certain on 3/1 when I participate in our company's annual health assessment.

But I'm proud that I'm still trying. I'm not giving up this time, not ever. I will get there. And stay there.

Please continue to post occasionally. I always enjoyed your posts and your absence has been noticeable, believe it or not. I don't have time to post as regularly as I did, but I always enjoy reading the posts of the long-timers who are familiar to me.

I am so with you! I am too old, and really don't want to, obsessively count, weigh and measure. I just want to live my life. This last fall I went on vaca with a girlfriend for a week. I did not weigh myself daily as I do at home. I ate what I wanted, drank what I wanted, but within reason. I expected to have gained a few lbs. But no, I came home and was perfect. Now, if I could only find that happy place again! I think it was because I was very relaxed rather than the crazily, anxious, somewhat obsessive person that I am at home. Anxiety does a number on me and on the scale! :(

And Melissa, you certainly have a place here or wherever you choose to post! I really appreciate your down to earth advice and comments. :) I don't think that any of us should feel like we have to "fit" into a specific category. Me, I'm just a 50 year old gal that's "fakin' it 'til I make it". Maintaining? Attempting to! Currently I'm up and I don't like it--it seems to be sticking. Boo!

Melissa , come on over to the Living Maintenance Forum , there are several threads there you might like.
First let me say this......YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE AT GOAL TO BE A MAINTAINER !!!!!
If you have lost one pound and kept it off you are a maintainer.
On the Living Maintenance Forum, you will find people trying to get to goal, you will find people that have made goal and relapsed, you will find people at goal trying to stay there. We are just ordinary people trying our best to get to or maintain a healthy weight. We have no rules, come on over and check us out.

I was soo happy to see your posts when you came back!!!!

I can relate to your struggles. I have been at this weight loss thing for over two years. After I hit my original goal I decided I need to go 10lbs lower and I have been on and off for the past 14 months trying to get there. Yet here I sit, 12lbs heavier today than I was a year ago. I am recommitted to getting back to my original goal and finally taking off those extra pounds. I do visit the site, not as much as in the past but I read posts to try and keep me on track. I don't post much except in the 40 something forum but I know this site played an important part in my weight loss success in the past so I still like hanging around.
WELCOME BACK!!! So glad to see ya.

You're not alone. Other posters and myself feel the same way. It's life. Ups and downs. *hug* I don't know what to say except I understand.

Oh Bargoo, I just can't. Its a mental thing in my head that I have to have reached my goal to be able to call myself a maintainer or 'post' as a maintainer.

I know that's not what the forum is about and that any can call themselves a maintainer, but for me, it's like this privilege I finally get to do when I officially make it to goal. Whatever that goal might be.

Ah, thank you everyone. I guess we need a pretty big homeless shelter, huh?

A question to think about - how will your life look and be different once you are "officially" (by the definition that you are comfortable with) maintaining? Will you be eating differently? Exercising more? or less?

You don't have to be homeless , you are welcome to join us at Living Maintenance Forum where we share ideas and cheer each other on,

I will be doing the same - eating the same and exercising the same - with the occasional high days around holidays, etc - like now.

That's pretty much what I expected the answer to be. But maybe between this thread and your other one, you'll be closer to the point of feeling comfortable considering yourself a maintainer sooner rather than later.

I for one am very impressed to come back here a year+ later after regaining most of what Iost, and see you still plugging away. Losing the weight and maintaining it - yeah, that's the holy grail of weight loss. But the sheer determination you continue to show is impressive and inspiring.

Is there room in the boat for me, too? :wave:

I've been at this for almost 2 years, and I really thought I'd be at goal before now. The last 4-5 months have been very frustrating - I started fluctuating, all the way to 6 pounds over my low weight. It seems my thyroid (or rather doctor) were to blame. He lowered my Synthroid dose in July. My bloodwork at the beginning of this month was off enough that I'm back on my old dose. I've lost 3 pounds in the 2 weeks since he bumped my dose back up, so I'm hopeful I'm back on a losing track. :crossed: