Head Trips

[Mab]

I have been working on eating LC for about 7 months now.
Things were going well, meaning the weight was coming off quickly.
I have stalled and then started going off plan and then back on again.
I want some advise on thought processes....so I can stay on this for the rest of my life and get out of my "diet thoughts". Some may have seen me around before with this same issue.
Here's what I would like to know (this week!):
How often would you recommend weighing yourself? (I do it two times a day)
How have you set your goals? Do you think in big #s, like I have a hundred pounds to lose? Or do you set smaller goals, like I have 10 pounds to lose and then when it is met set another goal?
Trying to psych myself out so I can get the mental to go with the physical. Has been a challenge for me out of nowhere, but I am starting to understand that I need to change my thought process to be successful on any WOL/WOE.
Thanks in advance for the help!

[Lawbooks]

Mab,
I can totally sympathize! I have been where you are right now and I can sense your frustration...
First of all, you weigh yourself 2 times a day???!!
That is a BIG no-no!
The ONLY time you should weigh yourself is first thing in the morning, after using the bathroom, but before showering, without any clothes on. That is your true weight.
Anything after that is affected by:
clothing, foods you eat, humidity and air temperature (causing water retention), how much you drink, any exercise you do -- even incidental exercise, and hormonal activity.
For your own sanity -- at this point in your woe (way of eating) -- you really should only weigh about once per week, say every Friday morning.

I think that when you have a lot of weight to lose, you should break it up into smaller, more reasonable goals. Otherwise, you are looking at a large figure and tend to get discouraged. I think you should opt for 15 or 20 pound increment goals.

I wrote this post several years ago when I was feeling JUST as you are right now:
WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE QUITTING...
I still go back to the Newbies forum, periodically, and re-read it as it is a good reminder!
I truly hope this helps,

[CarolynInTexas]

I also agree about not weighing more than once a week, and breaking that goal down to managable goals....10 lbs, 10 percent, what ever you feel comfortable.

I am back on induction after a year and half of pussyfooting around with my foods....I will weigh in on tuesdays at the gym, I don't have a scale at home

When I weigh tomorrow I am going to go for 10 percent of my weight as my first major goal....and will be happy with all the little incriments that happen along the way...

c

[hdyhouse]

Mab, when you are losing weight, there is a big temptation to weigh more frequently and get that positive reinforcement. However, the down side is that when you don't see a movement, or worse yet you see a small gain, the tendency is to think the WOE is not working and to go off plan. I agree with Summer, you should not weigh more than once a week and always under the same or nearly the same conditions so that you can get a meaningful comparison. After encountering a number of stalls, I can tell you that the thing that kept me on track was a mental recognition that stalls were a regular part of the process and that since I was doing this as a WOE for the rest of my life, the stall did not matter. I am not in a race, any "goal" that I set is purely an artificial creation and does not reflect the improvements to my health that I have seen. I set an overall goal of what I thought I would like to lose without looking emaciated. As I approached that goal, I realized that I could lose even more without any adverse physical effects. I then lowered my "goal". I have done that each time I have approach the new goal and evaluated how I looked at that time. Since this is a lifestyle approach, I simply committed myself to follow it regardless of how much I weighed. It only took me 40 years to find a WOE that worked for me and I am not about to throw it away regardless of the ups and downs along the way. Good Luck on your journey.

[LesLy]

hey guys!

Well.. I try to weight every week, but dont do it in the mornings, sometimes i do it after i eat LOL!! NOT good...I know.. Its just my head messing with me. Sometimes i do it more than once a week but i dont record it, its just for my own crazyness (or sanity dont know) I only record it once a week and thats it!!

As far as goals go, when i started this woe I desperately wanted to get down to a size 18 which was the one I had been for as long as I can remember, (probably since middle school) and in January (a month after i started this) I decided that I wanted to get down to 200 lbs (started at 275) and not only that.. i wanted it by my bday (the 26th of next month) Well... even some websites said that my goal was kind of unrealistic, i only had 5 mo. to lose 60lbs, well... I'm a little bit more than a month away and 11lbs away from my goal. (and btw, starting to buy size 14, ain't it crazy??)

So... my point is.. it doesnt matter if you goal is small or big-HAVE A GOAL; And have a positive attitude, DONT weigh everyday; and keep it up!!!! Think you're doing great!!


ps. dont know what my next goal is gonna be.. guess 150 but we'll see.. i dont want to dissapear either hahaha

[Mab]

Wow. Can't thank you enough for all of the great advise. I really liked the link to the when you feel like quitting entry. I printed it out to put in my bag so I have it with me everywhere I go.

So I was traveling and in meetings all day yesterday and did not have a chance to check the forum. Imagine my delight when I had a moment to check it this morning and there was all of this great support and advise.

Weighing myself is a habit and an issue I had long before I was overweight. I honestly don't think that I can only weigh myself once a week at this point. I think I will try weaning myself off of it, unless you all advise to just go cold turkey on this. It was so rewarding when I would see the scale go down almost everyday. Since I have hit this plateau and hit it hard the scale is definitely "my enemy" right now.

On a really good note, I had several people approach me yesterday and tell me how great I looked. (Not tooting my own horn, just nice to have the recognition.) One woman that I do not know very well came up to me and said in my ear, "Had to buy all new clothes didn't ya?" and winked at me. A personal trainer came up to me and said, "your doing great, looking great and full of energy give me a high five I'm really proud of you." This was really rewarding.

So, cold turkey on the scale or weaning myself off?

Mab

[Lawbooks]

Mab,
I don't have a problem with you weighing yourself everyday -- especially as long as you are losing steadily. But if you have a lot of weight to lose, you are bound to hit a plateau at some point and that is when weighing yourself too frequently can have negative consequences. It really messes with your head to see the scale stalled for days or weeks at a time! That is when you need to back off to once a week or even every other week.
For now, weighing once a day is fine; just make sure you do it first thing in the morning before eating.
And go ahead and toot your own horn! You deserve it! You are doing GREAT!!! :jump:
Keep up the good work,
Summer

[Aspiringsexymom78]

[Aspiringsexymom78]

Hey MAB,

I can totally relate. I weigh myself everyday and the scale goes up and down all week long. But I know that it will do that so it doesn't bother me. Don't give in to the mind trips. Just know that other people are noticing your progress and I am sure if they are noticing your clothes are getting bigger too (you had to buy new ones!) These are the rewards to make you stay on track not the scale weight. Besides women loose inches and men loose pounds it is a gender thing. Just know that those inches will build up and turn into pounds one day once your body catches up with all of the changes. Make sure you are exercising at least 1/2 hour 3 days a week. I don't condone cheating, but when you want to cheat don't cheat because of what the scale says cheat small if you can't resist, but get right back on. I took pictures this weekend and I could see the difference. Before those pictures I was staying on track but always in the back of my mind wondering when will it pay off! All the while people were saying you look like you are losing weight and I was still unsure because I didn't have a personal confirmation until the pictures. Now I am so glad I stayed focused. My point is stay with it. Stay on track. YOU WILL SEE RESULTS LATER DOWN THE LINE AND THEY WILL BE MUCH MORE REWARDING THAN A SMALLER SCALE WEIGHT!

HANG IN THERE HONEY, THIS TOO SHALL PASS! (SORRY WORDS FROM A MOM)

[Mab]

Sexy Mom,
Thanks for the advise and kind words. Truly appreciated. I like getting "words from a mom"!

Summer,
Thanks for the feedback. I will stop being compulsive and will do one a day weighing. I think if I really push it, I could go to every other day, but one step at a time. LOL!

This forum has been a total blessing for me. I had lurked around on my lunch breaks and watched what others were going through. Glad I decided to log on and get all of this fabulous help for myself! Just hope I can give back as much as I get!

[Goddess]

Mab- The biggest thing to remember with the scale stuff is being aware of what helps you. I suspect the multi-daily weighing is not. And what you're saying confirms that to me...And anytime someone says they would have difficulty reigning in a habit, I find my eyebrow cock a bit, and go, "Hmmmmm." Worked in detox too long, I guess. That, and I remember what I said about bread and sugar before I started low-carbing! Something to think about.

For an experiment, you might try to go several days without weighing, and see how that impacts your motivation/progress. What I AM hearing without confusion, though, is that the current frequency of weighing is keeping you focused on the scale and when it's not moving, it's NOT motivating or helping you. Instead, it's starting a vicious cycle where you're depressed about the scale, you munch, it keeps the scale from going, you feel depressed about it, go to beginning. you know?

It's keeping your head in the "right now" and not in the long term, which is where, ultimately, you'll want to switch.

For me, I find it helpful to have several measures of progress and mix and match. Maybe you could weigh in one day, take your inches another day, measure with ketosticks (if you use them) another day, and try on some old clothing another day.

And if you are in a time when you've decided not to weigh in and you feel the urge, maybe you could go for a walk, pick up the house, whatever. I find physical activity helps me a lot burning off anxiety. Walking outside and gardening are my two favorite activities that way, but if I get stressed at someone in my family or something, my house ends up sparkling!

Remember, there isn't a right way or wrong way to do it. It's about what helps you feel good and what doesn't. That's it. Your job is consistently try to make solid choices and do whatever you can to help yourself feel encouraged and happy. THAT makes it lots easier.

By weighing in several times I day, it seems like you're not trusting the process and giving yourself extra opportunities to feel crummy. Fact is, it's simply not reasonable to expect the pounds to drop away all day, every day. It's nice, but you are often best off focusing on the process and letting the goals fall into place as you follow the process.

Personally, I also like a combo mix of long-term and short-term goals. My short-term goals are usually getting into the next new "decade" as they call it- i.e. from 180's to 170's, etc., going down the next size, eating on plan for a whole day, 3 days or week, getting exercise 2 times a week, etc. With the very achievable short-term goals, it's easier to maintain a sense of doing well that keeps you interested for the long haul. It also brings the same results without feeling like you're stuck working on things "forever" to see any progress.

Let us know how it goes for you, and if you manage to cut your weighing compulsions down a bit.

Peace out.

[Mab]

Goddess,
As always thanks for the help. You really are helping me switch my thought processes up. Still waiting for my Dr. Phil book to arrive!
I weighed myself once yesterday when I first got up. I weighed myself today at the same time. So trying to do once a day with the thought of going to once a week.
I am finding it interesting that when I started this process my head was on straight. It wasn't about losing weight for the short term, I started this as a WOL. Forever, not temporarily.
But then I lost 40 pounds and I let my thoughts get away with me and started thinking DIET not WOE.
I like what you advised and you are right. If I can give up bread and chocolate, the scale is going to be easy to let go of in the scheme of things....
This site has been fantastic for me in terms of not only support, advice, recipes, etc. but in making friendships and helping me to know that I am not in this struggle alone. Thanks to all who are helping me along the way!

[Goddess]

Originally Posted by Mab

I weighed myself once yesterday when I first got up. I weighed myself today at the same time. So trying to do once a day with the thought of going to once a week.

that sounds like progress!

I am finding it interesting that when I started this process my head was on straight. It wasn't about losing weight for the short term, I started this as a WOL. Forever, not temporarily.
But then I lost 40 pounds and I let my thoughts get away with me and started thinking DIET not WOE.

i know what you're talking about. at first, it's so clear cut and easy. and it's such a change from what you ate before, the weight seems to melt away. after a while, it takes more dedication to get results. it takes less food to gain. it's not as new anymore. you start thinking, "when am i going to be done?" and while you know there is no "done," you also don't want to feel the need for strict vigilence forever. it's easy to get sloppy.

This site has been fantastic for me in terms of not only support, advice, recipes, etc. but in making friendships and helping me to know that I am not in this struggle alone. Thanks to all who are helping me along the way!

i'm glad to hear you're finding the site helpful. i found this site when i was somewhere around 30 pounds down myself, and i know had i not gotten the info here from somewhere, i don't think i would have managed it a lot further. it's been a godsend to me, which is why i stayed.

and i think the people here are tops. i'm glad you've joined us, too.

awwww. warm fuzzy time!!

[Mab]

I had posted somewhere else today that I had a nice thrill yesterday.
Although the scale is not moving, I went down a size for tops. It was a nice reinforcement for me that the hard work is paying off.
I know I feel good and that should be enough but still looking for that outside reinforcement every once and a while.
This site has been a godsend for me the last few weeks. It was really difficult for me, but thanks to some of the new friends I have made, I made it through and have stayed on plan.
That is exciting!