Oh my gosh, I can so identify with that! Here's to getting that 4-6 hours tomorrow!

__________________
Judy
Goal = <135, Current status = RIGHT ON TARGET!
Never give up. Never never never never give up -- Winston Churchill

I'm really feeling the struggle of shifting from losing to maintaining. It's really a fine line, 'cause I think since I'm at goal weight then I can relax a bit and not be quite as strict. But then when the scale doesn't go down any more, I kind of go into panic mode like this is the end and I'd better do something quick before I start gaining. That whole focus thing get's harder I think, once you get to maintainance. Then again, that's a good problem to have isn't it!

__________________
Dragonmom
155/123/130 (highest 175)

Lauri,
I went through the same thoughts when I first went to maintenance. I had religiously tracked everything I had eaten for over a year. I continued to do so for months after reaching goal. I was afraid that letting up and not watching so closely would be the end of the success. Eventually I eased up on the tracking (although I still go back to it fairly regularly).

Don't let my panic scare you. After a little over a year on maintenance I am still at or within 2-3 pounds of that goal mark. My most recent rants are because I am on one of those two pound upswings. Like everyone, I think I need the sun to come out -- literally. The gray days of winter make us all somewhat SAD and disgusted with the state of affairs. I would love to not only lose those two pounds, but I keep thinking about dropping another five just for insurance, to get my edge back, and to look really good for DS's wedding. I always do my best work when on a deadline.

__________________
Judy
Goal = <135, Current status = RIGHT ON TARGET!
Never give up. Never never never never give up -- Winston Churchill

Thank you BC for your words of wisdom. I think was really what I needed to hear. My body has been through a lot and losing 88 pounds in 19 months may have been a little fast. So, I'm not going to dwell on looking "skinny", I'm going to enjoy wearing a size 8 instead of a 24 1/2. We all seem to have the same problem now in not being able to get motivated. Hubby and I went to the meat draw at the Legion yesterday afternoon and I had a few drinks and then we went for Chinese Food for dinner. I think this is the first time I haven't felt guilty about going off low carb. That's not good. I'm up 1 1/2 lbs since yesterday which is probably water gain. I hate to see thqt 153 number but I know it will go down over the next couple of days. I have a whopper of a sinus infection with the sore eyes and pounding headache....the whole works. We all need sunshine to dry us up and give us happy thoughts. So, I thought maybe we should reflect on why we chose this woe and list a few of the wonderful things we have discovered since we have lost weight. Might give us a bit of incentive to scare us into not falling off the wagon and heading in the wrong direction. I'll start....please everyone....join in....
1. I don't have to heave myself out of chairs
2. I'm not embarrassed eating in front of everyone
3. size 8 not 24 1/2
4. more energy
5. I can walk into any store and find something to fit me
6. much healthier
7. I've discovered I really do love salad, not chips

I could go on and on, but I'm going to leave room for someone else to post. Next?

__________________
Donna
238.5/173.4/150
I will see my goal weight again

Donna! What a fabulous idea! Here's mine:
1. I'll go with that "heave out of a chair" one too!
2. I can cross my legs
3. I don't have to go to the "woman's" section of the store.
4. I don't have to buy "Queen" size pantyhose
5. I continue to be surprised by myself in the mirror!

I'll probably think of more, but here is a start! I'm killing time (and avoiding lesson planning) before confirmation class at 6:00 (it's 5:00 right now). I just went shopping and got the yarn and needles for my prayer shawl. I also got some new tablecloths and placemats for my "new" dining room. Yesterday was a tough writing day. But, now it's over for a couple of weeks. I don't have to preach next Sunday. My DH is busy working today too. Found out yesterday that his interim job is ending in May. Now he has to confront the realities of retirement (again). It will be interesting...I'll keep you updated.

Brenda: What a wonderful "turn of a phrase." I SO know what you mean! Thanks for that smile today. I am SO glad you are back. I have missed your wisdom!

Judy: I say blow off those little girls in the store! Geez! What a terrible thing to say! Don't listen, girlfriend. I suspect that you do NOT have a big butt, and they have small minds. (so there!)

I'm going to the Dentist tomorrow morning for an "aesthetic appt." He is going to evaluate my mouth to see if there is anything he can do to make it look better. (It's not bad, but it's definitely not the gorgeous piece of work that my girls' mouths are! (of course they cost me $$$$)

Peace, Peg

__________________
"Live the questions and some day you will live along into the answers."
Rainer Marie Rilke

Atkins since 2003
5'8" 206.4/197/175
65 years young

Oh, Donna, yup I do think we need a dose of gratitude and positive thinking.

1. I can wear colors and not stick with "slimming (what a crock) black.
2. I don't feel my butt bouncing a half beat behind me.
3. Pantyhose come all the way to my waist.
4. My thighs don't chafe.
5. I'm not always making excuses for having tell-tale chocolate stains on every shirt.



Yes, heavens, let there be sunshine and warmth soon and I think we'll all do sooooo much better!

Peg, how delightful to contemplate a new smile :eyes: I'd love to do that, too!

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Great idea with the grateful list!

1. I can now wear all those expensive pants in size 8 I bought just before I went nuts and gained 25 pounds! (I have to get expensive clothes to get the length I need in the legs....you'd think I was a stork or something as I'm all leg, with the dreaded saddlebags at the top!) Now they are even a little baggy!!
2. The knees don't hurt as much going up and down stairs.
3. While I do love those black clothes(matches my mood, especially in the winter), I know I CAN wear colors or even prints if I want to.
4. I know that I am going to stay healthier with this way of eating, than I would have eating the old way. Even though I seriously miss those chips, I don't HAVE to have them.
5. I do so love the compliments from other people on how great I look.(okay, so I'm shallow...sue me!)
Next...

__________________
Dragonmom
155/123/130 (highest 175)

Add me to the chorus of those wishing for some sunshine and warmth. We had a couple nice weather days this week and like the plant life I could just feel the sun pumping life into me. The seasons changing so closely corespond to my mood and general feelings of happiness and well being. IT's gotten to the point now that I don't even TRY to maintain anymore come late Fall and early Winter. I just try not to let myself fall too far and too fast until the new year when I harness every once of strength and recommit. Sheer force of will and determination carry me through until Spring, when the warmer and sunnnier days carry me through. Til fall that is when the cycle starts again.
In a way, the 'time off' in the fall and early winter gives me time to remember what it feels like to eat all the stuff I deny myself during the rest of the year. And also a chance to remember just how lousy it feels to be fat again......can't keep my shirt tucked in.....can't climb in the back of the mail truck to get a package or bundle of mail....how it feels to get out the 'big clothes'.......notice the way people look at my stomach knowiing they are wondering if I wasn't a lot skinnier a few months ago. For some reason it helps to remember these things again, before I can get myself moving things in the other direction. If you can maintain successfully over a long period of time you forget these things. It's the nature of the beast I think. That's why it's so hard. In a perfect world I wouldn't have to actually FEEL theese negative feelings again, I could just rememer them and not have to go through the yoyoing. AM I making any sense?
Anyway,........as for what I"ve learned..............
1. I feel MUCH better as a lean person. Not just physically, but mentally and even spiritually.
2. Although relatively simple, acheiving weight loss is not easy. It's one thing to know how to eat, and quite another to actually do it.
3. The feeling of success is fleeting. It's one thing to acheive a bf %. And quite another to feel like a success.

Oops! soory about that! After rereading the previous thread, I realize that my list should be things I am grateful for. DUH!! ok,


1. I can easily swing back into the mail truck to grab a package or bundle of mail.
2. I can run around the tennis court for a couple hours and have a gas!
3. Instead of feeling embarassed to wear shorts and tank tops in the summer, I actually look forward to it.

Sorry for the long winded dis-jointed and rambling post.

__________________
"Failure is not an option" ~ me


01-03-09 213/213/180
01-11-09 213/205/180
01-18-09 213/204/180
01-25-09 213/201/180
02-07-09 213/200/180
02-15-09 213/198/180
03-01-09 213/197/180
03-08-09 213/195/180
03-22-09 213/194/180
03-29-09 213/193/180
04-06-09 213/194/180
04-13-09 213/193/180
04-20=09 213/192/180

Like Peg, I think it's very nice to be able to cross my legs again!
I can park in a tight space and sqeeze out the door.
I don't have to snip the waistband of my pantyhose for comfort, and they last much, much longer.
I don't feel so conspicuous.
I can tuck in my shirts and still button my pants.
It's much easier to bend down or squat when I'm working in the yard without having to work around that big belly.
I don't avoid seeing my reflection in windows.

__________________
~~~Teelbee
Back to GOAL!!!
start weight: 176/goal range: 137-134/now: 138
Reached goal in Aug. 2003 - 4rd year of maintenance.

Isn't it funny teelbee, how many times we now like to look into windows and see what our reflection looks like? I'm guilty of that one. Thanks to everyone for their input...makes me want to keep at it. I still haven't moved from the pound and a half that I gained this weekend, but I'm going to keep at it.
What about : being called up in front of a group and knowing everyone is talking about you...but this time they are saying nice things.
: I love the idea of being able to wear bright colours..not black
: wanting to go for a walk
: wearing my family ring that I had put away cause of pudgy fingers
: SHOPPING!!!

__________________
Donna
238.5/173.4/150
I will see my goal weight again

Oh, I can so relate to all of you! It is so "not" shallow, Lauri, to enjoy getting a little positive attention. Shopping! Oh, Donna, if you only knew how how many years worth of clothes I bought in one six month period--eek!!! Yes, Teel and Peg--the joys of leg-crossing and Gregg, I don't deliver mail, but I suspect I could!

But I do also relate to your experience of maintenance, Gregg, although it has a little different flavor for everyone. I said here a couple of years ago, and I'm not sure anyone but zip (remember zip2play?) agreed with me at the time--anyway, I said that maintenance was the hardest thing I've ever done. It still is. Not that it's not worth the effort, but danged hard.

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Hi Gang!

Started my prayer shawl last night by "casting on" 63 stitches on my new "bamboo" needles. Today I started to knit and couldn't even get "in" to the stitches I had cast on. Ha! Had to redo it! Don't know if I'm purling correctly, but I'm plowing through. I'll take it to work with me tomorrow and have the "knitter expert" (one of my staff) look at it.

Tomorrow is a long day, so is Wednesday. Though I have to work tomorrow night so will stay over there all day and evening. Today when I had my car washed, they snapped off my radio antenna (arrghh!). I'm having that replaced on Thursday ($100.) On Friday morning we are driving to Rochester, NY for a meeting for DH. It's my alma mater (seminary). We'll stay over night and stay until noon on Saturday when we drive back. I'll do some knitting, some schmoozing and some listening. I joined an online downloading site for audio books. I spent this afternoon downloading "The Kite Runner," to listen to on the drive.

Eating is fine. I'm doing okay.
Peace, Peg

__________________
"Live the questions and some day you will live along into the answers."
Rainer Marie Rilke

Atkins since 2003
5'8" 206.4/197/175
65 years young

Gotta agree with you BC, maintenance is hard. But, I think now that I've decided to stay with this woe and I really watch my weight closely, I just might make it this time. I have people asking for my old clothes...but they are still bundled up in the basement just as a reminder. Last time I lost weight I gave them away and then had to replace them all. I'll keep them for a bit this time.
Peg, hope the drive went okay. I hate to hear of anyone going for long drives this time of year. Our snow is almost all gone now. Hope that was the last of it. It's a gorgeous sunny day here today even if it is very cold. The sun....I need, bad. Poor hubby didn't know what to make of me on Sunday...I was so miserable and not nice to be around. I should just go into hibernation for the winter and wake up smiling in the Spring. I have all kinds of plans for my garden this year and I think that's what's bugging me the most is I want to get busy with them. Patience is not one of my strong points!

__________________
Donna
238.5/173.4/150
I will see my goal weight again

Peg, sounds like you'll be busy, busy! Did you know I used to live in Rochester? A looooong time and another DH ago, LOL! Lived in Irondequoit, just off St. Paul. Good luck with the prayer shawl! It takes lots of prayers just to keep me from kniting when I should purl and vice versa.

Donna, the first year of maintenance wasn't so bad. I was still very cautious, like you, and still very full of my accomplishment. I just found that unlike some people, maintenance never became "easy" or "natural." I do have to be rather vigilant, and when I'm not I regret it.

Oh, that's ME!!! LOL, but I've been that way for months now. Sheesh! Glad you had sunshine today, though. Every ray helps.

to everyone else out there!

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

So, Brenda, you have one of those other DH's too, huh? Mine lives in PA now with his PYT (pretty young thing), oh and his 16 yo daughter. Meow. Our two daughters are now 35 and 37. Sorry, but I have to laugh. SO glad it's not me!
Peg
ps: We had 50's today and sun. Yay! It's supposed to be snow showers in Rochester this weekend. But, it's always snow showers in Rochester! We had snow in May in Rochester!

__________________
"Live the questions and some day you will live along into the answers."
Rainer Marie Rilke

Atkins since 2003
5'8" 206.4/197/175
65 years young