First, a disclaimer!

1. Like marriage, I am in this for the long haul. For LIFE, baby! I'll eat all the carbs I want in heaven!

2. I know this is not the Grand Prix, and that is good because I think I'm more geared for soap box racing!

I am soo discouraged as I seem to struggle with the last five pounds to put me at goal. I saw 137.5 (fleetingly!), but like two 3 year olds on a teeter totter my scale flucuates from 138-141.

I don't want to get so discouraged that I eat whatever I want, because that is what made be fat to begin with. Though, I noticed this week, this is EXACTLY what I did. Two pieces of bread this week and sugar in the sauce on the chicken last night. YIKES!

Well, I had a talk with myself and have made a committment not to fall back on bad habits. I know that maintaining a healthier lifestyle and weight is much better then seeing the scale go up like the mercury in Arizona's heat!

Thank you for letting me bend your ear.

I guess what I am looking for is any suggestions for those last pounds.

I do use 1/2 & 1/2 in my coffee. I limit this to 4 tablespoons a day.

I drink about 100 ozs of water daily.

A typical menu:

Breakfast: 2 hard boiled or fried eggs & coffee w/ 1/2 & 1/2

or

Green beans (Yum!)

Snack: coffee w/ cream, & 1 oz cheese or almonds

Lunch: Green salad w/ cucumbers, green peppers, ranch dressing

Dinner: Whatever meat the family is having & Green beans or other green veggie, and sometimes a salad too

I walk 45 minutes a day, 4-5 days a week.

Any advice would be incredibly appreciated.

Also, I haven't journaled, though am interested in starting.

& I don't count every carb, I just ball park it.

Help!!!

Oh and here are my stats:

158/140/135

Highest weight 188 (heavy 14)

Now a size 7!!!

Your menu looks pretty good to me. You might start adding some fruit in there as well. I was advised to use milk instead of cream for my coffee because of the lower calories. Journaling is a great tool although its a bit of a pain at first. After a while though it becomes much easier. I only did it for 1 month during the last few pounds but I was able to find what worked for me and what stalled me.

You are getting good exercize but maybe if you add variation to your routine you could jump start your loss. Our bodies like to expend as little energy as possible so they will adjust to routines quickly. Add some strength training, even if it is at home with some 5 pound weights. Walk slow one day and then speed walk another two. Just mix it up a bit.

You might also be at a set point. I was at 120 pounds. I mixed up my routines and eating and before I knew it I was losing at a faster pace than I had been for quite some time. Also, think of it this way, I'd rather maintain than add pounds again. If you give into discouragement, that is what will likely happen.

Good luck!

Red
7/24/02
186/109/110
Size 16W to size 2

Crys, you have done so well. Wow, your a size 7. You are so, so close. Wait, heres a idea: Why don't you fake it til you make it. No really lie (Im a christian I shouldn't tell folks to lie, bad me). Honestly what is five pounds,nothing; don't let it become something. Your giving it way to much energy and power. You said this is a way of life so just take it as that. Go do everything you said you were going to do at Goal. I hope you understand what Im trying so hard to say here. You should be cheering for yourself, feeling proud of you hard work, dreaming of new jeans and dresses and just feelin on top of the world, do that. Take back your thunder, God Bless you.

If God is for me, who can be againist me?

Crys, I think your menu looks very good.

It is hard to lose those last 10 pounds! I had to tweak my eating plan to increase veggies and decrease protein and fat portions.

And, perhaps Hartensia is right - maybe you don't need to lose more weight? Have you checked your BMI lately? If you already have a low BMI or % body fat ratio, it will be more difficult to lose weight. Here's one calculator that I like, though you have to skip the dietary values (won't let you enter low carb fat/protein/carb percents). But it takes age, frame size, and activity into account, so that's good.

http://ibw.dietitian.com/ibw.exe

here's another:

http://www.caloriesperhour.com/index_burn.html

If you find you are at the low end of the recommended BMI, possibly consider if it isn't time to move into maintenance.

~~~Teelbee

174 (Mar. 2002, highest weight), 164 (Jan. 2003, begin LC)
164/133/137-134
remember, amateurs built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic

Red ~ Thank you for your wisdom! I think I will switch to 2% milk. When you journal - do you journal food intake, water consumption, and excercise? Anything more?

You have done INCREDIBLE!

Hartensia ~ Thank you for giving me back my thunder !

I love your attitude!

Teelbee ~ Thanks for the great links. They were veryyyy helpful!

At 140, my BMI is 21.9. Goal of 135 would put me at 21.1. They say that the healthy normal range is 19.1 - 25.8. What do you think?

When I lost a lot of weight over a year ago, I know my body resisted losing anymore. That was at 153. I couldn't do anything to get below that. Oh this was also on the dread low cal/ low fat diet. In frustration, months later I was at 158. Then ((whewww..lol)) I found Atkins & blasted through that. Perhaps my body is just being stubborn and trying to establish a set point when I'm not ready?

Oh and YOU GO GIRL! Look at those stats! ((Cat Whistle))...lol!

Thank you for your kind words & advice! I really appreciate them!

Crys

Strength training (lifting weights), Crys. I'd be willing to bet that's all you'd need to do.



BC
172/108/108
Zone since 4/98

I would agree with Brenda on the weight training! Also, make sure you get protein in the mornings! Great job girl!

Monica

Crys, at a size 7, you really must be in good shape, and looking good, too. But I DO empathize with your goal-seeking.

I saw 138 "fleetingly" as well, but generally hover at 140-142. Can I ever, ever, ever get to that elusive 135??? Just to say I did??

Well, maybe this is Nature's way of keeping me on track--always "not quite there yet." I really think there's something to that set point theory.

Exercise is always a good thing. I'm a faithful exerciser, weights and cardio. Upping the cardio recently helped me get to that fleeting low, and I intend to keep doing that.

I still prefer heavy cream for my coffee. I don't use much of it, and it is virtually carb-free. Those calories are worth it to me!

Barb L.
Started Atkins January 2003
162/135/140

Crys,
Thanks for your enthusiastic response. I feel great!

I only journalled food intake but if you wanted to have more info you could certainly journal water and exercize. Maybe you could pick up trends with these other factors that will help you with maintenance.

Red
7/24/02
186/109/110
Size 16W to size 2

Oh Barb! I hear you - 135 seems as elusive as the Easter Bunny!

Crys

Hi Crys,

I'm right there with you. I've been on these last 5 lbs. for quite a while. Right now I'm concentrating on the journey. I might slip right past my goal and not even notice!! (yeah, right)

I started weights about 6 weeks ago, and I'm really pleased with the results. I've also gone off the Atkins to a different way of eating. LOTS more carbs and way less fat. Like I said, so far, so good. I didn't add up your calories, but it looks pretty low. Sometimes a diet needs a little shaking up, by going up!! Maybe every few days, and then your body doesn't think it's in starvation mode, and will kick up the metabolism a bit.

Maybe shoot for 130, and you'll drop down to 135. I think the mind is incredibly important in all of this. Anyway, congrats on the hard work so far!

Here's to the last 5...

John

July 03, 2003
202/172.5/170

Don't drive yourself nuts over the last five pounds. Just appreciate where you are now, compared to where you were and where you would be if you weren't eating this way. Five pounds from goal weight is good enough. Just keep eating the way you are now and some day, when you least expect it, it will come off. Remember the saying about Watched pots, and all that business.

**************
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door."