WGT LSS CHLNG Weigh In

[Pedal Wench]

Rambling thoughts.

I don't really have a weight problem. Sure, I could use to lose a few, but I'm not overweight, BMI is good, and my size is a single digit. That being said, this challenge has been an eye-opening experience. I've been watching what I eat religiously. I'm following a pretty hard-core training program. Riding every day with intervals, and long rides every weekend - at least 90 miles, usually over 100. Yet, my weight isn't moving at all.

People who have 20, 30, or 100 pounds to lose have my utmost respect and admiration. I'm seeing up, close and personal, how difficult weight loss can be. I'm working so hard, and seeing tiny results. Also, having watched every season of The Biggest Loser, I realize how extraordinary their results are.

Don't give up. I'm not. I'm just realizing how hard it is to see results, and 1 lb a week is pretty impressive.

Keep up the hard work.

[bambu101]

Thanks for the thoughts, PW. I think that people who do not have to lose weight don't appreciate how difficult it is. My skinny BF thinks it is as simple as eating 3 meals a day, not snacking, and exercising. We had a conversation about emotional eating or eating for reasons other than hunger, and he just could not comprehend that concept.

As far as I am concerned, maintaining my current weight is doing darn good for the next 2 weeks or so. We have to able to enjoy life once in while, right?

[Flybye]

Rambling thoughts.

I don't really have a weight problem. Sure, I could use to lose a few, but I'm not overweight, BMI is good, and my size is a single digit. That being said, this challenge has been an eye-opening experience. I've been watching what I eat religiously. I'm following a pretty hard-core training program. Riding every day with intervals, and long rides every weekend - at least 90 miles, usually over 100. Yet, my weight isn't moving at all.

People who have 20, 30, or 100 pounds to lose have my utmost respect and admiration. I'm seeing up, close and personal, how difficult weight loss can be. I'm working so hard, and seeing tiny results. Also, having watched every season of The Biggest Loser, I realize how extraordinary their results are.

Don't give up. I'm not. I'm just realizing how hard it is to see results, and 1 lb a week is pretty impressive.

Keep up the hard work.

Have I mentioned how much I like you????

I think you are right, it does take a lot to move the scale, even a pound. I think that the closer I get to a goal weight, the more difficult it becomes. For one thing, I look great. I get compliments from friends and turn a man's head now and then. I just want a few more pounds and I will be satisfied. I remember having about fifty to loose. It was so overwhelming that I really didn't want to get started at all.
The two best pieces of advice that I remember getting are as follows:

Take one day at a time and one meal at a time and to look at every choice of food during that day as an opportunity to either make a good choice or a bad choice.

Also had a sermon at church about winning the race that we set out to run. It had nothing to do with weight loss really, but I could apply it to weight loss or other challenges in life. The pastor pointed out how it is easy to start strong in a race, the adrenalin is there, the excitement, but where the real challenge lies is during the middle of the race where fatigue sets in, boredom, routine, frustration. That's where we need endurance. If we can get through the challenges, we can finish strong.

Both of those things have really fueled my weight loss.

With that said
Today's weight 154 and holding!!
I set out to lose 10, but don't think I'll get there. I'd have to lose six pounds this week, and I don't see that happening. I am NOT quitting, however, just realigning my expectations with reality!!!

[Tuckervill]

That is a very welcome acknowledgment of the struggle, PW.

What I'll acknowledge for you is that the closer you are to goal, the more fit and efficiently your body runs. That make it harder to get those last few pounds off.

I work out with a woman who has to be a size 2. She looks awesome compared to me and we're probably about the same age. She eats like a body-builder, really low fat, because she wants to get more weight off. I don't understand it. I would be thrilled to have that body plus 10 lbs. She does seem a little bit obsessed, but I love working out with her. She challenges me. I'm working up the nerve to ask her if she was really fat like me at one point. I would be so thrilled if she had been, but I don't want to have the knife in my heart if she wasn't. (I can't identify with people being as unsatisfied as she is if she's never been fat. My failing, not hers.)

So anyway, on my new scale my weight was 181.8 this morning. My son was away hanging with his brother the last 5 days, and my hub and I indulged in home-baked debauchery the whole time. Plus we had xmas with his family on Saturday. Back to the routine today.

Karen

[Starfish]

Pedal Wench and Flyebye, I really appreciate those posts.

I did a lot of eating this year. It was a huge year, and sometime last spring I realized I was not going to take off the weight very soon, and it wouldn't help to beat myself up. So, I decided to get through the summer, try to make my goal ride, and lose weight this fall.

Even though I made up my mind to be OK with not losing weight last spring and summer, I admit I was ASTOUNDED that I could work up to exercising, pretty hard, for 12-13 hours/week, included a ton of climbing & lactate threshold work, without losing a single pound...in fact, gaining weight through compulsive eating.

Now, I am working with a coach, counting every calorie, and vowing to lose weight by spring. I know from experience that once the hard training starts in the spring, forget dieting, for me...though I know I will have to watch it.

And, Flybye, thanks for your note about the sermon. It was an encouragement to me all the way around, weight-wise and otherwise.

[Flybye]

Pedal Wench and Flyebye, I really appreciate those posts.

And, Flybye, thanks for your note about the sermon. It was an encouragement to me all the way around, weight-wise and otherwise.

GO GET EM', SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday's weight, 152.4 which is absolutely fantastic, considering what I did this weekend........................... I am the one in the middle. We had so much fun and I sheepishly admit that I ate enough candy to feel sick

[GLC1968]

I admit I was ASTOUNDED that I could work up to exercising, pretty hard, for 12-13 hours/week, included a ton of climbing & lactate threshold work, without losing a single pound...in fact, gaining weight through compulsive eating.

Me too! I really ramped up my cycling this summer and managed to gain weight at an alarming pace. And before anyone makes the suggestion....there is no way that I gained 10 lbs of muscle. It's fat. I ate too much. Cycling was my excuse. Anyway...

There are some really well written and insightful posts here lately! Thanks to all who have contributed, it's really inspiring to me.

And for my update: I have to say that my new mindset really seems to be working for me. I've spent the last week trying to undo all the 'learning' I did over the past 10 years of weight struggles and I'm absolutely making progress. Yesterday I weighed in 2 lbs lighter than the previous Tuesday and that's pretty amazing considering that I baked over 40 dozen cookies this past weekend (and sampled all of them!). While I know I have some real challenges ahead of me, I do feel like I've turned a corner (so to speak). It's less about the food, and more about how I view both the food and myself and my journey. I won't make 10 lbs down by Christmas, but I am absolutely starting down the right path to be at least 10 lbs down by my 40th birthday in Feburary.

[Starfish]

I am absolutely starting down the right path to be at least 10 lbs down by my 40th birthday in Feburary.

Nice! It is a path, a journey. Good for you. Sounds like we have some similarities. I also have a birthday after the first of the year, and it seems like I am always trying to lose weight for it!

And Flybye, wow, a great picture!

[NoNo]

Haven't checked in in a while, but nothing much to report. Been keeping up with the exercising, and while the scale doesn't reflect it (122.3 this morning), the mirror does. I actually haven't been obsessing over what I'm eating like normal, and it doesn't appear to be hurting me. It's actually nice to have that freedom. This challenge has shown me it's not about the numbers so much as how I feel, and right now I feel great. In case I don't get near a computer, I hope everyone has a great holiday. Enjoy yourselves and your families!

Annette xx