September/October weight loss challenge

[Veronica]

Anyone else struggling with this stuff?

Susan

All the time. That's why I posted this.

For me it's all about trying to balance my sweet tooth - fortunately I want nothing to do with fast food anymore! - with my desire to be as lean as possible. I do weigh myself every day. It helps me stay on track and if I'm up a pound, I eat REALLY clean that day. At 5'5" and 120 pounds of lean mass, I'll never be light. That's a real issue when you want to be a good triathlete. Right now I'm at 143 pounds. I'm making some small changes to drop to 139 by April. That will put me at 14% body fat, which is about as low as I want to go.

You might think about doing some weight work. Muscles do use up more calories and they look good.

Veronica

[Susan Otcenas]

Thanks V. I appreciate it. And I hadn't seen your previous post, so it was good to read. Sometimes, when we struggle like this, it's hard to remember that others around us have been in/are in the same place and that we shouldn't feel like failures when we aren't perfect (which is how I feel at times when I get down on myself about this.)

[Veronica]

.....it's hard to remember that others around us have been in/are in the same place and that we shouldn't feel like failures when we aren't perfect (which is how I feel at times when I get down on myself about this.)

OMG - you should so totally NOT feel like a failure! You just completed PBP. Do you know how freakin' awesome that is?! You just have to apply that same sense of failure is not an option. Trouble is, unlike PBP, maintaining a healthy weight is a lifetime commitment.

Veronica

[Susan Otcenas]

OMG - you should so totally NOT feel like a failure! You just completed PBP. Do you know how freakin' awesome that is?! You just have to apply that same sense of failure is not an option.

Yeah, which is why it's pretty messed up, eh? GLC pointed out to me that I don't lack discipline; it's just that I focused my discipline in a different direction this year (ie. putting in the miles for PBP).

Now, if only I can make myself truly believe it.

Susan

[Tri Girl]

I struggle with it ALL the time, Susan. I lost 35 lbs in 2005, and have since gained back 45. Ugh. Talk about disgusted with myself!! I'm now 10 lbs heavier than when I joined WW the first time. You're NOT alone! Granted, I train WAY more now than before when I was barely working out and just doing WW, but still. I would love to drop 15 and still be a tad overweight, but healthier. Am going to try and will join the challenge- but not until after my Ironman in 3 weeks.

And yeah, you just did PBP- you are AMAZING!!!!!

And GLC is right. I was super disciplined before on losing weight. Now my focus is on IM and the training that goes along with it. Too hard to do too many things at one time that require extreme focus.

[maillotpois]

Oh Susan - that story is all too familiar. Thanks for sharing that. I find it really easy to backslide, almost more so when I am riding super long distances. The urge to "relax" too much when I am done with a ride can sometimes be too great.

Between December of last year and May or this year, I lost 30 pounds. Mostly with WW (I really do like their new program).

But.... this summer, I let my summer vacation extend itself a little too much, lost a little focus, let my guard down a little, enjoyed a little too much IPA, and I'm up about 10 pounds from where I was in May.

So.... I am in for the challenge and the accountability. I will weigh in Friday and report. I think my goal for the 2 months will be to get back to where I was in May, 168 pounds. (Ultimate good weight goal for me is 160 - 165).

[Aggie_Ama]

Susan- You are not alone at all. I lost a lot of weight in 2004, down to 125 at one point. I maintained solidly until late 2005. I gained back 20 of the 50 pounds I lost. Then in late 2008 took most of it off to about 140. Then I got on Lexapro, it made me let my guard down, it made me less active and it actually wasn't fully controlling my depression which made me care less about everything. I started just slowly eating more and more. That was almost two years ago, I ballooned to 174 when I switched medicine last fall. I took off about 10 pounds just by being active but I still wasn't disciplined in my choices. So last week I weighed in at 163 and started Weight Watchers again. I know I need to commit, it isn't one thing it is the big picture. A beer or two isn't a problem, it is doing it several times a week after mountain biking. A serving of ice cream isn't the problem, it is half a pint or more!

Bottom line, you're not alone but it is hard to say you're one who feels like you failed. We didn't fail, we just have a new opportunity and a new challenge to conquer! You can't fail when you are willing to try again and learn.