November/December weight management challenge

[ny biker]

My goal is (still) 140.

I woke up this morning with a pain in my left foot and no idea why it hurts. I'm hoping it's a minor muscle pull. Otherwise it will really mess with my ability to exercise.

[Possegal]

I decided it isn't enough that I can't do any working out due to a back/leg thing, so I added in a slip and fall in the tub that may possibly have done something to a rib.

I'm seriously thinking of wrapping myself in bubble wrap from here on out.

[maillotpois]

(I think I may be up a little from last week owing to a trip to a 2 Michelin star restaurant with about 11 courses on Sunday. Worth it. )

Heh, I think I gained a few pounds looking at the menu on their website.

If you're going to splurge, make it worthwhile!

Agreed! It was well worth the splurge and I don't even care if I gained a little from it. I don't often (um ever) go out to a 2 Michelin star restaurant - I think there are only a couple in the Bay Area. A four hour dinner is truly extravagant. And we didn't even do the wine pairing!

I truly believe that it's got to be a lifestyle and not a diet and any lifestyle that doesn't make room for the daily beer and very occasional over the top splurge just isn't sustainable for me. I can generally fit those indulgences in and continue to maintain or lose, in general.

[Crankin]

Goldfinch, perhaps you are thinking about how tough maintaining your weight loss is going to be. With all of the negativity around about how hard it is to live a healthy lifestyle, sometimes we feel like we are the only ones with this goal.
As for your other concern, while losing weight does help with the health issues you talked about, it is not a cure. My DH takes bp medication, has 2 stents, and also takes 2 cholesterol lowering drugs, and a blood thinner. He rides 2-3K miles a year and is thin. He looks like a very fit, healthy person. Genetics plays a large part in this. Perhaps you should look at it from the point of view that if you hadn't lost the weight, these conditions would be worse.

[Dannielle]

Goldfinch, I'm in the exact same place. My weight has stabilized at 143-145 (I'm 5'11") after years spent working on weight loss (started at around 350lbs). I've been this weight since July and I'm scared to death to loosen the reins. I still weigh myself daily. I still count calories and weigh/measure everything I eat. I've worked so hard to accomplish this and the fear I could gain it all back easily is huge.

[azfiddle]

Here is a link to the story from NPR:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011...at-and-biology

Maintenance is really a challenge! Goldfinch you're not alone

[Dannielle]

Here is a link to the story from NPR:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011...at-and-biology

Maintenance is really a challenge! Goldfinch you're not alone

Thank you for posting this article! It's very validating for me to read that it's normal to not be able to eat as many calories as everyone thinks I can after having lost a large amount of weight. Being tall (5'11") the assumption is that I should be able to eat around 2000 calories a day since I'm active. The reality is that I maintain with 1300-1400 per day (a little more if I ride long) so I have to be careful despite the expectation that I should lighten up now that I'm not working to lose.

[goldfinch]

Goldfinch, I'm in the exact same place. My weight has stabilized at 143-145 (I'm 5'11") after years spent working on weight loss (started at around 350lbs). I've been this weight since July and I'm scared to death to loosen the reins. I still weigh myself daily. I still count calories and weigh/measure everything I eat. I've worked so hard to accomplish this and the fear I could gain it all back easily is huge.

Exactly!

Here is a link to the story from NPR:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011...at-and-biology

Maintenance is really a challenge! Goldfinch you're not alone

I have read a lot of research on weight loss. I lost the rose colored glasses about keeping it off a while ago. My goal is to make it a year and get on the national weight control registry. http://xnet.kp.org/permanentejournal.../registry.html . And then make it two years. It does sound like once you make it two years your odds of continuing to keep it off improve. Exercise also is key.

Goldfinch, perhaps you are thinking about how tough maintaining your weight loss is going to be. With all of the negativity around about how hard it is to live a healthy lifestyle, sometimes we feel like we are the only ones with this goal.
As for your other concern, while losing weight does help with the health issues you talked about, it is not a cure. My DH takes bp medication, has 2 stents, and also takes 2 cholesterol lowering drugs, and a blood thinner. He rides 2-3K miles a year and is thin. He looks like a very fit, healthy person. Genetics plays a large part in this. Perhaps you should look at it from the point of view that if you hadn't lost the weight, these conditions would be worse.

I know my genes are not on my side. I still had really hoped that at least the sleep apnea would be resolved and now I am learning to live with the fact that I am a CPAP lifer. It is a bit difficult to take.

My mother died at 39 of a heart attack. My dad's first heart attack was in his early 40s. He died at 63 after multiple heart attacks. I know that I am better off with less weight so that helps with motivation. But the real problem is that motivation can be strong but so can the drive to eat. Hormones are not necessarily our friends. There is some research that indicates that after losing weight levels of leptin remain abnormally low (an appetite suppressant) and levels of hormones that stimulate appetite are abnormally high. But I think knowing that, though a bit depressing, can help because I know that I have to be extra alert to any slip in maintaining weight. I have to catch it right away and jump on the issue. I have to exercise. And at the same time I have to not beat myself up for imperfections.

[Trek-chick]

I'm in

Current --- 135#
Goal --- 125#

[goldfinch]

My weight last Friday was 112 but today it was 114. I thought the 112 it was a blip. Either way, I am wanting to now maintain my weight. I've been losing weight since the end of December of last year. Ten months, 45 pounds. Thirty percent of my initial weight. I am now in the normal range. But I want to join the challenge because I have the toughest challenge ahead, not regaining the weight I lost. This challenge will continue for the rest of my life.

I really enjoy being thinner than I have since the mid 1980s. I enjoy the increased energy. Looking and feeling better. Being able to ride 50 miles on a bike rather than 2 miles. Being able to walk indefinitely. But for some reason I have a bit of depression, or maybe it is anxiety, about the weight loss. Now I am here. How in the world am I going to stay here?

Also, my weight loss was not a "cure" for health conditions I have. My blood pressure is still high enough to require drugs. My cholesterol still requires drugs and is unchanged. I still have sleep apnea. These things did not magically go away and I am kind of bummed about it.

Sorry for feeling sorry for myself today. I know that I am extraordinarily lucky. Lucky to be retired early and have the time to work on my fitness.

I remain obsessed with food. I probably should be.

My goal weight for the challenge is 112, a maintenance goal. I left for a trip so I'll use 114 as my weigh in weight.