March/April weight loss thread

[lauraelmore1033]

I noticed when I stopped losing weight it was because I was not eating enough. My body said your not feeding me I am not taking any off you! I was still losing in size but not in weight. I am now eating about 2800-3000 calories a day and things are starting to drop pretty good.

just an fyi.... as it looks like we are about the same weight.

tina

I suppose that could be an issue. I was so "good" last week, and that was the week I didn't lose much. My metabolism must be a lot slower than yours, even though we are the same size.I've been keeping the calories under 1800 and that's 500-800 less than I usually eat (and maintain this weight).

Thanks for all the encouragement, everybody.

[txred9876]

I suppose that could be an issue. I was so "good" last week, and that was the week I didn't lose much. My metabolism must be a lot slower than yours, even though we are the same size.I've been keeping the calories under 1800 and that's 500-800 less than I usually eat (and maintain this weight).

Thanks for all the encouragement, everybody.

What are you doing for exercise?

I am training for a triathlon and working out 6 days a week.

Tina

[lauraelmore1033]

I work out 6 days a week as well. I'm also training for stp and rsvp (a double century and a triple metric century which I also did last year)

[lauraelmore1033]

Wow!
Frustration factor was getting pretty high (bordering on rage) until I whipped out the tape measure and took some quick measurements. I've lost over 30 inches! 10 inches off my waist, 3 off my neck and bicep and 8 off my hips and bust. My waist,bust and hips used to be exactly the same measurement, but now my waist measurement is actually smaller than bust and hips. I feel so much better.

[txred9876]

Wow!
Frustration factor was getting pretty high (bordering on rage) until I whipped out the tape measure and took some quick measurements. I've lost over 30 inches! 10 inches off my waist, 3 off my neck and bicep and 8 off my hips and bust. My waist,bust and hips used to be exactly the same measurement, but now my waist measurement is actually smaller than bust and hips. I feel so much better.

Thats wonderful!
I never took any measurements to start with so i have no reference point.I probably should have.

Tina

[ASammy1]

Wow!
Frustration factor was getting pretty high (bordering on rage) until I whipped out the tape measure and took some quick measurements. I've lost over 30 inches! 10 inches off my waist, 3 off my neck and bicep and 8 off my hips and bust. My waist,bust and hips used to be exactly the same measurement, but now my waist measurement is actually smaller than bust and hips. I feel so much better.

10 inches off your waist is incredible. I bow down to you, girl!

[lauraelmore1033]

only ten more to go...

[txred9876]

only ten more to go...

Your doing great!

Tina

[Triskeliongirl]

Susan, I didn't want to say anything to deter you from your goals, but since your weight seems to be 'normalizing' I will say that there is nothing wrong with weighing 135lb! I started a tad heavier than you and normalized at 140. I did notice that for the next year I did continue to shrink without more pounds coming off. I think this is a perfectly fine weight for an athletic women, and compared to where we came from just not all of us were designed to weight 120 something. You looked terrific in that last pic you posted, and you seem to be feeling great, so don't beat yourself up if you are doing everything right and your weight has stabilized.

[Aggie_Ama]

Trisk that isn't giving bad food for thought so to speak. On my first path down WW I got to 123-125. I was thin and thought I looked excellent but I was a nightmare to be around and couldn't maintain. Ultimately I maintained 135 for over a year before I moved and let old habits take over (junk food, less exercise). I am trying to tone up and get back to 135 because I truly believe that is my body's personal happy place. It is way high for a chart for someone who is 5'2" but I feel dang good there and feel I look good. Better yet, I can still eat and feel normal there. I can have a cheat night of Mexican food and not think I am going to gain 85 lbs.

Plus I know people don't like to talk age but there is age to consider in weight for some women around here.

[lauraelmore1033]

It doesn't seem unreasonable at all for an athletic woman to weigh 140. If I only weighed 140, I would never stop doing handsprings across the lawn....
I did maintain that weight for about 20 minutes when I was 19, but it was soooo much work! (so I'm not prepairing to do those handsprings at anytime before I die)

[Triskeliongirl]

I just want to put it in perspective. As athletic women, many of us are leaner at a higher body weight than our less athletic counterparts. I once dieted down to 115 on WW too, but found that those last 20 lb were pure muscle and losing it really tanked my metabolism and put me in a place where all I could do was gain fat. So, this time around I let my body tell me what it wanted to weigh. I refuse to eat any less than required to stay at 140, and for me (I am 5 ft 4.5" ~22% bodyfat, size 4-6) its a very comfortable weight to maintain, and feels so much better than the 165-170 I had let myself balloon up to before.

[Susan Otcenas]

Trisk -

Sometimes I don't communicate well in writing.... Thank you for being encouraging, and for being concerned about me. It's really appreciated!

5'4" and 135 is a very healthy and perfectly normal body weight for me. It puts me smack in the middle of the BMI charts for someone my height. And, at 39 years old, I believe my age isn't a factor at all. I look great in my clothes, I feel great, I'm getting tons of exercise. In short, I'm very possibly in the best shape in my life. That feels wonderful!! I could pretty happily live at this weight for the rest of my life, and be very healthy doing it.

But...

I want to see what I'm capable of attaining. I have some aggressive goals this year, chief among them a couple of triathlons (which I have lots of experience doing) and my very first ever half marathon in October, to celebrate my 40th birthday.

I want to build muscle throughout this year, and lose the inches I can still pinch on my belly and my thighs (from the waist up, I'm very lean now, but from the belly button downwards, not so much.) But don't worry - I'm a sensible eater. I eat very heathily, I listen to my body, and I would never ever sacrifice my health to be thin or skinny. I want to be lean, fit and muscular, NOT skinny, scrawny and unhealthy.

That's why I said that at this point I don't really care about the number so much. I care about inches and muscle mass. I do think that I will end up losing more fat weight than gaining muscle weight, so ultimately I think my weight may still come down another 5 pounds or so. My WW goal is 130. As I get close, I'll readjust my goals based on what my body is doing and telling me.

Susan

[tulip]

Susan, good for you for reaching for those goals. I think I understand your point of view. For most of my adult life, my setpoint was 142. Of course, that was well within the normal range for me, and I felt "fine," everyone said I looked "fine," but I wanted to be more than just "fine." I was consistently a size 10-12. I didn't try, that's just what it always was. When I turned 39, alot of things changed and I lost 20 lbs in a few months, which was a bit too thin, but man I loved my new me! Now I've slowly gone up to 130 over the winter, which is okay, but for me, I prefer to be a bit lighter.

I've slacked off on my Pilates and riding over the winter, but my eating is still very good. Everyone has a different comfort point. Mine is about 125 and not less than 120 (at which point I am too thin). (For me, at 5'-6", that makes me a size 4-6 in these new times of inflated sizes). I feel better at that point, I ride better, I just have a better attitude.

Best wishes for reaching your goals.

[GLC1968]

FWIW - Susan, I think you look great!

I also totally understand your feelings on this. When I was at my leanest, I was 138 (I'm also 5'4") and was at a 19% body fat. Most people would have been thrilled with that, but like you, I felt that my lower body still had lots of room for improvement. I still had visible fat on my legs! While I was extremely strong and fit and I was happy with my overall size, I felt that my body composition could have used additional improvement. I had a VERY hard time explaining that to people who had just seen me drop 35 lbs - they were always asking "WHY???". People thought that I must have an eating disorder because when you looked at me in street clothes, I looked fine. Only a person with an eating disorder would want to keep leaning out, right? Ugh. The only other people who 'got' it were other athletes. Anyway, aggressive performance goals and tough standards for yourself are fine, as long as they are in perspective and from what you've posted here, its obvious that they are for you.

I've also seen you eat...so again, I totally get it. You are being 100% smart about this and I find it truly inspiring! You are a great role model for women who want to be healthy and fit and still live a full lifestyle.

God knows, I'd like to get back there myself!