100 Pounds or More To Go

Well, here it is November 1 already.  Hard to believe I've been on this journey for about a year now.

I've been very frustrated lately and haven't been out here much.  I haven't been eating well, though not terrible either.  Haven't been getting many veggies and no fruit to speak of.  Mostly eating quick and easy things, although most of them have been Lean Cuisines, Lean Pockets, Healthy Choice entres, etc.  But I have had a few meals of things like Pizza rolls, and chicken tenders from the deli, and I shouldn't be doing that.

I've really had a hard time feeling motivated lately.  I've been stuck at 205 for so long that I've gotten bored with the whole thing and just not trying very hard.  The weather is finally starting to cool off so I can get out and walk more, so I'm hoping that will help. 

I've had a lot of anxiety lately - not sure what it's about.  When I'm stressed out about something in particular, such as my daughter's health, or pressures at work, or money, or something I can identify, I can generally address it pretty well.  Lately it's just been a general feeling of anxiety and I can't really zero in on what it's about, but it's costing me sleep and energy and an overall feeling of well-being.

I'm making a great effort to get back on track with my eating, walking more each day, doing a couple of trips up the steps at our office in the morning and get moving back down the scale.  I've been so close to breaking that 200 pound mark for 3 or 4 months now.  I need to just bite the bullet and do what it takes.  I also need to get out here more because reading and replying really does make me feel better.

Liz

Liz,

A YEAR! That's great!

Can you find some motivation by looking back at what you have accomplished and learned over that year?

Pounds lost/ Sizes dropped? Can walk further/faster?

Ways you've found to resist temptation? What you've learned about food from reading all those labels?

How important accountability/the board are?

Ways to handle stress that don't involve chewing?

Are you ready to take things up a level?  A couple more food changes you can make? Some new form of exercise? Pilates? Yoga? Lifting? Dancing?

How are you going to reward yourself for this milestone?

Best wishes

SJ

I have lost about 50 lbs in the past year, and I sure can't complain about that.

Yes, I've gone from my 1X's through my XL's and my L's fit me pretty well.

I've found out that I can eat things that are enjoyable and satisfying and maintain my weight, so I don't worry about putting it all back on.

I know that I have to cut back on my carbs and fat and pick up my activity in order to keep moving forward.  I'm just not looking foward to it.  LOL.  I already pretty much gave up nuts!  What else do I need to pass on!

Really, it just boils down to breaking this plateau.  In the past couple of weeks I've kind of said "what does it matter, I'm not losing any weight anyways.  So if I want to eat something, I do.  I haven't been taking the time to prepare foods to have on hand to keep me from eating the Pizza Rolls and having some veggies and tuna instead.  I'm tired when I get home from work, so I tend to park in front of the TV and zone out. 

I just need to stare down my road blocks and do some things I don't particularily WANT to do.

I'll get there.  Guess I just needed to take a short hiatis.

Thanks for the input.  You're right.  There is always SOMETHING you can do.

Liz

I'm really working hard on re-motivating myself.  I got my new stainless stock pot and steamer insert today and bought a lot of fresh veggies.  Also got a couple of quarts of skim milk, some fat free yogurt, low fat cottage cheese, a few frozen salmon filets, and avoided the nuts and crunchy things.  I didn't stop at the deli for chicken strips and jojo fries either.  I'm working on cleaning out the fridge and pantry, and will probably go to the store again tomorrow for more veggies and maybe some sliced turkey and chicken breast from the deli.  I forgot to get celery, and I need it to make my tuna and chicken salads.  I've decided that what I did when I first started to get serious about losing weight worked for 50 lbs and now that I've been on a diet that has maintained my weight loss but not kept me moving down the scale, my body should be geared up to return to what I was doing 8-10 months ago when the weight was coming of steadily.

I have to remind myself constantly that every time I say "Oh, a little bit of that isn't going to hurt" - it really does.  I got tired of fat free yogurt and fruit for breakfast, so I started bringing Lean Pockets instead.  Yes, they're better than a plate full of eggs fried in butter, bacon, sausage and hash browns, but even the Lean version is not exactly the nutrition that I need to be consuming if I'm going to reach my goal.  I got some more Egg Beaters and some fresh organic chives.  Tomorrow I will make an omlette out of those with a wedge of Laughing Cow Light herb and swiss cheese and see how that tastes.  If it's good, I can make them at night and put them in a plastic container to bring to work and heat in the microwave for breakfast the next morning.

I'm making some extra trips up and down the steps in front of my building.  I get there EARLY in the morning, so I have a little extra time to run up the stairs and then circle around down the wheel chair ramp and back up the stairs.  Now that the weather is finally getting cooler (well, today, anyways... it was 93 yesterday!) I have much more energy to walk and I'm going to ask my neighbors if I can walk their dogs a couple of times a week.  Much more fun to have Reggie or Reenie with me and they go FAST.  LOL!

I'm still at 206 today.  I want to be 199 by December 1.