I Need a Cheerleader!

How do I decide on a goal weight? For the past 7 years it's just been constant weight gain...I lost 30 pounds while housekeeping but I gained that back and more and since gaining all this weight I've never done anything to change my ways until these past four weeks.

When I was 18 I was 110 pounds and yes I was very healthy. But I am not 18 anymore, and I am not sure if just because I looked and felt great at 110 once I'd look that good at that weight now. I don't know when enough is enough. I do know I want a flat belly with my hip bones protruding, at least half the size of my thighs now, a distinct jawline, no neck fat, thin fingers, and a small butt. Should I just aim for that and see what happens? I am confused and I really don't know.

Oh btw, if I lose 6 pounds a week, I'll lose 100 pounds in 4 months!

The usual average is 100 lbs for 5 ft, then 5 lbs for every inch, give or take. Weight watchers uses BMI, which you can google the calc for online anywhere. If your period stops, youve gone too far!

Rather than the specific weight, I think that it is more important to figure what changes in lifestyle you are willing to make permanently. This is why people's weight goes up in down. They reach their goal and then slowly begin doing what they used to do. For me, the best way to keep my weight from going back up--I have to exercise daily. Most of my life I have done this. If I stop for six months and am not overeating--I do not immediately gain it back but if I am not in shape (I think exercise helps boost metabolism) then when I am not busy or the holidays come--that sort of thing--then my weight comes back. Despite the cake I had this morning--I try not to keep too many sweets, bread, cookies, etc. in the house. I no longer have alcohol in the house. I mostly cook low carb, low glycemic index meals....

I'm wearing sweatpants I almost threw away for being too small...skin tight....now they are super baggy and so is my favorite hoodie!

I think I'll wait before buying new clothes...I want to make sure they are so baggy a belt won't do it justice...and because I want to wait until the weather is too warm to wear any of my winter stuff...as all I have is winter clothing and my body is not quite ready for summer weather...but it will be...if I hadn't said it already...if I lose six pounds a week....I'll lose 100 pounds in roughly four months!

Youre literally a phoenix rising up out of the flames

Yes, yes I am.

My parents don't care at all about my weight loss. Every time I mention it, they cut me off to end the conversation, and if they do comment on it they sound very annoyed with me. I've only mentioned it a couple times to them, so it's not like I'm gloating or repeating myself. It really bothers me.

But my grandparents are very supportive. We talk about it every day, and they never cease to be so excited about my weight loss. They're natural cheerleaders, and that's what so great about them: they're usually more excited for me than I am.

Arent your parents on the chubby side? Maybe theyre afraid you are trying to convert them.

I'm in a different boat - I don't like people noticing my appearance in general, but my relatives don't seem to miss a chance to comment on my weight loss... Well, it's not exactly annoying, but not really pleasant either. Unless they ask me to explain my strategy at which point it becomes torture.

I guess even if a lot of my relatives aren't at a good weight we're still a pretty health-conscious family, so everyone is in a habit of paying attention.

Yes, I won't begin my thoughts on their weight. But they are also under a lot of stress...50-60+ hour weeks, working two weeks straight, working on insurance and buying a home...but still, I've noticed that's how they are right now...always talking about themselves and as soon as they ask me how I'm doing they turn it around to talk about themselves. I know my weight loss is a "big deal" but maybe I am the unsupportive one?

You have made a decision to lose weight and that is really a lifestyle change. First, drink lots of water minimum 64 oz a day. A typical bottle of water is 16.9 oz. Drink 4 bottles a day & you’ll be doing great. Room temperature water is easier to get down. (Don’t overdue it on the water either).
Don’t drink empty calories, like juices & sodas in place or in addition to water.

You are doing great with the numerous small meals. Your body wants to hold onto fat after you’ve lost initial poundage and not eating enough meals tells your body to conserve the fat. I don’t know about you, but cheese and dairy are my enemies for weight loss(), my favorite food naturally.

Eat your bigger meals early and dinner should be your smallest meal calorie wise. I hate to say this, but later try to find a substitute for frozen meals. They are filled with sodium, preservatives and really not healthy. I can’t eat them anymore, my body blows up and I feel physically miserable. If you must eat dairy, do not indulge at night.

Fat content of a food is just as important as calorie content. Exercise is important, but weight loss is 90%+ food intake. Exercise is to shape your body and helps you feel good, after you are done. A vigorous exercise routine can really be a wonderful endorphin rush. It’s funny, I do not like to exercise, never have. I’ve been weight training with cardio for over 14 years and my body is so used to working out, that if I stop for too long I become sluggish and easily tired. A trainer is the best way to go if you can go that route...

If you slip, no big, just don’t let that put you back in your old mindset. And don’t let anyone try to diss the new you or try to talk you into indulging when you don’t want to...

You’ve already lost some weight, now it’s just a matter of continuing with your new eating habits and adding in exercise at some point.

If you lost enough weight that you’ve lost a size or two, get yourself some nice outfits to fit the new you... Don’t wait till you’ve lost all your weight, reward yourself, even if it’s just a couple of items...

The detox you did is impressive. You have great self control. Fast results should not be your goal, permanent results should be your goal... It sounds like you are well on your way. Enjoy the new you...

It would be great if you could get them to go for a walk with you. Let that be your family chat time. Just fifteen minutes after dinner or whatever. It could make a big difference in their lives. Not that MY parents would ever have done anything like that! But yours actually TALK to you!

Weigh-in tomorrow!

If I lose 6.8...I will have lost an even 20 pounds!

Fingers crossed people!

I gained .6 pounds this week. Bummer. I did eat quite a bit more than i should and several choices of unhealthy food. I hope I can do better next time.

I gained 0.6 pounds this week. Bummer. I did eat quite a bit more than i should and several choices of unhealthy food. I hope I can do better next time.

I call it maintaining also could be pms week etc. Wgt loss isnt usually a straight line for women.

I did have a lot more "cheat moments" this week, the dinner out led to overindulging throughout the whole week. I need to reevaluate what I'm eating and make a bigger commitment to stay strict to my diet. *sigh*

I've had a very rough emotional week and I feel really crummy, and with the many "cheat moments" I've had this week and the poor choice I made to not buy enough food for the week to make room for unhealthy snacks (after the fact I spent my whole budget and ate the snacks) makes me feel even worse.

I could really use a cheerleader and a good pep talk.

I sat down and wrote in ink a list of all the good things going on in my weight loss regime, and I also wrote myself my own pep talk. This is what I wrote:

Dear LL,

I am on Week 5 of my diet and feeling very discouraged about my diet. I am worried that because I did not lose anything because of many little cheat moments last week that I'll never lose the weight, but look at the dramatic results the first 13.2 pounds gave! My stomach has shrunk and no longer stretches out underneath my t-shirt--in fact, my shirts are baggy! And look at those purple pants and yellow/pink striped pajamas--they are loose and fit over my butt without any "crack exposure" LOL! Those 13 pounds were from sheer willpower--a conscious decision to nurture my body with healthy and nutritious foods. All the research I've done has only scratched the surface of exploring new ways to give my body what it needs to heal itself. I know that I may always struggle with weight and the need or desire for emotional overeating. It is one way in which I cope, but to continue on in my quest to not only lose weight but to live a healthy lifestyle will be rewarded in so many ways. Let God help you trust in yourself. I never give up and though some days or even weeks will be tough...

You. Got. This!

<3 LL

LL,

There are a million ways to "diet". I've even read that there is a diet where they recommend that you eat way too much once a week (until you're full including a few "bad" foods) in order to rev up your metabolism (so it doesn't get used to operating on very low calories constantly--eating very little all of the time can make your body learn to "conserve" what calories it gets). Maybe this dieting trick is BS (not sure) but what I do know is that you have to begin to learn to not worry about going off your diet for one day. What is important is that you learn to go right back to eating healthy the way you should the very next day.

I am a believer that belly fat (versus your exact weight on the scale) is the real enemy of our health so how much our belly sticks out is a more important gage than the scale from my POV. For me, processed and high glycemic index foods are the enemy: sugar, flour, rice, white potatoes, some fruits: bananas (I do eat bananas a lot), grapes, cherries (love these--they are an occassional treat for me), watermelon, raisins, many breakfast cereals (I do eat steel cut oats 2 or 3 times a week), including puffed rice and corn flakes, bread. While I focus on not eating high carb foods, perhaps the "enemy" is different for different people just like some psych drugs work for some people but not others

During my sophomore year in college (35 years ago), I decided to enter the two year Air Force Reserve Officer Training Program. I qualified except for my weight. I had gained weight during and just prior to my freshman year. I had already shed some of it but in order to remain in the program, I got down to business and shed more. Back then I noticed I could not indulge in milk shakes or cheese burgers with a side of fries/onion rings without my weight going up. When I began dieting, my friend and I would regularly hit the all you can eat salad bar at a restaurant that had the best salad bar in town. Other than a reasonable breakfast--that would be all I ate many days. I did not cook while I was in college. It took me at least two years to shed the weight I had piled up in merely one year. While I was losing this weight I was also running, swimming laps three times a week and occassionally doing group classes (back then then high impact aerobics was popular).

Since those days I have found that my weight always creeps up when I am not exercising regularly. I am 54 years old and my weight has gone up and down my entire life so the pattern is well established. I must exercise or my health goes to sh**. I think some of it is psychological for me. I gain weight when I get depressed and exercise and being outdoors has always lifted my spirit. Walking and running (I can no longer run) are meditative for me. Sticking to a diet is more psychological than physical for me.

IMO, if you exercise regularly and stick to a healthy diet, it will pay off for you later in life. People who let it get away from them become less able to get around, end up getting knee replacements, sex is better when you are fit (flexible, not out of breath, etc.). When I got my weight back down in college, I was getting much more attention from the opposite sex. Of course, that was a two edged sword--during my junior year, I allowed myself to get off course in my studies for a while because of a crush on a boy I was dating. So being "fat" for a while back then was a blessing in some ways.

But in the long run--getting in shape is really going to pay off for you! It is the ultimate in preventative medicine and will literally extend your life and make it more enjoyable.

Thank you for sharing this HopingTrying. It made me feel better and yes, the key is to not give up because of a few cheat days.

I lost an even 2 pounds this week, 14.6 pounds total! Woo hoo!

And on top of it, I dropped TWO pant sizes!