adjusting expectations
In December 2010, 6 months after having my second child, I resolved to lose weight and get back my body by my 30th birthday, September 2011. I started out at 195 and wanted to get back to my "ideal weight" (it's that magic number in my head, you know what I am talking about!). So I set a goal to lose 70 lbs and joined Calorie count. I did very well, but plateaued around 145-150 range.
My birthday came and went and I lost momentum and gained a few pounds back. Of course I resolved in January to get back on track but I had a hard time getting started. At the end of February, I was back to logging my foods and getting back to my workout routine. I am now back to 150 lbs and decided to set a goal to run a 5k race which requires a bit of training for me since I do not run long distances (yet!).
Anyway, Long story short, I felt like my running goal was going to take me further than any magic number in my head and I adjusted my ultimate weight loss goal in CC by 10 lbs. When I logged my weight this morning, I showed that I only needed to lose 16 lbs to get to my goal and I felt more energized. When I make it to the new goal, I can decide if I feel like I want to go further at that point.
I feel like adjusting my goals and expectations has given me new energy to take care of business and I feel renewed! I would advise others struggling (especially with a plateau) to maybe adjust focus and goals to take some of the pressure off and keep a positive momentum.
I think that's a great Idea...When I struggle to get to 140 or 145 all at once I fail to maintain that weight...now my goal is to just get under 149 and maintain that for a few months ( I have 4# to go)...
I read somewhere and think it is my experience when trying to loose more than 10% body weight at one time your body sort of freaks out and thinks your are in starvation mode and for me I then regain the weight....
So losing more that 15 # at one time is not a good plan for me...(of course it depends on your starting weight and BMI)...
plus I think we all have the ideal college or high school weight in our head which is not easy to maintain as a working adult...
In college I biked around at least an hour a day, swam an hour and walked an hour...every day... (plus some weight training) there is no way I have the time for that now...but I was about 130# and very fit!
Original Post by kmstearns:
"I read somewhere and think it is my experience when trying to loose more than 10% body weight at one time your body sort of freaks out and thinks your are in starvation mode and for me I then regain the weight...."
That's really interesting, I've been bouncing up and down 10% of my body weight for ages. Always manage to loose the weight without too much difficulty, hit alomst exectly 10% and ping back up. I'll be more conscious of this now
It's not crazy, it's called a re-feed or diet break and has been shown to psychologically and physically aid you in dieting.
