Unfortunately, I think today's women suffer from the general mentality that is prevalent today- Instant Gratification.  Everywhere you look, this kind of thinking is highly promoted, especially in the area of weight loss.  Just look at the ads for Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, and the Lap-Band type surguries.  All offer quick, painless results.  Tempting, right?

I finally learned after years and years of wishing for that "magic pill" that it takes time, effort and patience to obtain the results you wish for.  Because of this, I have the mentality that this journey is forever.  You have to live a safe and sane and well balanced lifestyle every day, for the rest of your life to achieve the results you crave.

The best lesson learned:  It actually feels good to live like this.  I hope others will give it a try.  Balance is good!  Quick results, not so much.

Possessing the ability to be satisfied... good point. If you're going to keep beating yourself up even when you're doing well by realistic standards, you're bound to give it up.

Possessing the ability to be satisfied... that was how I got here. My sweet tooth was never satisfied, my salt and fat cravings were never, ever calmed. That's the part that changes everything. To be satisfied with a meal that barely takes away the hunger pangs. To be satisfied with a slow or even stalled weight loss. That's the ticket. To be satisfied with myself for trying and often succeeding.

pjwag your comment is encouraging, today I faced the scale and was up l0 lbs.  Yes I deserve it.  I gave in to all those things I shouldn't have.  I have been thinking about Eve lately.  We have all judged her for eating the apple and how stupid was that with all the things she could have, I have been realizing I am the same of all the things I can have why do I have the things that make me gain.  Why? Yeah I know the human nature always wants what they can't have stuff as soon as if off limits and all.  I feel so awful all that hard work down the drain again.  If anyone has any secret for not going back to my old ways I need to hear them.  That old nature keeps rising its ugly head.  I need  to get back on track.  As tempting as it is to do the no eating stuff keeping the calories low we all know that is just a stupid way to fall into the pit of binging.  It was binging that gained me the 10 lbs.   So lets just bypass the quick fix and head down the slow path to recovery. 

For me weight loss hasn't been a 'quick trip' and has been instead a wonderful journey of self-discovery in many respects in that I've taken a more wholistic approach by eating proper foods, portion control, exercise, meditation, 'feeding' my mind with good information about how my body functions (and why all my past diets failed), occasional fasting, getting enough sleep... and removing the stresses that I COULD get rid of out of my life... and of course having a supportive community here on caloriecount, as well as good friends who supportive (not UNDERMINE! my changed lifestyle).  In the past five months I've lost 42lbs which is first for me... and also his 3 different plateaus where I DIDN'T lose, but didn't get discouraged and 'fall of the wagon'.  I am a much happier person than I've ever been and no longer feel I'm always walking under a dark cloud.  I still have more weight to lose - and while sometimes my weight bounces up or down by 2 pounds or so, it doesn't drive me crazy like it used to.  Like many folks here might say... it is a lifelong lifestyle change for me (not a 'diet').

Great article... we need to be more realistic with ourselves, but then again, right on this page with this moderate, responsible message, I see an ad for "I cut out 2 lbs stomach fat per week with this one golden rule" and "Looe 10 lbs in 1 week" followed by "Gastric Bands".

We are constantly bombarded with quick fixes, ultra extreme skinny models and hyper fit fitness enthusiasts (who must either have no life or no job). 

Praise be to Calorie Count for encouraging a more moderate lifestyle (eating well and exercising moderately)... it's too bad the advertising still works on, as ddugan says, a society of immediate gratification.

I have tried so hard to stop beating myself up over losing weight .  I am considered borderline diabetic.  Jan of this year, my doctor stated if I didn't lose weight with the next 3 months, he would put me on medication.  Needless to say I had lost up to 14 pounds, and regained 4lbs back.  A little discouraged, however, I didn't gain all the weight back.  I do keep a journal of what I eat, but it gets so frustrating at times.  Dietician tells me to count my carbs and not calories.  Then I get concerned  in reading the food labels on how much fat intake in the food  I'm consuming.   I don't know what direction to go in anymore.   

I loved the headline the other day, weightloss is a marathon not a sprint.  It gave me a whole new perspective which is surprising considering I'm sixty years old and have  been on numerous weightloss journeys.  I'm much more laid back these days and realize I like myself just fine .  So, I'm in no hurry.  I don't feel like being hungry all the time and obsessing about food.  So, I eat when I'm hungry, eat things I really enjoy, and log every bite.  It makes me stop and think.  I don't waste time on food I don't enjoy.  I can work it all in if I plan.  Also, I love Slim-Fast shakes.  So that's helpful.  My mom loves them also, but with a scoop of ice cream!  Life is good.

Im Angry at  myself after regianing 13lbs i have worked so hard to lose on a well know diet plan, now im going to kick myself in to touch with the thought of THINK BEFORE U EAT, every time i become hungry!This really is working for me along side of calorie counting, and regular exersize ( all of which is new to me)!! The exersize thing was quite daunghting for me at first because having two small children i was very out of shape... but now i love it and attend 4 aquarobics & 80 mins of cardio exersize classes per week, i put my 17 month old son in the creche a couple of times a week in the day time and i get down to it, i even have enough time to sit and have a lovely relaxing coffee in the cafe afterwards!! So all you mums out there who might dread the idea of going to the gym just give it a try, u might like it, i did!!!And it really does help motivate you into healthier eating habits!!!

Chickevolving:

I have to say I am in the same boat that you are in.  I work out, hard.  I do cardio and weights six times a week and I am perfect with my eating Monday through Friday.  And then the weekend.  While most people look forward to it, I dread it.  It is the time when I lose control and all of my efforts go down the toilet!  I think there is some little demon inside my head that tells me because Saturdays and Sundays are relaxing days and there is little to no schedule, I'm allowed to eat whatever is in sight!  So right now I am working on what triggers that eating.  For me it is that my husband is home on Saturday and Sunday and my schedule is totally opposite of what it is Monday through Friday.  So on the weekends my goal is to pack my foods in a cooler so that I don't get caught hungry or unprepared.  I think the biggest thing is finding what triggers that binge eating, and then finding ways to overcome it!  I'll let you know how it goes for me and let me know if you find anything that works!

This is a really well timed article for me. I've been aiming for 2 pounds a week. When I weighed-in this morning, I had only lost 1.5 pounds... and I was feeling a bit disappointed. Crazy, eh?

"Not where we stand, but in what direction we are moving" - Goethe

Good point, Pjwag. I needed to hear "To be satisfied with a meal that barely takes away the hunger pangs".

Everyone posting here is very brave for sharing your thought about your lives and this particular stuggle around weight loss.

Good for you!

One piece of the puzzle mentioned over and over is how badly we feel about ourselves. It appears we all believe we could simply decide to change our lives by changing our minds, and if we don't we are somehow guilty of great personal injustice. Street wisdom seems to paint a picture of us being like a train going down a track and all we need to do is get on a different track to get to when we want to go. Further, we feel defective if we can't figure out how to do it on our own or get the help we need to change. This is not an accurate description of what is going on.

Here are a few things I have noticed:

First of all, we are not at fault.

This might seem counter to current common sense, but believing we are to blame is neither useful nor true. If you think of a little baby, you might be able to tell they are very hopeful about the world and looking forward to a full life with lots of close loving relationships and wonderful experiences ahead. You might be able to imaging this baby has no intentions of being overweight, and they are simply expecting to have an active and healthy life.

You started out this way. Me too. We all did.

So, how did we get from there to here?

This is a rather large question, but I will offer this: I believe we were hurt early on by loving and well-meaning adults who themselves were hurt early on, and so on back generations. Not their fault either BTW. We never planned to struggle with weight (or with any of the other challenges in our lives), and in fact we did our best to fight hard against what was going on around us. So, please know it is not your fault. It is simply what happened.

Now I guess you'd like to know how we can recover from the hurts that happened to us.

This is another long discussion, but hear are a few suggestions:

Get support.

Try to build as many close relationships with people of all kinds as you can. Share your struggles with each other. Support eachother as much as possible. Use the various groups here on CC. Join a church, clubs, bowling league, hiking group, or anyother group where you can make new friends.

Talk and listen.

As you develop your new friendships and deepen the ones you already have, remember to both share and listen. The listening is the harder of the two. We are all just dying to tell our stories, and so are our friends. As you listen to your friends (without giving advice, if you can learn to bite your tongue) they will start to become better listeners for you. This process is very healing, especially if you can talk about what happened early on in you life.

I see this is getting a bit long-winded, so I will leave you with one more thought:

You never need to feel bad about yourself again. This will help so much in weight control, as well as other aspects of you life.

Good health to all!

It is hard to be in the weght loss mode and still be satisfied with progress.  I have lost 30 lbs since January and I should be thrilled.  I have made my goal of finally being in the range of a healthy BMI.  All the time that I was working on it, I remember thinking, if only I could get to where I am in the normal BMI range.  Now that I am there I have found myself thinking, Oh if only I can lose 10 more pounds. I am finding it hard to balance satisfaction and pride of accomplishment versus fear of becoming complacent and gaining weight.

This is a great article & i'm encouraged by your comments. My first week, i lost 5.5 pounds. Then, this past week, my second week, i thought for sure i'd lose at least one pound. Which would be encouraging. I knew 5.5 was a lot for one week- i don't know how it happened. But week two i was hoping for at least a pound weight loss.

Well, i GAINED half a pound. And it's so discouraging. I had already decided that no matter WHAT the scale says, i am not giving up this time. it is going to be my LIFESTYLE. i do not want to get ANY bigger & that is what will happen if i just give up.

So anyway- today my hubby told me it was NOT all for nothing when i complained that i had gained a half a pound. i'm sore from the biggest loser workout dvd, which i did saturday & sunday (riding my bike the other days). And he's right. it's not. new healthy lifestyle, here i come, whether it takes me 1 year to lose the weight or ten. :)

I'm a 63 yo 6'6" male, currently 237 pounds, 23% body fat. Three comments:

1. The 1/2 to 2 lbs is fine as a general guideline. But I count and log calories closely, use the "sedentary" formula and log exercise separately, and maintain about a 750 cal/day deficit for a 1.5 lbs/week loss target - and I've been losing at about 2.4 lbs/week deficit for almost seven months, for a 24% loss so far. About 93% of the weight loss has been fat. I'm guessing that my metabolism is faster than the average, and I'm also guessing that the fact that I'm a very tall, extreme ectomorph with the extra weight carried mainly in a roll of belly fat (my waste size has gone from 46 to 38)speeds up the loss.  None of this bothers me. I'm eating healthier than I ever have in my life and getting all the proper nutrients. I could add 400 calories a day to my diet to get the loss down to the target rate, but why should I?

2. I don't have a weight loss goal - or at least, it's not my primary goal. My goal is to live healthy. Getting to and maintaining a healthy weight is part of living healty. Eating the right foods, doing cardio, doing resistance training, maintaining flexibility, getting enough sleep, reducing stress, and strengthening the relationships with my family are also important. And for me, rediscovering my Christian faith has also played a major role in the process.

3. With a goal of living healthy, I find that I no longer crave the junk food I used to gorge on, because I understand all the bad things it does to my body. I don't deprive myself of Double Whoppers, Snickers, chicken-fried steaks, potato chips, three-scoop ice cream sundaes, etc. - I don't want those things in my body under any circumstances. Therefore, I'm not tempted by them.

Great article.  Wanting to lose the weight quickly is one of my biggest problems.   For the longest time I ate healthy and exercised everyday and did not lose weight - but my clothes fit better and friends thought I had lost weight.  But I wanted "proof" from the stupid scale that I was making progress, so I was ready to give up!  I cut out a few more calories and I finally saw some slow movement on the scale.  I was so frustrated, even though I felt and looked better. 

After reading so many success stories on calorie count that show that slow and steady wins the marathon I have a new perspective.  Feeling good and healthy is just as important as actual weight loss.   And if I lose even one pound a week - that makes me one pound lighter than last week which is a victory.  Most importantly, I like my new healthier lifestyle.  I am more alert and focused, don't get depressed as easily and sleep better at night.

My journey started in February, at 242 pounds.  I'm a 5'7 39 year old male, and it was mostly belly fat.  Already have high blood pressure, and with genetics, diabetes was coming.  Classically bad situation.  I had had bronchitis and lost 10 pounds in two weeks without trying.  What do you all think about a book entitled The Bronchitis Diet: lose 10 pounds in 10 days?  :-)

While still sick, I resolved to fundamentally change my lifestyle.  After several successful weeks, I was eating much healthier than before I got sick and was down to 233.  Then I had several bad weeks, where I ate much like I did before, and got all the way back up to 241.  Oops.  I said to myself, no way, I wasn't kidding, I was serious about a new healthy lifestyle and got back on the wagon.  8 weeks later, I weighed in at 228 yesterday, off 13 pounds in those 8 weeks, and at a 4-year low.  My goal is 170, and although I'd like to get there tomorrow, I'm actually very patient.  I've been losing 1 to 1.5 lbs/week, and I'm extremely satisfied with that rate.  I know it will slow (absent further changes) as I lose weight, but probably not for 2 more months or so.  I hope.

I'm eating pretty darn healthy, exercising more (walking, as I'm badly out of shape) and feeling better about myself.  I don't know if I'll ever get to my goal of 170, but I'm pretty darn sure I'll get to 190 eventually.  And 190 is just a ton healthier than 250 for a 5'7 medium built male!!! 

I also know there will be weeks where I do not eat healthy, and gain weight.  I will beat myself up for a minute, resolve to fix it again, and then, hopefully, fix it again. 

I don't even let the weeks where I don't lose or gain a pound bother me, if I'm eating healthy and exercising.  They've already happened.  My motto is that in the short run the scale can and does lie, but over a period of weeks it tells great truths.  And whenever I've been surprised to gain a half a pount, I've lost more than the average 1.5 pounds the following week, so that over a 2-week period I average out at the same 1.5 pounds I have been losing per week.

I'm with you, stubloom.  I am losing weight at a moderate rate of 1.5/lb/week.  But my main goal, and one a can achieve on a daily basis, is living healthy.  And it feels so good, I gag at the thought of eating a giant burger and fries, or a huge chunk of chocolate cake.  The craving for most junk foods has just disappeared.  It's not a struggle at all.

Someone pointed out to me that we tend to have a sense of entitlement about everything, and that includes what we eat. How many times have you sat in a restaurant eating something healthy and giving dirty looks to the skinny person at the next table eating that great cheesy, carby dish that you passed up? But unless she's a rare metabolic exception, she either doesn't eat that way all the time, exercises a whole lot, or it will catch up to her one of these days.

It's a choice we have to make every day, and I don't always like it. But no one ever promised we could eat everything we want all the time and still have the bodies we want. I hope that doesn't sound negative, because most of the time I'm happy making mostly healthy choices with the occasional splurge.

Original Post by: ddugan

Unfortunately, I think today's women suffer from the general mentality that is prevalent today- Instant Gratification.  Everywhere you look, this kind of thinking is highly promoted, especially in the area of weight loss.  Just look at the ads for Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, and the Lap-Band type surguries.  All offer quick, painless results.  Tempting, right?

I finally learned after years and years of wishing for that "magic pill" that it takes time, effort and patience to obtain the results you wish for.  Because of this, I have the mentality that this journey is forever.  You have to live a safe and sane and well balanced lifestyle every day, for the rest of your life to achieve the results you crave.

The best lesson learned:  It actually feels good to live like this.  I hope others will give it a try.  Balance is good!  Quick results, not so much.

This comment is so true. It has been almost four months since I started my life style change and I am just now starting to see noticeable results. But I told myself when I started this as I will tell myself everyday that There is no going back! No going back if I want to remain thin and healthy that is. I'm not going to let food run my life. I want to have control over what I eat forever not just until I reach my goal.

I actually get sick of telling people who ask me how I lost weight how I made it happen. Not because I don't want them to be as happy as I am and lose weight too. It's that I do want to help them and 99% of them WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME. As soon as they hear how many calories I had to cut and how much time it took to lose 18 pounds they turn their noses up and start talking about the new fad diet they found or a diet pill they have heard works.  Sorry guys, there is no quick fix. I'm just glad I found out at 22 years old. I feel like I'm ahead of quite a few people. Some of them will never get it. Oh well not my life. I will be healthy to the day I die. I never want to experience the feeling of being fat ever again.

Original Post by: fantasticfour

I have tried so hard to stop beating myself up over losing weight .  I am considered borderline diabetic.  Jan of this year, my doctor stated if I didn't lose weight with the next 3 months, he would put me on medication.  Needless to say I had lost up to 14 pounds, and regained 4lbs back.  A little discouraged, however, I didn't gain all the weight back.  I do keep a journal of what I eat, but it gets so frustrating at times.  Dietician tells me to count my carbs and not calories.  Then I get concerned  in reading the food labels on how much fat intake in the food  I'm consuming.   I don't know what direction to go in anymore.   

Don't give up, fantasticfour! 

When faced with the mountain of trying to lose weight, it's better to take it the same way you would climbing a real mountain-one step at a time.  I don't know how much weight you need to lose all together, but think of it in terms of a series of small goals-not 25 pounds, but five five-pound weight losses.  Look at your food journals and see what your trends are when you gain weight.  Decide what the one most important thing about your weight loss journey is and focus on that; when you've accomplished that is when you can look around for what's next.  Putting off the other things you want to work on isn't the same as not doing them at all--if you achieve success on one step, you'll feel so much more empowered about tackling something else that it will seem easier. 

Anytime you get stalled, just take a step back and look at the big picture and decide where you want to go next.  Good luck!

hello to everyone I have COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and I use oxygen to get around, after a severe excaberation in Dec 2008 the doctor told me to lose weight or I would die. Serious right.  Well I made up my mind that  i wanted to live to see 13 grandchildren grow up and maybe see a few great grands. So I set a goal for myself not unrealistic and truly attainable. I want to lose 100 lbs by my 60th birthday I will be 58 this August. It took years for me to put on the weight rushing to take it off is not the answer.I love CC it keeps me focused on what I'm eating and how much. I weigh myself only once a week to see where I'm at. I take Sunday off to enjoy (in moderation) what the family eats. So far i've lost 31 lbs and I'm quite happy with that. I still have a ways to go but plenty of time to get there. I know with God's help ,CC and my determination I'm going to be a Sexy Sixty year old breathing better.

Original Post by: fantasticfour

I have tried so hard to stop beating myself up over losing weight .  I am considered borderline diabetic.  Jan of this year, my doctor stated if I didn't lose weight with the next 3 months, he would put me on medication.  Needless to say I had lost up to 14 pounds, and regained 4lbs back.  A little discouraged, however, I didn't gain all the weight back.  I do keep a journal of what I eat, but it gets so frustrating at times.  Dietician tells me to count my carbs and not calories.  Then I get concerned  in reading the food labels on how much fat intake in the food  I'm consuming.   I don't know what direction to go in anymore.   

Fantasticfour, I've crosseed the borderline into being Type 2 Diabetic. When I went through nutrition counseling after my diagnosis the dieticians told me to count carbs, just like they have with you. However, while reading some of the information I've gathered since my diagnosis, I was reminded that while keeping track of the carbs is important - calories do count! That was when I found this site and have started using the food log to track my calories. This also helps me track my carb and fat intake. I've only been at it for a week, but have lost 2 lbs. so far so I'm happy.

Seems like everything I've read lately had the same theme. You can't just diet to lose weight. You have to decide to make a lifestyle change and diet to get healthy. So hang in there and become a healthier you!

I personally think I'm border line when it comes to this article. I mean, I want to lose fast (seriously, who doesn't these days?), but my minimum is 2 pounds a week. Anything extra is just...well, extra. Since I've been told that two pounds is realistic, I'm not sure if I could be called crazy yet.

i havefunny stories to share with those that want to hear them. since starting my journey to 130lbs, ive lost 21 lbs. Im almost to my bday goal weight and i know to keep pushing.

with the help of slim fast and portion control, im doing it for good this time.

also, i dont know anyone who can accomplish and maintain weight loss without the gym. i have learned to love it. its great to be able to change your body, it can be done and I CAN DO IT!!!

i also go out to eat every other weekend at a really nice restaurant,not a fas food high fat, fast food spot..this weekend it's melting pot! yum

It is hard to not want instant results, especially if you have a group of friends who naturally skinny and you are clearly 'the fat one' of the group. I think that it is also tough to be realist when there is constant ridicule of overweight people in the media.

I have no cures for this condition (wanting instant gratification) but I continue to search for one.

Until there are accurate scales to measure body fat loss AND lean muscle mass gain we really don't know if what we have lost is fat, muscle or fluid.  So much of weight loss can also just be measuring your fluids on board at the time of weighing. So aren't we deceiving ourselves to use scales like we do. So my question is -

I do wonder what a healthy body fat loss per week would be. Perhaps a ratio to lean muscle mass? i.e. loss 3 lbs fat and gain 1 lb muscle per week?? Without knowing this I think we are less likely to be successful long term.

It is best when you count calories, I have been at it since April 1st, I went off the calorie counting wagon for a couple of weks at a time or so but I am back on it as this keeps me honest.

I have gone from 243 to 216 and my goal is to get to 207-210 by July, I am 6 foot 3 43 year old guy.

A few tips, if you are really hungry I suggest protein, it fills you up. ALso, make a big bag of salad with all your favorite veggies, make your own dressing, balsamic and a little dijon and olive oil..

For Chocolate lovers-this has been a real struggle, I found a good solution, skim milk and cocoa powder, Dutched chocolate, real high quality, I mix and make a pudding like dessert that is about 150 calories and no sugar...that is the best I can do...

You can go off your diet for a day or two, you better get back to working out and countiing calories and not being weak about it or you never will lose...it takes dicipline and counting calories helps alot!

Psychosocial benefits? Is that because society is less likely to condemn us for being fat-fat-fatties when we lose a little weight?

Seems to me society is broken - not us.

Original Post by: cobolander

It is hard to not want instant results, especially if you have a group of friends who naturally skinny and you are clearly 'the fat one' of the group. I think that it is also tough to be realist when there is constant ridicule of overweight people in the media.

I have no cures for this condition (wanting instant gratification) but I continue to search for one.

But the conundrum is that, the more you push, the more you’ll stay in the same place.  Have you ever been caught in one of those Chinese Finger Traps?  You put one finger from each hand in both ends of a small woven bamboo cylinder. The initial reaction is to pull the fingers out, but that only tightens the trap.The solution is to push the ends inward toward the middle to enlarge the openings before slowly twisting the fingers out of the trap.  It is the perfect metaphor for dieting hard. 

Well actually reading this, at least i see that my goal wasn´t as unrealistic as i thought, yet i didn´t think i´d ever reach itr due to past experiences in dieting, but still i reached it. I started this year weighing 161 pounds and right now i am weighing 140 pounds, it is true though that seeing your own results in the mirror and on your clothing make one, feel first of all, proud of yourself, and secondly you gain a lot of self esteem and confidence. It is somewhat true that society is somewhat broken because one feels that if your not skinny you can´t actually triumph in life or be accepted, but the truth is that one has to lose weight for yourself, for feeling well, for liking yourself, for being healthy, one shouldn´t lose weight to be accepted by others. I actually had pretty low self esteem because all my junior high and high school i thought boys couldn´t like me because i was overweight, i never got to the point of obese, but i was overweight. And i struggled to lose weight actually looking for acceptance and never reached my goal and always lost like 5 pounds and gained them again and so on. But after i went to college, i actually found out that boys liked me, even if i was overweight, so this time i decided to lose weight for myself, to wear the clothes that i like, to be happy with myself, and look, i acvtually reached my goal. So i believe that people shouldn´t try to lose weight to be accepted by society or by anyone, one should lose weight for yourself, and only then will you be able to reach your goals, see the results, like yourself and maintain it.

I'm a 5'3" woman who has yearned to see my body be back where it was 10 years ago (114 lbs).  I was at 138 last spring and I decided to set 116 as my goal.  The practical side of me said I had a reasonable chance of hitting 124.  But I went with the mentality that this article actually says works for others as well - set a super far goal and it might push you to actually achieve more than you otherwise would have.

Here's the catch - I'm now at 121 and totally disappointed that I can't get farther.  It's crazy, I know - I'm fine at this weight.  But I was SO SO happy at being able to get this far.  I hit 118 three weeks ago and have somehow now climbed back up to 121 and am so bummed.  I didn't diet this past year- I just ate healthily and **only until I was full** (that was the hard part - eating slower and STOPPING with a lot of food still on my plate).  I snacked on fruit and low-calorie stuff.  When I went out with friends or family to restaurants I ordered what I wanted.  Since I've been eating healthy for a year, though, 'whatever I want' is practically never a burger and fries (I get sick from greasy or fried food) but usually something healthy. I've also sort of lost interest in sweet things other than fruit - I've definitely switched to being more of a 'savory' type person.

So here I am at 121lbs, which is perfectly healthy and I think even gives me a descriptor of 'slender'.  But reading this article now, maybe I'm not crazy for wanting to keep pushing for that "unrealistic" goal of 116.  If I'm likely to gain half of what I've lost in a year, I want to start that climb from a much lower point!  

Original Post by: chickevolving

pjwag your comment is encouraging, today I faced the scale and was up l0 lbs.  Yes I deserve it.  I gave in to all those things I shouldn't have.  I have been thinking about Eve lately.  We have all judged her for eating the apple and how stupid was that with all the things she could have, I have been realizing I am the same of all the things I can have why do I have the things that make me gain.  Why? Yeah I know the human nature always wants what they can't have stuff as soon as if off limits and all.  I feel so awful all that hard work down the drain again.  If anyone has any secret for not going back to my old ways I need to hear them.  That old nature keeps rising its ugly head.  I need  to get back on track.  As tempting as it is to do the no eating stuff keeping the calories low we all know that is just a stupid way to fall into the pit of binging.  It was binging that gained me the 10 lbs.   So lets just bypass the quick fix and head down the slow path to recovery. 

What I have learned is that there is no quick fix in losing weight.  And I had to lose A LOT OF IT!  U have been on this journey for going on 3 years now.  I have lost 228lbs so far and over the past three years I have wanted to give up so many times.  But giving up is what kept me unhealthy, overweight and miserable.  My advise is to take it one day at a time, do not set unrealistic expectations and stop making excuses.  I had to come to an understanding that this was going to be a journey that would be for the rest of my life, no one and no pill was going to do it for me.  I had to drop the excuses and get serious about my health.

I Just joined this website and I am so glad!!  This is just what I needed

I am 32, 5'7 and 195 lbs and feeling oh so terrible about myself.  I have lost 20 - 30 lbs a few time over the past few years and have now gained it all back and then some.  I think this website will be a great place to go for inspiration and support..Gosh I wish I had fouind this last year when I was getting married.  I did end up losing 20 lbs but it was sooo hard. 

Anyway glad to be here and I am also starting a new venture of running a half marathon in September.  My goal is to be 20lbs down by then..I think that is realistic and after that who knows...

Take Care and goodluck to everyone and keep posting it is awesome!!

Tinosha you have come to the right place.  I think the most important thing for me is logging everything I eat.  I love this website because I can not only find the caloric values for almost any food , but it tells me the nutritional info and also grades the food.  It's a tremendous help.  Good luck .

I am also a bad weekend eater!  I am trying hard to control it but it is hard.  My husband and kids want to go get donuts and go for pizza or grill good food at home.....  It is so hard!  I do much better M-F! 

One of the best things about this journey to health is that this time I am using real food to get to my goal and will use real food to stay there. I think of my caloric allowance as just that. I can spend it anyway I want so why not spend it on healthy, unprocessed food?

There is a new movie/documentary "Food, Inc" which is based on a book by the same name. All about the business of food. The businesses will not look out for me. I have to do that for myself. Just like I can decide where to spend my money after basics like shelter and utilities are paid for, I can decide to spend my calories on food that in the long run will make me sick or sicker. Or I can buy with my heart and health in mind. And the local framer too!

Just as good food takes a long time grow and gather all its nutrients, so we must take the time to relish the goodness. eat for the far off future and learn to not be in such a hurry. I savor my food now. I have started to eat foods I didn't eat before and you know what? I can walk pass the junk food aisle and never look back at what someone else might say, "I miss that stuff." I no longer crave the automatic satisfaction and then the over stuffed feeling later. I can eat an apple instead of a candy bar. I can eat smaller portions of food that are borderline "bad" like ice cream and fatty peanut butter. I sometimes take a small portion of peanut butter and smear it on my apple slices. What a great treat!

If I had the time and the land I would start my own VICTORY GARDEN just like Michelle Obama and so many others have done. The VICTORY would be for the earth and for me.

I will offer a little background about me first.  Because, although I read all the posts, I don't answer them.  This one however has really struck a chord.

I lost 170 pounds three years ago (at the age of 47) it took me only one year to lose the weight.  My starting weight was 330.  I did this through diet and working out.  I never went below 1,500 calories but I did put a tremendous effort into the working out part.  I have kept this weight off for two years now.

The key to how much you lose and how fast is determined by how much you have to lose in the first place and then it is how much effort you put into it.  I was a total coach potato and when I started to lose weight I started by walking 15 minutes by the end of month one I was walking two hours a day.  It wasn't until I had already lost 90 pounds (which took me three months) that I joined a gym.  After I joined the gym because half of what I needed to lose was already lost my weight started to come off slower - on average 10 pounds a month. 

What really bothers me is that so many people always quote statistics about how people readily gain the weight back.  By saying such things people wonder well why bother if I am only going to gain the weight back - after all everyone says I will.  My brother told me from day one that I was wasting my time because I would just gain it all back - well I am happy to say that I have proved him and all the statistics wrong.  I am happy and healthy and have no problem maintaining my weight with a 2,100 calorie a day diet and a good amount of cardio and weight machines. 

So I am posting to let everyone know - DON'T GIVE UP!  Prove everyone wrong and lose the weight and keep it off.  If I can do it anyone can.  I should also mention, that I had age against me as well - I was 47 when I started my journey and I will turn 50 next month.

Original Post by: pjwag

Possessing the ability to be satisfied... good point. If you're going to keep beating yourself up even when you're doing well by realistic standards, you're bound to give it up.

Possessing the ability to be satisfied... that was how I got here. My sweet tooth was never satisfied, my salt and fat cravings were never, ever calmed. That's the part that changes everything. To be satisfied with a meal that barely takes away the hunger pangs. To be satisfied with a slow or even stalled weight loss. That's the ticket. To be satisfied with myself for trying and often succeeding.

 

I agree with your comments. I concur all people should widen-out and make new friends. When you find people who really like and respect you, your weight is insignificant.

I’m a well proportion woman, however not necessarily considered overweight by most people (depending on the population). I have gained about 20 lbs. since I graduated from high school (1985). I’ve never been a small/thin person. I’ve striven my whole life to be a size 8. I flux from size 12 to 14. I hate that I’m not willing to work hard enough (take in less calories, work out more often) to lose the approximately 30 lbs. to reach my goal. I’m a pretty discipline person, yet I can’t lick this weight dilemma. I have to confess that I’m not the most likeable person. I’m somewhat of a snob. I’m not sure how I developed this attitude. I have nothing (materially, beauty, intelligence) out of the basics that would authorize me to behave/feel this way. Although I think I have these feeling to defend myself from being abused by others. Trying to control/maintain my weight is my defense mechanism against people being able to abuse me (mainly verbally).

I know I have a lot going on, but it feels better getting it on paper and sending it out to cyber world. Thanks CC!

Thanks for the inspiring comment   momofpixies (love your tag)  I know the work inolved in losing 31 pounds(7 to go), I can only imagine what you did.  I am older than you (54)and am worried about the maintenance part of it.  Your note gives me lots of encouragement!   

tbutler4 - congratulations - I know the last pounds are the hardest to get rid of.  I was afraid of maintenance at first but you get the hang of it after awhile.  Some people think that once they hit their goal weight they can do whatever they want and the weight piles back on quickly.  You can eat more - you just need to be careful.  I don't jump on the scale that often - I have a pair of jeans that work as my scale -  if they feel snug, I'll cut back for a week.  I think the other notion that people have is that you can't ever have sweets or anything again.  I love cake and cookies, I just make sure I don't eat the whole cake or the whole bag of cookies like I used to.

Original Post by: amourdevie

Chickevolving:

I have to say I am in the same boat that you are in.  I work out, hard.  I do cardio and weights six times a week and I am perfect with my eating Monday through Friday.  And then the weekend.  While most people look forward to it, I dread it.  It is the time when I lose control and all of my efforts go down the toilet!  I think there is some little demon inside my head that tells me because Saturdays and Sundays are relaxing days and there is little to no schedule, I'm allowed to eat whatever is in sight!  So right now I am working on what triggers that eating.  For me it is that my husband is home on Saturday and Sunday and my schedule is totally opposite of what it is Monday through Friday.  So on the weekends my goal is to pack my foods in a cooler so that I don't get caught hungry or unprepared.  I think the biggest thing is finding what triggers that binge eating, and then finding ways to overcome it!  I'll let you know how it goes for me and let me know if you find anything that works!

Wow, it's nice to see someone else who's like me.  I eat really well, go jogging 4 times per week, weight training twice per week, belly dancing twice per week, and yoga and hula hooping whenever I get the urge or have time.  When friday comes, suddenly I'm eating out, having delicious hot dogs at the farmer's market, eating cookies with my friends, all that good stuff. 

I really like eating healthy food, I need to sit and think long and hard about how I give myself the excuse to binge on the weekend.  I don't cut my calories excessively during the week, and I enjoy what I eat during the week, so there shouldn't be this entitlement feeling.  I really need to plan what I'm eating before the weekend comes and just say no, and hopefully that will help.  we'll see!

I can relate to this blog.  I went on a 900-1000 calorie diet for several months at the beginning of high school and lost a lot of weight, but eventually I "cracked" and gained all the weight back and then some.  My metabolism also got a lot slower, making it even more difficult to keep off the weight.   Although it is hard to be patient sometimes it pays off in the long run because losing weight is not only a goal, it is a way to teach yourself how to treat your body and stay healthy and active for the remainder of your life.

Original Post by: chickevolving

pjwag your comment is encouraging, today I faced the scale and was up l0 lbs.  Yes I deserve it.  I gave in to all those things I shouldn't have.  I have been thinking about Eve lately.  We have all judged her for eating the apple and how stupid was that with all the things she could have, I have been realizing I am the same of all the things I can have why do I have the things that make me gain.  Why? Yeah I know the human nature always wants what they can't have stuff as soon as if off limits and all.  I feel so awful all that hard work down the drain again.  If anyone has any secret for not going back to my old ways I need to hear them.  That old nature keeps rising its ugly head.  I need  to get back on track.  As tempting as it is to do the no eating stuff keeping the calories low we all know that is just a stupid way to fall into the pit of binging.  It was binging that gained me the 10 lbs.   So lets just bypass the quick fix and head down the slow path to recovery. 

dear chickevolving

My suggestion is not to limit yourself.  when you say that you can't have it- you want it. I wanted a piece of cheese cake last week. I cut the slice of cheese cake in half and ate one piece one night and saved another piece for another night. Deprivation makes you crazy. I have started calorie counting in february and making sure that this weight loss will be the last one I do.

LanieP

I was ready for this article. Losing 10% of my weight in 5 months has lowered my BP...and I am actually looking forward to my next blood work, eager to see how it has impacted my fasting blood sugar and my lipid panel.

I had broken down and bought a size larger pants last year and now those are falling off! I knew that when I lost weight my face would be thinner, and it is...although my fear of more wrinkles is proving true, fuller face fills out the wrinkles ( avoiding diabetes and putting less strain on my knees is more important I guess).

I have observed that the "biggest losers" have to have hours daily, five to seven days  a week, to devote to exercise. That just is not realistic, especially for someone who has  inflammatory joint issues that are triggered by overuse. If I exercise too much, I won't be able to exercise at all because I will be in bed unable to move.

So we have to know our limits and be grateful for what we CAN achieve. I am just grateful that I have been enjoying nearly pain-free days, that my face is thinner, my bra fits, the size 16's are falling off me and the size 14's are comfortable. Oh, and I can cross my legs comfortably too!

I am thankful that it is summer, and I fit comfortably into my favorite size Large REI shorts, and I can walk by the river in the sunshine too! Oh, and strawberries are in season, and Kashi GoLean Crunch with Brown Cow yogurt ...I am grateful for that too!

If I keep on counting calories and making right choices I will someday be back in size 10 maybe. But the important thing is the blood sugar and the lipid panel, and the knees, oh yes the knees.(Praise God for an employer who pays for the health club with the swimming pool!)

IGNORE THE ADS ATTACHED TO THIS PAGE! take it slow and sure

Original Post by: chickevolving

pjwag your comment is encouraging, today I faced the scale and was up l0 lbs.  Yes I deserve it.  I gave in to all those things I shouldn't have.  I have been thinking about Eve lately.  We have all judged her for eating the apple and how stupid was that with all the things she could have, I have been realizing I am the same of all the things I can have why do I have the things that make me gain.  Why? Yeah I know the human nature always wants what they can't have stuff as soon as if off limits and all.  I feel so awful all that hard work down the drain again.  If anyone has any secret for not going back to my old ways I need to hear them.  That old nature keeps rising its ugly head.  I need  to get back on track.  As tempting as it is to do the no eating stuff keeping the calories low we all know that is just a stupid way to fall into the pit of binging.  It was binging that gained me the 10 lbs.   So lets just bypass the quick fix and head down the slow path to recovery. 

My own newly gained insight about satisfaction and the part it plays in my life and habits escaped me just yesterday but, in the process, proved the point. I revisited the old habits resulting in a 2500+ calorie day. Ouch. Back to the new life- the old one wasn't really worth it. My husband and I both felt lousy as a result.

Congrats to everyone who keeps coming back to the world of healthy living after they stray. To chickevolving (btw, I love the name you use here), try to avoid thinking things like, "I deserve it". That's beating yourself up if I ever heard it. Try, "I understand it" instead since you clearly do see what happened and have a great deal of insight into what you want to see happening. And welcome back to the slow go. I'm much better when I have the 5-6 small meals/snacks a day that are so often recommended to avoid the hunger and binging. If I were more organized, I'd do it all the time and highly recommend it for anyone having those satisfaction issues.

Good luck to all!

pj

Like many above, I too have fallen off the healty wagon here of late.  But this article has renewed me sense of accomplishment. 

When looking at the realistic weight loss, I know I'm right on track.  I'm only 6lbs from reaching my 10% loss in 6-months with one month to go.  I've had weeks of "cheating" and weeks of pure laziness, but I'm definitely refreshed and ready to work hard again. 

I have to make a quick comment about someone's mention of a sense of entitlement.  I'm a teacher, and I constantly complain about how my students feel so much entitlement, so I hate to admit that I suffer from this as well.  Here's how mine works:

I'm a middle-class late-twenties teacher and can't afford all the things I'd like to have.  I don't drive a new car.  I only buys clothes off the sale rack.  I don't have the latest gadgets or electronics.  I have nice stuff, but I look at other people and think, "Wow.  I want that.  One day."  So for now (until that one day comes when I can buy my first never-been-previously-owned car), I grant myself free access to food.  I can't have a Louis Vitton bag, so I'm eating the hot fudge sundae.  I will have satisfaction one way or another.  I felt entitled to have that sundae.  I deserved it.  "I work hard, and if I can't buy all the other things I want, I will certainly enjoy this freaking hot fudge sundae." 

I see the error in my thinking, though.  I am not entitled to a hot fudge sundae.  In fact, I'm not entitled to anything but a happy and healty life, and only I can provide that for myself (which unfortunately is not reached by woofing down sundaes - darn). 

I think it's a misconception that the "biggest losers" have to exercise for hours daily five days per week. At least, that does not fit me.

I've lost 74 pounds in six and a half months with diet and exercise. With the diet and exercise, plus 500 mg of niacin and 4000 mig of fish oil daily, I've brought my total cholesterol down from 263 to 197, my triglycerides from 426 to 145, the LDL down to 123, and the HDL up from 36 to 45, all without any prescription meds. (Blood sugar is still a bit high (108), but it's not going up, even with the niacin, which is known to raise blood sugar a bit. The nurse practitioner who runs the wellness clinic at the local hospital assures me blood sugar will go down as I continue to shed fat - I have about 40 pounds more to lose.)

I work out for about an hour a day, three or four days a week, on a 2100 calorie diet (I'm a 6'6" male, so I can eat a lot and still lose weight, as long as I also exercise). I too have inflammatory lower joint issues - feet, ankles, and knees - in my case caused by chronic septic arthritis. That does limit what exercises I can do. No stair steppers, treadmills, or ellipticals for me. But I find a recumbent stationary bike to be almost ideal - lots of good cardio with limited impact on the lower body. There have been just a couple of days when knee pain ruled that out. Nautilus equipment is good for resistance training, because it isolates the muscles it works; on a day when my knees are acting up, I can simply skip the leg press, leg extension, and leg curl machines and still have a good workout.

Incidentally, with the weight loss, the hip pain I experienced daily is almost completely gone. My cane, which never left my side, now sits in my closet, unused, except on really bad knee days.