SparkPeople advertisers help keep the site free! Learn more
    WRITINGBLUEHAWK   14,012
SparkPoints 		10,000-14,999 SparkPoints
 
 
I know what I'm supposed to do, but ....

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Now that I'm only 21 pounds from goal I know what I'm supposed to be doing to shed the rest of this weight. I'm supposed to be intensifying the exercise, cutting more calories and putting the nutrition into overdrive. Trouble is, I've grown accustomed to eating 1,600 calories a day and cutting my intake to 1,200 calories a day sounds painful. I'm still exercising, but it's slowed to about 30 minutes of aerobic activity 4x a week.

I KNOW I haven't been working as hard as I should. So it's no surprise that my rate of weight loss has slowed to 1/2 a pound a week over the last month.

My current goal is to lose 11 more pounds by the end of 2012. That's 3-4 pounds a month. Not bad, but once you throw in Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, 11 pounds might as well be 30. If I don't find some motivation to kick things up a notch, I'm not going to meet my goal.

How do I deal with this? I've returned to Weight Watchers for reinforcement and continue to journal and blog on SP. Should I jumpstart my weight loss by dropping the calorie consumption to 1,200 for a couple of weeks, then return to my normal 1,600-1,700 calorie intake? That will require me to drop my carbs, increase my protein, eliminate all packaged or processed foods and cut out desserts. In return, I might drop a quick 3 or 4 pounds.

I'm going to think it over. I'm glad that I'm still on program, but I need to either accept the slower rate of weight loss or make the sacrifices necessary to speed it up to 1-2 pounds a week.



SHARE
  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SPARKLE1908 9/21/2012 1:49PM

    I know you will get it done...we all have that "wall" that we have to break through...good luck!!

Report Inappropriate Comment
NEWME0519 9/20/2012 11:00PM

    Yep, I'm in exactly the same place! I know what to di but can't get my mental state to cooperate!

emoticon

Report Inappropriate Comment
JAZZEJR 9/20/2012 10:05PM

    I've never figured out how to lose 2 lbs a week, but anyway, why not join the Fall 5% Challenge? The team's goals will help motivate you to stay with your own through the holidays.

Report Inappropriate Comment
MOBYCARP 9/20/2012 8:41PM

    I started 21 pounds from what I thought was my goal, and I took it off fast. In 12 weeks, I went past goal and started trying to maintain.

And I kept on losing. Added calories. Lost more weight. Added more calories. Lost more weight. 8 more weeks and 10 more pounds, and I thought I'd found my final weight. Dropped another 3 pounds learning to make the weight go sideways instead of down.

I didn't do it the way SP recommends, but I see why there is a recommendation of slower weight loss as you approach goal. I lost maybe 2 pounds a week when I was trying to lose weight, and it was a difficult transition to maintenance. If you're losing a half pound a week, the transition to maintenance ought to be easier and smoother.

That's the theory, anyway. You'll need to figure out whether the theory fits with your emotional quirks and philosophical outlook.

Report Inappropriate Comment
BARBAELLEN 9/20/2012 8:28PM

    Here I am again, speaking from the other side of the fence. That is, I'm at the lower end of the scale, and I've NEVER experienced weight loss that's anywhere near "quick." Recall that back when you were fussing about having those weeks when you didn't lose at least two pounds, I told you about how even more patience would be required when you weight less. Well, here you are! I've been on 1,200-1400 calories since I started! Yep, 1,600 calories would be a massive feast!! And, the lighter you get, the fewer calories you'll burn doing the EXACT same activities that melt away pounds on a heavier person. Sorry, but there's no way around it.

Now, all that is not to be discouraging. You know the formula for losing weight, so no matter which way you go with your decision, you keep with the program and the weight comes off. It really does. A while back I reached a point short of my initial goal and stopped working as hard as I could. However, I do keep with it and am losing about a pound */- a month. Only you can decide how relaxed you're going to be about losing your last 21. Whatever you do, just NEVER forget to keep with the program. PATIENCE!!

No matter how fast or how slow you decide, you'll still be going in the right direction. Just don't change course, and you'll be just fine. You're doing great!
emoticon

Report Inappropriate Comment
CAKEMAKERMOM 9/20/2012 2:57PM

    It depends on what you really want. Do you want to be at your goal now or do you want to reach a reasonable goal even if it's not as fast as you originally hoped.

I've gone down from my 1.8 pounds a week to about a pound a week (except the last couple). It is harder to drop it quickly as you get skinnier and there is less fat to get rid of, so if you work on toning and being healthy, then the weight will look good when you're done.

As for holidays, I suggest not bringing the candy in the house. If you're lucky you don't actually need to give out the stuff, so you don't really need to buy it, but if you do give the stuff out, don't get it until the day before so it's not sitting there staring at you tempting you to eat it.

With the other holidays, don't focus on the food so much as the family. Bring some healthier options for the dinners that will happen so you know where your calories will lie.

Good luck getting through these food based holidays!

Report Inappropriate Comment

Add Your Comment to the Blog Post


Log in to post a comment.
 


Other Entries by WRITINGBLUEHAWK