Frustrated beyond belief...

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2/18/13 8:55 P

I would encourage you to ditch the scale for a while. I've been on SP for 3 1/2 years. I lost 90 lbs and like you had setbacks - shoulder surgery, husband had cancer, mother in law passed etc. etc. I gained about 15 lb. Those 15 have been harder to lose the second time around.

What I realized is that life happens everyday. It isn't an option for me anymore not to be committed. I surrounded myself with people who hold me accountable. I teach a boot camp once a week so that group of ladies depends on me. I started a Women Living healthy care group for my church that meets once a week and those ladies depend on me. I'm in a 10 min a day exercise challenge group that requires us to post on our group FaceBook page daily. So literally on a daily basis I have people checking in with me to see how I did. That level of accountability works for me.

I know that if I eat right, drink my water, and workout that in the end I will be in shape no matter what the scale says. That scale number can fluctuate as much as 7 lbs in a day depending on our water intake, sodium levels, inflammation etc - and that really doesn't reflect how your body is on the inside. Give yourself a break from living up to a number and just live - the healthy way. It will all work out.

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2/18/13 2:33 P

I think you need to reassess your goals and be more realistic.

"I did expect to have dropped at least 15-18 pounds and I am at less that half that." In two months, that would be a weekly weight loss of nearly 2 pounds a week. Perhaps when you needed to lose 115 pounds, you may hit 2 pounds a week. However, you have less weight to lose now, even with your setback.

With a loss of 9 pounds in 8 weeks, that's a little more than 1 pound a week. That is very steady, consistent loss. It also is within the range of what is to be expected. You are doing nothing wrong. You are losing less because you have less to lose. You have been getting results.

Also, make sure you track non-scale goals like measurements, body fat and fitness performance. That will give you a more complete picture. And, as you get closer to your goal, you may not lose any weight at all, but these numbers will be another way you can measure your progress.

Just hang in there and celebrate the success your are seeing, not beat yourself up over what you want to see. You can do it!

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2/18/13 12:23 P

ESCALANTE6306,

I agree. you really are doing just fine. Here's something that people don't realize. Each time we gain, lose and regain the weight, our bodies become more efficient at holding onto any fat. So, don't beat yourself up because the weight isn't coming off as fast as it did previously. I can assure you that if you continue to eat right, watch your portions and get some regular exercise that includes some strength training, the weight WILL come off with time.

But you have to be patient with yourself and your body. It may have taken five months to put on the weight, it could take as long as 10 months to take it off. That's the awful thing about weight gain. It's easy to pack on, but difficult to take off.

Be patient with yourself and your body. I know you're frustrated, we've all been where you are. But patience and consistency really will help you achieve your goals. It just might take a little longer this time around.

As the old song goes,"accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative". Give yourself credit for all the positive things you do for yourself and don't beat yourself up if you're not perfect. You don't have to be perfect to be healthy.

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2/18/13 11:06 A

Hi ESCALANTE6306,

You are doing just fine. For me, the longer the weight loss took, the more I realized that this must become my way of living. I am always going to have to watch my diet and exercise. If you do not commit to making this a lifestyle you will find yourself on the roller coaster of dieting. When I was actively losing I only lost an average of 4 ounces a week, but I am proud to say that while it took me 3 1/2 years to reach my goal weight, I have kept it off for over 4 1/2 years...as many of us find out, weight loss can be so much easier than maintenance. This is why taking things slowly helps us change our mindset.

Hang in there!

Coach Nancy

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2/18/13 10:41 A

I am frustrated beyond belief. I had lost about 115 pounds thru diet and excessive it was a long journey but I did it. After several months at holding my weight steady we had some huge lifestyle changes and I got lazy about my eating and no longer had time to breathe much less work out. I found myself up 38 pounds in 5 months. After re-prioritizing my life I got back in the game and started fighting for me again. My diet has clean and I am working out, however this time the weight is not coming off. I have only lost 9 pounds in the last 2 months. I am so frustrated. I didnt expect to drop huge numbers but I did expect to have dropped at least 15-18 pounds and I am at less that half that. I don't know what I am doing wrong, I have never had to fight this hard to get weight off this early in the game. I am doing everything I did last time and it worked but this time not so much.... I am trying to stay realistic and I know that persistence is the name of the game but dang it.. Persistence with no results is beyond aggravating. And ideas, would be great???