SparkPoints: (414)
Fitness Minutes: (0)
Posts: 132
4/9/12 12:49 P

Ah - you guys are inspiring! I am somewhat height-challenged as well (not quite 5'3"), but I'd be okay with 125-128. I briefly hit 123 about 6 years ago during a very stressful period (critical illness of a loved one) and I think I look better a little higher than that. I'm curvy anyway and do quite a bit of weight training so ultimately I want to have a lot more muscle.

I follow a slightly different plan which is 2 down days a week, but feel like I can maintain that long term, which is what's most important to me.

I'm planning to track this week too - have not gained any, but KNOW I did stupid things last week (breaking two of my personal rules: (1) don't eat food (cookies and candy at work) just because it's there, and (2) if you're not enjoying something you are eating - STOP EATING IT!). I might not count the calories, but I want to see it in black and white that everything I put in my mouth was either nutritionally or emotionally worthwhile .

Also HAVE to start some cardio exercise. I don't know why that is so hard for me!!!

Appreciate everyone sharing their stories and challenges!

current weight: 129.0

142 138.5 135 131.5

128

SparkPoints: (19,072)
Fitness Minutes: (10)
Posts: 3,754
4/9/12 11:14 A

Hang in there, JUDE.

Like you, I'm mostly in maintenance. Actually, I have been, for the past 6 months or so. I initially wanted to lose 50 pounds, but changed my goal to 60 when I still had a significant "muffin top". I reached my goal of a 60 lb loss in September, and have lost a few more since then.

The trick to maintenance is that we need to still be on the program. My mantra: "A temporary diet means a temporary weight loss".

I recently posted a blog (feel free to skip the "numbers" at the beginning of it) where I outlined the strategies that I still use, and the things that I give myself permission to no longer do. www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_
individual.asp?blog_id=4812487
After you read it, consider making your own list. "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." And, when I need to, I very occasionally go back to even doing some of the things that, mostly, I no longer do, such as tracking food for a few days or a week, or adding in more DOWN days again.

Continuing to weigh myself daily, and posting regularly on SP are two of my most important strategies, because they help to keep me accountable to myself and others so that I don't "fall off the wagon". Actually, I recently read what someone else wrote about "falling off the wagon". She believes that implies that she is not driving the wagon. We need to drive the wagon and be in control of each and every choice we make, and then we can't fall off.

~ Faith

Edited by: MAMABUGAZ at: 4/9/2012 (13:03)

current weight: 121.6

180 162.5 145 127.5

110

Posts: 13
4/9/12 6:22 A

There is no doubt that getting involved with support sites such as Spark People helps people stay on track! You get support, inspiring ideas and personal advice! Welcome! I have significantly more weight to lose than you. But so far I've lost 12 lbs on this diet in 2 months which is excellent for my diet record. :-)

Easter week is my first major slip up. So I'm afraid of the scale right now. .... So I'm BACK on Spark and ready to get on track again.

*What has helped me the most on this diet?
1. Having a very rigid rule I will not eat more than 700 calories on my Down Days.
2. I will not have 2 days in a row of Up Days.
3. Remember you are never more than 8 to 24 hours away from a yummy meal. If I am presented with an amazingly yummy meal on a Down Day -- most often at restaurants, but also close friends' and families' home -- I will wrap up the meal and take it home and eat it in 8 to 24 hours. I think it is KEY to do this so you do NOT feel deprived and frustrated and want to quit. I have done this a lot. Friends and family don't care. They want to support me.

Any concerns?

Best Wishes!

FYI: My first week I felt lousy... headaches, tired, hungry... but its weird those annoying symptoms have gone away. My semi-fasting Down Days are not all that bad. I feel healthier having a semi-fast every other day.

489 Days since:  Mindless Eating

0 125 250 375

500

Posts: 76
4/9/12 3:23 A

As a KOPs[Keep Off Pounds sensibly]in the TOPS {Take Off Pounds Sensibly I am struggling with maintenance and even want to lose another 4-5 lbs beyond my recently reached goal of 160..JUDDD was/is instrumental in my success but my Down Days seem to get away from me .Hoping to get control with stricter menus,protein drink and keeping goodies out of the house

current weight: 26.0  over

30 15 0 -15

-30

SparkPoints: (19,072)
Fitness Minutes: (10)
Posts: 3,754
4/8/12 5:54 P

Welcome. At my heaviest, I weighed about 185 lbs. I'm 5'3", and a small build, and have been below 120 lbs since September. It took me about a year (Sept 2010 - Sept 2011) to lose 60 lbs.

I'm content with my weight, but, I'd still like to lose an inch or two in my waist, and get down to 50% of my height. (63" tall. Currently at a 33" or 33.25" waist. Would like to be 31.5".)

So, we're kind of at a similar place. I expect that I'll need to be down in the 110-115 lb range to achieve my waist goal. I'm no longer working terribly hard at it, but, I've continued, during my last 6 months in "maintenance", to lose 3-4 lbs, and about an inch. So, I'm gradually working my way down there.

~ Faith

current weight: 121.6

180 162.5 145 127.5

110

SparkPoints: (28)
Fitness Minutes: (0)
Posts: 1
4/8/12 5:34 P

I'm totally new here and I have never been a part of any online group so bear with my limited knowledge of how t works. I have wanted to lose those last 10 lbs for the past 2 years. At my heaviest I weighed 155. I went down to 125 over the course of 4 years; however, I feel the best when I weigh 115. I'm not that tall. I'm about 5'4" so it's not that I'm trying to look like a skeleton. Anyways, I really need a support in this and I think this is the right place to find it. I'm planning to start tomorrow ( I already bought some Wonder Slim 100 cal soups. I hope I can do it with you guys!!!

Anushka