SparkPoints: (34,461)
Fitness Minutes: (46,580)
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6/29/11 11:28 P

Sorry I misunderstood, but yes, my goal is to always maintain my weight loss. I have no desire to be heavy again. I feel so much better at this weight.

current weight: 165.0

165 160.25 155.5 150.75

146

Posts: 10,179
6/29/11 8:38 P

Bittygirl
Your first paragraph is exactly like mine!!! Only I was 199.9 at the highest. The number 200 was not an option for me.
Why did it take me 40 years to understand what I understand now??? DUH! (new word for me....)
As much as you want to get below 140, for me, I'm not able to get below 150.
Only once I weighed 149 for one day. No matter what I do I can't get below 150.
Actually, if I'll starve and eat only vegies and fish I could lose more weight easily, but I don't want to go in this direction, because I can NOT stay there comfortably for life.
I'm very content at 151-153 and I guess that's where my body wants to be.

Actually if you'll read again my last sentence, What I meant is; do you want very badly to stay at maintenance for life (whatever weight you choose) and never again gain all the weight back.
That was my question. I just wanted to see how determind you're to never gain the weight back.

I also don't count any points at all. Did you know that because I'm following the SFT and at goal, I get 90 weekly points?
I also want to track at Spark because I want to know the numbers of my sodium, cholesterol, calories and more. I want to know the numbers. It will happen. I'm very slow in computer skills.

Mimi

467 Maintenance Weeks

0 120 240 360

480

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6/29/11 4:07 P

Mimi...I don't mind talking numbers. I weighed 199.8 lbs. when I joined WW back in 2005 for about the 4th time. I had never gotten all the way too LIFETIME before and never really got my head in the game and allowed it to become a lifestyle until the last time. I never wanted to weigh 200 - nothing like waiting til the very last minute to do something about it, right? DUH.

Anyway it took me about a year to lose 55 lbs and get down to 144.8. My WW goal weight was 146. After 6 weeks of maintenance I was at 142 when I achieved lifetime status. (4 lbs. under my goal). They didn't enforce the 2 lb. under rule like they do now. In the 4 1/2 years that I have been LIFETIME and worked as leader I have fluctuated between 142 and 149. (I was determined not to ever hit 150!!)

Well, at my last weigh (last Sat.) I weighed in at 150.6 UGH!! In answer to your question - I have and have always had since reaching LIFETIME status a "personal goal" of 135 - 140. That would be an absolute dream come true! Unfortunately, I've not weighed 140 EVER, my entire adult life!!
So, I'm experimenting. I like to think of it as "continuing education". Cause I believe WW only takes you so far...they want their plan to be as simple as possible so it will appeal to the "masses". And it does. That is why (I believe the new PP plan) is not quite as popular. It's a tad bit more complicated and challenging. It's kinda like going from high school to college.

My experiment is to track my nutrients and count calories for the summer and leave PP entirely out of the equation. I will continue to attend monthly meetings and continue to be extremely active, but I want to break the cycle/plateau I'm on and see if I can learn something in the process.

Sorry..that was the long answer to your question. My WW goal 146. My Personal goal 135-140.

current weight: 165.0

165 160.25 155.5 150.75

146

Posts: 10,179
6/28/11 9:17 P

Teresa
Your questions are great. They make me think, which is a good thing...smile...
You have a lot of experience as a lifetime member at maintenance and I enjoy your wisdom and the way you think and write.
Please keep the questions coming and coming.

Bittygirl
I totally agree that the 2 pounds above the goal is too restrictive and that it is a great marketing tool. $$$
Not only restrictive, but it would put me in a pressure cooker and stress every week.
As you know, restriction, pressure and stress are not helping in losing or maintaining the weight.
Probably 99% of lifetime members at goal have a problem with the upper 2 pounds.
I never saw a case of someone who had a problem with the lower 2 pounds...
Is a lifetime member going to lose 2 pounds every week?...smile...

4 cups of water weigh 2 pounds! 4 cups!!! If too much sodium has been used a day before the meeting, that will probably show a 2 or more pounds gain.

4 1/2 YEARS of maintenance!!! WooHoo!!! Your cloths fit well. You're in great shape and your body is tones from all the exercise you do.
Keep going! You're doing so well.
I assume your goal is to stay at maintenanc????!!!

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Posts: 10,258
6/28/11 8:31 P

Thanks Mimi for putting things in perspective. You got right to the point in a much more clear-cut manner. I was attempting at looking at awareness and conscious decison-maiking.

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6/28/11 7:56 P

I couldn't agree more. Thanks for confirming and validating my thoughts. I too am about 4 lbs. above my goal weight. I really think the 2 lbs above is too restrictive for most and that is why WW collects alot of money from Lifetime members who cannot maintain it. I am comfortable where I am - that is probably why I haven't reached my personal goal. I'm too comfortable at the weight I am. All my smaller clothes still fit etc; Like you - I'm content.

I have been Lifetime about 4 1/2 years.

current weight: 165.0

165 160.25 155.5 150.75

146

Posts: 10,179
6/28/11 6:55 P

"I'm not beating myself up - I just recognize that sometimes I give in to my desires even when I know it's not the best route to choose"

Well said, Bittygirl

May I ask how many YEARS are you on maintenance already?

It happens to me too. For me, I think it is the rebelious voice in my head that wants to get some freedom from following a plan every day, every hour....
I do follow the 9 health goodlines every day. They're so important for me. I hardly eat any processed foods.
That means that every couple of months I rebel and I want those foods you've diescribed, or any other "junk foods" in the wrong (bigger!) portions.
I do it, as you say, because I want to!!!!!
As long as it happens rarely, or not too often, that's totally fine with me.

Actually, I now mostly plan ahead a date (every couple of months) that I totally eat what I want and how much I want. The funny thing is that when I give myself permission to eat whatever I want, I don't overeat by much.
And if I do, I enjoy every bite and have great memories...smile...

I definitely don't exercise to burn the extra calories I've spent. Exercise is not my favorite thing in the world to do....smile.... once a day is more than enough for me.
Good for you that you love exercise and willing to do a second one in the same day.
I just go back to my regular routine, filling better that I chosed poorly and enjoyed it very much.

I'm staying within my maintenance range that I decided it to be 3-4 pounds above my chosen maintenance goal. I feel that 2 pounds above doesn't work for me. (so I have 5-6 pounds to play with, if I include the 2 pounds below goal) Actually I have more pounds to play with, and because my weight stayed at the same range allready 7 years, I rather not change my goal weight to a lower one. Again, it works for me.

With all the wonderful healthy habits I've learned, it is still sometimes a real struggle to stay at maintenance. I wish it would becom easier in years, but not for me, personally.
I still have to do it one day at a time.
I've to accept the reality. I think I do accept that it still takes work and effort, etc......to stay at maintenance.
BIG SIGH.....

But.....the black dress I wore when I reached goal stil fits me well and better (and it is not the strechy one. all cotton. The zipper closes well.....smile....), and that is only one benefit. They're so many others.







Edited by: PERSISTENCEMIMI at: 6/28/2011 (19:00)

467 Maintenance Weeks

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Posts: 10,258
6/28/11 4:40 P

No offense taken whatsoever. I don't often convey my intentions very clearly. You have gotten to the bottom of the issue. You made a conscious decsion, and acted accordingly.
The intent was exactly that. Are you aware and making informed choices or simply eating out of habit for other reasons.
I often choose to eat things which might not fit into any pigeon hole. However I deliberately chose to do it, with the awareness of what effect it might have.

It is a good reminder. Never beat yourself up for your choices.

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6/28/11 3:40 P

No offense - but I would suggest that your question may be "flawed". My mind was fully engaged when I chose poorly today. My husband wanted to go to a Mexican Restaurant. I chose 2 chicken enchiladas with sour cream sauce; spanish rice; refried beans; and chips and salsa because that is what I wanted! The entire way there, I was thinking a healthier option was chicken fajitas, but it wasn't what I wanted. Although "yes, it tends to be a habit when I go to a Mexican Restaurant" it is by no means our of sheerly not thinking it through. I did think it through and still chose poorly.

I often ask when we choose the things we do - "is it hunger, or is it habit"?? Mine, in the case of today was hunger, habit, cravings; taste blah, blah, blah...

Oh well - I will run damage control tonight when I go for my second workout of the day.

Thanks for asking. I'm not beating myself up - I just recognize that sometimes I give in to my desires even when I know it's not the best route to choose.

current weight: 165.0

165 160.25 155.5 150.75

146

Posts: 10,258
6/28/11 3:02 P

Having explored some of the reasons we make our choices two underlying issue may be responsible.

1. Do you generally make your choices from Habit or mindfulness?