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I've been on SPark since January 3rd and have lost 6 pounds. That it. But I am down a good clothing size and seriously my hips, thighs, all of it- reshaped and smaller through intense exercise coupled with cleaner eating than before Spark.
I celebrate when I drop 0.5 pound anytime! I have found that when youlose very slowly all the factors tha cause weight fluctuation on a dayto day basis are magnified. Salt, water retention in muscles from a hard workout, TOM, you nme it. I weigh myself every 3 days orso because w eeekly weigh in is just to effected by these variables.
Clothing fit is also a criticl measure for me. I'd have quit ges ago if I went by scale results alone, but when I can easily button my skinny jeans- straight from the dryer- I *know* those results.
So tips are to measure success in many ways, inches, clothes, your confidence, and energy levels. Your daily goals and lastly the scale. It's depressing to think it might take me 6 months to lose the last 10 pounds but it also makes me feel great to see the increased fitness and strength levels I'm accumulating along the way! Gotta love muscle definition, perhaps even more than a scale number!
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| I don't go by what the scale shows either...of course it plays a part but I don't dwell on it. If I can fit into clothese that 2 weeks ago I couldn't I know I have lost fat whether or not the scale reflects the lose. I never measured with a measuring tape but this time around I am trying to do the measuring thing. I hope it helps me, I've heard it helping my co-worker.
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WHITEDAISY
4/11/06 8:11 A
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| Hi Cissie, Thank you for the birthday wish and your message spoke to me. I screw up all the time. When I eat something junky or whatever, It's like oh well, may as well keep going. It's just an excuse to eat, because common sense would dictate to stop eating and get back on course immediatley. I needed to read something like that this morning. Maarilyn
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 A belated "Happy Birthday" to you, Marilyn!
I see nothing wrong is having a celebration day where we might revert to former ways of eating the wrong things or even too much of the good things.
One thing we should all be careful of is giving ourselves permission to "pig out" for the rest of the day ~ telling ourselves that we have blown it for that day, so we might as well give in & start fresh tomorrow. After one setback we should determine to do it right for the rest of the day & forgive ourselves when we have that one setback.
Hugs, Cissy
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WHITEDAISY
4/10/06 7:15 P
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| Hi Natalie, I almost missed your question. It's a New Leaf. If you click on Sparkpages and find Whitedaisy, it will take you there. Or an easier was is to click on my sparkpage right now under my name and that will take you there.Marilyn
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| It is difficult when you have an off day; to get back on track! But one day shouldn't spoil alot of good days and only will if the path continues. I have lost many a good nitch over one bad day of eating, but alas, each day is new and enough good strung together will outweigh an occasional slip. I hope to take this advice myself!!! :)
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What is the name of your community journal? I would love to have a read.
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WHITEDAISY
4/9/06 10:39 P
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That's PM right? I am in South Florida, just outside Ft.Lauderdale. I have a community journal if you want to get depressed.  Kidding, not that bad.
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It's 1230 here at the moment. I forgot to look at your details - where abouts are you?
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WHITEDAISY
4/9/06 10:27 P
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Hi Natalie,
Thanks for the words of encouragement. What time is it ,in Australia?
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| Of course we don't mind Marilyn. At least you know that you shouldn't be too hard on yourself and have made the conscious decision to get back on the wagon. Just try to keep that progress you have made so far in your mind, and remind yourself of all the work it took to get there. You don't want, or need, to go back and do it all again.
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| I needed to find this thread tonight because although I lost some weight last week I feel myself slipping. It sure didn't help that today was my birthday and my sweet husband ran to get me a starbuck mocha latte to wake up to and then later to IHOP for breakfast, and cake after dinner. I feel like a sofa slug tonight and it's time to hop back on the wagon and get this thing done. Everyone is saying "don't be too hard on yourself", and I'm trying. I like the determination of this group and feel a connection,so if you all don't mind , you'll be hearing more from me. Marilyn
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I determined that this would be my last weight loss effort! To that end I have given myself permission to not concern myself if the  don't show any change. As long as I know I have followed the program, I am assured that eventually the success will show up on the & I am content with that. Also, some folks suggest that to  oneself weekly will give evidences of successes that haven't yet shown up on the . I think we can get into trouble & easily feel defeated when we expect instant success. After all ~ did any of us put the weight on overnight? I doubt that we did. It isn't a good mindset to think we should be able to take it off overnight!
I wish you many blessings as you travel this wonderful road to a thinner you.
Hugs, Cissy
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| Goddess - I started doing what they promote on here actually. I started using minigoals. Goal one might be to lose 5 pounds. Then that mini goal would have a SPECIFIC reward that I determined beforehand. When I reached the mini goal, I started to not want to sabotage myself because I had ACHIEVED something specific. All I wanted to do then was achieve the NEXT mini goal and my next specific reward. I think it then became a bit of a 'test' for me you know?
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| I love the small goals on SparkPeople too... which reminds me that one thing I do when I am feeling impatient (a lot of the time) with my weight loss and other goals, is go on the webpage and try to collect SparkPoints! This not only lets me see progress but it also exposes me to great articles, posts, and motivation strategies.
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WITHABANDON
4/6/06 10:37 A
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I can relate. I am only a week and a half into the program and I just wish time would pass faster. It's not so much wanting to see the results faster, or maybe it actually is, but I want to be like "I am six months into Spark, look at the change I am making!"
I know for me the weight loss is not the only change that is encouraging me. What's encouraging me is my stamina when I am working out, how I LOOK more healthy, etc, things that can't be measured in numbers and scales.
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DANIGIRL14
4/6/06 10:36 A
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I want quick results too, but I like that this site gives you small goals for the first couple of weeks. I am really drinking more water. I have read this topic in a couple of threads so you are definetly not alone. Remember that muscle weighs more than fat, so if you are toning you might not lose much weight at first.
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| I am like that too- and what's worse is that even when I start to see results, I want results FASTER!!! Right now I am working on setting only really low expectations for myself. That way, if I see results above and beyond what I expect, I am more encouraged; but if I see results that aren't what I expect, I have faith that that is just making up for the extra results I saw earlier. For example, I wish I was losing more than 2 lbs a week, but I am purposely only setting that as my goal. I am writing down my goal in my planner so that I realize that even a month from now I shouldn't expect to be more than 8 lbs lighter. When it doesn't look like I've lost any weight at all- or even looks like I've gained some back- I just assume that it is water weight and that I am actually still at my goal. =)
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INFOGODDESS
4/6/06 5:24 A
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| And how did you get over doing that?
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| It's funny you should say that Goddess because I used to do that to myself too. I think I got into the mentality that if I am seeing results, I am doing really well and therefore, I can slack it off just a little bit, then a little bit more, then more until finally, I am doing nothing!
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INFOGODDESS
4/5/06 9:22 P
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It is so hard to change long-time habits. We're all in a hurry to see results. I judge results by how my clothes fit rather than how many pounds or inches I have or have not lost.
I seem to get nearly the opposite reaction you do. As soon as I see any progress, I relax and sabotage myself. Yuk!
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I agree with you, Brooksie. Measuring does definately help. I am not exercising, though and I am afraid to measure until I get motivated to exercise.
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| There are TONS of us out there, you are NOT alone, we all want quick results, unfortunatly it just doesn't work that way. I have found however that measuring really does give encouragement. The past 3 weeks I haven't shown a weight loss but I have lost a few inches, that is enough encouragement to keep me going. Hope that helps! Whatever it takes to motivate you do it! It is worth it!!
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Hi everyone. I was just wondering if there were other like me out there? I am a person who is often motivated by results. So WHEN I start to see the results I find it easier to stick to the exercise/healthy eating regime. My problem however, is how to stay motivated during that initial 2 - 3 weeks when many people don't see any results to speak of. Do any of you have any experience with this? Or tips on how to stay on track?
I have a terrible habit of expecting results as soon as I make the decision to exercise/diet etc. You would think that if I KNEW that was a weakness of mine I would be able to talk myself out of it wouldn't you?
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