Back to Goal!

After a depressing winter and gaining about 7 pounds, I'm FINALLY back to my goal weight. I didn't start working on it until early February, so it's taken that long. Losing the weight originally after surgery was the easiest thing ever. And for those of you who have no problem maintaining, you are rock stars! I did so without even thinking for 2 or 3 years, but now if I don't carefully stick with my new lifestyle and exercise the pounds come back quickly. I think it's because I can eat more. That protein, then veggies, then good carbs if room rule doesn't work as well now that there's always "room." Where for years one piece of pizza filled me up, now I can eat two. My doctor told me the stomach can't stretch, but I don't think I believe him.

Now I will work on 5 more pounds, what I weighed last summer. It bothers me to be at the very high end of the healthy BMI chart. The weather is getting nice, no excuses! I think the dark, dreary, and very long winter messed with my mood.

Congratulations!!!!!
I'm so frustrated with myself but I am determined to get rid of these pounds. You are right--losing weight and keeping it off for 5 years has been a no brainer, but NOW, OMG--I've always said that losing weight is the easy part--Maintenance??? NOT SO MUCH!

Congratulations, you rock!
I agree, the loosing part is easy, maintaining is a whole different ball game...
I consider myself forwarned...
But you must feel great now!

well done! you are an inspiration. I am struggling to lose these last few kg. I am hoping as the weather warms up it will become easier. :)

Congrats for reaching your goal!!! I'm happy for you!
You must feel so relieved to see things moving again!

Losing was not simple for me, but gaining back for months and being powerless about it has been really extremely frustrating, it felt I was eating more meds than food and swelling like a balloon on no calories...
I'm counting the days to start my exercise program! Even if it's just for one month (before the next surgery), it's better than nothing in 6 months!

And yes, your doctor has no clue, our stomach does stretch over time. I discussed it with one of my specialist at the hospital in January when we got my tests results, she was telling me that a fellow sleever was eating so much she stretched her stomach up to one liter, and that was in less than two years. To compare, mine was 210ml at 3 years. Plus the stretching is described in my textbook...but most doctors never had classes in nutrition, so no wonder.

I also think that Winter was sooooo long...I got a light therapy gizmo a few weeks ago because it's supposed to help with SAD but I felt the effect was really short (like for 30mns after using it) and I'm still not sure it was not just placebo.....or being blind from so much light made me forget how tired I was about everything when I couldn't see??? ;)

So I increased my omega 3 intake, magnesium, and actually did switch my usual fish omega for perilla oil. It's a plant oil (no mercury!) with a high level of omega 3, not well known in the West but used a lot in Asia. It's actually prescribed by Asian herbalists to "correct energy balance" and besides all the usual omega 3 benefice, it's supposed to help with seasonal allergies, anxiety....and weight loss!!! here we go!!! it's worth trying, cheap, vegan omega, even if it does nothing for my weight, it will be good anyway!

Yay!! Great news. You always had the will and determination to be able to "make it back"!
Winter definitely can affect us more than we think. SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is a real thing!
So glad that the sun is shining on you now. :-)

First of all....you have been such an inspiration to so many...myself included. You are smart, wise, kind, and have no issues dealing out the tough love when it is needed. I am happy you lost the 7 and I will be cheering you on when you lose those last 5 lbs. As for the BMI scale....I am not 100% behind what it says. I think that while it is a general guideline I really do not believe it is one size fits all. No pun intended. I have seen your pictures. You are not even close to crossing into that overweight range. I say straighten that crown and be proud because you are amazing!

Congratulations on getting back to goal! I know it was a beast, but you did it!

I agree with you on not really believing the stomach can't stretch. Also when people do gain weight back, it's soooooo much harder to lose again. That whole "you know what to do. You still have your tool. just get back to basics." advice irritates me, because it isn't so simple as before. You have to work harder and longer to get those pounds off a few years out. There's no way in hell I could get back down to 105 now unless I starved to death. I'm having a hard enough time trying to stay at 117. I've been eating healthy during the week, but it all goes out the window on the weekend and I gain back the pounds I lost during the week. I'm at 118 today, and I will be attending a cookout this weekend. I'd love to see the scale say 116 before Saturday gets here.

*edit to add - I just noticed my ticker is 5 lbs less than what I weight today. I havent seen 113 in months. Time to change it. :(

Congrats, I knew you could do it! It's warming up, so much easier to be active IMO.

Regain is a bithch, isn't it?
It really surprises me how fast it can go.
And it scares me at the same time.
I did some experiment the last couple of days, just to see how it went.
I reduced my calorie intake and corrected some old eating habits that came back.
I did loose almost a pound, I am glad to say.
But now I want to get it back...

Fantastic! I knew you would do it :-)

Oh Sraebaer -- Happy dancing for you this morning!

I agree - it is easy to become compliacent about what we can or can't do. And for me, the lack of light results in Seasonal Affective Disorder, to I get the UV lights at the chair where I read or study, or crochet. And I try to get at least 10 minutes of sun.....(Southern sun is a burning thing).

Right now I'm back up to goal -- and so I need to get to my under goal "goal" if that makes sense. I still hear the creeping fatty feet behind me if I don't. Although behind is where I could use a bit of fat, lol.

You are a shining nova in my life, lady!