ChristyLA's Journal, 23 August 2014

Not even half of a pound gained. You could probably exhale and drop that. No worries! 

Muscle. 

You're still very well ahead of the game!!! Congratulate yourself for that!  

Frustrated...but what can I do. 

Christy, you are doing awesome! You are hovering next to your goal weight! One pound is going to go away sooner or later. You got this! 

Thanks, Deb :) I'm just disappointed because I never reached my initial goal of 160 lbs. And I'd really like to get down to 150. Not gonna happen. I guess I will go back to just focusing on fitness and continuing my recent habits. When I'm motivated, I might cut out gluten and/or reduce carbs to see if that helps. Not right now though. 

Thanks for your support, everyone. It is much appreciated. :) 

It's only a number. What matters is how you feel and how you feel about the way you look. Start feeling happy and have faith that the rest will come off, if you so desire it. :)  

I know the feeling of not hitting a goal. I was shooting for 150, then 155. 160 became the goal. Changed it to 158. Can't get it below 164. Wanted that 2lbs for leeway. I don't have the drive nor determination to change up my diet anymore. I'm tired. Will be 3 years in October. And eating things I've avoided in this journey. Moderation. If I can maintain at this weight, I can live with it. Wishing you luck on whatever path you choose. 

I'm happy with how I look, except for my belly. But I think you're on to something about feeling happy. Happiness reduces stress and stress leads to weight gain, so that might help. I'm happy with my progress, just really stressed in life (during the week), because of work. I need to improve that. I put a lot of pressure on myself. I'm going to be getting regular massages and I think that might help. I've never had a professional massage before, and I'm really looking forward to it. I plan on taking baths too for relaxation and because of body pain. Thanks for your advice and words of encouragement :) 

It sucks not hitting goal, after putting in all of this effort and falling short, no matter how hard I try, is a let down. Oh well. There are worse things that could have happened...we could have never started this journey or gotten as far as we have. 

Enjoy the massage. They're wonderful. And take a epsom salt soak. They're good for aches. 

Christy / Life is too short to just focus on one thing that's making you miserable. Focus on the things that are making you happy, and while doing that, just go ahead and do for the best to correct what you don't like. And hey, if it doesn't happen, well, count your blessing elsewhere. A lot of people on this planet have a belly, swollen by famine. And no one ever been on their deathbed saying, 'God I wish my belly was smaller" I've wasted a lot of years on this, and regret doing so. It's friendly advice so you don't repeat the same mistake. Put things in perspective. Nothing in your life is changed because your belly is not flat. If your healthy and happy with the way you look, all is well! Blessings.  

Christy, you didn't hit a goal YET. Vince Lombardi once said of his Packers "We never lost a game. We just ran out of time." Hit your goal Tuesday or Wednesday. You'll hit it. Just a little late.... 

It's easy to encourage others (which I do too), but when you're in my boat, it's not fun. Ask anyone who's hit a plateau for months (or years) or just not able to lose any more weight, no matter what they do to change their habits. But don't get me wrong, because I am very grateful for the weight I've lost and very happy about who I am today. I just want to improve more and my body is not letting me. 

With you all the way. We've walked the same walk. Funny how we can encourage others but when it comes to me, I get hysterical or ticked off. And we know what's happening. Been doing this for so long, we're pros. Guess we just have to listen to our bodies. 

No Bibby Chris. Get back on the horse.  

Never experienced a plateau for months, much less years. Have never gotten serious about weight loss to the point of losing anything more than 10 lbs. So, I guess, yes, it must be really frustrating. I can now conceptualize the feeling, since I'm on a weight journey. And I wouldn't be happy either to be in a stall when I'm trying my best. Feeling like the devil plunged into holy water! I was just trying to make it better for you. Maybe you'll be consoling me in the near future :) Then you can copy and paste my message to my journal. That would be ironic. lol  

Yes, CR, it seems like we're experiencing the same thing, and we weigh similar and have a similar goal weight :) It's good to not be the only one, but I don't wish this on anyone. But there are many people out there who are in the same boat. Some people can get their weight as low as they want, although I doubt for some that it would be sustainable. And some of us have stubborn bodies that don't want to change. I was able to get down to 163 when I was eating 1100-1200 calories a day, and even then I stopped losing weight. But that amount of calories is not sustainable, which should be the main goal - being able to maintain the habits so that the weight stays off for good. Which is where I'm at now...trying to make changes that I can stick with for good, so that I can maintain my weight loss. You're doing fine, and so am I. We have to get to a point where we can accept our bodies the way they are and not hate ourselves for not looking how we want to look. After all, there's no fighting mother nature ;) 

NIU, I've actually been maintaining (within a 10 lb range, due to trying different approaches) since December, so that's 8 months. My body won't go under 163, but I was eating too little then, like I explained to CR. I'm currently eating 1600 very healthy calories - 500 less than I burn - and I'm working out daily (including weightlifting), so I doubt my gains have been fat gains, probably (hopefully) muscle. This isn't directed just at you...I was just explaining my plateau. But you are far from the devil! It's great that you're positive and encouraging. I was just explaining how some people can't lose weight, even if they do everything right.