Missychick21's Journal, 06 August 2011

You're doing great. Don't get discouraged and keep in mind that 1 lb is 0.5% of your body weight. You're aiming for 30% loss in bodyweight. This will be a gradual process of loss resulting only from a change in lifestyle. It will take many months, maybe years. But the result will last the rest of your life since you're trading weight for a better education on nutrition, diet and exercise. You'll have many many more years to enjoy your wonderful children. So please don't worry about what the scale says! Here are some reasons why you shouldn't worry about the scale: 1. The scale may not even be accurate to within 1 lb, have you ever noticed that simply where you stand on the scale may change the reading by 1-2 lbs? That's because the scale isn't as accurate as most people think. It's not even that precise either. It's the overall trend that one need be concerned with (in your case.. a downward trend :) 2. One's body weight fluctuates naturally during the day as you eat/drink/live. Sometimes my bodyweight changes by up to 5 lbs in a single day (by the same scale measured at different times). In fact, once I woke up 3 lbs lighter than when I went to sleep. What you are embarking on here is a wonderful thing, but it's a lifestyle change. So a few pounds here and there are not a worry. Keep to your diet and exercise and the results will come (gradually). Best of luck and try not to be discouraged. 

Definitely don't want to see you get discouraged. Looked over your food menus - just a few pointers. Watch your sodium. Too much and you end up retaining water. (could explain the fluctuations). Do not skip meals. Eat small amounts at bkfst, lunch, dinner, and eat one or two snacks as well. Spread out your food every couple of hours thruout the day - and go ahead and eat a small snack even if you're not hungry. Keep up with (and log) your water intake during the day. Shoot for some every hour. Work up to about 1/2 your body weight, in water ounces. And even be careful w/ the Atkins bars/products. Some can use them, others stall out and have problems w/ them (due to the sugar alcohols, and artificial sweetners/ingredients). And last but not least, if this is a permanent lifelong change - focus on planning out your foods, meals, each day... and weigh in at the one week mark (not every day). This will give you something to focus on all week, then use the scale to see how you are progressing. Some weeks you will lose, others you will level off... then it'll start losing again. You are GOING to have fluctuations, so weighing everyday leads to alot of frustration. (just saying...) Sent you a buddy request... Much Love. 

At the moment I am part of a challenge that weighs in everyday but after it is over then I will try not to do it as much. I plan to measure then remeasure in a month. I know that it is going to take a long time but I know that my persistence and will power will get me through, and the support and love I feel from everyone on these sites is a major boost to keep me going :)