Rckc's Journal, 20 June 2021

Lost more than half your weight, that's an amazing accomplishment. Thank you for your testimony. 

Does this mean you've met your goal??? Yes, maintenance is something I've never mastered. Going to give it a really concerted effort this time, though - no matter what happens with the challenge. 

You are an inspiration. You should be very proud of yourself! 

Hooray!🥂✨🎈👩🏻‍🎓 Now that you're at goal, do you have any fine-tuning to do (toning, re-evaluating appearance, re-test blood panel)? Maintaining is actually pretty easy, as you simply have to abstain from the behaviors that got you fat (couch potatoing, large portions, fast food or restaurant fare, sugary carbs etc.). In other words, keep doing what you're doing now. You've made a lot of great, healthy habits along the way that fit people use every day. I do recommend getting a physical/labs from your doctor so that if there's any outstanding health concerns, you can make those your new goals.  

Debbie--YEP, even managed to go .2 under. I have every faith you will make it. I know that it will be a bit disappointing to you if not, but the progress you've made is amazing and you've been an inspiration to many of us 💖💖💖 

JB--yes, there in lies the problem...I always find it so interesting that they say it takes 4 weeks to create a new habit. What is difficult is not returning to the old habits that I developed for 30+ years. Those seem to be hanging in there 🙄 I've been going to the Dr these last 6 months each month to check in about my weight. She's been very helpful along the journey and also motivation to NOT go in with a big weight gain. These visits will probably end with my July 1st appt. 

Congratulations 🎉 good luck 🍀and inspiration 🕊 to you, for this next phase. Lonniehuffmangave some good advice recently about maintaining.  

You’re an inspiration- thank you 😊 

That's awesome! Add healthy wage to another one of my diet failures. :) You did it! WTG! 

Rckc -- I was thinking more about having your A1C levels and cholesterol re-tested. Weight loss causes these levels to drop, but if you're still a little high, you can make it a goal to reduce them further into the normal/low range. 

JB--I'm due for a physical so will be having all checked! I've always had normal levels (thankfully) even at my heaviest. I DID start to develop high blood pressure and was put on meds which is when I got serious about weight loss back in 2015. Thankfully I've been off any and all medications for a long time  

Rckc most/many health insurance cover visits to a nutritionist. You should ask your doctor for a referral to someone. Your doctor can also check to see how it would be covered by your insurance and how frequently you can go. The goal of these appointments would be so someone could guide you through the transition to maintain lifelong healthy eating habits. It would provide you someone to be accountable to and talk to about your challenges with eating a nutritional food diet.  

Congrats!!!! I'm so excited for you!!! As I near goal, I'm thinking a lot about maintenence too. I think the biggest reason I gained weight back was because I stopped tracking and got lax with exercise. I think I had thought since I reached my goal I didn't need to worry about it. Then the weight slowly crept up again. This time around I think I will continue tracking calories, and exercising. The only difference I can forsee is I will get to eat about 300 more calories than I am right now. Good luck to you! If you get any enlightenment on maintaining please share!!! You look great!!!!  

Congratulations! So happy for you 🍀 

I find it easier and more realistic to set myself a maintenance range. Unless you are truly a creature of habit and eat the exact same meals or a very limited number of foods daily, have the same exercise routine, the same number of steps, drink the same quantity of fluids, eat the same amount of fiber, sweat the same amount, sleep is exactly the same and your days look the same, your weight is going to fluctuate a few pounds no matter what you do. It's your decision how you define that range and what you consider acceptable. I am happy enough for now at 117-121lbs. When it's at 121 or if it starts to inch higher, I eat less or increase my activity, or some combination of the two. 

👏👏👏🌸👍🌺🌸🌼 

Rake—losing the weight is the easy part. Keeping it off is the downfall. Many seem to think that after they hit goal they can just return to life as usual. Not the case. Along the way an eating plan for long term has to be developed.personally I do portion control and moderation. Healthier eating most of the time and less healthy or less conducive to weight maintenance, just once in a while 

I have maintained for the last year or so- not the weight I want to maintain but basically as close to straight as it is going to be on the weight graph- just weighing daily and making sure I don't gain too much. I assume maintenance consists of checking your weight often enough to make sure you are within a few pounds up or down of goal and adjusting as needed. But what do I know... 

Congratulations Rckc! You know what to do if the weight starts to drift upward. 

You're best bet is to weigh yourself regularly and if you see the scale starting to creep up, you know what to do. A 5 lb gain should be the limit, reboot and reassess what you did wrong.