Those last few pounds just won't come off!

[pyccku]

I am now only 5.5 pounds away from my original goal, down 44.5 from when I started. It has taken me almost 3 months to lose 1.5 pounds, and the weight just isn't coming off any more. I'm staying OP, exercising and my clothes are all fitting, it's just the scale that isn't moving.

I've spent a lot of time thinking about why this has happened - am I eating too many of my AP? Am I underestimating my AP and not eating enough? Am I just adding muscle and losing fat, so the scale isn't reflecting the loss?

To tell the truth, I'm pretty happy where I am - at 158.5 I am officially a healthy BMI, and this is less than I weighed when I had kids. Losing almost 45 pounds is a big deal, and my life has completely changed. If I were to stay at this weight the rest of my life, I really wouldn't complain.

But then there is that nagging feeling that says "you set your goal and you're so close, keep working towards it!"

The way I see it I can just say the heck with the scale, I will stay OP and keep going with the changes I have made in my life, and as long as I am healthy, who cares what the number says? Or I can keep thinking in "weight loss" mode and getting depressed when I don't see any change on the metal monster. I guess there really isn't any difference in how I would eat and behave, just how I would look for validation. Maybe I won't weigh in so often - every month or so.

Anyone else in the same boat?

[Christym1969]

Hi I know exactly how you feel. I have lost 26.2# now and have been having a hard time losing more. I keep flucuating up 2# down 2#. Its getting very disappointing. I weighed in this last week and was up 2 again. I am 3.6# from goal I bought a 10 week prepay figuring I would be able to lose and be on maintenance for 6 weeks with that pack of 10 and than be lifetime. Well I used my last ticket this week and am still not at goal. I'm not giving up though. I am ok with my weight now but I really want to achieve my PG. I think once summer is over that will really help me too. We have alot of late suppers and family get togethers in the summer which doesn't help. Any way I think if your happy with yourself don't worry so much about the scale but don't go off program it would be to easy to go backwards. You should be proud of what you lost so far your doing great. They say once you get close to goal its harder I just didn't realize how hard. Well Good Luck!

[jlrose]

I was there too. I started in increase my protein and fat and the scale started moving again. I also started using Fitday.com to track my mix of carbs/protein/fat.

Knowing how active you are I would guess that you are not eating enough or underestimating your APs.

[Giselle*sMom]

Have you read this thread by Cally on the Lifetime and Maintenance board? It may have the answers you are looking for:

http://www.healthdiscovery.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=001387

[judyo53]

I actually did reach goal but had trouble with maintenance & gained 5 lbs. back. I've lost 4 of them so far so am 1 away. However, an interesting observation I had was the fact that I lost my final 3 lbs. (the first time around) rather quickly after having a long journey losing those final 5 when I quit exercising! I was travelling a bunch & was sick & then pulled a muscle & took about 6 weeks off exercising & dropped those last 3 lbs. really fast (compared to how long it was taking).

I'm not recommending you stop working out, I was just sharing my story. I'm back to working out again & should be back maintaining soon. But since I reached goal once I'm so much more relaxed & just not as obsessed as I was the first time around.

Also, I went from a very high intensity workout program to a more relaxed one. I don't freak out if I miss a day or two of my aerobics. I cut my hour workouts in half now. I fit into my goal pants & look & feel good & just don't feel like killing myself anymore. I still want some benefits of staying in shape but don't feel the need to work out an hour a day, 7 days a week like I was. The thing I still try to do like clockwork is my short light weight lifting program on every 3rd day.

I thought I might want to lose another 5 lbs. before but like you, I'm happy where I am now and don't think I'll be adjusting my goal after all.

[bethsj]

Dear buddies - Boy, was I happy to stumble across this thread. I have lost and gained the same two pounds all summer. I am so frustrated. I know part of it is me - I am out of my normal routine. I am a teacher, and when I am in school, it is easier for me. In the summer I tend to eat out more and "graze" when I'm home. So I am back, recommitted, and ready to drop these last pounds. I am totally happy where I am also, and I also bought a 10-week pack 10 weeks ago, hoping I'd be done paying by the time I used the 10 passes. HA!

I pulled myself up last week, and lost 1.4 lbs. My scale today said I've dropped another 1.5 (we'll see at WI on Tuesday). I started the flex plan last week, and I think that "something new" has helped spark me. I have also been doing my own version of the Wendie plan - trying to alternate high and low days as much as possible. I love the flex plan, I think it makes that easier. I know we aren't supposed to use the plan yet, but I needed to get out of my rut. So far, so good.

I haven't posted for several months, as I have been frustrated with myself. I feel better now, and joined the 7 week challenge on this board. I hope it helps. A couple of weeks ago while driving to my meeting, I thought about just quitting when I got to the end of my 10 coupons. I am happy with the weight I am now, I feel good, and if I never lost another pound, I would be thrilled to look like this forever. Then I decided I had come too far to quit now. That was also the meeting where my leader talked about plateaus, and I felt like everything she and the group was saying was just what I needed to hear. So I decided to start trying the "flex" plan and get back to serious journaling. Everything seems to be coming together - I just hope I can get together. You all have been inspiring to me. We can all do this - look what we've done so far! Good luck everyone! graemlins/thumbup.gif

[pyccku]

I think I may have solved the mystery - my fat/protein wasn't high enough, or I wasn't eating enough.

Teachers went back to school Tuesday. I had Subway Tuesday, Whataburger on Wednesday, Domino's and Costco cookies on Thursday, Chinese buffet on Friday. I didn't pig out, stayed totally within my points, but the fat and protein levels were higher than what I usually eat. This morning I'm down 1 pound to 157.5!

Tomorrow the students are back and I get into my lunchtime routine. I'll try to keep my protein and fat levels a little higher than they were all summer, maybe eat a "regular" frozen meal instead of the diet ones a couple of times a week. My exercise routine isn't going to change during the school year, unless the ice rink cuts public session times. Hopefully this will let me get rid of those last few pounds.

[Aphreal]

Omgosh yes. for the past 4 weeks Ive shed like .5 lbs. Its hard to gage because I got a working scale vs one that wasnt.

I figure Im just loosing slower because Im not so overweight anymore but mentally im still way way overweight.

My clothes are becoming looser however so *something* is giving here.

I wish I didnt think 160 was so much weight! 160 might as well be 10 tons to me... Im starting to relize that maybe its not an unhealthy weight though. Thats part of my self acceptance therapy I give myself =)

I would like to see it go down but as long as Im seeing a change for postive in my body and cloth size.. I need to learn to be content with that.

but yes, Im dealing with what alot of you guys are. I also eat protein but only once a day, maybe I should increase it? hmmmm

Tiff

[jlrose]

pyccku ,
Good to hear that you had a loss and are hopeful again. I've had many plateaux on my journey from 204# to 142#. What I always told myself (and still do now since my losses lately have been slow) is that this program works. I can't control when the weight will come off but I know that so long as I stick with it I will get there. Hang in there buddy! graemlins/wave.gif

[ashlee]

There are new FlexPoint handouts that you can get from WW. for "Plateaus" and "The Last Few Pounds".

Apparently, you just have to ask for these ones at your meeting.

Ashlee

[Aphreal]

I would suggest going to the library for "Thin for Life" by anne fletcher.

It could be that our bodies do this because this is where we are meant to be. (not that you have to accept that) but I have in the past been guilty of setting unrealistic goals.

one of the chapters deal with weighting 5 or 10lbs above what your orginal goal is. The people in the book would express how hard it was to maintain the lower weight but how much easier life is maintaing only 5lbs higher.. 5 Un-noticable pounds.That life changes so should our goals.

Im not 5lbs from my goal but what she says really opened my eyes about self acceptance and realistic goals for each individual persons body.

Just check it out smile.gif

Tiff