Re: What do you do when you know just enough

[Guest guest]

This is my problem exactly too! I always think that 5 pounds is easy to lose,

but really for me it can take a month of hard work. I'm in week 11 of BFL, my

first challenge, and I'm afraid of what I might do when it's over.I don't want

to do another challenge right away, just want to maintain, but that's the

hardest part! 

Subject: What do you do when you know just enough

To: bodyforlifewomensclub2

Date: Friday, June 4, 2010, 8:15 AM

 

to NOT do anything.  I gained about 6 pounds.  I'm not miserable about

it.  I'm eating well and maintaining that weight.  I'm happier at a lower

weight but because I pretty much know what it takes to get back there, I keep

saying...I can lose it whenever I want.  Will I say that when the scale

starts creeping up too?  I can lose it whenever I want. 

 

What do you do to motivate yourself in a case like this?  I'd " prefer " to be a

lower eight but I'm not unhappy where I'm at either.  I'd " like " to lose about

10 pounds but keep putting it off b/c " I can do it whenever I want " .  So why

haven't I? Any ideas on how to get over this?  I'm not working out much, just

clean eating and prob more than I need...I'm assuming I'm eating at maintenance

right now since I'm not gaining. 

 

Liza

[Guest guest]

I bottomed out a very low weight (for me) and started getting nutty about

watching the scale, limiting portions and obsessing over food choices. In

other words, to keep the very low weight I was reacquiring a lot of the

painful " dieter " behaviors that I'd successfully ditched. I was compromising

my new healthy/happiness in the name of getting even smaller. I knew no good

could come from that so I backed off and let my weight settle 5-7 pounds

heavier, which I now maintain effortlessly.

So, yes, you can lose it whenever you want but do you *want* to restrict

your food even more? Watch the scale? Limit portions? Turn down extras?

Yeah, me neither. LOL

How's that for a motivating pep talk from the team leader? :-D But what I'm

trying to say is that at some point you have to call it done. You're

healthy, you're fit, you're lean, you're small, you're able to stay that

way. So why walk around perpetually dissatisfied? Your lowest weight or

leanest body fat percentage isn't necessarily a realistic walking around

size. It took me a long time to realize that. Maybe you " peak " a couple of

times per year for a beach vacation or a photo shoot but you don't have to

walk around dieted to the max every day. Remember 's Story? Quite the

cautionary tale!

http://www.priorfatgirl.com/2010/05/lisas-story.html

It's ok to accept and appreciate your fit self. You don't always have to

push it to the limits. That tends to backfire in bad ways. Plenty of 12 week

challengers WISH they'd been able to settle five or six pounds from their

end-of-challenge weight and stay there happily. Instead, they restrict too

much and find themselves rebound bingeing. Then, oh no, they must get it

together and do it perfectly to get back on track. Then the pressure is too

much and they eat everything in sight. Then, yikes! They'd better get back

on the wagon and be really strict. And they end up yo-yoing right back to

their starting weight.

Don't do that. Be happy maintaining a fit, healthy weight (or gradually

losing) instead of always pushing yourself to diet harder and more. Fat loss

does require some discipline and effort, but know when you're done.

> to NOT do anything. I gained about 6 pounds. I'm not miserable about it.

> I'm eating well and maintaining that weight. I'm happier at a lower weight

> but because I pretty much know what it takes to get back there, I keep

> saying...I can lose it whenever I want. Will I say that when the scale

> starts creeping up too? I can lose it whenever I want.

>

> What do you do to motivate yourself in a case like this? I'd " prefer " to

> be a lower eight but I'm not unhappy where I'm at either. I'd " like " to

> lose about 10 pounds but keep putting it off b/c " I can do it whenever I

> want " . So why haven't I? Any ideas on how to get over this? I'm not

> working out much, just clean eating and prob more than I need...I'm assuming

> I'm eating at maintenance right now since I'm not gaining.

>

> Liza

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I read this thread and wanted to thank you for posting this. I also went to the

link to read " 's story " , very eye-opening.

I am far from my ideal weight, but I'm getting there slowly, which is fine with

me. Your post gave me a lot to think about, and I just wanted to say thank you

for writing it. There is something to be said for having goals and striving to

achieve those goals, but there is also a beauty and satisfaction in looking at

yourself and your life, and smiling, feeling happy with what you have now, and

what you've achieved. That is something that would do a lot of people some good

to remember.

Karyn

>

> > to NOT do anything. I gained about 6 pounds. I'm not miserable about it.

> > I'm eating well and maintaining that weight. I'm happier at a lower weight

> > but because I pretty much know what it takes to get back there, I keep

> > saying...I can lose it whenever I want. Will I say that when the scale

> > starts creeping up too? I can lose it whenever I want.

> >

> > What do you do to motivate yourself in a case like this? I'd " prefer " to

> > be a lower eight but I'm not unhappy where I'm at either. I'd " like " to

> > lose about 10 pounds but keep putting it off b/c " I can do it whenever I

> > want " . So why haven't I? Any ideas on how to get over this? I'm not

> > working out much, just clean eating and prob more than I need...I'm assuming

> > I'm eating at maintenance right now since I'm not gaining.

> >

> > Liza

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

What a great story that was. Just the kick in the butt I

needed. Thanks for sharing.

At 09:30 AM 6/4/2010, you wrote:

>

> Remember 's Story? Quite the

>cautionary tale!

>

><http://www.priorfatgirl.com/2010/05/lisas-story.html>http://www.priorfatgirl.c\

om/2010/05/lisas-story.html

>

>It's ok to accept and appreciate your fit self. You don't always have to

>push it to the limits. That tends to backfire in bad ways. Plenty of 12 week

>challengers WISH they'd been able to settle five or six pounds from their

>end-of-challenge weight and stay there happily. Instead, they restrict too

>much and find themselves rebound bingeing. Then, oh no, they must get it

>together and do it perfectly to get back on track. Then the pressure is too

>much and they eat everything in sight. Then, yikes! They'd better get back

>on the wagon and be really strict. And they end up yo-yoing right back to

>their starting weight.

[Guest guest]

WHOA!  Those extreme pictures were eye opening.  She looked great to begin

with and didn't need to lose any weight.  When I tell people I'd like to lose

" a few more " I'm usually met with the same comment or reaction.  Either a scowl

like I'm an a-hole for wanting to be smaller or someone tells me, " you're

fine " . 

 

I'm not miserable in my skin. I like what I eat.  I move my body, stay a

little active, and enjoy it. I'm not saying I'm done but " know when you're done "

pretty much sums it up.  Thanks for sharing 's story.

 

Liza

> to NOT do anything. I gained about 6 pounds. I'm not miserable about it.

> I'm eating well and maintaining that weight. I'm happier at a lower weight

> but because I pretty much know what it takes to get back there, I keep

> saying...I can lose it whenever I want. Will I say that when the scale

> starts creeping up too? I can lose it whenever I want.

>

> What do you do to motivate yourself in a case like this? I'd " prefer " to

> be a lower eight but I'm not unhappy where I'm at either. I'd " like " to

> lose about 10 pounds but keep putting it off b/c " I can do it whenever I

> want " . So why haven't I? Any ideas on how to get over this? I'm not

> working out much, just clean eating and prob more than I need...I'm assuming

> I'm eating at maintenance right now since I'm not gaining.

>

> Liza

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

We are always sharing what works...I love that about the BFLWC2 group.

Here's my latest find.

I hope it is a list we can all add our ideas on to.

It's adapted from something I found on the internet from psychology research

relating to infant bonding and endorphins like dopamine, oxytocin, and

serotonin.

These behaviors can improve parenting, marriage, and food issues as they produce

feelings of 'love' and calmness.

Source; The book, Cupid's Poison Arrow . This list is one adapted from

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cupids-poisoned-arrow/200909/the-lazy-way-st\

\

ay-in-love

• smiling, with eye contact

• skin-to-skin contact

• providing a service or treat without being asked

• giving unsolicited approval, via smiles or compliments

• gazing into each other's eyes

• listening intently, and restating what you hear

• forgiving or overlooking an error or thoughtless remark, past or present

• preparing something to eat for someone

• synchronized breathing (hug or sit back to back)

• cradling, or gently rocking, someone's head and torso (works well on a couch,

or with lots of pillows)

• holding, or hugging each other in stillness

• wordless sounds of contentment and pleasure (murmur, sigh)

• stroking with intent to comfort

• massaging with intent to comfort, especially feet, hands, shoulders, and head

• hugging with intent to comfort

• lying with your ear over someone's heart and listening to the heart beat

• making time together at bedtime a priority

I have found that giving myself a hand, foot, or head massage is very effective

too.

The radio interview was great too;

While listening to one of your interviews with Dr. Oz,

http://www.oprah.com/oprahradio/Reversing-Diabetes_1 this morning,

As mentioned the diabetes/dopamine connection in the interview,

I just had to share this doable list of dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin

enhancing behaviors. It is suggested that doing any one of these for a minimum

of one minute can begin the release of dopamine and positive endorphins.

Hugs of support,

M.

>

> > to NOT do anything. I gained about 6 pounds. I'm not miserable about it.

> > I'm eating well and maintaining that weight. I'm happier at a lower weight

> > but because I pretty much know what it takes to get back there, I keep

> > saying...I can lose it whenever I want. Will I say that when the scale

> > starts creeping up too? I can lose it whenever I want.

> >

> > What do you do to motivate yourself in a case like this? I'd " prefer " to

> > be a lower eight but I'm not unhappy where I'm at either. I'd " like " to

> > lose about 10 pounds but keep putting it off b/c " I can do it whenever I

> > want " . So why haven't I? Any ideas on how to get over this? I'm not

> > working out much, just clean eating and prob more than I need...I'm assuming

> > I'm eating at maintenance right now since I'm not gaining.

> >

> > Liza

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>