The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[MerryMary]

Yeah, I've always believed it was simple and easy! Just my own experience Maintenance is complicated and difficult, though!

Yeah, see, I knew that, because you have to always ever so slightly disagree with me to help me grow. You told me it could be easy if I were just compliant, and you are right most of the time. But thanks for quoting me Mary!

Whatever ... It doesn't really matter who said what--those are simply details! The point is that while the MF program is simple--it is only part of the work. Remaining connected to our feelings and emotions so that we can face our demons during both the weight-loss and the maintenance phases can be a real challenge--it's not always easy to see our true selves in a mirror.

[DogMa]

Tawanda, I hope you're feeling more positive already, but I want to just add something. Even when we lose the pounds slowly, we lose them a LOT faster than we lose our mental image of ourselves.

I've been maintaining in a size 6 (sometimes a 4) since last August - almost a full year. And I still have plenty of days when I look in the mirror and don't like what I see. I still have extra flab or loose skin or something. I'm not perfectly toned. My stomach is not flat. Basically, I'm not some airbrushed fitness model in a magazine. That's reality. It's not fair, but it's the way it is. (And you know what? I'm betting those models wake up some days, look in the mirror, and aren't happy with what THEY see, either.)

At the same time, I look far better than I looked before. And my work isn't done: I'm still working out and building muscle and decreasing my body fat (or trying to), and trying to get the best body I can.

Tawanda, you're always going to have days when you have negative thoughts and you're frustrated and unhappy about your looks. You're human. But I know - and most important, YOU know - those feelings will pass.

[Tawanda]

Thank you for the input and comments, you've given me things to mull over to see if I can understand what is happening. It is as if I see in the mirror no change, no pounds lost and no inches gone---my smaller clothes fit and the scale doesn't lie (unfortunately or fortunately depending on which day you talk with me about that fact )......but the body seems to have gone back to 'big' and I cannot fathom that I'm not seeing myself clearly. I don't know when I lost seeing the improvements---maybe because I've only lost a couple pounds in 3 weeks and the body changes, along with clothing fit, have stalled for that time too. I don't know but it sure is a rotten frame of mind and place to be when my thoughts for comfort is just to chuck the whole thing and have a big ole binge-fest.

I've stayed on program 100% today and plan on continuing to do it.....but that doesn't mean I'm happy about it. The prize I'm personally working towards (better health and pride in myself) is just too important to toss aside--thankfully that part is still true even though I'm unhappy with 'me' right now.

This too shall pass......

[DogMa]

Do you have any of your original clothes? Try putting some on to see the real difference. Somehow I doubt they're going to fit the way they did before.

[nickieluv]

Tawanda -

I've also read in a couple of books that the 'I feel fat' mentality usually means you are actually feeling something else. Could it be that you are stressed? You love your grandbabies but you said they do tire you out, and that you're going to have them four days next week. Maybe in anticipation of that, or after being so tired from having them, you are feeling like you've made no progress?

I know the days I want to chuck it are when I am overwhelmed (which apparently happens a lot given the number of cheats I have) - tired, stressed, lonely, bored, or all of them at once (that's when the ice cream comes out).

I'm glad you were compliant today - that is a real victory, so many of us, myself included, give in to the feelings and don't keep the goal in mind. You're on the right track!

[Tawanda]

Good morning........another day has begun and I'd really like to just go back to bed, covers up to my chin and sleep for a long, long time. Nothing new, I feel that way most mornings until I get a couple cups of coffee in me and my motor starts running.

I found out (by looking at my calendar) that I'm babysitting only 2 days (possibly 3) next week and it is the week after where I am doing 4 days. I have a family luncheon here on Sunday so will be doing the extra house spiffing up today in preparation (wiping off that layer of dust that has settled since the last family gathering? )

Was in town yesterday, helped with g'kids during a grocery shopping trip (easier for their mom to do if there is the diversion of Grammie along). I don't count that as babysitting as I was just helping and I also got my grocery shopping done at the same time. When I got home, from the trip into town, there was an email from the g'kids' mom saying 'Thank you' and also 'You are looking so GOOD!! Now we can have fun going clothes shopping together' because she knew it was one of the things that wasn't fun for me these past 10+ years as I couldn't shop in the junior & misses clothing stores because nothing would fit, I needed a plus size shop with fugly clothing compared to what my kids could shop for and wear (not that I'd be wearing most of the junior styles---LOL).

So......that was a nice NSV and surprise during a day that I wasn't feeling very positive about myself and my body.

Scale down .5 this morning. I've dropped down below another BMI 'point' and the next one isn't until 166. I'm still 13.5# above the highest weight included in the 'normal' range of the BMI chart. Looking forward to hitting that weight.

Biki shared something in her journal today.....

Don't quit until the miracle happens!

I like that, I like it a lot!

Make it a good day!

[ChynnaDoll]

Oh Tawanda i am sooooo HAPPY for you and especially getting that lovely and unexpected compliment from your daughter on a day when you were feeling a little down ..i just KNOW you all will have soooo much FUN now going clothes shopping together:+))

YOU are doing "SUPER" girl!!..not much longer now:+)

Chynna

[bikipatra]

Tawanda, how tall are you? What BMI designation is there for 166 pounds?

[Tawanda]

Biki, (and anyone else interested in looking at or printing out a BMI chart) go to:

www dot nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/bmi_tbl dot pdf

Which will take you to the best chart that I've found. Make sure, if you are going to print yourself out a copy, that you turn your paper so it prints out landscape instead of portrait so that you don't cut off part of it (I'm fussy about stuff like that---it has to 'look' nice ).

I printed a couple of them out and have one stuck to the wall above my scale (incentive to get 'down' to the next BMI number on the scale) and one here at the computer.

Biki, I'm 5'7" (can't remember if that is how tall you are also) and for 5'7" a weight of 166 is a BMI of 26. 158 is the very highest weight that is in the range considered 'normal' for a person 5'7" so 158 is one of the numbers I'm looking forward to seeing on my scale.

[bikipatra]

I'm 5'7" too and thought I remembered you were so that's why I asked. You mentioned the number 166, and that's my weight now so I just wondered if there was something "special" about it since I keep seeing it every morning!

[Tawanda]

I had the babies here overnight and am watching them until about 6 this evening. Just popping in to say I'm down .5 which gets me a whopping 1# loss so far this week.

I know, Biki, I'm glad for having a loss and I'm so sorry you have hit a stall again---perhaps it is the antibiotics and you'll see another of your excellent week's weight loss as soon as you finish them. It seems like I remember reading that antibiotics can make your tissues retain more fluids---but I am not positive on that, of course.

My weekly weight loss average (according to Fitday) has dropped substantially since mid-May (I had that lousy 13 days of 'scale stuck' and slower than normal losses since then). Sure sucks to watch the numbers (scale and weight loss averages) so closely and to be aware of the slow/low times. Oh well-----the losses are happening and really, compared to every other plan/program I've tried, the weekly weight losses with MF are still awesome and impressive.

Okay, the troops are planning a mutiny so I'd better get off the computer.

[bikipatra]

Thanks Tawanda.

[SuzyQ66]

Tawanda - I sure hope things start to take an upswing for you. I am the same height as you and Biki and I am in the 180's stage where I feel I look great - or should I say people are saying I look great - I need to lose more weight in my butt and thighs -and now you got me thinking that this frustration might be around the corner for me.

Here are my thoughts....could this too be part of the journey?? You know you think about the middle of winter and cold it can be and how peole are just itching for spring...then we have the dog days of summer....could this just be the same thing. Maybe we go through these ruts to test our determination and then once we hit goal - we will want to stick to maintenance because of all the hard work we put in to take it off. If MF were that easy, people would just lose the weight, then go back to eating the way they were, and then when they gained so many pounds, hop back on (it seems some people do that anyways). But if we are going to make a permanent lifestyle change, maybe we need these hardships so that we can remember where we came from.

Thanks for sharing everything you are going through. It helps for us who are not there yet. Hope you have a wonderful day with your grandbabies.

[Tawanda]

Sue, what you've said makes sense. Thank you for your input.

[Tawanda]

Lots to do today in prep for family gathering here after church tomorrow. Lawn needs to be mowed, too, but it looks to be too wet.

Weight down a pound this morning. According to Fitday, I'm on track to hit my goal in early September if I can keep up my current weight loss average--which I would guess isn't going to happen as I get closer to goal.

I did an inventory of my MF food yesterday in anticipation of signing up (finally) for the BeSlim program (automatic shipments if someone new isn't familiar with the name/program). I was trying to decide how much to have on hand (how much is too much and how much is too little and would cause nervousness about running out). Then had to figure out what I'd want to have as a standing order and then how much to spend each month......how much food is needed each month (5 a day x 30 days =150). I have 326 meals on hand here which is 64 days worth... Anyway, that is what I did while the babies were napping. Still haven't finalized anything yet with it, but I've got it all written down so it was progress.

I need another cup of coffee and some aspirin.... Have a great day!