Well it might be that I lost 10 stone over 7 years. Each chunk of weight 3 stone or 4 stone I vowed never to go over that again, even if I only maintained for a while until I got back into the zone.
Now that I am a happy weight I have my ceiling weight. For me it is 10st 10lb as 10 pounds is a dress size. If I see that on the scales I do a step 2 sort of cambridge diet for a week until it goes back down.
This week I have been doing step 2 which for me means breakfast and lunch is a bar or shake and then salad and a couple of quorn fillets. It's not the same 3/6/12 month commitment I have had in the past. I know it's just for a few days which keeps me focused. It's not easy and at Christmas I saw 10st 13lb on the scales but I know for a weeks commitment it will be gone again. This morning my scales say 10.7 so a couple more still to go to where I was but I doubt I look any different to anyone.
Plus when it's 'new weight' it really isn't real weight. Not until it's been there a couple of months I find whilst the body catches up. Sometimes it's just bulk so it's easier to get off. Once it goes above 10lbs then that surplus is real weight and clothes pinch etc, if that makes sense. (think about how it works the same the other way too, you lose 10lbs and no one notices...a few weeks later when you have gained a pound that week you get loads of comments on weight loss!! typical.)
My tips hmmmm
Weigh yourself everyday. It might not work for everyone and I know some people are really against it but it works for me. I am never in denial about how much I weigh. If I know it, I can correct it or know how much I can 'indulge' at special events.
Dont' ever think 'oh I have that party/wedding/christmas coming up so there's no point dieting now'. This is the best time to do it. I would rather do a week's SS and drop my weight so I can eat 4-5lbs of crap and not be any higher than my celing weight at the end of it.
Don't ever think, 'I'm done, I've succeeded'. Again might not be the same for everyone. But for me I have an addiction. A love passion and hunger for food at all time, always. Binging is my love and my fantasy and I have to fight day in day out everymeal to do the right thing. I will always have a weight problem even if I always stay this weight now. My true inner self wants to stuff itself silly whenever I get the chance. Emotional, physical and mental issues with food are my life. The only thing I can compare it to is what addicts of smoking and drinking say. Always a smoker just have to fight the urge everyday to smoke.
Don't think 'it's only a few pounds on' if it's not the weight you want then get it off! My struggle is always with the voice in my head. Saying 'well how bad can a couple pounds be'....a couple becomes 5, becomes 10, then more and more. I have talked to my very slim best friend a lot about these issues and she NEVER allows herself to go any higher than her happy weight and would never buy bigger clothes. She has a good couple of strict weeks and her clothes fit again if she has indulged.
Applaud yourself for what success you have had. My stupidest mentality was trying for years to get from about 15 stone to 10 stone. I had once got to 11st 12 and remember thinking 'aaahhh this is so hard, feck it I will give up' and piling all the weight back on. Instead of thinking, well 11stone 12 is a lot better that 15, maybe in a few months or a year I will get the enthusiasm to do more and have a better starting place. I should have been proud of what I have done. So if you have lost some/a lot of weigh already but are struggling with more losses, remember it is just as hard to maintain. Master that for a few months, develop those life changes and then 'start again' but at a much lower starting weight. I think the body just needs time to anchor itself to a new weight and if you give in too early it will easily return to it's heavier anchor weight.
Hope that helps anyone struggling.
It's just my obsessive, analytical, lifetime thoughts on the battle of the bulge.
