How do you decided enough is enough?

[Flopster]

Sorry for the wierd title but I will explain.

I am 72 days into LighterLife and have lost 2 1/2 stone, by the 100 days I am hoping to have lost the best part of 3 1/2 stone. Ideally I could do with losing another stone after that which will still mean I am about 1/2 stone overweight. Now I have NEVER said that I want to get to a normal BMI, I have always said that my goal is to be able to walk into any "normal" shop and be able to buy clothes in a size 14 (ish) rather than have the limited choice in Evans, etc.

Now the thought of losing that extra stone is really bugging me, I am struggling now staying abstinent, nibbling here and there but know I can survive one final push on the home run to loose the 3 1/2 stone I wanted to lose and take me very comfortably into those size 14s!

But now I have come this far, I keep wondering if really I should go for that extra stone and be close to 10 stone for the first time in my adult life? I just don't think I can maintain abstinent for another 60 days and am worried that in this mindset it is going to lead to my downfall and I will be back to square one.

Anyone have any opinions that may sway me one way or another?

 

[Barb]

Hi Flopster, maybe you should try a mixture of plans to shift that last stone. I can hear how fed up(no pun intended) you are with the abstinent route and although you have done absolutely brilliantly there is no reason to think it is the only way. Why not shift the last bit cal counting, it is slower but it would ease you back into eating 'normally' and it would help you to make healthy choices whilst still giving you weight loss. I have now lost 18lbs in 8 weeks, I know I am not going to win any races but slow and steady is suiting me. Whatever you decide I know you will make a success of it, your track record proves that.

Take care, love

 

[sarahjj]

Hi Flopster!

I have to agree with Barb - slow is the way to go!! Seriously though, if you are getting fed up with ssing then why not go onto 790 cals for a while? The weight still comes off, just slower. I lost a total of 6lbs in 3 weeks doing 790 cals. Ssing really isn't the only option if you want to lose weight and another 60 days of it is daunting to say the least! I would say have a word with your CDC, they will know what's best to do.

Hope all works out for you!

Sarah x

 

[Flopster]

Thanks both of you. I am doing Lighter Life and they seem to have an all or nothing approach. I really ideally would like to do something like CD 790 plan or low GI but I desparately want to do maintenance via LL as I think understanding triggers is very important to me and asI have had a lot out of the counselling I am a bit loathe to give it up.

Unfortunately, I don't think I can go away and take a break to do CD and then go back to LL for their management plan.

Hmmm!

 

[sarahjj]

Oh sorry Flopster - thought you were on CD! Best thing to do would be to speak to your LLC, I'm sure they will be able to give you some words of advice!

Let us know how you get on!

Sarah x

 

[KD]

Personally, I dont' think you should go onto calorie counting as you could suddenly increase your carbs. You need to increase them gradually.

I do feel that you really need to try to get to where you want to go using LL. Once off it, it's difficult to get back on if you change your mind.

Perhaps you need to look things day to day. Instead of thinking about the next 60 days, see if you can SS today, then tomorrow.

When you really can't stand it any longer, perhaps you could go into LL maintenance as you'll probably continue to lose.

I think the CD maintenance works brilliantly, so don't discount it, but I'd probably want to stick with LL if I had done that journey.

So, SS today, then tomorrow see if you can SS. Have the LL maintenance plan in reserve though.

Best of luck.

 

[Flopster]

Karion, you are of course 110% right, my crooked thinking has left me feeling rather all or nothing. There is no reason why I can't do it a day at a time, that feels much more manageable.

Thank you, very, very much!

 

[KD]

Oh goody! I've helped someone!

Very best of luck with it. You've done so well, don't blow it now.

Oh and BTW, I had the same problem. It's that near goal chatterbox. He tells you that you look fine now, he'll try to convince you that you are only worth 2nd best, so why bother going for 1st place.

I got to know him well

 

[Flopster]

Again you are spot on! My chatterbox must have jaw ache by now.

I am going to do development a week at a time. I have set myself a mini goal - instead of trying to lose the extra stone, I am going to see if I can shift half of it on a day by day. If I lose that half stone I will see about the last half stone on a day by day. That way it doesn't feel too daunting and I won't feel as if I have let myself down either.

Thank you, you have really helped me.

 

[Karen1972]

Hi Flopster,

My advice would be to stick with LL until you get to the weight you want. It's natural for you to want to take it further than your original goal because you have a beautiful new you emerging and it is really easy isn't it? I would say go for 10 stone now, it'll be easier for you to do it now rather than later, for some odd reason once you come off the diet it's so hard to get back on.

Also, don't rely on management to lose weight, you will in the first few weeks but then your food demons will come back and you will need a buffer to help you control them.

Get a healthy BMI (i chose the half way point) but i'm 10lbs heavier than i want to be (after getting to goal on 1 May) but i'm sill BMI 25. Even though i feel fat as F***. I still wanna get to 9stone 11lbs but it's so hard mate when u start eating again!!

So, in a nutshell i'd say go all the way until you feel at your best then re-introduce food from there...

Good luck hun,

 

[Flopster]

Thanks Karen, problem is that I am struggling with the thought of abstinence for another month, but if I take it a day at a time until I really can't do any more, it feels achievable.

Thank you for your advice and you have done brilliantly to achieve a BMI of 25, truly.

 

[Karen1972]

Flopster, just because it's hard today doesn't mean it's gonna be hard everyday between now and your goal. It's natural to have ups and downs and you should be rejoicing in the new slim you emerging! I loved watching myself transform it was the most exciting thing i've ever done and absolutely dreaded eating again.

I've even gone back on 3 packs a day with one meal at night cos i just can't control food!!

BTW i just love your ticker!!!!!!

 

[Flopster]

I was wondering if you could do that - keep on packs but just have an evening meal - I would be quite happy doing that for the rest of my life tbh.

I have found it difficult for the past week or so but then I am mega stressed at the moment and the kids have just moved school which has been very traumatic.

Thank you though, you have really helped me put it all into perspective.

 

[Karen1972]

Well you can do what the hell you want hun, one of the maintenance programs is to stay on packs monday-friday lunchtime then have what you want at the weekend - by going on packs in the week you get an extra 10,000 cals to spend at the weekend - only thing is, i could eat 10,000 cals every day easily!!! I like having a meal to look forward to at night even though it's only meat and veggies, with an apple and yoghurt for dessert.

We're all different and it's trial and error when you first start eating again but i think i've found the right routine for me going forwards.

Good luck, you will feel more positive with the kids settle into their new schools. Children are very resilient aren't they so i'm sure they'll be fine in no time!

Don't let that burger catch u honey... x

 

[Flopster]

That is fantastic, I was only saying to my hubby last night that I wished I could do exactly that - Monday to Friday foodpacks with a light evening meal and eat what I want at weekends - especially as we do a lot of socialising then.

I am really looking forward to maintenance now, thank you.

Oh and I have no intention of the burger catching me, but, it does sum up my fight to get thin perfectly lol!

 

[Karen1972]

Exellent, the 10,000 extra cals for the weekend works only if you abstain for 4.5 days, if you have a meal every evening that obviously your extra calories will be less.

When i get this extra 10lbs off i'm gonna have sunday's as a "binge" day. Altho i'm bingeing every few days at the mo (feast of famine!) and need to get my ass in gear or that 10lbs will shortly be 1 stone then 2 stone etc etc etc.

I watch a program the other day that said 98% of people put all their weight back on - i hope to god i'm in that 2%. In fact i'm gonna make sure i bloody well am!

Luv,

 

[Flopster]

Exellent, the 10,000 extra cals for the weekend works only if you abstain for 4.5 days, if you have a meal every evening that obviously your extra calories will be less.

When i get this extra 10lbs off i'm gonna have sunday's as a "binge" day. Altho i'm bingeing every few days at the mo (feast of famine!) and need to get my ass in gear or that 10lbs will shortly be 1 stone then 2 stone etc etc etc.

I watch a program the other day that said 98% of people put all their weight back on - i hope to god i'm in that 2%. In fact i'm gonna make sure i bloody well am!

Luv,

Well I think that is where the counselling comes into play, I really believe that if you can reprogramme your mind it is half the battle.

For me so far the crooked thinking has been my biggest tool - I am a terrible crooked thinker and for me recognising and accepting that my thoughts are crooked has been the biggest eye opener of the lot.

You sound as if you have your head screwed on, I have no doubts you will be in that 2% that keep their weight off.