<p>Thanks for that advise Puzzled88. The greater goal really is healthy eating that can be maintained in the LONG term that gives me lots of energy. I hope to have your long term success, that’s awesome! If I end up right about here, or +/- 2lbs then I’ll consider it a very healthy place and feel great about myself. </p>
<p>The other BIG goal is to add the E word…exercise. I’ve always been really terrible about it. The only thing I’ve ever enjoyed is yoga (and I’m not flexible at all). I’ve got to start doing some sort of weight bearing exercise though because now I’m just thinner and have no muscle tone. :-/ A good goal for the next stage. My DH is very fit but he’s a runner which is like death to me. I’ve tried (really tried) and I end up gasping for an albuterol inhaler after 1/2mile. My middle son lifts weights and I missed a great opportunity to have him show me around our bowflex and motivate me while he was home this summer.</p>
<p>Congrats, Blue Iguana!! I do not like running either, but have found that I enjoy bike riding. The key is to get a good bike–one that is light and seems to fly on the wind without much effort on your part. Plus you get to buy yourself a new wardrobe of cycling clothes!</p>
<p>blueiguana - I tried many times to lose weight and keep it off so I’m not entirely sure why I was successful this time. I think it had something to do with the empty nest and my ability to put myself first. Right around the same time that I lost the weight, I started doing Pilates. If there is any way that’s possible for you, I encourage you to give it a try. I am kind of astonished by the results of doing it for several years now (three mornings a week for a total of 150 minutes). The difference in my muscle tone is night and day, particularly in my abs which are very strong now. I had always walked a lot and still find that a 40 minute walk is the biggest key to not regaining weight. But the Pilates is what has changed my shape and muscle tone.<br>
The other thing I want to tell you is to believe in yourself. You can keep the weight off and you can get fit. When I was losing the weight, I used a ridiculous widget on my Mac desktop called Yoda Speak. I would type in the words “Do or do not. There is no try.” and listen to them over and over. Crazy, I know, but it was like a form of hypnosis and it worked. You are not going to try to keep the weight off, you’re going to do it!!</p>
<p>Thanks for the support, ellemenope. I took a serious diversion last night celebrating a friends 60th birthday at a fondue place, but its back to business.</p>
<p>For those of us struggling to get the last few pounds off and to keep them off, another article about how our bodies are fighting us on that. Essentially it takes the blame off us so yay:</p>
<p>As for me, I’ve been staying within the same pound or so and nudging above and below “normal” - today I was about an ounce into “overweight”. My bigger issue is whether I should buy purple nail polish for a wedding next weekend. It’s an afternoon outdoor wedding (cocktail level attire) and I bought a great purple Ralph Lauren bandage dress TJ Maxx (in size 12 :D); already have a pretty purple/pink light shawl to wear with it. So do I go with my deep dark pink polish I already have [Amazon.com:</a> Revlon ColorStay Nail Enamel - Always Flaunting 470: Health & Personal Care](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00515WHUA/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00515WHUA/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00), or buy some purple just for fun? It’s the daughter of friends so I don’t want to look like I’m trying to be young and hip. Since I’m neither.</p>
<p>We should start a club for the last 2lb’ers. Although according to Marilyn’s article it really isn’t my fault. ;)</p>
<p>I made zero headway, and probably reversed directions the last few days. We just re-launched S2 for his second year at school. He loves his school, is an excellent student, is only 100min from driveway to dorm, I will see him next weekend at the first football game, but I still cried terribly on the way home, and have indulged in comfort food for two days. For me this allows for a bagel and cream cheese at breakfast, snacks of cheese and crackers, an awesome avocado hogie, and a naked burrito from Qudoba last night. Time to get back to business. I’ll stay off the scale for a week, why punish myself?</p>
<p>I love the idea of looking into pilates. Thanks for the suggestion Puzzled. I love the quote too. We are huge SW fans around here. S3’s ringtone on my phone is Yoda telling me my phone is ringing.</p>
<p>I’d be more inclined to put the purple on my toes and pink, or french manicure on my nails if you don’t mind your toes and nails not matching. I like blue on my toes in the summer with a french manicure, but that’s just me. I agree with Alumother, the dress sounds ah-mazing! I love TJM!!</p>
<p>My nails aren’t good enough for a french manicure but I like the thought of purple on the toenails. I would like to wear regular heeled sandals but there’s a good chance of rain and we may have to cross a lawn or stand in grass, so will also bring my cork wedge black sandals.</p>
<p>FYI the dress is very similar to this [Product</a> - Satin Bandage Dress](<a href=“http://www.planet.co.uk/en/satin-bandage-dress-194638?cid=aff]Product”>http://www.planet.co.uk/en/satin-bandage-dress-194638?cid=aff) but with narrower bands and slightly different shoulder straps. I never dreamed a dress like this would actually be flattering until I tried it on, then convinced myself that I would stay close to this weight long enough to get $80 worth of wear out of it. And the first thing DH said when I showed it to him at home was “that’s slimming”.</p>
<p>Wow! I could never wear something like that. Congrats!!
BTW I took a serious food holiday this weekend. Not getting on the scale for a few days…</p>
<p>I found this dress picture through a link in a MOB site and it goes up to size 20. So apparently this design is meant for non-skinny women. Fortunately my old hourglass figure is sorta kinda back if I wear the right clothes, which this style seems to be.</p>
<p>My good friend bought a Macy’s INC brand Bandage style dress this week. She is a 12 or 14 and it looked absolutely amazing on her. I think so much depends on your body type. My friend is large chested and curvy and the dress works. I weigh less and fit into a 8 but the dress looked absolutely hideous on me. I have no chest, no butt and all my weight in my midsection.
I am also in the need to lose a few more pds but seem to just float back and forth. I know if I get motivated to track I will lose but I find that I just can’t seem to do it. I am getting lots of compliments at my present weight.
For the women- I just recently decided to try an estrogen patch. I have not slept well for the past 10 months and I am at the end of my rope. I feel better in some areas but I find I am starving! Does this go away? I am on the lowest dose.</p>
<p>I’m struggling w/ the maintenance aspect too. Nine months ago and right up until end of May, I was at my lowest (happiest) weight. I don’t work in the summer (teacher) and we’ve made quite a few long car trips over the past three months. I’m now three to four pounds over my happy weight every time I step on the scales. </p>
<p>My diet has not changed substantially. Don’t cheat a lot. I exercise regularly…run about 10 miles a week and walk at least that much on the off days. Also exercise w/ light weights after my runs. So why is this pesky 4 pounds hangin’ around?
I start back to work next week. I’m hoping somehow that will help but we have one more long car trip coming up for Labor Day weekend so that won’t help…ugh.</p>
<p>Could I possibly have gained three to four pounds of muscle from running/working out over the last few months? OR… Does my body just not want to be MY “happy” weight?</p>
What are your clothes telling you? I’m no expert at all, but we do know muscle weighs more than fat. If your clothes are not fitting snugger then that could be the case. I wouldn’t notice a 2lb difference in my clothes, but I would notice a 4lb difference.</p>
<p>Marilyn–I’m definitely not a fashion maven but I think the dress is stunning. I’m sure I couldn’t wear it but wish I could </p>
<p>I love your H’s nice comments. I once had a really cute purple one piece short/jumpsuit thing (OK, it sounds hideous, this was in the 90’s and I got a lot of compliments…) H told me I looked like Barney.</p>
<p>I had a green dress once that also garnered compliments. H told me I looked like Gumby.</p>
<p>These are unsolicited, by the way. As you may guess, I don’t ask his opinion…hehehe.</p>
Fortunately my old hourglass figure is sorta kinda back if I wear the right clothes, which this style seems to be.</p>
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