<p>I am considered a normal weight. But I am small boned and now have a pot belly that just won’t go. I was always slim but never considered terribly skinny when I was young. I don’t like where my weight is sticking and I don’t feel good at this weight . Given my small frame, I should be at the lower end of the range for my height and I am not. No, I assure you that I am not trying to get a bikini body back or the Victoria Beckham look. The extra weight looks bad on me. I feel that now that I am nearly 60, I want to get to my ideal size and maintain it which is probably a few pounds over what a young person my age would want to be.</p>
<p>Since I have been trying to lose this weight for over 6years now, I am convinced that the body gets a set weight and just hangs onto it like the threshholds of boiling and freezing. It takes a concerted effort to bump ones self out of that zone. I have been disciplined to the T on all of the diets and given them 3 months for a 5 lb weight loss. Nope. I’ve lost the 5 lbs and a few more on them, but while still on them, I gain it right back. I can maintain that weight by just eating the way I please and watching my portions which is preferable to me to the combinations diets make. I’m a very good cook, so my recipes and foods and combinations are more enjoyable to me, and it’s easier just to take less. </p>
<p>This has been the most success I’ve had in a short time, and I’ve felt fine the two days of not eating and just drinking the juice.</p>
<p>Cpt, pardon me if I don’t remember this, but do you exercise at all? Most times exercising along with good eating is what it takes -especially for that middle area/belly you speak of. Toning can make more of a visual difference than losing weight!</p>
<p>Notice I said “good eating” is what it takes - just drinking liquid can never be part of a daily lifestyle of eating. You can drink the liquid and lose a few pounds but it simply makes sense that when you add foods back in, the composition of the foods as well as the calories is going to have you gaining weight again.</p>
<p>I truly believe the only thing that will “work” is a method that can “work” basically every day of your life. It’s not a diet for a few days, weeks or months - it’s a way of living for the long haul. Not denying yourself of those great recipes you make, but making them more healthy or cutting down on your portions or having more lean recipe days than calorie-laden recipe days.</p>
<p>Eating is a wonderful thing! Embrace it, but balance it!!!</p>
<p>I love your latest post, abasket. It reminds me that I just have to take my time and that this is a lifestyle change. Today is my weekly weigh-in for “official” reporting purposes (as I weigh in every day and its really taken the fear and loathing about the scale away!)</p>
<p>I lost 2.3 lbs this week for a grand total of 21.2 lbs in 6 weeks. DAILY exercise, portion control and cognitive therapy exercises appear to be working! I’m driven and highly motivated as I set a goal for my birthday on the 26th of this month and I’m really close. Also, my only child is coming home for her first visit from college at Thanksgiving and I want HER to see a difference. She knows how I’ve struggled in the past and I know that it will mean a lot to her to see a thinner mom! I’m STOKED!</p>
<p>Short response because I’m still at a conference but I have read all of the wonderful suggestions and will try to start implementing them later this week when I get home. </p>
<p>@bungalow–we have the same birthday! Isn’t it just the best day of the year to have one?? The rest of you must be jealous. ;)</p>
<p>“Most times exercising along with good eating is what it takes -especially for that middle area/belly”
-Well, sometime it takes to turn clock backwards. Is it possible? Not yet. After certain age those 2 hours of exercise are not the same, period, stomach is there and we are trying very hard just to have a great blood test. Tha last one is much more under our control than the size of that belly, including all cranches (sometime up to 300). Just take it easy and switch to one peice swimsuit. If you are busy, they are more comfy anyway. You know that it will stay put, while you snorkeling, walking on a beach, playing ping pong,…etc.</p>
<p>Last goal just met - hit the 50th pound this morning. Took 16 months altogether and the last four were almost no change so was quite elated. Thank you WLFD!!!</p>
<p>Marilyn – that is so awesome!! Major congrats! </p>
<p>Miami – DH is not likely to change. This has been an issue for many years. He’ll figure it out when one of us is dead, I’ve concluded. In the meantime, you can all be thankful he is such a devoted government employee and that you are getting your tax dollars’ worth from him. ;)</p>
<p>^Well, with my H. health, he would be in a box already. There are conditions when exercise is absolute must. One of them is diabetise. If anybody is devoted to anything and/or family, they better take care of themselves first. I know cannot put your head on somebody else’s shoulders. But I guess, we must be much older, there is no choice any more. Choice become very limited and you are absolutely correct, either take care of your body or your body will not like you any more. I told my own Son, you have you choices of spending time exercising (and amking yourslef feeling great) or spending you time in doc’s office (and making yourself sicker just being there).
Good luck, maybe he will come to his senses some day.
Marilyn, congrats!! It took me also 12 months to loose 50 after my D. was born. But I was stupid and did it all wrong and hard way. Oh, well, at least it was done.</p>
<p>Way to go Marilyn!! What an amazing accomplishment! You should treat yourself to a really nice new outfit in celebration of all your dedication and willpower. :)</p>
<p>Thank you, thank you very much. My mom keeps saying it’s the new me but it’s really the old me (and actually 10 or so pounds above pre-baby weight). I’ve already been buying new clothes, no worries! Believe me, I don’t want to go back up so this is the way I will live and eat for the rest of my life (until a meteor starts heading right for earth, then anything goes).</p>
Took 16 months altogether and the last four were almost no change so was quite elated. Thank you WLFD!!!</p>