How Do You Know When to Stop Losing?

Posted on March 25, 2015

I weighed in this morning and saw a number on the scale I've dreamed of since July when I was 210 pounds. I've been bummed out this week because the scale hadn't budged. It was partially my fault. I wasn't gaining, but I wasn't sticking to my program either. We all know how it works. We bust our butts, see a bad number, and get discouraged. Fortunately, I've learned over time that binging on food from stress or anger only leads to more stress and anger...and guilt. Then the cycle continues...

Bad.

I've learned to forgive myself, and am able to turn around if I make a mistake. However, my mistakes now are much different than my mistakes 8 months ago. 8 months ago, a mistake would have been going out for pizza. Now, a mistake is eating a bowl of Special K! Losing 55 pounds makes you really careful of your choices. I don't want to go back. Exercise and nutrition is great, but I'm getting too old for this "yo-yo"ing crap. Yesterday, I passed up complimentary bread at a restaurant, pizza and cookies at my work (Chocolate Chunk and White Chip Macadamia Nut. Nom), and chocolate that night sitting on my hairdresser's counter. It was Reese's Easter Candy too. I love those. My good choices allowed my scale to start moving again, and it helped me reach my goal this morning.

Anyway, this photo was in an email this morning from my FitBit Aria scale. For the last decade, I've always thought back to ten years ago, to the summer before I was a sophomore in college. I have pictures of my younger self in bikinis (like this one), formal dresses, and my usual athletic shorts and tshirts. She looks great. I always looked up to her (even after one year), and now I am her again...

I want to smash her.

Now, I see that I've still got some more to go, and have clearly been too reminiscent of nostalgia. So I guess that means I'll keep going and see where I end up! My next short term goal will be 10 pounds. Long term, I'd like to lose 20 more pounds. That would land me at 135. I haven't been 135 since high school. But, it's an appropriate weight for me, and I am looking forward to trying to reach it. Never would I have thought I would be searching Google for "How do you know when to stop losing weight?".

I'm also looking forward to building some muscle. This extra skin is making me look a little flabby when I don't have clothes on. ;)

Here's to the Journey,

Sara

Comment Now!

KnightofWren

03/26/2015 4:46AM

How inspiring! I'm sure you will make that 135lbs goal. That is a good question "How to know when to stop?", I have about 10-20lbs to go myself before I start thinking about that.

Sara likes this comment.

Sara

I'm hoping to start becoming motivated in other ways. The number means a lot to me, and I tend to get upset if I'm working hard and the number doesn't reflect. I think we can all relate to that downward spiral. After I start slowing down, I'm going to try and do some more weight training. I've always loved weights, but when I weight train and try to lose weight, it usually doesn't give me the results I want. I can always gain back muscle without gaining the fat back. That's the way I think of it. Good luck on those next 10-20 pounds!

Dominik S

03/25/2015 3:51PM

Your journey is just beyond awesome. I just read your "day 1" blog post. "Here's to a successful 28 days." Well, you obviously didn't stop after 28 days. What an inspiring story. Congratulations so far, and I am sure you will get rid of those last ten (or 20) pounds. You rock! :)

Sara likes this comment.

Sara

Thanks so much, Dominik! That means a lot to me. I remember those 28 days well. It was terrible. I can remember feeling bad about myself the whole time, and even though I was losing the weight, every pound lost was a wake-up call to myself reminding me of what I shouldn't have eaten. Many bad decisions led to a punishment of pound by pound. I never want to go back.Thanks again for your kind words. It made my day :)

Sarah P.

03/25/2015 9:34AM

Great job!

Sara likes this comment.

Sara

Thank you!

Pam

03/25/2015 7:01AM

Yeah Sara, Awesome job and much needed info. Thank you for sharing. That is truly Awesome good job

Sara likes this comment.

Sara

Thank you!

03/25/2015 6:28AM

Way to go! I so agree with everything you wrote here! I still have about 42 more pounds to go to hit my goal weight but I know I can do it! Congrats on all your success!!

Sara likes this comment.

Sara

Once you get there, you'll be amazed with the process. I thought I would feel like a completely different person, but I don't. I just feel like me.