Living The Lifestyle Friday 7/17/20

imastar2

We meet here to explore, share, celebrate and (sometimes) agonize over how we do (or don't) incorporate weight loss guidelines into our daily lives. "It's a lifestyle, not a diet" is easily and often said, but sometimes not so simply put into practice.

This is a thread for everyone. If you're new to GoaD, or to weight loss, your questions and comments are always welcome. If you're maintaining, or a long-term loser, your thoughts on the topic may be just what someone else needs to hear. If you're reading this, join in the discussion!

Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion.

Monday - misterhub (Greg)
Tuesday - Al_Howard (Al)
Wednesday - Wild Card
Thursday - Wild Card
Friday - imastar2 (Derrick)

Today's Topic: Do you have a hard time losing weight?

Have a good time with this one and have a good weekend.

imastar2

I'm off to Atlanta today and will get back to this a little later. Topic just came to me this morning but my comment Have Fun with this one really could be anything to anyone and possibly endless.🙂

88olds

It’s complicated. I lost a total of 100 lbs in 2 phases. Neither one of those phases were particularly hard. Actually I think the needle might even point to easy. But such is the nature of retrospect.

But in between was about 10 years struggling, mostly in the gym. A problem I had was that the things that worked losing the first 2/3s, about 65 lbs, didn’t do a thing for the last 35 lbs. I was just wandering around in the dark.

I turned to WW in desperation. I was embarrassed to be there. But I didn’t just drink the Kool Aid, I swam in it. I was always surprised by people showing up at WW saying they knew what to do. A lot of people said that. It started working for me as soon as I accepted I had no clue.

I also recall that WW became easier to live with when I found my way to volume eating.
Took about 5-6 months to lose 35 lbs. A lot of the people in that meeting hated me.

Al_Howard

First time around (WW goal in 1979) it was pretty easy, even with a Thursday EVENING meeting. However, stopped going to meetings (a lot of reasons) and started climbing. Got serious in 2010, after the Big D diagnose. Dropped about 50# on a computer based plan, but a computer upgrade made it obsolete. Re-started WW in 2012, and have stuck with it, approaching goal in 2014, but got sloppy, and gained back a lot of the WW loss, but have been going down again, today is 1st weigh-in under 240# in years.
I know maintaining is actually harder.

linmueller

88olds wrote: »

.

I also recall that WW became easier to live with when I found my way to volume eating.
Took about 5-6 months to lose 35 lbs. A lot of the people in that meeting hated me.

Could you explain 'volume eating'? I'm trying to decide if I've heard that term before. My guess is that it means eating a lot of low cal foods. ???

linmueller

My first time on WW was the mid/late 80s. It was easy, and I was at goal in no time. I WI at goal and never returned. I think it was particularly my youth (sure I could handle it from there) and partly ignorance (I just didn't know what I didn't know). And I didn't form any personal relationship with my leader, tho I really enjoyed his meetings. Ironically, I stumbled into one of his virtual meetings last week, having no clue he was even a coach anymore. Went to his meeting this week and really enjoyed it! I 💜 virtual WW.

Returned to WW periodically over the years, never staying long or getting close to goal, before returning in 2012 with just over 100#s to lose. And it was easy again, until I had around #90 off, and the plan changed, and I felt really good where I was at, comfortable in my skin.

I held steady, slowly dropping another few over a year, until 2015 when a high dose of meds made me so foggy I could hardly complete a sentence, and keeping track of what I ate (to say nothing of planning meals and shopping) were beyond hard, it was impossible. And during that 6+ months, the scale went up. It bounced around for years, but always within 10 or so pounds. Again/still, it was hard. Then my dad died, and covid, and I found myself up, only 33 if those #s still gone.

Six weeks ago I felt ready to get myself back in control. And this round has been easyish. Not a total breeze, but not too bad.

So ya, I'm all over the place! I'm committing for the long haul, enjoying the ease, and preparing to keep persevering when it gets hard again.

88olds

@linmueller

Volume eating to me was getting a lot for the points expended. At WW did you ever hear the question, So can I just go to McDs, get a Big Mac and fries and use all my points and it’s OK? My reaction was, not nearly enough food. Who could live like that. I found the whole thing easier if I wasn’t hungry a lot. That took regular snacks that took points away from meals. How to feel full on fewer points? Veggies and lean protein. A big bowl of oatmeal for breakfast.

But the real volume bonanza was DW’s version of zero point soup. Really just a big pot of zero point veggies. I’d precook some grilled chicken breast, weigh out a portion, mix it into some soup and microwave it. Just the thing on a cold day in Chicago. Very filling, just a few points.

Egg beaters, veggies, a WW English muffin, SF jam. 2-3 pts I think. It was like a puzzle game.

linmueller

Thanks for elaborating @88olds . That is exactly how I eat. I didn't realize (or remember) it being called volume eati, but makes total sense! For me, little portions just don't do it. I'm going to try to post tonight's dinner. There's mashed potatoes under the marinara and a small chicken breast on the left under some veggies. And tons of sauted zucchini, summer squash, pepper, onion, mushrooms, peas and italian seasoning. 2 SP for the whole plate on 💜. My meals aren't all this big and low points, but today, I was hungry, and I knew this was the way to go! And btw, it was delicious.

linmueller

imastar2

@linmueller that looks delicious.!!

So in reply to the topic of the day the answer for me is yes it's always been difficult for me to lose weight. I've enjoyed some stretches of time in my life where I had it under control but for the most part it' been a battle. That's why when in 2010 I decided to give WW a try and lost 100 lbs over a couple of years. That was however only 25% of what I need to lose. I then hit a plateau really up until a couple of years ago then began gaining again and regained 60 lb and with health issues it made it even harder.

The love of food has always been a downfall for me so these last 6 months with mostly heart issues and with those at least addressed I've really been concentrating on getting another 100 lbs off. So I'm still writing my story and plugging away at this issue of losing weight.

Tracking days July Yes 16 /No 0😀
SW/CW/GW 07/14/20 kcal 1226
400.8/303.8/185 [-.6 lbs]🙂🤔 WI Daily
Total Loss 97.0 lbs
May 8th start (310.8/Lose 10 lb Challenge current <stat> -7.0 lbs loss
WI Today 303.8 up 2.2 lbs

cakeman21k

So weight has been a problem for me since I got out of college in the 70's. In the early 80's I joined a weight loss program where I lived (Not WW) I lost about 40 pounds, fairly easy, got down to around 185 with a goal of 174 then hit a plateau and eventually lost the interest. for the next 20 years I yo yoed up & down till 2006 when I had a heart attack. Immediatly joiined WW and Quickly lost 35 pounds then again hit a plateau and could not get the next 30 off! However because of my health however I just kept up with it. Fast forward to 2013 and I lost another 15 then hit another plateau. Still there about 10 - 15 pounds above my Dr's reccomended goal. So has weight loss been easy or hard for me? Both, sometime 1 and sometimes the other, but I am still keeping on.