Living The Lifestyle, Monday, November 16, 2020

88olds

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 - 88olds (George)
Tuesday - whathapnd (Emmie)
Wednesday - misterhub (Greg)
Thursday - linmueller (Lin)
Friday - imastar2 (Derrick)

Today's Topic: Getting Over The Hump

Any hump. I was thinking of the first hump, but it doesn’t need to be the first hump. Sometimes its the hump down the line that is more important. So pick a hump, any hump, so long as you got over it. How’d you do it? Things were one way before and different after, what is that point in between? How does a person get through to the other side?

88olds

I was really thinking of how I got started but I’ve had similar experiences a number of times to get to GW. It always starts with an idea. And I think the key is I can see it working. Really see, an image. Consider this hump down the WL line for me. I’d been stuck for years around 215-220lbs. Years. Then my neighbor up and died. Gone, just like that. I was in pretty good shape. It wasn’t the old drop dead of a heart attack fear. But I’d gotten to the place where hitting my modest WL goal of 204 lbs was something I’d get to later. But suddenly later was not guaranteed. I felt the press of unfinished business. But how to lose more weight?

WW came to mind. I looked it up on the internet. There was a meeting in some dingy office building not far from my house. I checked the times and decided to give the Sunday meeting a try. I went and signed up.

Really that’s a whole string of steps to get me to the meeting. Thinking about it I think I did a drive by of the building to see where it was exactly. And I think it was at that point that I was really over the hump. That was when I could see myself coming back on Sunday, parking the car and going in. For me I have to see it in my mind. And believe it. If I see it and it looks real I think that’s the threshold for me.

steve0mania

The "hump" most recently was kicking back into losing mode again. After I made lifetime 10+ years ago, I maintained (and continue to maintain), but drifted 10-15 pounds higher than my personal target weight and stayed in that range for years. No amount of simply wishing the weight off ever helped (surprise surprise)! For whatever reason, I was never able to prioritize getting those pounds back off.

After COVID hit, my weight tended to be on the higher side of my maintenance range (still under my WW goal), but it was getting clear that I was uncomfortable close to becoming overweight again. That's when the 10 pound challenge was posted on this board.

I don't know why it "clicked" this time. I think it may have had something to do with feeling out of control (with COVID, weight, work, kids home, etc.), and needing to control something in my life. As we've said on GOAD many times, the one thing I can control is myself. As such, the timing was right and I was able to get over the hump, finally, and get back down to my personal target weight. That's where I am now, thought I could probably take off 2-3 more pounds to give myself a little cushion.

podkey

I too made lifetime over 10 years ago and have at times been up to 10-12 lb under my official weight. I drifted up some but when Covid hit I dropped about 4 pounds which I have recently regained. I need to lose a few and finding it hard to focus on that.

linmueller

Mine is very similar to Steve's. I got close to goal, got sick, lost focus, and struggled for a long time (maybe 4 1/2 years) to really get it back 🤞. I had sputs during those years, and list weight, which I managed to regain , but didn't stay with it.

There were a bunch of factors that got me going, one being I was gaining covid weight and seeing numbers I hadn't seen in a long time. I also needed something that I could control (the world was driving me nuts), I stumbled on a list technique for establishing habits (right up my alley) and upon returning to MFP, found the #10 challenge. The stars aligned, and I'm on week 21 of honest tracking, and only used WPs once on that time.

I sure wish i knew what flips the switch and makes it doable!

imastar2

Ist hump after joining WW in 2010 was het the 1st 100 lbs off. That a good feeling however there have been several but that was the most memorable in recent history.
This last hump also went pretty well but really needed to get with it and agter 9 months got back to where I started in October of last year. Getting through to the other side for me just takes plain out right determination and sticking with it. I think I'll leave it at that for now.

whathapnd

Getting started again is always a hump. I tend to do it in phases. Phase 1 is "Pay attention and try to do no harm. Don't worry about losing, just try to be aware and ease in." Phase 2 is "Think about what plan you're willing to commit to. Don't be stupid and cut too many calories or limit too many foods." Phase 3 is "Try a little harder each week. Stop beating yourself up for not being perfect. Focus on healthy foods and adjust your plan, as needed." Phase 4 is "Eating better makes everything better. Winding I do this all the time?"

Currently in Phase 2.

Al_Howard

Latest hump is getting below my body's "set weight" of 240-245. Need more consistency.