Plateau or "Short Maintaining Stint"?

I have a questions. If you had lost 20+ lbs over the course of several months, then started to slack (just a little bit) on your weight lose efforts, but did not gain back any of the original 20 lbs, would you consider that a "plateau" or just a short time of maintaining instead of actively losing weight? Being the optimistic person that I am, I'm going to go with the latter!

And now, back to you regularly scheduled weight loss!!!

I was slacking by not logging what i ate and cutting out my structured exercise. When u have a 2 yr old and depression, structure tends to go out the window, but just keeping up with him I think filled in a little of my exercise needs. But I firmly believe that people need a break every once in a while, and that includes a break from the my weight loss for me. Luckily, I did pick up a few good habits along the way, and tended to eat better during my break time than I would have a few years ago.

My point I guess is that I took a vacation for a little while, but now I'm back with renewed goals and plans and we will see how it all turns out in the end.

Ok I understand. Im a single mother to 2 girls one will be 3 in March so i know how that goes and I know how depression goes as well especially this time of year but thats why I finally took a stand for my self and said enough is enough and started exercising again. But if exercising isnt helping your depression maybe seeking some kind of medical help would be a good option...Even if its just talking to a therapist. And yes we all deserve breaks. And glad to hear that you are learning good habits along the way. As I am my self which when I finally get into maintaining I hope that all comes into play. Best of luck dear!

I was seeing a therapist for a while, but she really was not helping at all. I swear, the only thing that woman could tell me was to "breathe". I know thats good advise for most, but not so much myself. My depression is related to my PTSD from my time in the Marine Corps, so I'm trying to get in to see a specialist with the VA, but my sick/vacation days are severely limited at the company i'm with now.

As far as exercising as a means of "therapy", it happens to have the opposite effect on me. Part of my problem and depression stems from not doing well enough at PT (physical training) while in the Corps, so running sometimes sends me into a panic attack.... not fun! I do love dancing, and was trying out a studio close to my house, but it was just too expensive to do continuously. So for now, I'm sticking to dancing around my living room with my son, which he happens to LOVE, so naturally I love it too. On a side note, actually taught my husband how to waltz the other day.... epic!