I'm here!!!! I had a couple of stupid weeks (too low calories trying to speed things along). Felt terrible and it didn't help. Back to the usual....1900ish. But I am not weighing. Possibly monthly so it won't be for a while. I got so caught up in the scale moving that I stopped doing the things that I know work. 12 week reset and then once I started cutting, I got wrapped up in it again.

It bothers me that I'm not done with my weight loss goals. I started losing in 2012. It bugs me that others have done it more effortlessly than me (my husband for one). BUT I need to let all of that go. It's hurting my progress. I have to just do me. My journey will be different than everyone else's. I just need to do what I know I can do forever.

So...lifting 4 days a week and throwing in some walks. Working on adding yoga once a week for relaxation and stretching. Cals 1900 with a day here and there over. I'm not worried about taking a break because the holidays are coming up and I'll have plenty of over days here and there. Fitbit flex is coming in the mail this week.

I will still update here. I'm not giving up. My 12's are still too tight to wear but I can button them. Weight is most likely still 193. I'm more concerned about the clothing. I have a pair of 10s that I was wearing and I'd like to get back into them soon.

I had a great week back to lifting and I'm already feeling more like myself.

Thanks for checking in with me!!!!!

Kristen

So this update isn't really much of an update. I'm settling in to this as just something I do. Fitbit is now recording same avg as bodymedia (I do log weight lifting separate but everything else is good)....2500 ish.

My eating target is 2100. Plan to weigh on the Weds before Thanksgiving and then again right before Christmas where I will then take a week off at maint. before cutting again. Hopefully, with those 2 weigh ins, I'll see 4 lbs. and more inches. If not, I'll use that week at maint to reevaluate cut value.

I'm not taking measurements since I'm terrible at it LOL. But....the size 12's (in the after picture in my profile) that I wore before the reset can go on, zip, and button and comfy everywhere except my muffin top, which wasn't there before, makes it not wearable. So I'm making progress albeit slowly.

I do see in the mirror changes. And I will take monthly pictures. I have them from the past few months too. Maybe someday I'll be brave enough to share them but I'm in my undies and bra so the world wide web isn't where I want to post them but I'll see.

Ditching the scale has been awesome! Totally freeing and doesn't dictate my days at all. Consistency is better since I just do what I do anyway. I don't every really care what I weigh, only what I look like, but I was using it as a tool to assess diet and make changes....and I was weighing too often and making too many changes too quickly to see if anything really worked.

So 2 months to see if 2100 cals is a good number. I'm sure I'll post results and ask for advice before carrying on for the next 8-12 week cut. But so far, nothing really going on. LOL

Lifting is good. I'm doing EM2WL Heavy/Light which I'm liking. Right after my weigh in in Nov I'll switch to their Upper/Lower split. Changing every 4-6 weeks isn't something I've done before so I'm hoping this will also help!

Anyway, not much to report but a peace has settled in me and hopefully all the cortisol overload is gone with it. This isn't a means to an end, it's just what has to be and to be so results oriented with this lifestyle is ineffectual.

Here's an arm shot from yesterday. Cuts now visible have never been there (have lifted for 18 years and dieted down to lower weight while lifting and still...weren't there). Sorry about the smudgy mirror in my son's room...didn't notice it until after and then cleaned it. LOL

Thanks all. And wow! Just sayin. I had no idea. Thank you.

Here it is.....drumroll please....LOL

Week...IDK Started cut on

Sept 7 at 196.4
Sept 14 194.8
Sept 21 194.8
Sept 28 193.8
Oct 5 193.8
Oct 13 192.4
Nov 23 192.4

The last month (from Oct to Nov) was the most consistent I've been with cals @2100 since I began this journey and it's really because I gave up the scale. Now that I see the numbers, I think I will drop 100 cals a day....so 2k for the next month.

Honestly, the few seconds on the scale did nothing for me. Pictures I took showed differences in lots of areas maybe only noticeble to me, but still there. Onward.

Will update in December!