Women 200lb+, Let's Be Unafraid This August!!!

I have been on and off this site for 6 years on the lose/ gain revolving door. I rejoined TOPS (Take off pounds sensibly) yesterday and came back here today. There are no in person TOPS meetings in my ares, so I am going online.. thankfully they have ZOOM meetings 3 times a week and a contact person for any questions. My very short term goal it to go down one size so I can fit into my size 20 jeans.. Good meeting all of you.

@pamiede so nice to read of your progress. So glad you have a way to monitor it now.
@holdthefries nice progress and glad you have a walking pal. Sometimes my husband or youngest like to walk with me and other times they flake out on me.

@kadohi Nice reaching your monthly goal early!
@girlinkaz I liked seeing your week’s list of meals. I have to plan my week ahead after this. I just made a big pot of homemade chicken soup so I would have ready some for after my surgery. I miss having a pool available. Enjoy your haircut etc.
@goal06082021 Glad you are seeing nice changes. I sometimes miss my goal too but when I look at my spreadsheet I realize that I am still under my TDEE even on my high days. Sometimes it helps to have a higher day here and there. Glad you cat is starting to eat again. We have twin tiger cats.
@HeatherBBetter I like those goals and NSV’s.

I agree with many of you that weight loss works much better when we 1st accept ourselves where we are.

@drj63 Congrats at getting and staying in Onderland. I identify with your description of being uncomfortable being the center of attention, and shying away from higher positions even when I was thin. My mother is a bit of a narcissist and I never wanted to be like her. I am getting better now. I finally have a job at my level. I am finally making what I am worth. However a lot came from getting older and more confident. I am still too heavy. In meetings I am quiet unless it is my project or there is something that needs to be said and no one is saying it unless it is just not my place to say it. You are making a lot of progress. Just take things one or 2 steps at a time. This isn’t only about weight loss for most of us.

@jazzdesigns nice job reaching your 1st weight goal!
@justanotherloser007 Congrats on reaching onderland!
@Imgoff232 Yes I had a rough week too and lost finally. I did eat healthy home cooked meals though and that always helps me but I was off on my water intake and sleep a few days this week. We got air filters when we had so much smoke last year. This year it mostly passed us by except for a day or so.

@57pattycake I am not sure you mean go back to work or back to in-person work. I always lose when I am not working and struggle when I am either way. I hope you do well with the transition.

3 more post since I posted just a while ago!

@Snapy15 We have the same monthly goal and we are making progress towards it. That is what counts more than actually making it exactly. Hope we both make it anyway.

@swimmom_1 your monthly goal is pretty ambitious but you are making great progress! Most think that MFP over estimates exercise calories. I actually feel if you are consistent with how you estimate and observe when you lose and when you don’t you can figure out what works for you. Almost everything is an estimate. I think you can get close with food if you weigh it etc. But our TDEE and BMR are just calculated estimates. That is why I use a spreadsheet. However I think for me eating at home helps me the best and that has nothing to do with numbers. It has more to do with how I cook with lower salt, good fats, whole grains and avoiding sugar and animal fats. However I applaud you trying to track closely.

Have a great week all!

Age: 38
Height 5'3"
SW 250 (July 27,2021)
CW 247
GW for Aug 245
UGW 140

8/1: 250
8/8: 249
8/15: 249
8/22: 247
8/31:
Total month loss: 3 pounds

This morning I felt like a champion! Yesterday I went grocery shopping and ended up putting a box of the giant sized swiss cake rolls in the shopping cart. They are so good! Especially frozen! Well, I took one look at the box and put it back on the shelf. I put some snack cakes in for my son and then grabbed the box of swiss cake rolls again and put them back in the cart. I started to walk away but then stopped and put the box back on the shelf before quickly exiting the aisle. It wasn't worth it. The feeling sickenly full just wasn't worth it. I bought fresh fruit and veggies and went home feeling pretty confident.

I don't feel like a champion right now. I overate at lunch today, and I definitely overate at dinner tonight. I just didn't think about it and did it. As a result I'm not feeling too hot right now and that's on me. It's interesting that I'm slowly learning that I need to stay focused on the choice that is in front of me, rather than the long-game. I can't go beyond that choice because if I do that then I get sidetracked and eat too many snacks and undo what's been done. That's not to say I can't get up tomorrow and do better then. I just have to make the choice to do so.

All that being said, I'm changing my goals...

1) To drink 100 ounces of water a day (Today I managed half of that...I'll work my way up slowly)

2) To stop eating after 8pm.

3) To log my calories of everything I eat, even if I go over my daily calorie goal. Right now it's more about becoming aware of what I'm eating rather than staying under my limit. PLUS I eat a lot of my calories after 8pm, so we'll see what happens.

4) To renew my mind and focus on the step ahead, no more and no less.

These last few days have been rough, I've been struggling mentally and my boyfriend tried to cheer me up with a nice chocolate cake but eating it made me feel guilty and spiral downward. I'm slowly getting back up. And unfortunately so has my weight.

I've cancelled my gym workouts for the week to try and focus on my mental health, but will still be Biking to work (and back home if not too hot) and doing my 10000 steps on top of that.