Goal!!!

Goal!!! I reached the top of my goal range (170-175) for the first time
today. Boy does that feel good! It's been 20 years since I've been near my
"ideal" weight.

After 6 weeks of hovering between 176-181, I was wondering if I was setting
my goal too low, as the last few pounds just don't seem to want to come off.
But, after some careful examination, I've realized my choices were not as
good as they had been, so I finally got serious again and eliminated all the
SF candies and LC ice cream from my diet. Funny thing about this stuff...
when I don't eat it, I don't crave it, nor do I miss it. Once I start, I
can't stop. I'm not sure if it physical or mental... I think it also has
helped that I've been more faithful to get in the daily 30 minute walk.

This has been a very interesting journey, and it has surprised me how it has
gone. For me at least, my weight losses have rather looked like stairs, not
a straight line. I'll hover in a 4-5 range for a long time, and then "step"
down to a new range. The whole time there are subtle changes going on in my
body, especially in my measurements, and how my cloths fit, my energy level.
I guess all of this is to say that my perception is that my body is striving
hard to maintain a weight (a set point), by varying the metabolism,
retention of water, and digestion. It seems to me, but this could be my
imagination, that it's related to weight levels where I've spent a lot of
time at in my past. Then, it's like it finally concedes and says, ok, I
can't hold this level any longer, so we'll go down to the next 3-4 pound
level.

I weigh every day. I know this is controversial - most advice I see says to
only weigh once per week. But, after a lot of work to get past the mental
aspects, I try to look at it strictly as another input of information to
help me learn how the body works - the scale is my friend, not my enemy. It
has been really important for me to understand the normal fluctuation of the
body weight throughout the day as we drink and eat. Just the weight of the
water we drink (8 lbs/gallon) and the food we eat really affects these
swings. I've gotten "in tune" enough with what I'm eating, etc., to guess
within a pound each morning what the scale will say. All this to say, that
I've learned a lot on how my food and exercise choices effect my weight.
This WOE is a huge change from my previous WONCWIEBUWMW (way of not caring
what I eat but upset with my weight)!!!

The other comment that I have is this. I want to encourage everyone in the
group. This WOE works, despite all the smack the media is throwing around.
I've never eaten so healthy in my life - GOOD FOOD. Now, almost zero
manufactured or prepared food. I used to take a Pepsid AC every day. On
LC, it's been months since I've had heartburn. I know there are a lot of
folks out there with a lot more to loose than I, but we all want the same
thing - to feel good about ourselves, and to be in control of our body. At
the end of the day, the numbers don't matter. It's the commitment to a new
lifestyle that will continue to IMPROVE OUR HEALTH for the rest of our life.
Enjoy the ride!

Blaker
196/175/170-175/9-27-03

blaker wrote:
:: Goal!!! I reached the top of my goal range (170-175) for the first
:: time today. Boy does that feel good! It's been 20 years since I've
:: been near my "ideal" weight.

[...]


:: Blaker
:: 196/175/170-175/9-27-03

Great! You've proven that LC does work for people who just need to lose
about 20 lbs (there are those here who would claim that this WOE is not for
you????). All it takes is the desire to reach your good.

Good show!

blaker wrote:

Goal!!! I reached the top of my goal range (170-175) for the first time
today. Boy does that feel good! It's been 20 years since I've been near my
"ideal" weight.

After 6 weeks of hovering between 176-181, I was wondering if I was setting
my goal too low, as the last few pounds just don't seem to want to come off.
But, after some careful examination, I've realized my choices were not as
good as they had been, so I finally got serious again and eliminated all the
SF candies and LC ice cream from my diet. Funny thing about this stuff...
when I don't eat it, I don't crave it, nor do I miss it. Once I start, I
can't stop. I'm not sure if it physical or mental... I think it also has
helped that I've been more faithful to get in the daily 30 minute walk.

This has been a very interesting journey, and it has surprised me how it has
gone. For me at least, my weight losses have rather looked like stairs, not
a straight line. I'll hover in a 4-5 range for a long time, and then "step"
down to a new range. The whole time there are subtle changes going on in my
body, especially in my measurements, and how my cloths fit, my energy level.
I guess all of this is to say that my perception is that my body is striving
hard to maintain a weight (a set point), by varying the metabolism,
retention of water, and digestion. It seems to me, but this could be my
imagination, that it's related to weight levels where I've spent a lot of
time at in my past. Then, it's like it finally concedes and says, ok, I
can't hold this level any longer, so we'll go down to the next 3-4 pound
level.

I weigh every day. I know this is controversial - most advice I see says to
only weigh once per week. But, after a lot of work to get past the mental
aspects, I try to look at it strictly as another input of information to
help me learn how the body works - the scale is my friend, not my enemy. It
has been really important for me to understand the normal fluctuation of the
body weight throughout the day as we drink and eat. Just the weight of the
water we drink (8 lbs/gallon) and the food we eat really affects these
swings. I've gotten "in tune" enough with what I'm eating, etc., to guess
within a pound each morning what the scale will say. All this to say, that
I've learned a lot on how my food and exercise choices effect my weight.
This WOE is a huge change from my previous WONCWIEBUWMW (way of not caring
what I eat but upset with my weight)!!!

The other comment that I have is this. I want to encourage everyone in the
group. This WOE works, despite all the smack the media is throwing around.
I've never eaten so healthy in my life - GOOD FOOD. Now, almost zero
manufactured or prepared food. I used to take a Pepsid AC every day. On
LC, it's been months since I've had heartburn. I know there are a lot of
folks out there with a lot more to loose than I, but we all want the same
thing - to feel good about ourselves, and to be in control of our body. At
the end of the day, the numbers don't matter. It's the commitment to a new
lifestyle that will continue to IMPROVE OUR HEALTH for the rest of our life.
Enjoy the ride!

Blaker
196/175/170-175/9-27-03

Congratulations! And thanks for a great post.
--
Jean B.

This has been a very interesting journey, and it has surprised me how it has
gone. For me at least, my weight losses have rather looked like stairs, not a
straight line. I'll hover in a 4-5 range for a long time, and then "step" down
to a new range

This is normal as the areas previously occupied with fat are replaced with
water, which weighs more than fat. Then our bodies eventually eliminate the
water and 'Voila' a jump in weight loss.

In article .net,
says...
Goal!!! I reached the top of my goal range (170-175) for the first time
today. Boy does that feel good! It's been 20 years since I've been near my
"ideal" weight.

CONGRATULATIONS, Blaker!

--
Saffire
205/174/125
Atkins since 6/14/03
Progress photo: http://photos.yahoo.com/saffire333

"blaker" wrote:
Goal!!! I reached the top of my goal range (170-175) for the first
time
today.

Oh, very well done!


--
Lexin
www.redrosepress.co.uk
www.livejournal.com/~lexin
LC since 9 June 2003
(300/232/182)

Hi Roger,

Well, I obviously don't agree with those who might claim this WOE is not for
those with 20 lbs or less to lose! I'm curious though, what might be their
reasons for this position?

thanks,
Blaker

"Roger Zoul" wrote in message
...
blaker wrote:
:: Goal!!! I reached the top of my goal range (170-175) for the first
:: time today. Boy does that feel good! It's been 20 years since I've
:: been near my "ideal" weight.

[...]


:: Blaker
:: 196/175/170-175/9-27-03

Great! You've proven that LC does work for people who just need to lose
about 20 lbs (there are those here who would claim that this WOE is not
for
you????). All it takes is the desire to reach your good.

Good show!

blaker wrote:
:: Hi Roger,
::
:: Well, I obviously don't agree with those who might claim this WOE is
:: not for those with 20 lbs or less to lose! I'm curious though, what
:: might be their reasons for this position?
::

Their logic escapes me. Perhaps its because people with a lot of weight to
lose show every rapid weight loss at the beginning. Or perhaps they only
see benefits in LC for those that are insulin resistant or diabetic. Or,
maybe they think the changes in eating habits brought on by LC are just too
radical for those who only need to lose a relatively small amount of weight.
Who can say for sure (I can't)? However, I would remind them that many
people who never have weight problems in the first place had LCing become
popular long ago. Also, the benefits of LCing go beyond just weight loss.


:: thanks,
:: Blaker
::
:: "Roger Zoul" wrote in message
:: ...
::: blaker wrote:
::::: Goal!!! I reached the top of my goal range (170-175) for the
::::: first time today. Boy does that feel good! It's been 20 years
::::: since I've been near my "ideal" weight.
:::
::: [...]
:::
:::
::::: Blaker
::::: 196/175/170-175/9-27-03
:::
::: Great! You've proven that LC does work for people who just need to
::: lose about 20 lbs (there are those here who would claim that this
::: WOE is not for you????). All it takes is the desire to reach your
::: good.
:::
::: Good show!

I agree totally that LC WOE has many other benefits aside from losing
weight.

I think also, that many people think that there is a direct correlation with
how much overweight a person is, and how large their struggle with weight
is. This, I think is a misconception. I know people who are 50-100 pounds
overweight and haven't given any time or effort to dieting or exercise, and
don't spend a lot of time worrying about it. In my case, I've been varying
between 20-30 lbs overweight and really working hard to stay even at that
weight because it is very important to me. But, I was having little
success, despite all my exercise and trying to cut back. It was a major
concern of mine, and I've felt very helpless to deal with my weight for the
last 10 years, until I tried LC. Also, I think one could make the case,
that as you approach your goal weight the pounds get even more stubborn,
thus even more effective techniques such as LC and more time and patience
are necessary. LC is not radical, again, I'm continually impressed by how
much better my family is eating since we started this. Our vegetable and
whole grain intake has probably quadrupled, while all the prepared foods
high in sugar and chemicals has gone to zero! It has changed our
relationship with food forever.


"Roger Zoul" wrote in message
...
blaker wrote:
:: Hi Roger,
::
:: Well, I obviously don't agree with those who might claim this WOE is
:: not for those with 20 lbs or less to lose! I'm curious though, what
:: might be their reasons for this position?
::

Their logic escapes me. Perhaps its because people with a lot of weight to
lose show every rapid weight loss at the beginning. Or perhaps they only
see benefits in LC for those that are insulin resistant or diabetic. Or,
maybe they think the changes in eating habits brought on by LC are just
too
radical for those who only need to lose a relatively small amount of
weight.
Who can say for sure (I can't)? However, I would remind them that many
people who never have weight problems in the first place had LCing become
popular long ago. Also, the benefits of LCing go beyond just weight loss.


:: thanks,
:: Blaker
::
:: "Roger Zoul" wrote in message
:: ...
::: blaker wrote:
::::: Goal!!! I reached the top of my goal range (170-175) for the
::::: first time today. Boy does that feel good! It's been 20 years
::::: since I've been near my "ideal" weight.
:::
::: [...]
:::
:::
::::: Blaker
::::: 196/175/170-175/9-27-03
:::
::: Great! You've proven that LC does work for people who just need to
::: lose about 20 lbs (there are those here who would claim that this
::: WOE is not for you????). All it takes is the desire to reach your
::: good.
:::
::: Good show!