20 to loose ???

[Maryanne]

Hey guys, they say the last 20 to loose are the hardest, and im starting to believe that!!! All this hard work and still no victory in sight because the mountain seems steeper every day. confucious says
so i was wondering if there were any of us who just had about 20 lbs to loose??? I really hope im not the minority here.

[Evrrdy]

No, I'm right there with you, and have been since sometime in December.. the weight goes away one week, and then comes back the next.. I'm still trying to find the secret to losing those last 10-20 lbs.. *I want 115, and I'm currently bouncing around 126**...

So, yeah, from what I'm seeing and experiencing.. it is the hardest part.. but ya know, I think we need to take other factors into our thought processes.. like muscle mass. bone structure, bone density,, even amount of cleavage, might have an impact,, as I"ve never been accused of being "flat chested".. lol.. and at one time, I was told by a reconstructive surgeon that breast tissue weighed approximately 1/2 pound per cup size!!! So, if that's true, then I have about 20lbs, just in chest!!!! bwahahahahaha

Anyways, I think we just need to keep plugging away and as long as we ain't gaining.. then there ain't no worries,, it will happen.. hopefully.. sooner or later..

[Maryanne]

i DONT know about my willpower any more.
I was 126 aiming for 115/110-ish too but i'm back up to 135 and i'm starting to get mad at myself.
It's like i lost weight and i got a lot of compliments but somewhere along those lines i got slack and i lost momentum and initiative. I dont know where it went and why i cant get my sh*t together. Thats why i feel very stressed about my weight right now.
Honestly i suck at dieting right now, i dont know why either. Grrrrrrrrrrrr.
I'm praying to the bikini gods right now, please please please have mercy on a lost soul with a sweet tooth.

[PattyC]

I'm in the same weight range and goal as you, Maryanne. Everyone on this board is inpirational, and I can't seem to get past just a few pounds. I'd weigh in on Friday, blow it on the weekend, then spend the week getting back down to the weigh-in weight again.

I just don't seem to have the willpower to stick with anything strict. I do think that this woe has helped me maintain a lower weight than my body was "settling in at" without doing anything. But I just can't seem to break this plateau. I know it's mental, when I well I get the "low", but then bounce back up.

[Evrrdy]

Oh, that's right,, I remember now... You went off the diet for awhile and came back.. I had forgotten about that,, you can slap me now. lol...

Anyways,, I truly do know what you mean and how you feel.. I've been in the same mentality for years. Did the same thing.. lose the weight, then stop then gain back and then not be able to find my motivation.. well, that's how it was before Atkins anyways.. Now, frankly I'm scared out of my wits to quit eating this way. I see bread and a picture of 20lbs on my hips comes violently flashing through my mind.. a solid years worth of hard work all washed down with a glass of coke or something. lol.. so, luckily that has kept me on track..

Marryanne, you and I both know that the power is inside of us and nothing anybody says will work until we decide it is right and the right time.. You have a lot going on right now,, new job and all... I've seen you say things that lead me to believe the insecurities and self ridicule are both high,, which always reminds me of myself.. validation comes from how we feel around other people.. In both of our situations we are surrounded by tiny little people that are 10+ years younger than us, and we think we need to compete.. Yeah, they are cute and yeah they are perky.... BUT neither of us are that bad either.. Honestly, you aren't really that heavy or that much overweight.. If 135 is your "sticking point" then there isn't too much to worry about..

You know you can do this.. and maybe that is part of the problem.. knowing you've done it before, my give you an excuse to lay off for a while.. thinking that, well, sooner or later I'll just go back to it and loose the weight,,, but it's not that easy.. we both know that.. Figure out what the biggest weaknesses are,, and then get rid of them... Re-read the book.. or atleast the induction chapter. If you can't do this hardcore, then try doing it gradually... I'm more of a "all or none" kind of person, but others need to eliminate things gradually.. try to find out which works best for you. Most of all,, don't give up... not "don't give up on the diet".. but don't give up on yourself and your ability.. You know you can do this.

[Maryanne]

Okay, Monday i will be on my best behavior, hopefully it can last longer than one week.