I don't know whether to be delighted or distressed ...

I'm on 'vacation' back home in the San Francisco Bay Area where food is fabulous. I've been enjoying some of the culinary delights available here and on top of that my son's girlfriend came over last night and made the most wonderful chicken enchiladas, spanish rice, etc... While I'm working hard to eat the right kinds of things, I've also been 'indulging' in a few favorites I just can't get when I'm back in NC.

At any rate, I stepped on the scale and I've lost more weight! I'm down to 139! There is a part of me that is delighted and amazed to weight 130 anything and another part of me that's distressed because I'm working on not losing anymore weight.

I would never have believed that I would be this weight ever!

Wow, Barb!  I know you have been really concerned about losing more weight and here you are feeling like you are indulging and...wow! 

I just noticed that you and I are the same height.  Back in my old modeling days (sigh), I weighed 125.  I was a voluptuous 36x26x36...which would never pass for modeling now!    But, that is my *magic number.*  I would be tickled to death to see that again, though I dare not hope. 

I think you look very nice in your most recent photos.  The upper 130's/lower 140's seem to suit you well.    Maybe you should start indulging a bit more and more until you see that the scale stops moving...experiment with what is going to work best for your body in regards to how much of what types of food?  I know that has to be scary coming from where you've come from.  And you know I wish I were having your problem right now instead of the polar opposite! 

Hi Shauna,

Thanks so much for your lovely compliments. My measurements now are not quite so lovely. I'm a 36.5 - 29.5 - 37.5 ...While others might not see it, there's a lot of extra skin around the middle and hips.

You are so right; it is really scary to keep adding back more and more foods ... even a few 'forbidden' foods. But, I guess that's just part of the process. Learning how to function in moderation. I think that from many of the postings I'd read, I thought that I'd have to have a much more restricted range of foods and caloric intake. I guess it's nice to know that this is not the case and I just need to learn what will work.

Thanks again for your support and I'll bet that you will be where I am in year or so.

Barb

Hi, Barb!  (waving all the way to California)

I'm glad I had the chance on Monday evening to know that you're trying to curb the weight loss, otherwise I probably wouldn't understand why you might feel distressed.  Most of us think, "Oh, gosh, what I wouldn't give to have THAT problem!"  And though I don't know for myself how scary it might feel to be losing weight even when you'd prefer to be stabilizing your weight and are eating stuff that you wouldn't think would lead to weight loss, I do hear what you're saying.

You've done such a good job gaining awareness about weight loss and practicing weight loss over the past many months.  You've overcome incredible challenges along the way.   Right now you're changing course a bit and learning how to maintain your weight, and it might take a few attempts to get that right.  None of us is really accustomed yet to the effects of all the increased energy we're experiencing, and maybe that is a factor in your weight loss? 

I'm not exactly a font of information about this, but what I *DO* know is that I get lots and lots of information from you about a variety of issues, and also that I value the fact that you often "think aloud" here on the OH boards when new issues arise.  I've read so many posts wherein you see a challenge, articulate it, organize your thoughts around it, and apply strategies to conquer the heck out of that challenge! 

I hope you won't feel like a guinea pig, but ......... I'm curious to know what you learn about this challenge of stopping the weight loss and what strategies you come up with to meet it.  And I'm also eager to hear from others who've already learned what it's like to have to stop their weight-loss process and concentrate on maintenance (or sometimes even on gaining weight).

(((Kim))),

You are always so sweet and supportive and I appreciate it more than I can express. I want to thank you. I'll let you know as I figure this part of the journey out.

Hugs,

Barb

Oh I know how you feel...I *thought* I had finally stabilized but no...again this week was another big drop - I'm now 128 as of this morning...And while yes at first I was excited to see a number in the 120's my next thought was "oh crap!"

Lately I've been reflecting on all of the changes in my life in the last year, and would have never believed I would be where I am (physically and otherwise) today a year ago. I do have to chuckle a little now when I get on the scale -- a year ago, I would never let my boyfriend see the scale because I didn't want him to know how MUCH I weighed, and now I don't want him to see how MUCH I've lost!

Hey Sarah,

Thanks so much for chiming in and letting me know that I'm not alone or crazy. I know that neither one of us could have imagined having this 'problem' a year ago. What an amazing difference a year makes!

Let me know if you come up with a "solution."

Stay well,

Barb

You're not weighing on the same scale you are used too........ wait until you get home, enjoy yourself. :)

Actually I weighed on it when I got here a couple of days ago and it matched my home scale, which is why I know that I have lost some.

As you say, I'm working on enjoying my time here.

Thanks,

Barb

Well Barb,

Congrats and I'm sorry.  :)  It is kind of a bummer that you've become so good at losing your body just doesn't want to stop!  But, you said yourself, you're eating different foods than you normally do.  And although they may not be "healthy" in typical WLS standards, you never know how your body is going to react to different foods.  So, enjoy the good stuff while you're there, and try not to stress about the scale too much (just keep an eye on it so it doesn't get out of hand one way or the other.)  Once you get home and back into your habits, maybe you'll balance out.

Enjoy your time there and have some of that great Mexican food for us!