Head Games

yessir,  appreciate the spelling it out a bit more as I can be thick-headed at times. I also appreciate your continuing availability on the Board with your experience and success to lend a hand when and where needed.  Your advice is good and appreciated. 

Hey Joe (sounds like a song title from the '60s!), As has been said, I think we're all nuts, so that's neither here nor there. And you've gotten some excellent responses and advice already about change-ups and stuff. Here's my two-bits. I'm bouncing between 215 and 217 right now, down from a high of 345. Most of the time, I am happy, content, and grateful. But my target weight is 185 or less (160s ideally), so I can't quite feel settled. And I get impatient, frustrated, panicked, all the usual nut-case stuff. but when I step out of my self and look at things a little more objectively, I see that even in these slow months I am losing 3-4 lbs. But in an excruciating way. I hit a new low--one time--then bounce around 1/2 to 3lbs up for 10 or 12 days, then a teeny, tiny nudge down. Ugh . . . Could I speed this up? Probably by more, harder cardio (I already do okay with weights) and even fewer carbs. And I may even need a few more(!) calories, according to some calculations. So why don't I? Because I'm nuts--and tired. Literally. I'm tired of being "on a diet." Tired of being in a hurry. Tired of being afraid that I'm weak-willed. Tired of feeling guilty and apologetic. So I'm trying to alter my mindset as well as my bod. I know that this too shall shall pass--I will get into the 100s. And I'm trying to relax, not in the sense of returning to old habits and eating poorly, but in the sense of accepting the fact that my life and I really are different. I can just live one day at time, exercising reasonably, eating wisely, and trust that change will come (indeed, a consistent 3-4lbs a month is a miracle for me). I don't have to make this another job. It is a way of life that can be tweaked as suits me: bursts of high cardio, low cals followed by periods of less pressure. In other words, a more or less common, modern American way of life of trying to be healthy and watch our weight. It's okay to go slower--note, I did not say slowwwww. You've been flying down the scales, so look at the bigger picture. I'm not trying to trivialize your anxiety--I share it sometimes. I'm just suggesting that one of the things that's difficult for us can be learning to trust our surgeries, ourselves, and life itself. We've had long histories of failures, so we're conditioned to expect another one. But look at all you've done in a year. No chance you're finished!

Yo Doug.  Thanks for the insight and perspective.   You are trying to be realistic and logical. Why would I go that route? I crave technology and secret methodolgies from the far corners of the earth. Chemical solutions to manipulate the body and mind into our wildest fantasties of exuberance and health.  I can't do simple and rational.  It ain't ethical or moral,...is it??? Honestly,..I am hearing re-examine and re-evaluate; change the routine and diet, destroy the body complacency to jog the metabolic process abit, and stay the course,..it will happen. So I have taken the gun from my head, put away the funnel tip and tubing for vaccum cleaner, and returned to WalMart the Electrolux Liposuction for Dummies book.  I will super glue the flaps to tighter sections and hit the weights and crunches. Thanks for the time for the response and the support.  Its a great bunch of guys out here indeed.

Hi Joe,

Russ' idea about 800 calories and exercise is probably the best one. Anytime I've ever lost extensive weight, it's been on that type of extreme program. Sorry to hear about the hamstring. When I pulled mine I switched to non-running stuff like the stationary bike for about 10 days. Then it was fine.

Best Wishes,

Dave