weight vs size

I am at a stage of fluctuation that is driving me nuts.  I don't know if i am fighting a loosing cause or what.  How do you come to grips with bounce back weight?

the smallest weight fluctuation is a change in size, and I LIKED the jeans I was wearing, now I need not one, but two sizes larger...I am only up 10 lbs. 

should I keep fighting this or just buy new stuff,...again?

I'm not there yet, but my plan is to fight.  I have gone through too much to let that 10 turn into 20 which is what I would be afraid of.
Best of luck to you.

I fluctuate 5 pounds any given day. I have 2 sizes that I wear in my closet. I think fight back back

The sad truth is that, for some people -- and depending on your body and the weight you want to be -- no matter how much you "fight", your body simply may not allow you to be the weight that you want to be. 

It is more likely that you CAN force it as long as your desired weight is reasonable, but a BIG part of the equation is how much you are willing to "fight" on a daily basis for the rest of your life in order to maintain (or TRY to maintain) a certain weight.  It becomes a question of quality of life versus weight/size.  At 4 years out, I am maintaining at about 5-7 pounds above my goal weight and about 9 pounds above my lowest weight (which was right after gallbladder surgery, so may have been artificially low).  I am limited in exercise because of my knees, but I probably COULD get back down to my goal weight by reducing my food intake, but would have to be EXTREMELY disciplined about what I eat and would have to track every morsel that I put in my mouth in order to be sure that I got enough protein while significantly restricting my calories. It simply is not worth it to me just to to be 5-10 pounds smaller.

It is about your overall health (both physical and psychological) and the overall quality of life... and BOTH of those things are about SO much mroe than the obsession with "the numbers".

Lora

I probably COULD get back down to my goal weight by reducing my food intake, but would have to be EXTREMELY disciplined about what I eat and would have to track every morsel that I put in my mouth in order to be sure that I got enough protein while significantly restricting my calories.

Lora, I totally relate to what you said above..... it really jumped out at me.  Yesterday, I was pondering this very thing.  I reached my goal weight of 140, then hit my low weight of 135 (looked gaunt and sickly), then gained 11 1/2 lbs up to 146 1/2 during my first shot at maintenance (actually looked good and healthy and not sickly at this weight).  I freaked out at the number on the scale, so I lowered my calories and struggled to get down to 139/140.  So, now the question is..... do I keep STRUGGLING to try to be 140-ish, or do I enjoy eating a little less strictly and be closer to 145 lbs (and actually LOOK better)?    The other issue is that about three weeks ago, I began having cravings for protein food, so I started eating more protein and consequently more calories.  I suspect it may have something to do with my ferritin being very low (will be starting iron infusions next week), so I guess my body wants protein/iron-rich foods.

So..... at the lower weight / lower caloric intake, I don't feel / look all that great.  At the higher weight / caloric intake, I feel / look better.   Yet, my lifelong scale obsession still pokes me on the shoulder and says "you should weigh 120 lbs" (even though I would look like death warmed over). 

I hope I can work through this and see things the way you do.  

I fight it. I normally eat around 2000 calories to maintain. When I start to eat too much and the scale goes up, I track every bite and limit my calories to 1300 (which is what many people here eat to maintain, so not a drastic cut) and it comes back off. 10 would snowball to 200 for me if I don'****ch it. And now that I just had plastics, I'm even more determined to stay at my goal weight.

Laura

thanks everyone!  I know I am going to fight, too true that 10 would quickly become 20, then in to time, 200!  Yikes!  That is one reality I am NOT willing to revisit!