Worried that I'm failing myself...

If you want to lose the weight and know what you need to do to lose it, then just do it. It's as "simple" as that.

Now, of course I know it's more complicated than that because we have emotional issues to contend with, but the best advice I can give is to stop thinking/moping/fretting, and just do it - almost as if you are on autopilot. Don't think about it, just do it.

Losing weight is a matter of calories in/calories out. Keep track of your calories to find out how many you need to maintain and/or lose and go from there. Weight loss slows way down the further out we get. Just stick with your plan and it will come off.

Trust me, I can come up with 100 excuses to go off of my plan (and I often do!) but it gets me nowhere.

Good luck - I know you can reach your goals, everyone else here knows you can reach your goals, you just have to allow yourself to reach your goals.

I'm feeling much the same way. Up and down the same few pounds -and up enough this weekend (4 freaking pounds - just bloating I think, but still...) to bring me within 2 pounds of where I was in December too! SO annoying.

What works for me, (when it works - which isn't always), is to focus on process-type goals rather than the scale in terms of assessing my success. The scale is, I think, just going to move pretty slowly for the most part, and up and down an awful lot, so relying on it for positive reinforcement is not a winning strategy for me.

I am recommitting to some more structured exercise and to tracking food everyday, instead of intermittently, as has been my habit recently. I want to be concious about congratulating myself for the choices that are most likely to move me towards my goal - even if the goal seems elusive and may be months in the future.

Hang in there - this is a life-long process I think, so how you feel right now doesn't have to be how you feel or define yourself forever!

Very well said Margo. It is easy to get so focused on the scale and weight that we lose sight of everything else. Yes it is frustrating not being where we would like, I am not miminizing that however if that is where we place our sights I think we are selling ourselves short.
I think, like Margo says, we need to look beyond scales and pounds. We need to look at what we are doing right instead of focusing on what we are doing wrong. That does not we do not hold ourselves accountable, that does not mean not tracking our intake if that is what works. For me what it does mean is having a more loving and less judgmental view of my process and progress. It means looking at what is working and playing to my strengths rather than beating on what is not working and trying to force that change.
For me it means learning to be more at peace with myself, my process, my eating, my food and how that relationship is all interconnected.

Don't forget, when you look at your weight, you need to subtract off the pounds of excess skin that aren't coming off unless you get PS. Estimate about 10% of whatever you lost. So 10 lb. if you lost 100.

I get it,  I'm fighting with the same 3-4 lbs for months now :o(  oh well,  we will get there,  I try to focus on all the positive changes i have made and i feel and look so much better.   The numbers on the scale are not as important as how good i feel.  But like you i am still striving to get to goal.   I joined Cindy's sleeving and achieving and i look forward to getting to goal with everyone's support.   Its a lot different on the vsg main board these days,  don't know as many people on there as i used to.   This is a great forum.  Lets do this together  :o) Jeani

Snowbaby, I could have written your intro post myself, word for word.  I've been floating between 170-174 for SIX MONTHS now, and my initial goal is 160.  Sooooo close--I can eat normally (full, balanced diet) and maintain beautifully, but I'm not ready to maintain yet!  So yeah, I totally get where you're coming from.  We can get there!! 

Hi Stacy,

I'm glad you replied to my post. When I wrote it I got some great replies but you know what...I feel like I've slipped even deeper into "the abyss". I thought I'd get it together and get on track but for some reason my heart is just not into it right now. I hope this isn't the end of the line for me weight loss wise. I've still got a ways to go. I have always been a grazer and I feel like I have fallen into that habit again. I started to journal and see that I'm eating about 1200-1500 cals per day - I only seem to lose when I am in the 900 calorie range. That bums me out because 900 calories is not much - no room for the grazing I like to do! ;-) So its obvious to me that grazing is my worst enemy. I'm glad you're back on OH - we all really do need the support we get from each other! It used to be I'd be on here several times a day - in the last few weeks its dropped to just a few times a week. I gots to stop wallerin' in this misery and get on with it!

Hi Sue!

I'm sorry you are having a hard time - but please look at what you have accomplished so far and be good to yourself. especially if you are in misery, treat yourself kindly!

big hugs!

Thanks Jackie!