just about ready to "throw in the towel"

Ok Gail, I'm convinced.  I'm going to start doing on-line tracking.  Thanks again.

Jennifer

What I have read and think is!! YOU NEED more calories!!!..Your body is going to hold on to everything because you have it in starvation mode. Like loverofcats says..Log your food and exercise and you will be shocked at how many calories you should be eating!,,I just started working out a cpl weeks ago and it scares me at the amount of calories I "should be" eating!

Hugs

Donna

Thanks Donna.  I'm going to start on-line tracking this week.

Jennifer

I agree with all the above posters.  Brandilynn, you are so refreshing and such a sane voice of reason.  I agree with her whole hardily.  I was right where you are several months back and I finally had to decide that I looked pretty damn good at 135 (I'm 5'2).  I settled into the weight and settled into maintenance.  I've been enjoying where I"m at.  I exercise a lot and have really increased the weight training.  I hired a personal trainer and I'm working on looking better and feeling better.  My weight fluctuates a couple pounds on any given day.  I try not to stress, knowing that if it's up, it will go back down.  I look at the trends over time and not the day to day fluctuations.  I would like to get to 125 but in all honestly, will it make that much of a difference?  Probably not.  I might drop a pant size, but I also might not.  All the weight could come off my deflated boobs.  Who knows.  I'm already in a size 6.  Would a size 4 change my life in any meaningful way?  Are people going to treat me differently because I dropped a pant size?  Will I get a better job?  Probably not.  Nothing will change except I will have to spend more money buying more clothes.  

Take a break.  Keep up with the exercise but eat more calories!  Enjoy life, enjoy those 5 little angels and stop stressing!!!

Also, here is a great article someone posted a few days back. 
http://primitivestimulus.com/2011/03/attention-scale-addicts/
Check it out and see if it doens't change your mind about that damn scale.

Good luck girly, you will be in my thoughts.

*squeeze*

I am glad you found a peaceful place and your good place to grow girlie.  Its easier to be willing to grow without pressure from me, for me. 

Muwah.

Heather, you are right in so many ways.  My therapist asked me if I would be happy once I got to 125.  I realize my true answer is no.  Thank you for responding.

Jennifer

Once you get down in the normal range, the scale is meaningless and more so if you work out!

The real questions are: How do your close fit? What's your body fat percentage today? (Compared to October)That's what matters.

If you are leaning out and putting on muscle, your number on the scale could be higher but your body will not only be the same size (or smaller). Not only that, you'll look SO much better.

And that what people see. Our scale weight isn't tattooed on your forehead, after all! 

Read this article and look at the side-by-side pictures at the end to see what I mean:

http://primitivestimulus.com/2011/06/attention-scale-addicts -part-2/

Hi there, Mac.  I read that article the day you posted it.  I enjoyed the blog and actually considered sending the guy an email.  I hope to have another body comp done soon.  I believe I've gained some muscle but honestly don't see any change in clothing.  The # on the scale wouldn't matter as much if I noticed a serious change in clothing.  KWIM?  Although, it seems as if my shoulders are broader.  Is that possible? 

Thanks for the help.

Jennifer

I just wanted to respond that yes, it is possible for your shoulders to get broader.  When we start to lift weights, in earnest, what happens is our shoulders will get broader so we might find our shirts tighter across the shoulders but our pant sizes should see a drop as we start burning the fat in our butts and thighs.  Anyway, hope this helps.

But, if you haven't seen any change in your clothing, that means you didn't put on 8.5 pounds of fat. Because 8.5 pounds of fat would make your clothes tight.

You probably did put on a little bit of fat but most of it was muscle, is my guess based on the clothes not changing.