Weekly weigh-in: 199.3Loss: -0.0
Total loss: 92.2 lbs.
Emotion: Same old same old
For the first time in my forty-something week journey, I weigh the exact same this week as I did last week. What a kiss-your-sister feeling, and I don’t mean that in the sexy sister-kissing way you’re probably thinking.
Except I guess it’s a sensation I need to learn to love (the staying-the-same weight, not the sister-kissing… try to stay with me here!). If I’m going to maintain this ginormous weight loss, I suppose I’m going to have to embrace the idea of unexciting weigh-ins, start getting pumped about trifling gains and nano-losses.
I have always been extraordinarily passionate about losing this weight. It kept me gunning the engines furiously, made me want to jump up out of bed and attack each day with an XXL-sized cup of gusto.
Maintenance? If losing weight is like the thrill of bouncing a mountain bike down a bumpy trail, maintaining is like riding on the little couch on the merry-go-round. It’s about as much fun as a lecture on ontological empiricism.
Which is not to say that this maintenance business is easy or without peril. As a matter of fact, the middle of this past week, I somehow found myself guzzling beer on Beale Street before (and during) a college basketball game.
- Inside my head after one beer: “This lite beer isn’t half bad.”
- Inside my head after three beers: “This non-lite beer is more than twice as good as the lite stuff.”
- Inside my head after five beers: “Technically, French fries are a vegetable, I suppose.”
- Inside my head after eight beers: “Oh, what the hell…”
I guess the important thing to understand is that on this marathon we’re running, stumbling doesn’t have to lead to stopping, setbacks don’t have to turn into roadblocks. You can pick yourself up and push on, maybe even a little harder, a little more intensely. We may not have an "undo" button, but it's certainly within our power to minimize the damage. It might even be good for you in the long run... and the long run is what this deal is all about, after all.
So... no gain on a week like this? I'll drink to that!
i have no doubt that you'll knock this maintenance thing outta the ballpark!
ReplyDeleteEvery day is a game day when you think about it! Lite beer? why bother.
ReplyDeleteSecretia
A non gain is all good. After 40 weeks that's pretty good.
ReplyDeleteI like your beer bit. I'm like that with Jim beam.
Great perspective....such the game of life. Sometimes your not going to get the results you're looking for but you need to keep pushing forward.
ReplyDeleteMaintaining your motivation is going to be key to maintaining your weight loss. I, too, am concerned about how I am going to pull that off when the time comes. It would be so easy to slip into old sloppy habits.
ReplyDeleteI stayed the same often...and now go up a little and down a little while maintaining...its a different journey for sure.
ReplyDeleteNo gain is all good! Moving into maintenance does require a different mindset, but I know for you...it'll be a slam dunk!
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Jack!
I haven't had much weight loss for several months and I really don't need to lose more although I would like to get rid of those last 10 lbs. It is a rush to get rewarded by a lower number on the scale or smaller size clothes. I am finding that I am looking more toward fitness now and less toward that number on the scale. How high am I getting my heart rate, can I increase intensity? Mostly my reward these days is a star on the calendar indicating that I exerted myself for at least an hour. Nobody notices that I have lost weight any more either. I am just in this for myself and my health.
ReplyDeleteCelebrate the maintenance! With the beer & fries, that's actually an accomplishment. You'll have to stop losing eventually so consider this an early attempt at maintenance. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you managed a fun night out amazingly well. That is going to be your new challenge. Doing the right thing even if it doesn't mean a lower number on the scale.
ReplyDeleteKudos to you for NOT gaining and maintaining! I had 4 beers a few weeks ago and gained 4 pounds. Then I had two mixed vodka drinks last week and gained 3 lbs. Alcohol can really suck donkey balls. Not during when you're drinking, after, of course. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm proud of you for maintaining because you are right, there will be special events and you have to learn to adjust.
staying the same after 40 weeks is so OK!! I have to be careful, I also can have one beer turn into 10!!
ReplyDeleteI had 2 beers on my Birthday and mainly due to the fact that I can drink 5 more. lol I switched to wine and 2 glasses put me at my limit. I can barely walk if I drink them on an empty stomach. lol Maybe you need to switch it up? lol Good job on maintaining Jack! :)
ReplyDeleteExactly! You are the poster child for maintenance, my man. Being able to go out, have some beers and fries, and yet maintain your weight is what it's all about!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on not losing any weight while your sister gives lectures on ontological empiricism :)
ReplyDeleteI had to look up "ontological empiricism" and I'm still not sure I know what it is. So I guess I wouldn't enjoy a lecture on it. :)
ReplyDeleteMaintaining is a wonderful thing! Don't knock it! You have had an amazing journey, and now that you are "there," you need to enjoy the place you are. Unless where you are is at a lecture on ontological empiricism.
Hmm...planning ahead for special occasions is a must indeed.
ReplyDeleteHey, good job! No gain is awesome. Way to go rock star!
ReplyDeleteNow you need a new, exciting, stimulating hobby, eh? :)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait until I get to kiss your sister...er... maintenance that is.
ReplyDeleteSo...what is next for Jack anyway? I know that I'll never survive maintenance. I'll need another goal, e.g. look like a 30yo instead of 41.
ReplyDeleteI've already been at or near goal and maintained my way back to 260 because I just didn't have something I was more passionate about than food medicine.
I haven't picked my new goal yet, but I'm gonna get one and keep it going.
Maybe we should rename it from maintenance to prevention. I'd rather prevent a return than to maintain my loss.
You are a continued inspiration!
Light beer? Blech.
ReplyDeleteGo with vodka.
Way to maintain! Not super exciting, but at least you're at the point where you no longer have to worry about losing more weight.
Great message! I hope you enjoyed the beer....
ReplyDeleteI have no doubts that you'll be rocking maintenance with the same fortitude that you dropped the weight with. It'll be a pleasure to read about. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are nearing the end of your weight loss journey, but I am sure you will come up with a new satisfying journey - run across the country Forrest Gump style, maybe? You know all your legions of followers would be right behind you :)
ReplyDeleteyup,
ReplyDeleteIt's the non excitement of the whole maintenance thing that reminds me of the whole being fat part. You know, if you do it long enough it just becomes 'who you are' instead of 'what you're doing'.
At least, that's what i am hoping for...of course 'who you are' could start sneaking extra bites here and there...that's why the daily weigh is going to be very important for me.
so here's a little excitement for you.
YAHOOOOOO!!!!! JACK WEIGHS THE SAME, IN YO' FACE BEYOTCH!!!
I think maintaining a healthy weight is WAY sexier than losing weight! I have always SUCKED at maintaining....it is WAY harder for me than losing. I am an expert at losing and gaining.....just not at maintaining. Anyway...that is my .02. Anyone who is able to maintain a healthy weight is very compelling to me. So, don't worry about my readership going away when you are maintaining. I'm right here....in awe!
ReplyDeleteHi Jack. As we all know maintenance is about 100 times harder than losing. Because you work just as hard ... to stay the same. Maybe this is why I've been up and down the scale all my adult life. And yet I am a person who doesn't like change, so maintenance should be very attractive to me!
ReplyDeleteBearfriend xx
In a way, I would think maintenance would be harder than losing the weight. Like you said, losing the weight is kind of exciting, and I'm sure it's nice to see losses every week. And you're having something to work toward. But then when you get there, it's tricky to find a balance to where you're not losing since you don't need to any more, yet you're not gaining it all back. Good luck, Jack. It seems like you're doing well.
ReplyDeleteCheers, to a steady week, buddy.
ReplyDeleteWhat exactly is the "sexy kissing sister" way? lol Anyway, sound like you have a great outlook on the maintain...
ReplyDelete- Lisa
http://inweighovermyhead.blogspot.com/
Well, Mr. Sh*t, it seems that as of this morning you and I are down the exact same amount of weight! I am delighted and honoured to be in the same vacinity in any capacity of such a weight loss guru. ;) See... there's always a silver lining!
ReplyDeleteIt's been a long time since I was in those shoes, or at that weight. But, my mama told me to celebrate all weigh in that stay the same or go down. Because those are what we should feel good about. :)
ReplyDeleteahhh....Beale Street.......that brings back great memories!
ReplyDeleteTo tell you the truth, the maintenance part scares the sh*t out of me. I'll need you around when I get there. Hope you're planning on being here in a year...
ReplyDeleteThe day I hit my goal weight and I keep that same weight week after week.....THEN Ill know for sure that I have accomplished something!
ReplyDeleteI'll drink to that! ...hey, maintenance can be wild... ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat message Jack & so true!!! Plus, the closer we get to our goal weight, the more likely you may have those weeks where the weight is the same. BUT does not mean the inches do not change! :-) Good job on staying put & no gain!
ReplyDeleteNo gain is great! And the reasoning about the french fries... I don't even have to be drunk to do that! :)
ReplyDeleteJust popping over from LIB! Loved your post over there. Cracked me up!
ReplyDeleteMaintaining can be boring. I lost 45 pounds to get to my goal weight. I still work out 5 days a week though. And I just try to find happiness in getting to be in such a small pants size!
Your beer thoughts were me last night, but mine went like this:
ReplyDeleteAfter some champagne... how about a 64 calorie beer?
After the beer... I have been so good how about an oreo and wine
After a glass of wine... oooh those were good more oreos!
After 2 glasses of wine... oh my god did I just eat 10 oreos?????
Well, I didn't freak out and I spent a significant amount of time at the gym today and learned a few important lessons.
yep, the maintaining part is a whole different ballgame, but I somehow think you will suss it out Jack :-)
ReplyDeleteit's taken me a while and I still have wobbles every now and then!
Good job on not gaining!!! I am scared about the maintaining but I still have 30 pounds to go before I reevaluate at where I am and decide if I am good with the weight I chose or not. Try living in Germany right now were they consider beer part of every meal. I mean these people have a certain beer for when it is hot or when you are sick.
ReplyDeleteI'm of the same mind about being happy not to gain! Sometimes we need to PAUSE before we can get our intensity of losing back.
ReplyDeleteHey Jack,
ReplyDeleteI've heard that maintaining is WAY harder than losing - mostly because you don't get that pat on the back when you maintain week after week.
Maintaining is way less glamorous - which makes sense since it's a lot less exciting. No one seems to notice that thin people stay thin - but everyone gives kudos to those that are fat and lose it.
Now, before you think that I'm being sh!tty, just know that I'm on your side. And I know that you will be successful in maintaining - just as you have been with losing.
They both require a plan and motivation. They both require a postive mindset.
You will do great, I just know it.
It just might take some getting used to (the different pace, not the kissing your sister).
Good job on the maintaining!! I have often said, "They need to make a TV show out of me now that all I have to do is maintain... it's much harder!" Check my blog at www.weighdownsouth.com. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI wouldnt know anything about drinking beer ;-D
ReplyDeleteMe and jim beam have those conversations all the time. ;) I've gotten better at winning, but it's anyone's game. I've learned that giving in and having something SMALL (like a handful of pretzels) is ok - and helps me say no to the late night fast food or diner runs.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great job you are doing!! I hope sometime soon I can go back and read through your other posts! I am not sure how well I did this week b/c I bought a new scale. Went out with a friend so I did ok today. Tomorrow I will be perfect (hopefully).
ReplyDeleteOMG 40 weks....good grief man...I got to 4 weeks and NOTHING...a BIG FAT NOTHING LOSS even though I thought I did it all right...aggghhhh
ReplyDeleteKhris in Oz
I bet mainting is just as hard as trying to lose all that weight. It should still be planned and you should commit to the plan.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on all the weight loss Jack!