Lacking motivation for that final push

In article said:

I am 5'5" and I started at 199 pounds in April of 2003. My weight
currently fluctuates between 148 and 152 pounds, for the last several
months. My goal is 130-135.

I am doing just fine sticking to low-carb foods, and I am doing just fine
working out on weight machines 3 times a week and doing some form of cardio
2 - 3 times a week. I am progressing nicely in strength and endurance, but
I am not losing any inches or pounds.

It seems pretty much the only thing I can do to get these last 15 or 20
pounds off would be to well, duh, eat less and exercise more.

I do periodically cut back on how much I eat, but after a week or two of
doing this and still seeing no loss, and having to live with being
constantly uncomfortably hungry, I go back to just eating how much I want.
I _don't_ pig out, and with the amount of exercise I do, 2000 calories
looks, on paper, to not be too much food, yet it is too much for me to
lose.

I am starting to think it would take rather extreme measures to get to
goal, and I honestly don't know if it's worth it.

I generally agree with your thinking.

I am in exactly the same boat, I am slightly slimmer than you (BMI 24,
yours is 25), and I am thinking of stopping my (very modest) weight
loss plans for this year and remaining at 172 (after losing 5 lbs in 6
months), instead of going down to 167. I am 5'11".

Too much hassle, too much drama, and basically not worth it, from a
health, comfort, or appearance standpoint. I will simply try to become
more muscular at the same weight, by cutting and bulking if necessary.

My suggestion to you would be to lose 5 lbs, to be firmly within
"normal" range (even though it is pretty arbitrary), and just hang on
to this weight until PERHAPS one day you decide to lose a bit more.

i

Luna said:

I am starting to think it would take rather extreme measures to get to
goal,

A PSMF is the usual most-extreme diet, unless you want to try a cyclic
cutting diet of some sort (UD2?). The question is...

Quoted message said:

and I honestly don't know if it's worth it.

Yup, extreme measures usually suck.

Quoted message said:

I could theoretically stick to a 1000 calorie a day diet, and devote
2 or more hours a day to working out, I do have the capability to be
that dedicated, I just don't know if I want to tap that capability.

You could cycle one week of extreme measures followed by 1-2 weeks of
"normal" eating. Scheduling some normalcy usually makes extreme
dieting easier to bear.

Quoted message said:

so I need something else to push from "looking pretty ok" to "damn
hot."

A bikini would probably do it. Oh, you meant a diet plan? ;-)

I guess calling you a girlyman wouldn't help.

--

Eat less, exercise more. -- MFW

--
"Luna" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am 5'5" and I started at 199 pounds in April of 2003. My weight
currently fluctuates between 148 and 152 pounds, for the last several
months. My goal is 130-135.

I am doing just fine sticking to low-carb foods, and I am doing just fine
working out on weight machines 3 times a week and doing some form of

cardio

Quoted message said:

2 - 3 times a week. I am progressing nicely in strength and endurance,

but

Quoted message said:

I am not losing any inches or pounds.

It seems pretty much the only thing I can do to get these last 15 or 20
pounds off would be to well, duh, eat less and exercise more.

I do periodically cut back on how much I eat, but after a week or two of
doing this and still seeing no loss, and having to live with being
constantly uncomfortably hungry, I go back to just eating how much I want.
I _don't_ pig out, and with the amount of exercise I do, 2000 calories
looks, on paper, to not be too much food, yet it is too much for me to
lose.

I am starting to think it would take rather extreme measures to get to
goal, and I honestly don't know if it's worth it. I could theoretically
stick to a 1000 calorie a day diet, and devote 2 or more hours a day to
working out, I do have the capability to be that dedicated, I just don't
know if I want to tap that capability. I am reasonably happy with the way
I look and feel now, but it niggles at me that this weight and BF% is

still

Quoted message said:

not healthy. It was relatively easy to get the motivation to go from "big
fat pig" to "looking pretty ok." I had a lot of fear and disgust at my
highest weight, but now that fear and disgust is gone, so I need something
else to push from "looking pretty ok" to "damn hot." Better health is such
a nebulous concept for me, it doesn't have the emotional draw of things
like being able to fit in normal clothes did in the beginning. _That_ was
something I could get excited about, and I'm trying to find something to
get excited about to lose these last pounds.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

Quoted message said:

Luna [email hidden]

Quoted message said:

I am 5'5" and I started at 199 pounds in April of 2003. My weight
currently fluctuates between 148 and 152 pounds, for the last several
months. My goal is 130-135.

I am doing just fine sticking to low-carb foods, and I am doing just fine
working out on weight machines 3 times a week and doing some form of cardio
2 - 3 times a week. I am progressing nicely in strength and endurance, but
I am not losing any inches or pounds.

So stay where you are. You're healthier (even if it's not a major motivator),
you look better, and you've worked hard at this. If you can maintain your
present weight, what's wrong with an intentional stall? If later on you decide
you want to lose more weight, you can do it then. There's no rule that says
you have to make this a single process. Perhaps with you, losing the first 50
pounds is one process, maintaining that is a second process, and losing another
15-20 pounds is an optional third process.

You seem to need a break. So if you can keep from regaining the lost weight,
take one.

Daria
166/under 145/under 145
sugar-free since 2/1/04
low-carb since 2/17/04

In article said:

Daria
166/under 145/under 145
sugar-free since 2/1/04
low-carb since 2/17/04

How is being sugar free working out for you?

i

In article <[email hidden]>,

JC Der Koenig said:

I guess calling you a girlyman wouldn't help.

--

Eat less, exercise more. -- MFW

Nah. Probably not, lol.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

In article <[email hidden]>,

(DG511) said:

Quoted message said:

Luna [email hidden]

Quoted message said:

I am 5'5" and I started at 199 pounds in April of 2003. My weight
currently fluctuates between 148 and 152 pounds, for the last several
months. My goal is 130-135.

I am doing just fine sticking to low-carb foods, and I am doing just fine
working out on weight machines 3 times a week and doing some form of cardio
2 - 3 times a week. I am progressing nicely in strength and endurance, but
I am not losing any inches or pounds.

So stay where you are. You're healthier (even if it's not a major
motivator),
you look better, and you've worked hard at this. If you can maintain your
present weight, what's wrong with an intentional stall? If later on you
decide
you want to lose more weight, you can do it then. There's no rule that says
you have to make this a single process. Perhaps with you, losing the first
50
pounds is one process, maintaining that is a second process, and losing
another
15-20 pounds is an optional third process.

You seem to need a break. So if you can keep from regaining the lost weight,
take one.

Daria
166/under 145/under 145
sugar-free since 2/1/04
low-carb since 2/17/04

Thanks. That makes a LOT of sense. Maintaining this weight is extremely
easy. I honestly don't even have to think about it. Even on occasions
when I do eat what I consider to be too much I still don't gain
significantly and my appetite seems to swing back to normal pretty quickly.
I guess I'd somehow gotten the notion that not continuously trying to lose
would be "giving up." But now this little lightbulb just went on in my
head and I'm like, hey, making a stop along the way is _not_ giving up,
because maintenance is an important process too. I can spend this time to
concentrate on refining my self-discipline, in both diet and exercise,
learning how to keep up the healthy habits without the reward of seeing the
number on the scale go down, because when and if I ever _do_ reach goal I
will have to do that for the rest of my life anyway.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

Quoted message said:

Ignoramus20054 [email hidden]

Quoted message said:

How is being sugar free working out for you?

Mostly it's not a problem. I'm averaging about 1 packet of Splenda daily, so I
don't feel I've developed an over-reliance on substitutes, either. I've had a
handful of cheat days, but I'd say I've stuck with it about 95 percent. And
the health benefits, as I perceive them, have been enormous. It feels like
I've dropped 10 years from my age, I have more energy, I'm less moody, my
balance is better, etc., etc. I'm not feeling any major urges to go back to my
old WOE.

Daria
166/under 145/under 145
sugar-free since 2/1/04
low-carb since 2/17/04

I am happy for you Daria.

My sister's name is also Daria.

i

In article said:

Quoted message said:

Ignoramus20054 [email hidden]

Quoted message said:

How is being sugar free working out for you?

Mostly it's not a problem. I'm averaging about 1 packet of Splenda daily, so I
don't feel I've developed an over-reliance on substitutes, either. I've had a
handful of cheat days, but I'd say I've stuck with it about 95 percent. And
the health benefits, as I perceive them, have been enormous. It feels like
I've dropped 10 years from my age, I have more energy, I'm less moody, my
balance is better, etc., etc. I'm not feeling any major urges to go back to my
old WOE.

Daria
166/under 145/under 145
sugar-free since 2/1/04
low-carb since 2/17/04

Luna said:

learning how to keep up the healthy habits without the reward of seeing the
number on the scale go down, because when and if I ever _do_ reach goal I
will have to do that for the rest of my life anyway.

Ah, like a mini dry run for reaching the goal.

"Luna" <[email hidden]> pí¹e v diskusním pøíspìvku
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am 5'5" and I started at 199 pounds in April of 2003. My weight
currently fluctuates between 148 and 152 pounds, for the last several
months. My goal is 130-135.

Well, Luna, I have started in September 2003, following basically the
same path I was able to deduct from you posts to adslc. (Not that I
would take you as biggest example of low-carb, it just happened that I
have not worried about counting carbs or calories, I have just cut out
the most carb source like sugar, pasta, potatoes and it worked for quite
a long time without further effort. I would call it the "Luna's diet:"
🙂).

I was quite succesfule lowering my BMI from 29 to 23 (I am at 188 lb /
6'2" now, was at 225 lbs before LC). Anyway, for last several months
(till May at least) my BMI has not changed. You are even more succesfull
in exercise program, I am not as succesful as that.

So perhaps this is the time to thank you. You was the great example to
follow 🙂

Quoted message said:

I am doing just fine sticking to low-carb foods, and I am doing just

fine

Quoted message said:

working out on weight machines 3 times a week and doing some form of

cardio

Quoted message said:

2 - 3 times a week. I am progressing nicely in strength and

endurance, but

Quoted message said:

I am not losing any inches or pounds.

Same here 🙂

Quoted message said:

It seems pretty much the only thing I can do to get these last 15 or

20

Quoted message said:

pounds off would be to well, duh, eat less and exercise more.

Same here.... I have reformulated my weight goal 3 times (200lbs,
190lbs, 180lbs) but I am afraid that last goal is out of my reach.

Quoted message said:

I do periodically cut back on how much I eat, but after a week or two

of

Quoted message said:

doing this and still seeing no loss, and having to live with being
constantly uncomfortably hungry, I go back to just eating how much I

want.

Quoted message said:

I _don't_ pig out, and with the amount of exercise I do, 2000 calories
looks, on paper, to not be too much food, yet it is too much for me to
lose.

Same here 🙂

Quoted message said:

I am starting to think it would take rather extreme measures to get to
goal, and I honestly don't know if it's worth it. I could

theoretically

Quoted message said:

stick to a 1000 calorie a day diet, and devote 2 or more hours a day

to

Quoted message said:

working out, I do have the capability to be that dedicated, I just

don't

Quoted message said:

know if I want to tap that capability. I am reasonably happy with the

way

Quoted message said:

I look and feel now, but it niggles at me that this weight and BF% is

still

Quoted message said:

not healthy. It was relatively easy to get the motivation to go from

"big

Quoted message said:

fat pig" to "looking pretty ok." I had a lot of fear and disgust at

my

Quoted message said:

highest weight, but now that fear and disgust is gone, so I need

something

Quoted message said:

else to push from "looking pretty ok" to "damn hot." Better health is

such

Well, I think you already came to "damn hot" category right now 🙂 The
main problem I am interested right now is not further weight loss, by
maintainance. I am afraid that without slight effort to get to another
weight goal I would gain everything back quite fast anyway. So there
does no seems to be no choice. Either we will stick with LC till the end
of our days or we will regain it all back. Maybe sticking with it will
resolve our last pounds over the years, OTOH quitting will lead to
regaing almost certainly 🙂

Mirek

"Ignoramus20054" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Luna said:

Quoted message said:

I am 5'5" and I started at 199 pounds in April of 2003. My weight
currently fluctuates between 148 and 152 pounds, for the last several
months. My goal is 130-135.

I am doing just fine sticking to low-carb foods, and I am doing just

fine

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

working out on weight machines 3 times a week and doing some form of

cardio

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

2 - 3 times a week. I am progressing nicely in strength and endurance,

but

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I am not losing any inches or pounds.

It seems pretty much the only thing I can do to get these last 15 or 20
pounds off would be to well, duh, eat less and exercise more.

I do periodically cut back on how much I eat, but after a week or two of
doing this and still seeing no loss, and having to live with being
constantly uncomfortably hungry, I go back to just eating how much I

want.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I _don't_ pig out, and with the amount of exercise I do, 2000 calories
looks, on paper, to not be too much food, yet it is too much for me to
lose.

I am starting to think it would take rather extreme measures to get to
goal, and I honestly don't know if it's worth it.

I generally agree with your thinking.

I am in exactly the same boat, I am slightly slimmer than you (BMI 24,
yours is 25), and I am thinking of stopping my (very modest) weight
loss plans for this year and remaining at 172 (after losing 5 lbs in 6
months), instead of going down to 167. I am 5'11".

Too much hassle, too much drama, and basically not worth it, from a
health, comfort, or appearance standpoint. I will simply try to become
more muscular at the same weight, by cutting and bulking if necessary.

My suggestion to you would be to lose 5 lbs, to be firmly within
"normal" range (even though it is pretty arbitrary), and just hang on
to this weight until PERHAPS one day you decide to lose a bit more.

i

This sounds like a good idea. Take a break and when you are ready to go for
the goal if you want, then kick in Induction and bump up the exercise. You
can do it if you work really hard. I never thought I would see 170's. I
have trouble saying it. I usually say 190's by a mistake.

Take you time and enjoy the journey.
Curt

Hi Luna,

I say go for the extra weight loss. One reason that most people fail at
weight loss is that they never quite make it to the breakthrough point. You
know the place that puts you in a whole new place. When you can wear
anything you want, not just the right cut, black, the jeans only if you
haven't put them in the dryer. It's not the first ten pounds that make the
biggest difference, it's the last ten. Go for the "hot" look. You won't
regret it. You will look and feel soooo good that you won't want to go back.
And besides, maintaining the hot look won't be that much more difficult than
the" almost look". It takes very few calories to maintain some extra fat.
See what it looks like to get where you really want to be. What a waste to
do all that work for" just okay". Don't stop now. Youv'e got the momentum
going so keep going. If you get to 135 and don't like it , you can always go
back, but for God's sake - just get there one time and see how it feels to
be your best!

Edith

Luna said:

Quoted message said:

I am 5'5" and I started at 199 pounds in April of 2003. My weight
currently fluctuates between 148 and 152 pounds, for the last several
months. My goal is 130-135.

I am doing just fine sticking to low-carb foods, and I am doing just
fine working out on weight machines 3 times a week and doing some
form of cardio 2 - 3 times a week. I am progressing nicely in
strength and endurance, but I am not losing any inches or pounds.

It seems pretty much the only thing I can do to get these last 15 or
20 pounds off would be to well, duh, eat less and exercise more.

I do periodically cut back on how much I eat, but after a week or
two of doing this and still seeing no loss, and having to live with
being constantly uncomfortably hungry, I go back to just eating how
much I want. I _don't_ pig out, and with the amount of exercise I
do, 2000 calories looks, on paper, to not be too much food, yet it
is too much for me to lose.

I am starting to think it would take rather extreme measures to get
to goal, and I honestly don't know if it's worth it. I could
theoretically stick to a 1000 calorie a day diet, and devote 2 or
more hours a day to working out, I do have the capability to be that
dedicated, I just don't know if I want to tap that capability. I am
reasonably happy with the way I look and feel now, but it niggles at
me that this weight and BF% is still not healthy. It was relatively
easy to get the motivation to go from "big fat pig" to "looking
pretty ok." I had a lot of fear and disgust at my highest weight,
but now that fear and disgust is gone, so I need something else to
push from "looking pretty ok" to "damn hot." Better health is such a
nebulous concept for me, it doesn't have the emotional draw of
things like being able to fit in normal clothes did in the
beginning. _That_ was something I could get excited about, and I'm
trying to find something to get excited about to lose these last
pounds.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3
flaws.

"Luna" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

(DG511) said:

Quoted message said:

Luna [email hidden]

Quoted message said:

I am 5'5" and I started at 199 pounds in April of 2003. My weight
currently fluctuates between 148 and 152 pounds, for the last several
months. My goal is 130-135.

I am doing just fine sticking to low-carb foods, and I am doing just

fine

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

working out on weight machines 3 times a week and doing some form of

cardio

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

2 - 3 times a week. I am progressing nicely in strength and endurance,

but

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I am not losing any inches or pounds.

So stay where you are. You're healthier (even if it's not a major
motivator),
you look better, and you've worked hard at this. If you can maintain

your

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

present weight, what's wrong with an intentional stall? If later on you
decide
you want to lose more weight, you can do it then. There's no rule that

says

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you have to make this a single process. Perhaps with you, losing the

first

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

50
pounds is one process, maintaining that is a second process, and losing
another
15-20 pounds is an optional third process.

You seem to need a break. So if you can keep from regaining the lost

weight,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

take one.

Daria
166/under 145/under 145
sugar-free since 2/1/04
low-carb since 2/17/04

Thanks. That makes a LOT of sense. Maintaining this weight is extremely
easy. I honestly don't even have to think about it. Even on occasions
when I do eat what I consider to be too much I still don't gain
significantly and my appetite seems to swing back to normal pretty

quickly.

Quoted message said:

I guess I'd somehow gotten the notion that not continuously trying to lose
would be "giving up." But now this little lightbulb just went on in my
head and I'm like, hey, making a stop along the way is _not_ giving up,
because maintenance is an important process too. I can spend this time to
concentrate on refining my self-discipline, in both diet and exercise,
learning how to keep up the healthy habits without the reward of seeing

the

Quoted message said:

number on the scale go down, because when and if I ever _do_ reach goal I
will have to do that for the rest of my life anyway.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

Michelle,

You have made great progress so far, and may be experiencing one of those
long term stalls. they do happen, and it seems you are doing everything
right to get to your goal. My suggestion to you is to keep doing what you
are doing, and give your body time to adjust to the new you. Our bodies
sometimes resist change when the change is rather extreme. Eventually your
body will say "hey, she's not trying to kill me or starve me here, so it is
OK to change." I know it sounds strange in a way, but look at the percentage
of your body weight you have lost. Eventually it will come around and you
will get to where you want to be. Like I said, you look great already, so
don't give up and lose what you've accomplished so far. It also doesn't make
sense to make yourself miserable by starving yourself or working out until
you hate that as well. You are enjoying the new you and your lifestyle, so
just stick with it.

Chris

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I guess calling you a girlyman wouldn't help.

--

Eat less, exercise more. -- MFW

I don't care who you are that was funny right there!
--

370/292/270
Single malt scotch is awesome (NO it does NOT have carbs as DON'T vodka,
gin, rum, bourbon, etc generally)
Malt can be made low carb through the judicious use of yeast.
Low carb beer? Uh...yeah.
Read the books.
You can have more than eggs for breakfast.
Yes calories do count.
Ketosticks are not neccessary to lose weight.

Email: Actually my feet are big not medium.

"Kevin Martin (Homebrewer)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I guess calling you a girlyman wouldn't help.

--

Eat less, exercise more. -- MFW

I don't care who you are that was funny right there!

I'm me.

HTH

Keep going. You didnt gain the weight overnight, so ofcourse it will take
time to lose it. In fact, the more gradual the loss, the easier and more
'natural' it is to maintain. You look really good right now btw.

"Luna" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am 5'5" and I started at 199 pounds in April of 2003. My weight
currently fluctuates between 148 and 152 pounds, for the last several
months. My goal is 130-135.

I am doing just fine sticking to low-carb foods, and I am doing just fine
working out on weight machines 3 times a week and doing some form of

cardio

Quoted message said:

2 - 3 times a week. I am progressing nicely in strength and endurance,

but

Quoted message said:

I am not losing any inches or pounds.

It seems pretty much the only thing I can do to get these last 15 or 20
pounds off would be to well, duh, eat less and exercise more.

I do periodically cut back on how much I eat, but after a week or two of
doing this and still seeing no loss, and having to live with being
constantly uncomfortably hungry, I go back to just eating how much I want.
I _don't_ pig out, and with the amount of exercise I do, 2000 calories
looks, on paper, to not be too much food, yet it is too much for me to
lose.

I am starting to think it would take rather extreme measures to get to
goal, and I honestly don't know if it's worth it. I could theoretically
stick to a 1000 calorie a day diet, and devote 2 or more hours a day to
working out, I do have the capability to be that dedicated, I just don't
know if I want to tap that capability. I am reasonably happy with the way
I look and feel now, but it niggles at me that this weight and BF% is

still

Quoted message said:

not healthy. It was relatively easy to get the motivation to go from "big
fat pig" to "looking pretty ok." I had a lot of fear and disgust at my
highest weight, but now that fear and disgust is gone, so I need something

Quoted message said:

else to push from "looking pretty ok" to "damn hot." Better health is such
a nebulous concept for me, it doesn't have the emotional draw of things
like being able to fit in normal clothes did in the beginning. _That_ was
something I could get excited about, and I'm trying to find something to
get excited about to lose these last pounds.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

Goals are for the increased enjoyment of life. Don't forget to enjoy life
along the path.

Edith - this advice is great! I'm sort of in the same spot as Luna, so I've
read these posts carefully. Your post below really pushes one of my
buttons - clothes. These last 20 lbs mean the difference between wearing
what I can, and wearing what I really want to wear.

I'm going for the "hot" look, baby. Let's do it, Luna!!
S t a c i

"Edith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi Luna,

I say go for the extra weight loss. One reason that most people fail at
weight loss is that they never quite make it to the breakthrough point.

You

Quoted message said:

know the place that puts you in a whole new place. When you can wear
anything you want, not just the right cut, black, the jeans only if you
haven't put them in the dryer. It's not the first ten pounds that make the
biggest difference, it's the last ten. Go for the "hot" look. You won't
regret it. You will look and feel soooo good that you won't want to go

back.

Quoted message said:

And besides, maintaining the hot look won't be that much more difficult

than

Quoted message said:

the" almost look". It takes very few calories to maintain some extra fat.
See what it looks like to get where you really want to be. What a waste to
do all that work for" just okay". Don't stop now. Youv'e got the momentum
going so keep going. If you get to 135 and don't like it , you can always

go

Quoted message said:

back, but for God's sake - just get there one time and see how it feels to
be your best!

Edith

Luna said:

Quoted message said:

I am 5'5" and I started at 199 pounds in April of 2003. My weight
currently fluctuates between 148 and 152 pounds, for the last several
months. My goal is 130-135.

I am doing just fine sticking to low-carb foods, and I am doing just
fine working out on weight machines 3 times a week and doing some
form of cardio 2 - 3 times a week. I am progressing nicely in
strength and endurance, but I am not losing any inches or pounds.

It seems pretty much the only thing I can do to get these last 15 or
20 pounds off would be to well, duh, eat less and exercise more.

I do periodically cut back on how much I eat, but after a week or
two of doing this and still seeing no loss, and having to live with
being constantly uncomfortably hungry, I go back to just eating how
much I want. I _don't_ pig out, and with the amount of exercise I
do, 2000 calories looks, on paper, to not be too much food, yet it
is too much for me to lose.

I am starting to think it would take rather extreme measures to get
to goal, and I honestly don't know if it's worth it. I could
theoretically stick to a 1000 calorie a day diet, and devote 2 or
more hours a day to working out, I do have the capability to be that
dedicated, I just don't know if I want to tap that capability. I am
reasonably happy with the way I look and feel now, but it niggles at
me that this weight and BF% is still not healthy. It was relatively
easy to get the motivation to go from "big fat pig" to "looking
pretty ok." I had a lot of fear and disgust at my highest weight,
but now that fear and disgust is gone, so I need something else to
push from "looking pretty ok" to "damn hot." Better health is such a
nebulous concept for me, it doesn't have the emotional draw of
things like being able to fit in normal clothes did in the
beginning. _That_ was something I could get excited about, and I'm
trying to find something to get excited about to lose these last
pounds.

--
Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3
flaws.