trouble in paradise!

[Heidi3]

I have been at/below goal since March and let me tell you it is harder to be here than it was to loose! First of all it is lonely..many of my friends are still trying to loose in life and here on the boards ....second it is unrealistic to me to say I am fine anywhere in life let alone my weight being fine!!!...I am a type A hyperactive, over acheiving nutcase who loves to chase goals .... anyway I know it is all about seeing accepting yourself as you are blah blah blah ....but I need to gain a realistic perspective first and not see the short fat chick in the mirror anymore!...there is NO short fat chick in the mirror anymore!!! I am still short but not fat....(how come I still see the fat? )...oh well I do need a new personal goal besides letting my hair grow again!!! and just keeping the weight off is a daily battle but it does not take the place of the buzz of loosing the wt...I know this is common to feel this way and wonder if anyone has some tips or ideas for new personal goals ...I am not going to work out so forget that ...I ran and pumped iron for years (thankfully because my body snapped back) and I am sick to death of it ..I do get exercise by working on this house and working at my work and walking a lot and the outdoor stuff I love to do.... I am fit and have decent muscle tone... I just burned out on formal exercise ....any other tips for personal goals other than loosing wt or bulking up?

[BikerGoddess]

Re: trouble in paradise!

I'm a little the same way - have to have a goal or I just kinda drift along. Due to my upcoming move, my latest obsession is clearing the clutter from my life. It's hard work, both physically and mentally, but the results are very visible. But then I'm a packrat, so your results may vary.

I get the same sense of accomplishment looking at an area I've 'de-cluttered' as I did watching the numbers on the scale drop. Next up, I'm going to start studying for some computer certifications. I imagine I'll be working on relationship skills next, but I like to have goals that have clearly defined successes, and it's hard to put metrics on nebulous things like interpersonal skills.

I hope some guys pop in with their ideas, as most of them are very goal oriented as well and hit this same 'now what?' after losing the weight.

Laura

[Heidi3]

Re: trouble in paradise!

Thanks Laura...hmmmm giving up clutter now there is a thought...I am pretty much a space filler and maybe that would be be the best thing to stop feeling like I need to fill the spaces!!! what is wrong with space? NOTHING!!! ..I kind of like that

and yeah I am with you bring on the ideas please......

and I am going to seriously consider not filling anymore spaces!!!! inside my body and out!!!! LOLOL great idea!!!

[lbrowne]

Re: trouble in paradise!

Hi Nursey,

Maybe it's time to explore new hobbies or sports. Tennis, raquetball, hiking, photography, gardening, bicycling, backpacking, ???. Some may be more strenious than others, but anything to get you out of the same routine. Keep in mind the old adage "use it or lose it!" Muscle tone won't stick around on it's own.

Pick a great reward for yourself for when you've reached a certain goal with exercising. ie. Exercise x times each week every month until January and then reward yourself with a mid-winter getaway, if even for a fun weekend. Do the exercises whether you want to or not, but at least find a reward for doing them. Other than the obvious physical one.

For ideas on personal goals other than exercise, have you been keeping a journal? Maybe if you read back through it something will hit you. Is there anything you'd like to learn or do that you've never taken the time for?

~ Linda

[Kent]

Re: trouble in paradise!

As a brand new lifer, I had to immediately get a new goal to achieve. My goals are all over the board from family to work to health ones. For me, it comes down to I have to be achieving something (even something as mundane as reading a book) or I get in a big rut and funk. Sorry I can't be of more help rather than just say I know what you mean, and misery (and goalees) love company.

[Iapetus999]

Re: trouble in paradise!

Yup, ya need new goals. Maintainance is clearly the hardest stage...because it's interminable, there really aren't any rules, and your weight stays the same.
I signed up for a climb of Mount Rainier...and it's been highly motivating.
I've literally lost over 10 lbs since Dec. (and I'm not even trying)
I run 15+ mpw, and hike 5-10 hours on the weekend.
Even training for a small race like a 5K is a large time commitment and requires a lot of intermediary goals to achieve.
Training for Rainier has been a huge time commitment...and with less than a month left I don't think I'm ready yet...so I'm going to spend my vacation running & climbing every day.

[ttdriver]

Re: trouble in paradise!

I know where you're coming from. Its hard when you reach the maintenance stage and the woohoos of losing weight are no more.

For me, I made fitness my rest-of-my-life goal. I know you said you're burned out on exercise, but staying active is IMPERATIVE to keeping the weight off forever.

Surely there is something you enjoy that involves physical exercise!! JUST DO IT!

Betty

[Perry]

Re: trouble in paradise!

How about learning a new language?

[2big4mysize]

Re: trouble in paradise!

how about your book mobile in a poverty area you posted about earlier

[Lisa M]

Re: trouble in paradise!

How about something new, and out of the ordinary for ya? Hiking, hanggliding, parachuting...it's not impossible.

Enjoy who you are, and where you're at! You've done an amazing job!

[Heidi3]

Re: trouble in paradise!

Thanks you guys! wonderful ideas!!! I am considering the language one seriiously that or hot yoga!!!! I have always wanted to take a yoga class and I watched a friend recently in a Bikram class (sp?) where they crank the heat up in the room and you do all these poses and sweat like crazy!!! I maybe I am totally odd ...(ok yes I am odd in general )...but I love to be hot and sweatty... I ran for so many years I just burned out on it and walking intentionally does not seem to get me where I want to be fast enough!!!...Yoga seems to have a slowness to it that I feel would be good for this hyperactive crazy woman!
I also am going to see if my ed money will cover an advanced conversational Spanish class ..thanks Perry! ...my Spanish is pretty good but I need polish that is for sure...
I think the thing that makes this board so wonderful is that it gets you to step back and look at the entire picture ..sometimes the obvious is right in your face!!! and it seems no matter what is going on there is someone who will share iideas and empathize with you!!!!

I still have to think about the clutter ....and am going to make an empty place in my house and just not fill it!!!! OOOXXX

[Heidi3]

Re: trouble in paradise!

I am bumping this so my name is not under Flabbiness and Loose skin in the index!!! I have seen it there for several days and it is not funny anymore!!! LOLOL

[cmcole]

Re: trouble in paradise!

I hear you loud and clear.
It is so difficult not to have something like that to strive for any more.
I've had to find other things - like my military training, and since that ended abruptly because of injury - getting back in shape/condition so I could pick it up again.
However, in the past I've filled the gap with cross stitch, reading, computer classes (or anything else that spikes your interest).
Lately, I've been doing more running and resistance exercise (to overcome aforementioned injury), but at least it is filling the gap of non-losing.
I haven't lost, probably in more than a year, and it's a difficult road to travel, as the others have attested.
In fact, gaining muscle makes the scale go wonky, so I won't step on that dreaded mechanical monster, unless I happen to want to record weight and measurements in mybodycomp.com (and I haven't done that in months - because I am not sure I want to know what it says about weight gain, even if it is only two pounds).

If you're into running and statistics, track it at coolrunning.com. If not, find an alternative goal to stick in front of your nose, like the proverbial carrot on a stick.

We all (or at least the compulsive people like me) need goals, whether they be weight-oriented or otherwise. Keeps us going.

EDIT

*This Maintenance thread has been closed due to extended absence of owner. Please feel free to private message any compliments and/or comments to the original poster. If you are the owner and would like to revive your Maintenance thread please PM the forum mod or an Admin.