Weigh-Ins, Responses & Contests... Oh my!!

This past week was... well... not that great. I'm currently fighting with bi-annual insomnia caused by my circadian rhythm disorder and slept through my meeting times on the 5th. But, I made a point to catch the Friday meeting on the 8th, so I wouldn't miss a week. (Dag-nab-it, I'm gonna make this current goal of 219 by May 18th!!) So, below are my weigh-ins from the last two weeks, my response to a very familiar-sounding post someone made on My Fitness Pal and a heads-up on a great contest currently happening on Friends For Weight Loss. Much more to come in the next few weeks! Until then... Stay strong and *never* give up!

WW Weigh-In for April 8th: 226.2 lbs

Weight Lost since Last Weigh In: +0.2 lbs

Total Weight Lost since May 2009: 36.0 lbs

Highest Weight: 262.2 (May 2009)
Lowest Weight: 222.2  (Apr 2011)
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WW Weigh-In for April 12th: 225.2 lbs

Weight Lost since Last Weigh In: -1.0 lbs

Total Weight Lost since May 2009: 37.0 lbs

Highest Weight: 262.2 (May 2009)
Lowest Weight: 222.2  (Apr 2011)

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(For the entire post and responses, click here: "Losing Motivation quickly")

Original post by member emd0019:

So......
I'm 11 lbs down which is amazing. I'm very pleased with the weight I have lost so far. However I am having a really hard time getting back into the groove of things. I used to go to the gym for an hour a day. Then I stopped going to the gym because of schoolwork and I just watched what I ate and stayed under 1200 calories. I took last weekend off because I had a bachelorette party on Friday, an all day rodeo on Saturday, and a NHL game on Sunday. So I didn't log my entire weekend and although I didn't eat horribly I know I ate more than I needed.
Well now it is Wednesday and I have logged Monday, Tuesday, and today but have been over every single day. My weigh day is supposed to be tomorrow but it will devastate me if I get on the scale and have even gained a pound. So I should I skip tomorrows weigh day? How can I regain motivation to get back to the gym and cut down on what I eat? I'm just lost because everyday I plan on being under and some temptation comes up and I eat it regardless of it I really wanted it or not.

Please help! 

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After reading the other members' responses, I was compelled to reply with the following:

Boy, do I know this situation! It's one I deal with on a regular basis (unfortunately) and it can be soooooo tough to bounce back from. But I can tell you that you *can* do it! It takes a lot of conscious effort to shift your thought process and "get back on the wagon", but a week like this (including the possible gain at your weigh in) can be useful to help not just motivate you, but to help you understand your triggers and eating behaviors better. Not easy lessons to learn sometimes.

First... don't worry about what others may say. During times like this, the last thing I ever wanted to hear was "If you want to lose weight, you can do it if you want to." That may be true, but it can only make you feel worse. Don't listen to those, at least not yet. Wait until you're in a more positive frame of mind, then take that in. Right now, you need to listen to yourself and cut yourself a break. You're not "bad", "wrong", or "a failure." You're a human trying to change their life. You will have difficulties. It's ok. As I was once told... "Progress, not perfection."

Next... your weigh in. Do it. Having those numbers (no matter what they are) gives you a way to track your progress. Remember, it's not the only way (tracking measurements, the way your clothes fit, how you're feeling overall are other ways). A body's weight fluctuates quite a bit for a number of reasons, so don't let that be your sole gauge of your progress. Let it guide you and help you set your goals for the future.

This is the time when you're gonna need to dig deep; find that spark of inner strength, remember your motivations for losing the weight in the first place, help yourself believe that it's not one moment in time that defines your weight loss journey, but everything you choose along the way that will ultimately determine your success. This one week is not your whole journey. It's only one small part of it with more left to be determined. You hold the power to make each choice. Pour your determination into making that next choice, no matter how small it may seem, a positive one. Just one to start. Don't worry about the rest for now. One moment at a time.

Know that you're not alone. The mere fact that you posted shows that you haven't given up. That's a great choice! You CAN do it!

I think it came out pretty well. :) 

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Now, onto the yummy part... the Chobani contest over at Friends For Weight Loss!!

It seems that the wonderful folks at Chobani are allowing the awesome folks at Friends For Weight Loss to give away an ENTIRE CASE of Chobani to one very lucky member!! How cool is that?! You will receive (should you win) one full case of a variety of Chobani flavors to tempt your tastebuds, enhance your recipes and just make your day a little yummier overall.

To access the contest, you will need to become a member of Friends For Weight Loss. It's free and one of the best 2 minute investments you can make! Not sure? After signing up for your membership (and entering the contest), look for the this recipe: 2pts+ Chocolate Chip Cookies. I made these (even used some of the Chobani I had in my fridge) and they are hands down the *BEST* 2pt+ cookie I have ever had! Full-sized, chewy, perfect! A must try for any of my WW friends out there. Heck, even if you're not on WW, make these!!

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...and on that delicious note, I am outta here. I need some sleep before working out again tomorrow morning. Day 3 for the week, so I'm pretty happy about it. Oh... one more piece of news. My hubby has *finally* agreed to start working out with me! Yay! It's a compromise (Monday and Friday mornings only), but I'll take it. Everyone has to start somewhere and this helps motivate me to get myself into the gym on two of my hardest-to-get-there days. This should help push my workouts to 5 days per week as I've been wanting to for some time now. I just hope he doesn't back out too often. I'll keep you posted!

Remember... hang in there... make your next choice a positive one... NEVER GIVE UP!
~H.