M & M, It Isn't What You Think.

Maintenance and Maintaining.
Thirteen weeks of maintenance and I have varied from my goal weight of 135 by only a few lbs one way or the other. I set a range of 135 to 140. I even got down to 133 for a few days. But have never went past 138.
I still track my food everyday. Try to stick with the food I list. If I vary off by much I will change what I ate that day.
I always stay at the low range of my calories. That way I am giving myself a little room for something unexpected or a few more bites of something.
Some have asked me ,"Why do you still track"? I do it to stay accountable. I know almost to the calorie what I am eating. I have been on this journey for over two years.
But in reading others people remarks on maintenance, it seems when they stopped tracking and got complainant they started to gain. I have no intention of that happening to me.
I find it no more of an chore to track my foods everyday than brush my teeth.
I like to see just what value I 'm getting that day out of my food. Sometimes I find that my sodium level is too high, I have a chance to change what I am eating before I eat the food and raise my sodium. Sodium is one nutrient I have trouble with. So many foods have salt in them. So regardless of my not using the salt shaker, I still find myself getting too much salt .
There is not much difference in what I do now to maintain than what I did when i was losing weight.
I still have a water bottle with me 24/7. It's so important to stay hydrated.
I don't weight myself as often. Used to be daily. Now it's every few days. If I see the scales stay at higher number for more than two days I address the issue , don't put it off. I cut some calories or watch very careful the sodium. Maybe workout a little more.
I do have a very sluggish metabolism, and the doctor has me on some pills to raise it.
I don't have a thyroid , and even though I take pills, once the thyroid is messed up it messes with the metabolism.
A member just asked me today ,"How do you stay motivated and not gain some of the weight back.?"
There are so many reasons, let me list a few.
1. I feel healthy, I look healthy, I am healthy.
2. No more high blood pressure.
3. No more C-Pac to sleep.
4. No more diabetes.
5. Don't have problem choking of food, from too much fat in my neck.
6. No more 65% lung function. With the fat gone I can breath at 100%.
7. I can climb stairs, ladders, hike, walk.
8. Can fasten my car seat belt.
9. When I fly I don't have to buy 2 seats. Or get a extension for my seat belt.
10. When I fly I can move up and down the aisle with out knocking into everybody.
11. I can use the small airplane restroom without getting stuck.
12. I can sit in booths.
13. I can sit any where in the theater.
14. I can sit in flimsy patio chairs. They don't break , or I don't get stuck in them.
15. I can hook my bra in the back.
16. I can tie my shoes or fasten my sandals.
17. I can clip and file my toe nails, give myself a pedicure.
18. I can look down and see my feet. Boobs & tummy don't get in the way.
19. I can easily take care of my personal hygiene.
20. Cleaning house is not a monumental chore any more.
21.I can lay on any side in the bed. Even my back. Turning over is easy.
22.I have energy to exercise and workout..
These are just some of the reasons I am so glad I lost weight and will do all I can to maintain my body at this weight.
But one of the biggest reasons is: I don't ever want to wear this size clothes again. This is a pair of brown linen capri pants and a tee top both in size 4X.
The last time I wore them was June 2010, to a dinner out with friends. I had already lost 60 some pounds, I used a belt to hold them in some. I was showing some of my friends how far I had come in six month.
Here is the difference in what I ware now.
The coral pants and top are a size 8.
I love clothes. I love to shop for clothes. I feel good in my clothes. Something I never felt in a size 1X,2X,3X, 4X, or 5X. No matter how hard I tried, when you are that big, it's hard to hide the fat. , You feel uncomfortable.
So if nothing more than my being vain and loving clothes keeps me at this weight, so be it.
I went shopping Wednesday at one of my favorite thrift stores. Looking for summer clothes. Filling in on a few items I needed.
I like the look of white linen pants, have three pairs. I also like to ware tank tops, but I don't want my arms to reveal the loose skin so I usually ware a light shirt or jacket over the top sometimes. It's cool here in Salem some evenings so you need something.
Here's one of my finds I put together.
I had the pants. yellow top, yellow thong wedges, my jewelry, I paired it with the royal blue blouse ,worn as a jacket. All these items but jewelry are from the thrift shops. The royal blue blouse cost me $3.50. When you add up the cost of he other clothes ,the whole outfit cost $21.00.
I am wearing a lot of yellow and blue this summer.
Here's another find.
Same white pants, yellow wedges, but royal blue top and yellow jacket shirt.
The shirt $6.00, blue tee $2.50.
I bought this black and white top, it fits at the bust and ties at the side. The cut is so flattering if you are a little fuller a the waist. Which I am.
I paired it with black pants but could also work with white. Did you notice I put my cute red wedge shoes with it. I love red shoes. It's just the pzazz you need to make a outfit sizzle. A flash of color. Black and white top cost $4.20.
I got a pair of ultra skinny jeans and this print top. Jeans $3.00 and top $1.80.
I like bright colors and I got these new, still have store tag, salmon colored jeans.
for $5.00. Shown with a yellow top, but I have lots of tops to ware with them, even some the same color.
I was almost ready to leave the store when I saw this brown top on the rack,. It's a nice knit with some silver detail at the neck. Looks nice with cream pants and my roman sandals. I bought them last year at the thrift shop.

These are the shoes shown with the outfits, all from the thrift stores.
Yellow flat thongs, I got for $1.50. The yellow wedge's paid $4.99.
Roman strap sandals, $4.99. The brown two strap sandal, $2.50.. The red Mary Jane wedge heel, costs. me $7.99. These are some very nice name brand shoes too , like Enzo Angiolini, Cole Haan,Bandolino, and Kelly & Katie.
My Wednesday shopping excursion cost me $24,21. I had a coupon for one free item if I bought 4. I ended up with 5 tops and 2 pants. Not bad for what I got. The salmon colored jeans regular price was $24.99. The only thing wrong with them, they were missing a button at the waist. I have already put a new one on.
Being able to buy fashionable clothes at these prices an put myself together with style it a dream come true.
At one time I didn't think I would ever ware anything smaller than a 5X. I had got so big and was starting to go on line to buy clothes. For not many stores carry larger than 4X.
But that was over two years ago, and I am not looking back, or going back.
It's live today ,plan for tomorrow and those days of obesity are just a memory.
More like a nightmare. But I got through it and came out stronger than before in more ways than one.
I have been home for a couple of days with some kind of virus.
Spending lots of time in bed, sleeping. I have managed to get out both days and walk with my little buddy, Titan. Today was the hardest, I was getting so dizzy and staggered a few times. if someone saw me, probably thought I was drunk.
I have been comming down with this for a week, I kept fighting it off, but finally it got too much for me to fight off. I will do all I can to get better as soon as I can. But I won't do more than I am capable of until I feel I am well. I am impatient, have to learn to slow down, somethings take their own sweet time.
Take care everyone, stay positive, believe in yourself.
Peace and Love,
Tisha

PS. I shopped at Value Villaage for these latest buys. Wedensday is 40% off senior's day. See, there are some benifits to being a senior. Smile!! Also bought a couple of items on the 1/2 price tag colored sale of the week. Without this % off I would have spent $48.93. So besides shopping at thrift stores, I choose to do my shopping when I get the best buy for my money. Yes, I am a very thrifty shopper.