I’ve been asked that by my doctor as well as my neighbor (who thought I already looked too thin bless her heart). I can’t actually tell you exactly where my optimum weight will end up being. I have a general idea but as we age things start to shift and what was a perfect weight for me 5 years ago might actually be too thin for me now (don’t roll your eyes it has absolutely happened to me!). That means each time you embark on a weight loss program of any sort you have to watch for your own personal body weight indicators. And for me that’s when my curves start to disappear.
Several years ago when I hurt my back I gained about 30 pounds. Once I was back and functioning I set out to lose that weight. I worked with a doctor and set a weight goal based on my BMI — and when I got there (a weight that was slightly higher than my prior ideal weight) I was not altogether pleased with how I looked. My chest had flattened out and my hips had all but disappeared. I had to face facts — I’m just happier with a little more meat on the bones.
It’s kind of funny because I monitor my weight very carefully and I try to balance my love of good (and by that I mean rich and caloric) food with my desire to eat healthy. When the scale tips too far in the wrong direction I’m pretty quick to get myself on a course correction diet. So I always marvel when people caution me not to lose too much weight. I mean you’re kidding – right? I don’t exactly look as though I’ve missed any meals.
But I’ve come to understand that weight loss can be a slippery slope and when tipped too far toward the loss side the health issues can be more substantial than you might think. Runaway weight loss is unquestionably something to worry about. I also appreciate the concern shown by those asking. Clearly they have my best interests at heart. Kind of like my friend Clarissa as I was nearing the end of my 30 pound weight loss. She and I met for lunch at a trendy eatery – she looked me up and down and said “How do you like your chest being smaller – ’cause it is?”
After taking a second to regain my composure (at that point I’d been feeling pretty good about how things were looking) I responded politely “I know and I’m actually happy about it”. She looked at me through narrowed slits. “No, really” I assured her “When my chest is too big I feel matronly and I hate that”. Being a small chested woman herself I’m not sure she was buying it — oh well — c’est la vie!
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i do not think i will not know when to stop, my problem is when to begin and stay the course.
Yes, I’ve definitely been there. It’s incredibly daunting. Surprisingly, once you really get going you start to get a little obsessive and can have trouble really understanding your own weight loss. You’re often surprised when people remark on the huge change – even though you’ve been tracking the loss and adjusting your clothing. Our minds are very strange things.
But feel free to contact me directly if you feel ready to start and need a little push. Different things work for different folks so what’s working for me might not cut it for you – but I know I talked to a few people before starting and it helped me get started AND stay the course. If I can help just let me know!
A few girls in the office will start Weight Watchers on Monday… which is great, but then next Saturday i am going on a cruise so there it goes!
I know. I lost about 25 lbs. between August and October of last year. Then, “the holidays” and a trip to Ireland – and I’m back up about 12. The one thing that keeps me going is that I’ve found a diet that works for me (fyi – it’s NutriSystem – but you have to find a way within their program that works for you – if you don’t it could be a crash and burn) and I use it to maintain and I’m getting ready to move into full time diet shut down. I’ll probably never be free of a diet “system” because I gain so fast. But I’m just so relieved that I have something I know will work for me and it really is livable. And, although I’d rather be 12 to 20 lbs lower I’m so much happier right where I am than I was at the top end of my weight gain.
give me some tips, i love sugar, hate animal products and would rather eat rice and beans.
I would say find a “program” that you can live with – it varies greatly for everyone and then give it a chance to kick in – don’t give up after 2 or 3 weeks – give it a good 5 to 6 weeks. A program like NutriSystem has “stuff” to assuage your sugar cravings (no it’s not Godiva chocolate but it’ll get you there). The key is to find out how the system works (how you can structure it to work for you) and not try to outsmart the system (which I’ve done to my own detriment). Once you find a system that is easy enough, rewarding enough and keeps you from starving and you start to see results – it all gets much easier. Good luck!
I am doing quite well on the weight watchers diet. Weight watchers has an online website called e-tools that has been an enormous help. I attend the meetings and weigh in weekly. The w w e-tools did warn me last time I put in my weight that I was loosing too fast and it was not healthy. I think I will know where to stop because most of my clothes are a size that I want to get back to wearing. Since I am going to be 62 next month I don’t want to replace my pounds for a wrinkles or looking haggard, or gaunt.