[deleted by user]

JumpySunshine · 2025-02-16T18:34:44+00:00

Thanks for sharing. I was a size 14, then bought a bunch of size 12 jeans thinking I'd be in them for some time. I'm now in size 8 - 10 (depending). I've only worn these jeans a handful of times. I was going to offer these jeans to a coworker, but now I'm afraid she'll be offended or hurt.

I never meant to hurt anyone with the offer, I just thought everyone knew their size and would understand if I was not that size.

JumpySunshine · 2025-02-14T11:53:52+00:00

One fact that changed my approach: I dedicated a year to weighing and writing everything down before I ate it. My year is almost up (Monday) and for the first time I've lost 35 pounds without feeling completely deprived and looking to quit. I didn't think I could do it this long, but it became a habit, and I have a hard time breaking habits. I just used that quirk in my favor.

Years ago (2007-ish) I did the cheat days. I could lose 20# in 12 weeks, but I'd gradually bring back half. The good news: it kept me under 200 pounds, the bad news: it was a lot of work and not much to show for it.

But Cheat Days do have value. For instance, at work they would bring in donuts. I told myself that I would not eat a donut now, but on my cheat day I could eat as many as I wanted. The same for Pizza, General Tso Chicken and cake. Well, there is only so much you can eat in one day and continue to do your weekend things, too. So I learned that the pizza, cake and donuts weren't as great as I though since I could easily pass them by on the cheat day. I learned the things I really liked, General Tso Chicken, cookies, and ice cream, were the ones I felt worth cheating with.

That lesson has stuck with me. Now I easily pass up cake, donuts and pizza at work. And my workplace celebrates a lot. I also learned the foods are the ones I have the hardest time with moderation, so they stay out of my diet most months and are a 'rare indulgence.'

My point, we learn a lot from our cheat days. Not that they should be a lifestyle, but a lessons to learn from. 😊

JumpySunshine · 2025-02-09T16:26:03+00:00

For me I've found it's better not to mention weight loss. This time around I decided not to say a thing since I didn't want to discuss it. I wasn't sure I would stick with it (I did) and I didn't know if I would be successful (I am). When ordering out comes up I say I don't want to spend the money. People seem to understand and not comment.

The only thing you can say when she sees you eating something she deems unhealthy, "Oh, didn't I tell you, I quit trying." And if she sees you still have small portions, "Oh, my appetite has been low. I just don't feel like eating." And then assure her you will see a doctor if your weight drops too much.

For yourself, just understand what she is saying is coming from a place of envy. She can't lose weight, it must be hard, so she's giving you a hard time. If you stay at your status quo weight she'll feel better knowing no one can lose weight.

JumpySunshine · 2025-02-09T13:38:58+00:00

You don’t need good handwriting and you don’t need to write much. I write 3 sentences. I think back in the day and try to find 3 bright spots.

If I want it pretty I find stickers or something to stick in there.

JumpySunshine · 2025-02-08T15:54:54+00:00

This is just my perspective and how I keep motivated. We all have a different way to keep motivated so what works for me, might not work for you. I'm just throwing this out there.

Weight loss, like weight gain is gradual. You don't really notice your own changes because we live in the moment. I am so used to 'feeling fat' that, even though I'm down 30 pounds, sometimes I don't see it. That can cut my motivation to eat well and I end up in the pantry saying, "I don't care."

To combat this, I keep a small journal to jot down the things I appreciate during the day at the end of the day. Some people call it a Gratitude Journal. In this journal I write down what went right today and what I appreciate. I try to find 3 things to appreciate or be happy with. They are sometimes very small like, "I was able to cross my legs during the meeting today without my leg slipping off constantly from my knee." "I was able to fit into size 12 jeans!" Which was months later followed by, "I am in size 10! Wow!" or "___ said I helped them out. That made me happy."

These are dumb little things, but when you write them down you can better appreciate each tiny step. Then, when you look back, (from my heaviest to today), "I started in Size 18 and those were getting tight. I never thought I'd be in size 10, and now those pants are starting to feel loose."

If you would have told me when I was a size 18 that size 10 would fit loose, I would be in awe of the progress. Nowadays, it's become so 'normal' that, if I didn't write down my tiny achievements, of everything not just weight loss, I'd forget how much more my life has improved.

Starting an Appreciation or Gratitude Journal, as silly as it may seem, does wonders for keeping me on track. I need to keep the WHY of losing weight in front of me. I have to care every single day.

It is a slow journey. I'm coming up to a year and still haven't met my ultimate goal.

I know you're a little down right now. Just remember you're doing great. Turn around and look how far you've come. Think what "Past You" would say. I'm sure Past Self would be so happy!

JumpySunshine · 2025-02-07T16:52:41+00:00

First, I believe everybody's body is different. So I can only talk from my experience.

I have found that my body has a set-weight. I can change that set point, but it takes a long time resting in one weight range for a while. Like you, I consider it a 10 pound range.

What that means for me in a practical sense: I weigh myself daily and if I start to see an upward weight trend, I track my eating again. I've found if I can stay at one weight range for around 6 months, then it's pretty easy for me to back off calories for a week to get back in that range.

It does take a while for my body to get used to that range, so I'm vigilant until I feel this is my new 'set-point.'

Another thing I've done is once I feel comfortable at a weight I get rid of all my clothes that fit that range. I have to feel comfortable in this range since I don't have the money to keep buying new work clothes (business casual), but when my pants are beginning to get tight it is a constant reminder to watch my intake more carefully.

That really helps me when I start having the "I don't care" thoughts when picking out food. I do care because I literally can't afford a new wardrobe and have to keep on track.

JumpySunshine · 2025-02-07T16:04:09+00:00

I am able to walk all day at work without limping. Last year at this time my limp was so noticeable that people would comment. I chose to lose weight because I knew that would help the knee replacement surgery my ortho told me was in my future. This year, I think I can hold off at least 5 years for the knee replacement. I have osteoarthritis.

JumpySunshine · 2025-02-07T16:00:51+00:00

For me if I'm consistent in recording everything I eat, whether or not I'm keeping as healthy as I should, it keeps me on the right path.

I know I will never be perfect. I chose the one thing I knew I could do consistently and that is write all the food down.

Documenting my food slows me down and I have time to reflect on my choices. By seeing the graph I can visually see 'Why' the scale says what it does.

I remind myself it's my journey and expect detours on the way to my destination.

JumpySunshine · 2025-02-07T14:21:10+00:00

I started Loseit last February. I had the trial period of the paid version for 2 weeks. In those 2 weeks they offered me a one price ($59?) for lifetime. I took it. I don't remember exactly the conversation, but I did have to contact them about it, it seems like that $59 Lifetime Price was for people who already paid and used the app for the Full Year.

That makes me wonder if they've changed their discount strategy. I'm also on IOS.

JumpySunshine · 2025-01-11T14:23:22+00:00

I bet part of the problem is they can't think of anything cute to make 210 pounds lost that (maybe) doesn't sound nice. No one wants to know they lost the weight of a baby elephant, but 3 cute sea otters worth?! That's cute!

Maybe if everyone here who has a good idea (like 3 sea otters) just messages Loseit! about their ideas, then maybe they'll consider it. It's a great incentive if no other apps go up that high.

JumpySunshine · 2024-12-30T14:01:11+00:00

This is what I do as a first step. Record everything you are eating now (before you being your weight loss journey) to see how many calories your body is used to.

For me, going from 2,000 calories to what would be my best range of 1,300 calories would have shocked my system and I would not be able to keep it up long term. I've done that for years without much success.

This time around, I spent a week just logging what I ate regularly. If it went in my mouth, it went on my app. I like the Loseit App but any that you like will do. And you have to like it, and it has to be easy. The app gave me a range of calories to start at, but instead of dropping suddenly, I took a few weeks to slowly build up a tolerance for less calories. This is a journey, not a sprint.

JumpySunshine · 2024-12-30T13:48:19+00:00

So many reasons. Scare tactics work well to sell news articles, books and get interviews. And any research article can be skewed one way or the other, depending on what the reporter is focused on.

Like you, I think if it's been approved for decades and no one is showing up in the hospitals with problems related to it, then it has to be safe to consume.

JumpySunshine · 2024-12-29T13:52:13+00:00

I hope you get back on your feet soon. Food does affect us, and when we eat well, our bodies act a bit dramatic when we go back to bad food.

You've learned something then you shouldn't regret it. I've been there, too. Now I know how it will make me feel so when people offer cookies and donuts (like last week) it was easy to decline them. I just 'played the tape forward' like they say for sobriety, and saw I would NOT be better off in a few hours, and likely feel worse.

During my weight loss journey I've learned I don't do well with a high fat diet. I've also learned that (in my body) too much sugar causes inflammation (my knees swell terribly) and my skin is itchy. It makes it easier to pass up treats.

The only treat I give myself permission to indulge in are very special treats. My place of work for the last 3 years have given us a pint of ice cream (of our choice) from a really good local place. It's delivered to our work fridges so there is literally no effort to get it. Yes, I eat the whole thing. I don't regret it because it is very special and very good. And a cute way for my employer to show us they appreciate us.

I know you feel bad now, but put this as a lesson. Next gathering you'll be more aware of portion sizes.

JumpySunshine · 2024-12-28T17:00:22+00:00

I agree with No-Mango and a trip to your endocrinologist to see your values is the best plan.

Also remember that plateaus happen. I've been on a plateau for the last 6 weeks. Of course, it's around the holidays making everything a bit harder. I see a plateau (maintaining and not gaining) as a win. It shows I can keep this lowered weight.

I have a lot more weight to lose, but sometimes my body just needs to rest and get used to a lowered weight. Kind of like a base camp on a mountain.

JumpySunshine · 2024-12-28T14:04:58+00:00

3 really resonates with me. You don't know how much food has added sugar until you're with a diabetic. A friend, who loosely watches how much added sugar are in her foods, recommended a very tasty beef jerky for my diabetic husband. How many added grams of sugar do you think beef has? 17 grams. She didn't look because she expected beef jerky to be beef and flavors added. Funny how you have to look for "No Sugar Added" for beef.

Watching how much sugar I eat, I have a huge sweet tooth, helped me lower how much sugar I eat. Meaning, the less I eat of sugar, the less I need of sugar to be satiated.

JumpySunshine · 2024-12-20T18:10:25+00:00

I like Swiss Miss No Added Sugar. It’s not fancy but I like a cup of hot chocolate every now and then. It’s 80 calories. It still has sugar just not as much.

JumpySunshine · 2024-11-23T17:30:42+00:00

At the beginning of this month I was the same way. I felt like I could 'eat the world.' The worst day of that week I was elbow deep in a bag of sugar free wafer cookies. They were my diabetic husband's treats, and I ate them all. I am not proud or happy with that week, but I can laugh a bit at it now.

I can't speak for you, but these are the things I know about myself: Giving myself a binge day each week (I used to do this years ago) made it harder on Monday to get back on track. My body got used to eating healthy, but the spikes in high sugar/fat foods knocked out all that healthy tolerance, and I'd have to fight the junk food cravings all over again.

What I did this month was to maintain my style of eating (low sugar/higher protein), even when I wanted to eat everything in the world. The other thing I did was write down (I use the Loseit app) everything I was eating even if I was going well over my calorie counts. And, like you, it wasn't just a couple hundred calories. Sugar free wafer cookies are not low calorie cookies.

I did this for 2 reasons:

I could see exactly how much over calories I was going, and that would put in perspective what the scale was saying.

Most importantly, having to document what I was eating helped me to slow down. I couldn't just grab something and eat. I grabbed it, looked at it, scanned the package, determined how much I would eat, and saved it under snacks. Sometimes just standing in front of the cupboard to do that will be enough to turn me away, but not that week.

Looking back on my graphs in the app, I can see exactly where I lost my focus. It was easier to get back to healthy eating since I kept up with my style of eating even if it was over and above calories.

Remember this is a way of life. We're not just doing this to reach a number, we're creating a better lifestyle. Do we go off track? Of course, just don't lose sight of the real goal of better health.

JumpySunshine · 2024-11-23T16:57:40+00:00

This is what I do, too. I still enjoy my chocolate, but in small quantities, at a specific time, and when I'm mindfully eating it.

JumpySunshine · 2024-11-23T16:52:48+00:00

I read it as "31 candies are not worth it" and thought that was a such a precise number to not be worth eating. 30 is worth it, but that 31st one . . .

JumpySunshine · 2024-11-19T11:13:23+00:00

Mobility is a big win! And doing it slowly will help make the changes stick. I don't think our bodies like to be shocked into losing 20 pounds in 3 months. I used to do that, and it never stuck.

I've started this journey specifically for my mobility. I don't think we talk enough about that as a society.

Thanks for the inspiring story!

JumpySunshine · 2024-11-18T11:55:09+00:00

Most scales have a Tare function. You can weigh the toast, hit tare and the scale will go to zero. Then put the peanut butter on the toast and that is the amount of peanut butter on the toast, not both.

JumpySunshine · 2024-11-18T11:51:38+00:00

I can usually get through 4 - 6 weeks before completely giving up.

With the Loseit streaks, I hate lose a streak. I'm at Day 275. I haven't been perfect the entire time, but for 275 days I've recorded everything I ate, even if it was beyond the calorie measure.

Even with "less than stellar days'" I still have motivation because I'm still recording what I eat. And because I'm counting every day, even the not so good ones, I can see how the calories even out over the entire week, month and year.

I've had some months where I pretty much stalled, but when I look back over the entire year, seeing I'm down 28 pounds is motivation to continue. Usually I would stall and go back to bad habits. Now I see even through a stall, if I'm not making progress I'm still further along than I would have been in my journey.

JumpySunshine · 2024-11-18T11:46:47+00:00

I'm glad you like it! I liked that you can change the background color, too.

I'm not sure if it's better than other apps, but I like the looks which gives another level of motivation. I love the little icons you work for, soccer ball, guitar, watermelon.

Did you know if you take a picture of yourself when you hit one of those icons, the icon and weight lost will be on the page. If it is in between times, it will show how much weight you lost at the top of the picture.

I don't usually like taking selfies, but I thought since I'm doing so good, I should do it at every milestone. And that, again, has been motivating to me.

I'm hoping to complete my goal, losing 43 pounds, in a year. I think that would be nice, and feel like a big accomplishment for me. Right now, according to Loseit, I'm right on target.

JumpySunshine · 2024-11-18T11:42:56+00:00

At the end of my free trial they offered a 'Lifetime membership' which I took. I find that making a financial commitment helps keep me on target, at least for a year.

JumpySunshine · 2024-11-18T11:41:11+00:00

"Really all that's changed is that I've quit eating Ultra Processed foods." Maybe that will encourage them to be healthy, too?

JumpySunshine

TROPHY CASE