Just Some Observations... Thought?

[coops 1,790]

Hello all!

Just a little background for those who don't know me... I was sleeved in July 2010 and I've lost 73lb so far. I am still fighting my way to goal but over the last 6mths I have watched the scale bounce around the same 5lb... not getting lower that 164 and not staying there either. Lowest is 165 as per my ticker. I think it is fair to say, that I am definately in a stall! Regardless of what I do my body doesn't want to release the last bit of fat left on me... and it around my middle... YUK!

I really have tried all the tricks under the sun, and I know there will be peeps thinking that if this is true I should be getting results. Well it is true. My cals are around 1000-1200 daily (90-95% of the time) sometimes a little lower and sometimes a little higher. I am still in calorie 'deficit' as on line calculators suggested my BMR is around 1600-1700 cals a day.

I still have great restriction and all in all I am in a very good place right now - this has taken me a long time to get to by the way!

So, I've been thinking a lot about my goal... whether to change it and call myself 'done' and move into maintance or whether to continue fighting the good fight. I do realise that there isn't that much fat left... in a perfect world I suppose I should be able to shift another 20lb or so but I am quickly realising that life isn't perfect! I am peri menopausal and have been for over a year. I am back on HRT and wondering if this is effecting the scale; hormones are one thing that I really can't work out.

On to my observations... and this is the bit that is confusing me.

A little back track - life before morbildy obese Coops was a healthy and fit one. At my 'best' I weighed between 140 - 147lbs and wore a UK 12-14 depending on cut and make. Not too shabby. I didn't 'look' my weight. I was really fit and exercised everyday without fail and loved it. I was a traditional pear shape and some tops a UK10 would fit me.

Ok, today I weigh 165 (20lbs heavier) and I wear the same size UK14 top and bottom, including jeans... I know it is the same as my wedding dress fits me now and I weighed 147lb on the day I got married 18yrs ago.

What's all that about... how does that even happen? 20lbs difference, same size, same person???

I know that our body changes shape as we get older... and I certainly an apple shape now. I also realise that I have a lot of muscle as I still train as hard as I can and vary what I do from walking my dog for 2.5 miles to boxing and bits inbetween.

My biggest wonder is this - as I sit in this weight stall, my body seems to be changing shape. Since Oct I have dropped a size! I 'seem' to be getting smaller (and loving that) but no change in weight. To me this seems weird. I am starting to think, that my body is taking another period of readjustment before it sheds more fat... like it has to get used to this weight to realise that it is ok and isn't going to starve or anything silly like that. Or is this just me and wishful thinking... as there are days (not weeks or months now) that I long to be at my 'goal weight'! I still feel the weight I am is too heavy?!

has anyone else thought along these lines? Experienced a similar story?

Ideas, opinions, thoughts are welcome...

Sorry it is soooo long!

[cookies 56]

Are you exercising?

Fat takes up waaay more room in the body than muscle.

[coops 1,790]

Cookies... that is a great picture... thank you! Doesn't it put things into perspective.

Yea, I've been exercising since 6weeks post op and I vary what I do. My main 'fix' is boxing. I mostly go twice a week to a womans' session where we shadow what the men do just lower reps/times. We start with skipping and floor work, then we go on the bags/pad and end with circuit training of some description. It is hard and I love it... been going for over a year now! i also walk a fair bit ranging from 2.5 miles to 4 miles. I do a kettle bell fat burn curcuit and I used to go to the gym where I would jog on the treadmill for 30-50 mins... I intend to start this up again in the near future - I've stopped due to working hours and my back/groin started giving me problems, so now, I do what I can around that but still get a good level of training done. Sometimes I have to take a break, but it is never longer than 10-14 days and then I still walk. I know I have a good amount of muscle - I can actually see it now under the fat! If there was less fat on my tummy I am sure I would have a six pack...lol!! My hubby regularly comments on the muscles in my calves and thighs... saying he wants them! I think my calf muscles are horrible and over defined but I suppose they are better than 'cankles'!

I've always loved exercising... and I still do! Even if I never lose another pound I won't stop doing my fitness!! =]