How do you balance?

I am at a pretty comfortable weight for myself right now. I have struggled to get here and am concerned that I should be eating more. My thyroid is fine, I feel fine and my nutritionist is aware of the amount of food I am eating and is not concerned.

I wonder if I would feel even better if I was slightly thinner (like maybe a lb or two.) so I am afraid to say that I am done losing for a bit. I am also afraid that if I stop trying to lose that I will gain. How do you decide when you are done losing?

Also, how do you balance being a "normal" person and enjoying food with trying to eat healthy and follow your diet plan I am really struggling with this already this summer. I dont want to gorge myself but I would love to be able to go and get Only 8 ice cream when I feel like it and not worry about what carbs I have to omit from my day to make that ice cream "ok." Does any of this make sense? I guess I am wondering when it becomes more important to you to enjoy food and life vs eating right?

Thanks girls!

Re: How do you balance?

I've been using myfitnesspal on my iphone for the past few weeks. I have to say that it really helps keep track of caloric intake, as well as nutrients. Its really helped me with decision making when it comes to food. You can use this program online too. I would like to lose a few pounds, but really I'm just working on toning and I'm definitely gaining some muscle weight. So I'm sort of maintaining. I find this program makes it easy to do that.

Re: How do you balance?

Are you my mind right now? I feel like I could have written that exact same post!

I'm in the middle of trying to find a balance. Two weeks ago I wanted to feel like a "normal" person- indulging a bit, going a little crazy and not writing down everything I ate. I ended up gaining 3.2 lbs that week. (I weigh in the same day/same time once a week).

The next week I measured and weighed all my food, wrote everything down. I lost 2lbs. However, I didn't allow myself those extra treats or that indulgence.

So this week, I decided to try a split between the two. Sat. morning I hate my regular healthy breakfast and lunch. When we went out to dinner I split an entree with my grandma (so I only had half). Yesterday I ate healthy all day and gave in and had a piece of cake because I wanted it. So I allowed myself to indulge- just a little.

Tonight DH made homemade sauce and these huge (and probably very high cal) meatballs. I can't wait to eat them. So knowing that I had a smaller lunch and plenty of protein to keep me full until we eat.

I've been trying to maintain my weight on WW for almost 3 years now. It's harder than losing weight. I'm really trying right now to find that balance. Beforehand, it was more of trying to just keep losing weight (even if it meant being under weight). Now my main focus is living a healthy lifestyle.

One of the hardest things is when people suggest we go out to lunch or something and i haven't factored that into my day! I either have to turn them down or eat and feel guilty. As it is, being small I can only consume so many calories a day (and you're much smaller than me so you probably eat less). AND if I gain even 3lbs I can see it so much easier.

We'll get there...someday. If you find a good answer for balance- please let me know!

Re: How do you balance?

Short answer is that I eat well probably 80% of the time, and have whatever I want the other 20%. I work out almost everyday, have a glass of wine and some chocolate pretty much daily. When a couple of pounds start creeping up, then I just make sure I'm extra "good" for a few days. But I will never deny myself something I want....life is way too short for that! As long as you eat well most of the time, that's fine. In other words, I don't worry about a dinner out, or a BBQ or ice cream, as long as you don't do it everyday, you're fine.

Re: How do you balance?

Re: How do you balance?

You can't sacrifice your life and your happiness for a pound or two. Think about if one pound really makes that much of a difference?

If you have to struggle to maintain a certain weight, perhaps its not the right weight for your body?

Its not easy to find balance, but I found a weight that I could maintain while still enjoying my life - its a few pounds more than my lowest weight, but I am much happier here.

Re: How do you balance?

Re: How do you balance?

Re: How do you balance?