Hello Just Joined

[DJK]

I just wanted to introduce myself and say hello. Looking foward to becominag an active PP fourm member. Have only been doing PP for 3 months with some success. I'm a little different and dont measure my progress by weight. Instead I use wasit size. I'm 6' 2" and when I started PP my waist was 45 inches. That was Feb 4 2006. I'm now at 40 inches (April 6th). My goal is 34 inches and by the look of things I should get there by August. No illusions, I feel the last few inches will be tough to get off.

Does anyone else look at a scale and cringe?. To me a scale is a constant reminder of a diet so I hit the thing with a slege hammer and tossed it in the garbage. I also excersie with weights and by walking. Anyway Hello again and I hope to here form all of you. I Have a lot of questions.

DJK

[SherryJ]

Hello yourself, DJK! ;) Welcome... ask all you want, that's what we're here for... :)

YES, the scale makes me cringe... which is why I go by how my clothes are fitting!

Sherry

[LisaS]

I've made friends with my scale by accepting it in all of its flakyness. I can weigh before and after a walk, before and after a shower, throughout the day in the same clothes, etc. and get wildly varied weights.

The upshot of this is, I don't get too upset or too thrilled if I see the number change from day to day or week to week (if weighing weekly) - it is all in the trend.

I have a 3-4 lb spread that I seem to fluctuate within - as long as the bounds of that spread are moving down - I'm cool.

[miralin]

Heh. I get on the scale when they make me at the doctor's office. You're not alone!

Welcome and congrats on the progress you've made so far!!

[Billie]

Welcome DJK, measuring is just fine and those nasty scales are not always a good thing to have around. What works for you works for you and that is all that is important! congratulations on your efforts, getting healthy is a huge task and this is a great place to find accountability and support.

[Belfrybat]

Welcome. I chuckled at your breaking up your scale -- way to go! I just purchased a new one yesterday and the dang thing weights me 5# more than my old one. Didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but this on is more in keeping with the doctor's scale. But I'm not scale dependent -- like you I measure and have seen the tape measure go in the down direction.

[Shadow]

Welcome, DJK :D! Congratulations on your success thus far! Whatever questions you may have, ask away - we're here to help however we can :).

[backpacker]

Welcome to the forums! You've already cut 5 inces off your waist - that's great!

I do have a scale, and I weigh myself every morning. Every so often I enter my weight in iCal (Apple's calendar software) so that I can watch for trends. I have a very accurate and consistent scale, which is important if you are going to weigh yourself.

However, I do not live and die by the scale. For me it's a specific reminder every morning to eat healthy. I like starting my day out this way. I'm not "on a diet". I have a way of eating and a way of life. I don't mind being reminded of the fact that I make a healthy decision every day.

[gitfiddle]

Welcome, DJK! I didn't join to lose weight but I did lose forty pounds. The plan was to bring my cholesterol down. That happened, too. The weight mentality tends to take over because the lipid check is every three months. I weigh now once in a while to make sure I'm not gaining. Still a long way to go. My scale is also highly unreliable. I have this lo-o-o-ong leather belt that I keep punching holes in, sort of like a progress marker.

Hey, backpacker! Nice to "see" you!

[je danse]

Started long ago. Had third child, was directed off plan by all sorts of factors. Gained 20# more. Bad idea of course. I'm glad to be here. I come here with heavy heart and a load of discouragement, on the other hand I mean to kick some derriere. May I ask a question here?
Is this why I gained even more weight than before?

http://www.menopausediet.com/obesitydiet.htm

Is it because I gave up low-carbing and the "diet" factor messed with my metabolism or it is simply because I ate too many carbs while pregnant? Many would have me believe I wrecked my body by losing 20# before pregnancy by doing PP-esque program. They have termed it and many other similar programs "fad" diets. I know all the stories and I'm very well read up on various plans, including this one. However, this article made me wonder why I seem to resist such a plan again in various ways after gaining back the weight when I quit for awhile.
I tend to think in "whys" and "hows" and that is why this is an issue with me. Any good advice would be well taken. Any great rebuttals for this article might help others too when they read this sort of thing in their travels and feel a bit confused by such info. It would tend to make people throw in the towel. I come here today wanting to pick up a new lease on life like a golden rifle at bootcamp. I need ammo.

[Gaelen]

Well, je danse, welcome. If you're in the perimenopause age, there are factors that can get inhibit losing...it can be done, but it is harder. There's also the 'second shot' phenomenon...it's harder to lose weight the second time.

As for the articles that say this isn't the way to go--there are 300+ people right here, and years of the Drs. Eades' research, saying 'think it through; this does work.' So welcome back, welcome in, and keep on track. It may be slow, but improving your health by eating healthier is the most important thing, regardless what speed the scale moves at. It's better than the alternative...;)

[gitfiddle]

I tend to think in "whys" and "hows"
Je danse, have you read the Protein Power book? I'm also a "why" person and that's why I love this program. Check this board out, especially the scientific section. Your discouragement will dissolve into hope.

[DJK]

Wow,

This is a great board. Just joined and already so many of you have welcomed me. Thanks for all the comments. I love the idea of new holes in your belt. So far I use the same belts as when i had a 45 inch waist. The extra out the belt loop is my constant reminder I'm progressing in
the right direction. Its funny, I wore a belt today I hadn't worn in a few months and needted to cut a new notch into it. That was the most fun I had at work in a long time.

Cheers,

[Shadow]

je danse - I think if there were any truth in that article, anyone who ever yo-yo dieted would have no hope and be obese until the end of their life. However, I am here to tell you that in my case, PP/PPLP worked - and that's after being anorexic and decades of bulemia. I'm not saying that every time I quit the most current diet du jour that I didn't gain back what I'd lost (or more), but I would think I'm not the only one who has had success on this plan when all other attempts have failed :). I think the biggest key here is that this is a WOL - not a diet.

[glendak]

Hi DJK
I'm new too. I prefer to check "measurements" instead of the scale too. {hmmmm i've seemed to have lost the measuring tape...LOL}
Glenda