Weigh-In: Maintaining, Mood Swings, and the Middle Phase No One Talks About
Maintaining, eating out all week, starting the gym… and not panicking about it
This morning I weighed in at 185.3.
And if I’m being honest… this whole morning felt chaotic from the second I opened my eyes.
I had 10 minutes to get ready, throw on makeup, and get out the door for a volleyball coaches meeting 45 minutes away… on a Saturday. Not exactly the slow, peaceful spring break ending I had in mind.
And that’s kind of the theme of this week.
The Scale This Week (and What It Actually Means)
I maintained.
But the story behind that number? A little messier.
I saw 184 earlier this week
I also saw 186 at one point
Yesterday was a heavy eating day
We ate out… a lot (spring break energy)
So honestly? The fact that I landed back at 185.3 feels like a win.
And this is where I need you to zoom out with me for a second.
Because this is exactly what the middle of this journey looks like.
Not linear.
Not perfect.
Not aesthetic.
Just real.
The Win You Might Miss If You’re Only Watching the Scale
I’ve officially been working out for four weeks straight.
That matters more than the number right now.
Even this week, when my routine was off, I still:
Went to the gym twice
Met with my trainer
Walked a ton
Stayed active all week
Old me? Would’ve done none of that on a break week.
So yeah… I’m maintaining on the scale.
But I’m building consistency in my life.
And that’s the trade I’m willing to make right now.
Let’s Talk About Something Random (But Important)
Cold sores.
I know… not glamorous. But real life.
I’ve had the worst breakout I’ve ever had this week, and after digging into it, something clicked:
When you start adding stress to your body (like working out consistently), cold sores can flare up.
Which makes sense for me because my triggers have always been:
Stress
Anxiety
Overwhelm
Even excitement
And right now? My body is adjusting to a whole new routine.
So I’m adding lysine daily and hoping that helps regulate things.
If this is you too… you’re not alone. And no, it’s not something to be embarrassed about.
The Truth About This Phase (That No One Wants to Say)
Here’s the part that might make people pause…
Being on a low dose for as long as possible is a win.
Losing slowly is a win.
Because at some point… you will hit your max dose.
And then what?
The plateaus don’t magically stop.
Your body adapts.
The food noise creeps back in.
So if your only strategy is “just dose up”… you’re going to hit a wall later.
This is the time to learn how to:
Sit with a little hunger
Make better choices without relying on zero food noise
Stay consistent even when it’s not exciting
That’s the real work.
What I’m Actually Focusing On Right Now
Not everything.
Just one thing.
Movement.
That’s it.
I’m not overhauling my food.
I’m not trying to be perfect.
I’m not doing a full reset.
I’m building a routine with the gym and letting that be enough for now.
Because every time I’ve tried to “fix everything at once”… I burn out.
And if you’re in a stall right now, I need you to hear this:
👉 You don’t need to change everything.
👉 You need to change one thing and stick to it.
Life Lately (Because This Matters Too)
This week wasn’t just about food and workouts.
We:
Looked at 8+ apartments
Put in our 60-day notice
Tried to make a huge life decision in one week
Celebrated my 5-year-old’s birthday
Lived fully in “out and about” mode
Of course my routine felt off.
Of course my eating wasn’t perfect.
Of course the scale didn’t drop.
That’s not failure. That’s life.
Where My Head Is Right Now
I’m not in maintenance… but I am maintaining.
And weirdly?
I’m okay with that.
I like my life right now.
I like how I feel.
I like where I’m at.
Could I push harder? Yes.
Do I want to right now? No.
And that’s the honest answer.
If You’re in the Middle Right Now…
This is your reminder:
You’re not doing it wrong.
You’re just in the part no one prepares you for.
The slow part.
The inconsistent part.
The “is this even working?” part.
And this is exactly where most people quit.
Not because it’s not working…
but because it’s not exciting anymore.
One Last Thing
If you’re in this phase and you’re like,
“Okay… but what do I actually do from here?”
I wrote a full breakdown of how I handle stalls, plateaus, and the urge to dose up inside my Middle Phase Playbook.
That’s where I go deeper into:
when to actually consider increasing your dose
what to try first
how to move forward without starting over
You can find it here:
Alright.
Remember; you’re doing better than you think. You’ve got this.
💛
Nyk