Healthy Weight Loss

[*Anya*]

I was a chubby kid at least my dad used to tell me so. He would walk by and say: "hold in your stomach muscles" (he is a retired Marine) and I was under 10 years old when he did this. By the time I was a teen, I severely restricted my eating and stayed around 110-I am just under 5'4. Hard though. Did ok through 2 babies, went to WW 2 lose baby weight-but gained weight during my relationship.

I have always, always felt that I was never thin enough, even when thin! Fucked up body image!! I did however get fat, honest-to-god fat during my relationship. She liked it because when I was not thin and cute I had no self-confidence. I always avoided sweets before her because they are a big trigger for me-so she would bring me sweets-sabotage much?

So sorry for this but I am working to get my head on straight again. 2.5 years ago, I got a grip. Stopped eating any sweets at all and staying around 1500 cals/day, lost 50 lbs. Bear in mind- it took me two years to lose those 50 pounds and I still needed to losed another 10-15 but my goal was so close, I could almost reach out and touch it.

Then, 6-8 months ago, I started having painful arthritis in my knees, couldn't climb the 7-flights up and down @ work that helped me lose weight. Broke down and bought those little Skinny Cows ice cream cups "one won't hurt you" & that was all it took.

Stopped weighing myself each morning (helps me to not use denial) & ate lots of Skinny Cow ice cream. Finally weighed myself last week & boom-gained 15 pounds! So there I am, instead of closer to my goal-farther away.

My new mantra whenever I get discouraged: you did it before, you will do it again, you have control! No more sweets in my house. It takes me 5-6 days off of anything with sugar to stop craving it and it doesn't matter to me if it is a psychological craving or physical-I crave sweets when I eat them, non-the-less. No more sourdough bread or butter either in the house. I have to stick with protein-that works for me. Keeps me full and not hungry.

The exercise is the issue for me. It is harder to lose without bring able to walk far or to do stairs. I have to figure that part out.

I just needed to say outloud (in cyberspace), I am Anya and I have gotten a grip once again.

Again, I hope it is ok I posted this here.

[sylvie]

Originally Posted by Anya/Georgia

My new mantra whenever I get discouraged: you did it before, you will do it again, you have control! No more sweets in my house. It takes me 5-6 days off of anything with sugar to stop craving it and it doesn't matter to me if it is a psychological craving or physical-I crave sweets when I eat them, non-the-less. No more sourdough bread or butter either in the house. I have to stick with protein-that works for me. Keeps me full and not hungry.

This has been something rather difficult for me these days.. i am doing really well with eating healthy etc and not buying foods and bringing them in this house that i cant eat, and ive talked to my children about this.. But, often i come home and find them eating junkfood from the store, or takeout or buying something sweet and yummy that i suddenly start craving and its SO hard.. i know that home should be the safe zone, its hard to make my children understand this though..(they're teenagers and supportive of my weight loss journey).. i'm begging them to understand even, i get so close to breaking down and devouring the chips and sodapop or whatever theyre eating - at the same time i really want to get used to seeing people eat things and my having the strength to tell myself no... They are healthy food eaters themselves, who crave junkfood from time to time, i hate to deny them that, i just need them to understand that me seeing it is difficult.. So eat it when im not home and dispose of the garbage, or eat it elsewhere or go eat out someplace rather than bringing it home or sneak it passed me and eat in your bedroom with the door shut so i dont have to see it.. ANYthing, just to help me a lil...

So even if im not bringing the no no foods in the house, it sometimes still finds it's way in.. it's a struggle, a very hard struggle even.. it's simple, i see food, i crave food, i want the darn food... then i get all emotional and it's crazy how emotionally attached to my food i am, it's been my peace of mind for years...it's hard retraining my whole thought process.. So far i've been successful, but hell everyday is a struggle of some sort.. i hope it gets easier !

[PinkieLee]

WELCOME Anya... you've definitely found the right place!

Like you, many of us have been on the constant yo-yo of weight gain/loss. I can't even begin to tell you how many fad diets I've tried (the cabbage soup diet, grapefruit diet, B12/HCG shots, not to mention starvation). Yep, I lost the weight quick... but it never failed that I would gain the weight back, plus another 15 pounds every. single. time!

So many daily life situations are centered around food. Oh I've had a bad day, let's go out to eat. Oh I've had a great day, let's go out to eat. I can't tell you how many times I'ld be eating lunch with friends and someone say, "what do y'all wanna do for dinner tonight?" OH MY GOD... my food hasn't even settled yet and we are already talking about what we are gonna eat next.

This time I wanted to try something else. I wanted to change my entire way of thinking & relating to food. Every inch of my body was hurting... so I knew that I had to change my entire lifestyle. Smartier, healthier choices & focusing on ME... that's what I knew had to do!

We've found amazing motivation (and accountablity) here by encouraging one another along on this journey! So welcome.... and good luck to you!

[PinkieLee]

Oh I totally here y'all about temptations in the house! D has done really well about helping me keep focus while we are at home. I try to keep healthy snacks at all times (WW ice cream, fruit, string cheese, fat free pudding, & popcorn). If we are watching tv... I wanna snack. At least with popcorn, I can eat a big ol' bowl and not have to feel guilty about it.

BUT, when we are both at work, is when D eats all the crappy stuff that I love. I swear that woman will eat mexican food 5 times a week! Maybe she does it then, so I don't lose focus... and I love her for that. I own my shit... but looking back, it was so easy for me to let her food choices influence mine.

But I know that she didn't do this to me... I DID! Perhaps every relationship I've ever had, I dated enablers. But now I'm taking control back over my own life! I have to lose weight... I have no other option!

[PinkieLee]

Oh I almost forgot... today was my weekly weigh in. 2 more pounds gone forever!!! I've officially lost 17 pounds! I don't know what it is, but the more weight I lose, the more confident I am that I can do this!! A friend reminded this morning, "Tonya, that's called MOTIVATION!"

[little_ms_sunshyne]

Welcome Anya! I too have gone up and down soo many times! Each time it feels a little harder. I have however discovered that a good support system makes a world of difference! You found the right place! Happy u r here!

[little_ms_sunshyne]

PINKIELEE YOU ARE AMAZING! That is an amazing loss! I am very proud of you! Keep it up pretty lady! You've got this for sure!

[Sparkle]

Originally Posted by PinkieLee

Oh I almost forgot... today was my weekly weigh in. 2 more pounds gone forever!!! I've officially lost 17 pounds! I don't know what it is, but the more weight I lose, the more confident I am that I can do this!! A friend reminded this morning, "Tonya, that's called MOTIVATION!"

You are a STAR!!! Well Done You!

[Medusa]

Congrats Tonyaboo!

That is a GREAT loss for a week and really speaks to doing it right with "slow and steady"! You are making amazing progress and I am celebrating with you over 17 pounds! That's a LOT! Pick up 3 5-lb sacks of potatoes the next time you go to the grocery store!!

[Zimmeh]

Congrats Tonya!!!

The other night at work, my boss was looking for something to munch on. One of the ladies that I work with, had just made a small bag of popcorn. My boss didn't hear her ask if she would like some. I handed her the bag that I had brought from home and told her she could have it. She thanked me and asked if I was serious. I told her that I was and you could smell the popcorn in my office as she was making it. One of the things that I have been enjoying is, these cups of sugar free peaches. They have 25 calories for the whole cup, so I can take two of them to work with me. I also have found, that I like to munch when I am bored. So, I am trying not to munch as much as I used to. I also have found some great exercises in my Prevention magazine. I will see if I can find a link and if I can, I will post it.

I am really enjoying not eating as many sweets, but I do fall off of the bandwagon sometimes..Oooppss..

Have a good night,

Zimmy

Originally Posted by PinkieLee

Oh I almost forgot... today was my weekly weigh in. 2 more pounds gone forever!!! I've officially lost 17 pounds! I don't know what it is, but the more weight I lose, the more confident I am that I can do this!! A friend reminded this morning, "Tonya, that's called MOTIVATION!"

[*Anya*]

I really appreciate the warm welcome I received yesterday, it felt wonderful.

I did have a very good day yesterday though it did not start out that way. Though I have been sticking to my eating plan (the word diet, for me, is not a good word), when I weighed yesterday morning, the 2 lbs. I had lost the day before, somehow where back again! Not only do I want to lose weight but it is about my health, so I call it my eating plan. I chose to not fixate on the two pounds and to keep control.

For me it is so much in my head, not my body. When I tell myself I have control over my eating and I work hard to truly believe it- wow, I take control of my eating! When I am not in a good place, I feel that I have no control, I start having negative thoughts and I give up that control! That is what got me in trouble with those damn Skinny Cow cups. (I don't go down the ice cream isle in the store now-just to help myself.)

Today, it is one week since I totally gave up sweets-except what is in fruit (& I usually have one small peach mid-morning and one in the afternoon) and I still have a little craving but am telling myself I really don't-it's all in my head.

Which, for me, it is.

I measure my progess in baby steps, take it one day at a time, try to focus on today instead of all my tomorrows.

Have a great day everyone and all of you inspire me to stay on my path to better health.

Hugs to all.

[Zimmeh]

Good Morning Everyone,

I woke up extra early this morning and went power walking. It felt good to have the sun shine down on my face and to see, two young Sandhill Cranes, on the golf course next to me, looking for breakfast made me really smile.

I am now having plain Chobani Greek Yogurt with six red cherries and an 8oz glass of chocolate soymilk for breakfast. The yogurt is very bitter and I am not sure if I will be able to finish it. Thank goodness it is only a 4oz bowl. Yesterday, I had 3/4 cup of oatmeal, with pumpkin pie spice and some butter and a dash of sugar for breakfast with coffee. That filled me up until lunch time when I had a egg salad sandwich, with light olive oil mayo, basil and fresh ground black pepper. I am trying to hang tough and resist sweets, but mother nature is giving me a good run for my money...

I don't feel like I have lost weight this week, but I don't like to weigh myself.

Have a great day,

Zimmy

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by Anya/Georgia

I was a chubby kid at least my dad used to tell me so. He would walk by and say: "hold in your stomach muscles" (he is a retired Marine) and I was under 10 years old when he did this. By the time I was a teen, I severely restricted my eating and stayed around 110-I am just under 5'4. Hard though. Did ok through 2 babies, went to WW 2 lose baby weight-but gained weight during my relationship.

I have always, always felt that I was never thin enough, even when thin! Fucked up body image!! I did however get fat, honest-to-god fat during my relationship. She liked it because when I was not thin and cute I had no self-confidence. I always avoided sweets before her because they are a big trigger for me-so she would bring me sweets-sabotage much?

So sorry for this but I am working to get my head on straight again. 2.5 years ago, I got a grip. Stopped eating any sweets at all and staying around 1500 cals/day, lost 50 lbs. Bear in mind- it took me two years to lose those 50 pounds and I still needed to losed another 10-15 but my goal was so close, I could almost reach out and touch it.

Then, 6-8 months ago, I started having painful arthritis in my knees, couldn't climb the 7-flights up and down @ work that helped me lose weight. Broke down and bought those little Skinny Cows ice cream cups "one won't hurt you" & that was all it took.

Stopped weighing myself each morning (helps me to not use denial) & ate lots of Skinny Cow ice cream. Finally weighed myself last week & boom-gained 15 pounds! So there I am, instead of closer to my goal-farther away.

My new mantra whenever I get discouraged: you did it before, you will do it again, you have control! No more sweets in my house. It takes me 5-6 days off of anything with sugar to stop craving it and it doesn't matter to me if it is a psychological craving or physical-I crave sweets when I eat them, non-the-less. No more sourdough bread or butter either in the house. I have to stick with protein-that works for me. Keeps me full and not hungry.

The exercise is the issue for me. It is harder to lose without bring able to walk far or to do stairs. I have to figure that part out.

I just needed to say outloud (in cyberspace), I am Anya and I have gotten a grip once again.

Again, I hope it is ok I posted this here.

Of course it's okay you posted....welcome

I am so with you on the sweets thing....it seems like the more I eat, the more I crave, and I'm better off if I just stay away from them completely.

Having stuff in the house is tough...if it's here, I'll eat it. One of the big challenges for me was actually moving in with Scoote and the Prince, because they are huge snack food eaters. All of the stuff I love and never kept around...chips, ice cream bars, soda, oreos, chocolate, candy....it's here. I generally had Dove bars and tiny Dove chocolates around for my son....so it's not like there was nothing tempting in my old house....but I found it easier to think of those as "Rooster's treats" and there was so little that I could ignore it better. When I weakened, I'd savor one of those tiny Dove chocolate squares (I think 1 oz.) and that would generally do it.

I'm doing better....last night I actually stood up, headed for the cupboard to get the Doritos...hesitated in the middle of the kitchen, turned around and went back to the couch. I didn't really want them....it was habit. And breaking that "if it's here, I eat it" habit is tough.

Scoote has offered several times to not have the stuff in the house, but I truly would rather break my addiction to it, and not have the kids go without, than have her do that. So far, I'm doing alright...