But This Time It's Different...
 

I know we hear this phrase a lot in many aspects of our lives, and I'm sure we've heard it in our heads regarding weight loss time and time again.

I was reading a post that rockin robin posted in another thread. Isn't she inspirational?! It got me to thinking about the fact that I KNOW this time that it's different. I KNOW the weight is going to come off. I KNOW I'm not going to quit.

Perhaps my family, who has heard it and lived through it with me time and time again, would smile and nod supportively without any true belief. Perhaps others would think that there's no way that I could know that this was the time for it to actually happen for me. But that doesn't matter, because I know it.

How do I know it?

1) I never went at this with my usual gung-ho all-or-nothing attitude. I didn't start out working out an hour a day for six days a week. I didn't tell myself all the coulds and could nots. I simply started counting my calories and upping my exercise and watching the weight drop incrementally.

2) I haven't gotten frustrated with splurge-related gains or stalls. I've had a lot of special events lately that have resulted in a slower weight loss than I am generally accustomed to seeing at this weight. But I am fully accountable to myself for what I've done to stall that weight loss. And when the special event or splurge is over, I jump back on the wagon without berating or belittling myself.

3) When I hit my 230/229 plateau that I ALWAYS hit, I was patient. It was a much shorter plateau this time, and I think being patient and sticking to my routine was the key. Usually I'm frantically upping or lowering my calories, my exercise, my food groups. This time around I just plugged away and I got rid of the 230's a lot faster than the last two times.

4) When I've gotten lax on exercise, I just give myself a new start date. I don't think about how I've backpedaled or how much work it was going to take to get myself back into the shape I was in when I stopped working out. This has been key because it helps me get back on the wagon after a 5 day hiatus rather than waiting 5 weeks (or until the next "diet").

All in all, I think it comes down to patience. Before I wanted the weight to drop off of me as fast as possible. Now I just want to keep losing, keep on track, become healthier.

What has you knowing that THIS time it's going to be successful for you?

Eumie,

Good for you for KNOWING this time is different. It is liberating to have that resolve. I have every confidence this time IS different for you--just by the thoughts shared in your post and the honesty it took to write it.

I guess I quit lying to myself and quit making excuses. I also quit lying to others. I quit sneak eating. I quit saying to myself that I was somehow *different* and couldn't lose weight. I told myself and others I didn't overeat. I quit defending my horrible food choices. I got honest. I quit throwing out Krispy Kreme boxes before getting home. I quit making excuses to go to the store late at night for something and while there getting me something horrible to munch. I quit staying up after my family--making a huge plate of leftovers after they were fast asleep.

I have also decided to absolutely CRADLE myself in support of a community. I do not share my weightloss journey except with a very select few and of course here at 3FC. I don't need to hear the naysayers. I share the experience with those that love me and accepted me at my heaviest--all the while wanting me to be my healthiest.

I also hold myself accountable by regular weighins--evaluating daily my food intake and always getting the most "bang for my buck" when it comes to eating. I have also educated myself about food and have armed myself with the knowledge I need to be successful--some of this has been done through experimentation. I have always been a foodie but my past ways of eating and cooking are thrown to the wind basically. I find ways to satisfactorily recreate anything my pallet calls for.

I also did some soul digging. When I am running for the cupboards now I really stop and ask myself..."what the **** am I REALLY hungry for? What happened that makes me want to do this again." I am learning after many decades how to truly care for and love myself. I AM my own best friend and I am WAY okay with that.

TBG, you are so inspirational, too! I think you hit it on the head with the word honesty. How many times in the past were we dishonest with ourselves? I don't even count the dishonesties I presented others because they were lies I told myself, too!

I'm being much more low key with my weight loss this time around. I'm not announcing it to anyone who crosses my path. I'm just doing it. It's not a show for other people. It's a reality for me!

Woohoo!

It's funny how preventative weight loss sometimes only becomes a motivator for us when we're THAT close to it not being preventative anymore. Good for you!

A New Creation--The last month or two I am really coming to understand GI's and what they mean to me. I have to say for me atleast--there is MUCH to be said for the index. The times I binge and am out of control is almost directly correlated to foods high on the index. It sounds like your doc may know a thing or two. As far as it being a "diet" there is no reason for it to be. You can do low GI foods for the rest of your life! How exciting to think about the wonderful foods to discover just ahead of you.

Thank you for those kind words. Today is one of those days I can really use them. :hug:

I was just talking to my brother last night about how I don't feel the need to binge like I once did. For me, I can see so clearly all the things I was doing wrong. I clearly have not been eating enough protein. I am not nor have I ever been a big meat eater so I have learned how to incorporate more protein in my diet and when I do the cravings and urges to binge subside/disappear. My hunger is under control when I have good adequate sources on protein on a regular basis.

I don't know if that makes sense, but you really struck a chord in me when you said 'The times I binge and am out of control is almost directly correlated to foods high on the index.' I can totally relate in my own way.

And yes, this is a way of eating I can live with for the rest of my life!!!

ANewCreation like you I was told by my doctor that I was boarderline to being a diabetic. My family has also seen me start lose weight and then stop and gain it all back I am currently at the highest weight that I have ever been in my life. They are all for me loosing weight but I am thinking they are waiting to see how long I stick it out this time.
I am tired of being fat . I hate shopping for clothes I never find any thing that fits me right and with all these Stores changing their Sizes jest upsets me even more now it is more diffcult trying to find something that dont look it you had to squeeze into it or it jest looks bad.

I have been counting my calories and Drinking plenty of water and getting in lots of cardio. It is comming to the end of my second week and I am feeling pretty good about myself and that I am gonna Keep doing what I am doing. I know that i didnt gain all this weight over night and that its not gonna come off over night. I can be patient .

Maybe when I go back to the Doc in a month 1/2 She will be able to lower my meds for the Triglercydes. I know that I am worth it. I have no desire to quit now. Their is so many people on here that inspire me to keep going. I am addicted to this site I check it a million times aday and it keeps me going.

Yep, 3FC is a great tool. Consider it your secret weapon! We are all here for you. It is more than a virtual world to me. We are all on the same path and know it well.

LOL--I dreaded going to the doctor for FIVE years because of weight! I finally MADE myself go a few months ago. He was very curious as to what I had been doing and we had an in depth discussion about nutrition. WOW! I cannot believe MY DOCTOR was asking ME questions. OMG! When I went to the dentist a couple of weeks ago they took my heart rate. (I never knew they did that.) The hygenist said, "WOW! NICE!" My heart rate was a 54. Before that day it was nothing I ever considered. I started this whole ordeal for HEALTH and health alone. The other perks and encouragements (from healthcare providers especially) have been great though.

Well thank you so much for the kind words! It means a GREAT deal to me. I'm assuming you mean this post:

from rockinrobin:
from rockinrobin:
It sounds to me like it really IS going to be different for you this time. For me, that alone, KNOWING that I was "going to do this, no matter what", what a wonderful feeling. I knew the end of my misery was near. I really, really, knew it. I'm so glad I finally woke up and realized what I was doing to myself (killing me with food) and finally realized that I should just STOP THAT. It sounds so simple. But really, it's like I finally woke up and figured out that being fat is a choice. and losing the weight is a choice. and keeping it off is a choice. Choice. Choice. Choice. And that I should just CHOOSE IT already!!!

I knew that each and every time I said no to one of "those foods", I was saying "yes" to me and that I would be one step closer to being that slim, trim, fit, energetic and healthy person I always longed to be.

Thanks again for the kind words. I look forward to hearing of your continued progress. :cheer:

Yep, that was the post! Congratulations to you getting to that point. I'm going to stick around here updating you all on my progress (good and bad) to maintenance and beyond!

Ooh...I like that! I'm going to change my title!