Another little bit of info here. Everyone has said so many good things regarding this and this is what we all need to keeping going!
My DH and I manage to go out to eat approximately twice a week. I know that it is harder to lose weight when going out to eat, but I just wanted to say that it can be done. And, since I'm going to be making this weight loss effort a lifestyle, then I have to learn to incorporate going out to eat into my lifestyle. We went out Tuesday night for our anniversary at a restaurant that has a Weight Watchers menu included in their menu. I had one of those meals and it was delicious. I am a WW member, but even if you aren't, they would still be an alternative to eating greasy fries, BBQ ribs, etc. The WW menu even has 2 desserts to pick from and I had one. Then yesterday, I went out to a brunch for Mother's Day. Again, brunches offer many things that a person losing weight can eat, and many things that they probably shouldn't. Again, I chose to eat a lot of fruit, vegetables, salad items and they also have baked chicken so I had that. I also had a chocolate chip cookie for dessert and it's much easier to eat that when you go out to eat, because you can go take one cookie and you don't have 4 more dozen at home waiting for you to eat them.
I just wanted to add that managing what you eat can be done even in restaurants. You just have to decide you are willing to do this for the trade-off of losing the weight. Then, as you lose, you stay more in focus to do the right thing.
Once again you inspire me and lift me out of my weight loss funk. I have had two good food days and today I went back to the gym for my personal training session. I worked out for over 90 minutes and I feel a lot better getting back into the swing of things. I have cut out the whites and sugars in my diet for right now and have gotten through two days of watching what I eat.
You have all given such good positive advice. I can be sure of coming here and getting the support and “way to go’s” I need.
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I am currently dusting myself off and getting back on the track.
I did hop on the scale this morning and saw what I assume was a water loss but any down number makes me feel better. Maybe I can see 240 by June 16th…..as of right now it is 8.5 pounds away.
Very well said, Sarah. We can't wait for "motivation" to hit us as even when it does too often it doesn't hang around long enough! We have to do the ACTIONS whether we FEEL like it or not. It's easy to give up. I haven't lost any for the past week and it's so easy to start thinking maybe this is it and I'm not going to lose any more so may as well throw in the towel, etc. Especially since it has been hot and sunny here, which I HATE, so I think oh I can't go walking... but I DO it anyway. I DO want to make it so the only option is to keep going one day at a time.
Wow some great post here. I can't really add much but just know I felt the same way hundreds of times. Then one time it just took off and I was able to stay on plan and lose the weight. So don't ever give up no matter how bad you feel. Feelings are false and are nothing to build on.
Thank-you Sarah for your wonderful words of wisdom. I found this very profound.
I wanted to add in here something I heard on the radio last night: "If you're not falling, you're not learning." I like that idea that without failure you cannot have true success.
On December 10, I found myself weighing in at 1 pound less than my goal weight. 5 months later and I'm 10 pounds above it. I've been struggling to lose these 10 pounds for several months. I've lost and gained the same 3 pounds over and over. I'd like to say that I don't know why I'm struggling so to get back on track. Unfortunately, I know why. I just don't WANT to do the things I have to. I'm being childish. I'm throwing an internal tantrum. I'm not behaving any better than my 7 year old when he complains that he doesn't want to study his spelling words even though he knows it is the only way to pass the test. I want to eat whatever I wish, I only want to exercise if I happen to feel like it AND I want to lose weight.
But, you know what? I refuse to call myself a failure. I keep picking up the pieces and trying again. I may not be giving it my all but I haven't given up either. I know that something will eventually click. I'll either decide that 10 pounds more than my original goal weight isn't so bad or I'll buckle down and get back to 135.
Darlene, there is nothing wrong with you and you are certainly no failure. I have yet to meet a person who sucessfully lost weight and then maintained that loss on their first attempt. Most of us have tried literally 100's of times. You are still trying. Maybe this won't be the attempt when things finally come together for you. But, then again, maybe it WILL be. One of these days you will find within yourself the resolve to reach your goal weight. You just have to keep trying because you never know if the next try will be THE try that gets you to your goal.
No words of wisdom to add, but I wanted to add my support.
I've been in a slump myself. I plateaued in October and instead of kicking things up a notch and breaking thru it, I sluffed off on my exercise and eating habits and gained some weight back. Like Lucky, I think I was having a bit of a tantrum and pouting because I wanted to be losing weight but didn't 'want' or 'feel like' doing the work.
But I got MAD when saw I was approaching 235! For me that was ENOUGH and I WAS NOT going to gain anymore back.
The anger at myself is gone now. I can't count of any feelings to keep me going. For me, it really helps to remind myself why I should make better food choices and why I should get in my exercise. It helps and I've been doing better-not perfect-but BETTER.
It is so good that you've been doing better too and you are pushing ahead. That is the best thing to do! One workout at a time, one meal at a time, one day at a time.
For me it was a change of mindset. Instead of thinking that I was a poor victim of my fat and that it would never change I thought 'no! I'm gonna be a survivor.'
In my head if I eat crap then I'm being a victim and whatever it is that makes me turn to food has 'won.' If I eat well and look after my body I'm a winner!
So every day it comes down to the choice 'Which do you want to be today?'
This helps me - maybe because I am just too competitive!
It seems the "one day at time" mindset really helps. (Not thinking about tomorrow and next week but just doing it for each moment of today. The past three days I have been very aware of my actions and have been trying to make smart choices for exercise and eating. I have been doing it hour by hour not thinking about what's ahead for the rest of the day or night. I am in much better spirits than I was on Sunday night at this time.
No words of wisdom to add, but I wanted to add my support.
