Quote:
Originally Posted by AHonda31
Hi all I am new to this site. I found Mrs Jim's post to be awe inspiring.
Thanks
Thank YOU! If my experiences and thoughts (such as they are) can be of assistance in finding the right path to healthy changes - that's all the reward and recompense I could ever ask for.
Additionally - I never have done, and do not ever plan to dispense advice for financial gain. As I stated in the beginning - there are no "deep dark secrets" to losing weight - it's a matter of "calories in-calories out" physically, and changing your mindset, mentally. I've seen so many folks write that they 'can't' lose weight like Oprah or other celebrities because they can't afford that pricey personal trainer or that expensive spa or what have you. PLEASE don't let that stop you - it comes down to goal-setting, planning ahead, motivation, and determination to succeed and 'keep on keepin' on'.
Oprah herself said it so
succinctly in an issue of her magazine last year:
Quote:
I've been trying most of my life to lose weight, but when I do, I can't keep it off. Now I can't stand to look at myself in the mirror. I work full-time and go to school, so it's hard to get to the gym. Could you tell me what has helped you, besides hiring a personal trainer, which I can't afford?
You say you can't bear to look at yourself in the mirror. I can relate. I felt that way every day I was more than 200 pounds. But I also know that you do not need a personal trainer or a gym to get fit. You need a decision. A decision on your part to take action, which means educating yourself about what to eat and making a commitment to start moving—a half mile, then a mile, two miles, one step at a time. My point is this: If you can't find time to work out, then you don't want to lose the weight. It's simply a matter of physics. So ask yourself what you're willing to do. And if you aren't prepared to exercise and cut down on your volume of food as a way of life, stop wasting time feeling bad about your weight and move on to something else.
I think I've said this before, but heck, if I can do this - lose weight and KEEP IT OFF permanently for (OMG!)
sixteen years now (and this after being a chubby kid, an overweight teenager and an obese adult - meaning the odds of permanent weight loss were/are REALLY against me) then certainly YOU, or anyone out there, can do it. Without the gimmicks. Without spending money on 'advice' from 'diet experts' on the Internet and infomercials (not saying that there aren't some really great books out there - most of which you can get at your local library, such as
Thin for Life by Anne Fletcher or
Body for Life for Women by Pamela Peeke both of which are great sources of valid, realistic information).
Nowadays - my life is pretty sweet
. I generally start every morning by heading out to the gym for my AM workout - yeah I know it sounds nutty, especially on a freezing cold dark morning - but it ENERGIZES me. Once you get into these HEALTHY habits, they can be very difficult to break, ya know
As far as the eating thing...I think I eat like a 'normal person' at this point, although I endeavor to keep a 'clean environment' at home (trust me...this makes it SO MUCH easier to maintain a healthy lifestyle - if you don't have the crap in the house then you're a lot less likely to eat it!). But there are times when I go out to dinner or lunch on business or when I'm traveling - remember that I live in the San Francisco area which is a foodie mecca
If I'm at, say, Chez Panisse (which has a prix fixe menu each night) or French Laundry, I'm not going to ask the waiter to make me a plain chicken breast with steamed veggies on the side - I make sure I enjoy my dinner, and dessert if I want it. Hubby and I even go out for Mexican food or burgers and fries occasionally - I just don't feel compelled to get a large order of fries for myself - we usually just split an order between us, and I usually end up taking the leftovers home (which hubby has for lunch the next day!). It all comes down to retraining your brain, ya know? Instead of eating this stuff most every day of the week, keeping it down to once in awhile as a treat or special occasion. Good food can be a joyous part of life and home cooking can be a symbol of love; I'm reminded of a song written by buddy of my DH's which he wrote about his mom's soul food:
Quote:
...I know something you may not know
what's good for your heart may be bad for your afro
you might live longer but it don't mean a thing
if the food that you eat ain't making you sing
mama's in the kitchen making something to please you
and when she's done ya'll just do it like I do
grab you a plate and a knife and a fork
stay away from them chitlins you shouldn't eat no pork...
A lot of it comes down in the end to BALANCE...balancing the special occasion once in awhile food with your STAPLES of lean protein, veggies, fruits and whole grains. There's a thread started by Meg some time ago in Maintainers called "
We're Different" that is worth a read (heck most if not ALL of her posts are worth a read!!!). It might sound "unfair" but really it's not all that hard - just a matter of finding other hobbies in life besides 'recreational eating' and cutting down on the 'eating for pleasure'.
I give myself a 'five pound leeway' - if my weight creeps up by 3-5 pounds or I just feel bloated or whatever (you know, that Aunt Flo visit...) all I do is cut back a bit. The personal trainers at my gym have an easy system - just cut your calories by, say, 200 or 300 a day - the equivalent of 2 or 3 slices of bread - and keep up my regular exercise and the weight comes off fairly quickly and with minimal effort. Pretty easy, yes?
Food is an essential part of life but it's not the only one...okay I'm rambling here...
(PS...just thought SIXTEEN YEARS of permanent weight loss...man...I have nephews and nieces in Jr. High and High School that weren't even BORN yet...amazing how time flies - doesn't seem like that long ago but my life is so rich and full now - not just from losing the weight but that's definitely been a major catalyst!)
You pointed out what we all need to know & hear,but don't always believe.I've tried A LOT of magic potions & wish I had the $$$ back!
Loving~Mommy2~4 , 01-05-2006 07:19 AM
I was so happy but had to quit the program( but only gained 24 lbs while pregnant), 8 months later I had my beautiful baby boy. After losing my baby weight I kept it off for a while but slowly over the next 3 years it crept back on and when I got pregnant
) 
KristinesShower , 01-07-2006 02:20 AM
Silverfern , 01-11-2006 11:00 PM
(Thanks to Mel for bringing these to my attention!). 
. And despite middle school health class, etc. I never *got* the fact that food is fuel. Food was something my mother never ate (she was anorexic), something my father OVER-ate (he was obese), and something I never learned how to prepare beyond the boil-water-insert-macaroni level. But when I first started out and she had me doing food logs, she went over absolutely everything I was and WASN'T eating. So I learned that my desperate need to sleep every day at 3pm was linked to the fact that all I ever ate was carbs. Etc...
)
jillybean720 , 03-17-2006 02:00 PM
