For the record, I absolutely told NOBODY when I started my new lifestyle and there were no comments until I had lost over 30 pounds. I will never forget my husband going to a school function with me. After I dressed he said, "you are looking thinner." I said, "I am?" Inside I was ecstatic. Inside I was laughing. Inside I knew it was only the beginning!

This can be an exciting time for you. This period of time can change the course of your life forever. We all WANT it. But, if you WANT THE RESULT you must WANT THE PROCESS!

Same here. Only my boyfriend knew because he joined me in in losing weight. It took a while for colleagues and friends to clue in. I like it that way because it is a personal experience I find. However, when people start noticing it is a great feeling. Very exciting times I agree!
I also agree with the "must want the process". There is no easy way out. You have to be 100% committed and willing to achieve the weight loss. Don't look for motivation outside yourself. It is all in you. You just have to want the change. Nobody can do it for you. Nobody gained the weight for you either.

Hi Porthardygurl, I've lost here and there and always regain...they say "maintenance" is the most difficult part of weight loss. Keep trying! Think of all the health benefits of not being overweight. Try finding an old "skinny" outfit you have and make that your goal. And once you reach it keep it in mind when you're thinking of going "off" your healthy new diet... I have an outfit hanging outside of my closet and it's a constant reminder of where I want to be... GOOD LUCK!!!

I, like everyone else that is on this very structured diet, have been on every diet around. I have lost 100's of pounds. I am a carb addict. Only a true carb addict knows how one will go to any lengths to be able to eat them. I have always gained my weight back because I wasn't willing to give them up for ever. An alcoholic can't stop drinking, wait for a year and then have a drink now and then. He will start drinking more and more until he is drinking worse than before. I am the same, I will eat more and more if I eat carbs

Last year I lost 120 pounds in 7 months on this"plan". I believed I could eat sugar/flour once in awhile. But I am an addict and gained over 20 pounds quickly. This time I knew I was out of control and went back on the "PLAN" and lost the weight.

Is this story about being able to lose the weight? Or is it about finally understanding that I will not be able to eat simple carbs. because my body will respond just like it always has.

I feel like life is different for me now. I am not angry anymore (I was for awhile). Follow the plan and the weight will take care of itself.

I am still on the "plan" because I want to lose a bit more and I thank God for each day I can get through without obsessing about the food. I am not suggesting you have to do it my way, but for you to find your way.

Good luck and just do this One Day At A Time!

Port,

One other time when you were starting the program over and over, several people suggested some professional help with your "issues", I concur that maybe you need to talk with someone so that your thought process is more realistic and accepting of yourself. Once again, Good Luck Port!

Do you take pictures of yourself? I take a front, back and side picture every 3-4 weeks to see what difference I have made. Even if no one else is seeing anything, trust me you will in your pictures. Make sure you are not wearing baggie clothes. I've started scrapbooking my progress pictures and holy cow can I see a difference.

What about your ticker? I see that you have it set to 121lbs to go, what about lowering that value to something smaller, even 10lbs at at time and then rewarding yourself with a pedi or mani for losing those 10lbs.

Trust me I've been there, I've tried every diet in the book. I've lost weight on most of them and gained it all back. My hubby had lost all faith in me as I was excited about IP as I was about every program. But after seeing me continuing to do the program and not quitting, and continuously losing, he is SO supportive now and gives me compliments just about every day. It will come, you just have to give it some time. In the meantime we are here for you.

Port,
Try to find the real reasons of why you want to do this.
I for one have quite a few reasons.
1) I too am engaged, for 3 years!!! I totally understand you wanting to have nice photographic memories of your special day.

2) I have seen my mother suffer the yo-yoing for as long as I can remember. It's hard as a child to see that it's taking her so much work. Her wake up call was when the doctor told her she became diabetic, and she'd have to go on medication. I think it reminded her that her mom (my grandma) also suffered from diabetes, and eventually passed away due to diabetes complications (kidney failure). At the same time that was a wake up call for me, as my weight has crept up on me in just 4 years!!!
3) Yes, 4-5 years ago I was 120 pounds!!! I miss the old me. I kept giving myself excuses, like, "yea, it's part of getting old", and things like that. Now I decided "That's it! I'd had enough!!!! If I don't take control now, when???
4) Once I get married I want kids, I want to be healthy and able to play with them at the park, carry them, and most importantly, teach them to live healthy lives as well.
5) As a healthcare worker( CT scans), every day I see how much harder it is to help out people who are extremely overweight. That reminds me that , no matter what, in order for others to help you....you need to help yourself first.

I just started week 3. I haven't physically noticed any difference yet. But after my WI#2... the numbers show I have lost 10 pounds already!!! Some pounds is better than no pounds!!!
Believe me, it has been quite an adjustment. I am Latin-american, and my love for rice, potatoes, pork....and all the greasy stuff is something that won't go away right away. It doesn't help that I am a total sweet-tooth!!! I keep going thinking, yes, I will deprive myself of these things for now, but only until I gain the power to eat right and with moderation!!!!

I'm trying to stay on board with 3fc, I found there is a lot of support amongst us, plus lots of great tips!!!
Keep pushing!!!
Good luck girlie!!!

Ok Porthardygurl... I am checking in on you.... How are you doing??

Ok so I read that a lot of people are carb addicts and I too struggle with this. I am wondering if insight as to why I am this way will help me fight this battle. But I dont know why I am this way. I am thinking it is because my mother was and I learned to use carbs to control emotions but why do I let myself continue to do this when I know the consequences of it. Now I need to figure out how to control this. Anyone have any suggestions?

These books really helped me realize that "carb addiction" isn't an anomaly - in fact, "carb-dependence" may actually be more common than "carb-indifference."

The End of Overeating, by David Kessler
Good Calories, Bad Calories Gary Taubes
Refuse to Regain by Barbara Berkely


The "how to control it" is harder to learn, because virtually everyone, including our dear, old grannies are "pushing" the stuff as if happiness itself depended on it.

But wouldn't we be more sympathetic to the meth addict, if meth were available in grade school vending machines, and our dear grannies told us from the time we were toddlers that "No holiday celebration would be complete without meth."

As a culture, we don't respect the addictive nature of carbs (especially the physiological issues).

Traditionally, we've viewed "addiction" as a mental problem, but more and more it's recognized as a physiological (even genetic) problem. For example, even if a child is adopted into a non-substance abusing home, they're at much greater risk for addiction, if their bio-parents were addicts.

In fact, much of the research suggests that the physiological and genetic factors are more powerful than the environmental ones.

If that's true for alcohol and drug addiction, I don't know why it wouldn't be for carb-addiction.

Hmm Rayu i struggle with the same thing and Im gluten and wheat intolerant and yet crave crave crave breads and everything bad..

Im doing horrible..thanks for checking in..Im sick as a dog with a really bad cold..im suffering from stress like crazy trying to get this research paper done for college and i have an exam coming up in less than a week, i also have to pack up my entire house to move for January 1st, and we barely have any time cause we are away almost the entire month of december..(sigh

Im soooooo stressseed!!!!!!!! so of course because im stressed..my dieting has gone out the window yet again...its either im not eating at all cause my stomach is in knots or im eating all the wrong things, trying to deal with the inner panic of getting this paper done..thanks for checkin in though..ive made a decision just to stop the diet altogether until january..when im settled into our new place, my exam is done and my paper is done and christmas is done..cause its just too much to do this all at once..im the kind of person who really needs only a few things happening at one time and right now it feels like my life is falling apart due to kaos in our house!!! and this stupid research paper...

There's a natural pill they sell at GNC and other health stores and it actually curbs your carb cravings. I remember taking it 15 - 20 years ago, when I was much younger (duh, 15 - 20 years younger) and thought I was overweight. My weight then is the weight I want to get to now! I don't remember what it was but it worked. Call them up and see if they have anything that will help with carb cravings and then pass the name of the pill on to your doctor to see if they feel it's safe to take ('cause you know not all "health" meds are healthy).