welcome...i can really relate to what you said about doing this long term....maybe you can do like i did...i decided when i started to commit to 10 weeks....then evaluate the results and determine it i could do it another 10 weeks. Well, my first 10 weeks came and i was happy with my results...try to remind yourself, its not just about losing weight, its about re-training your pancreas to work properly...so now i am making a new commitment to 10 more weeks and will again, evaluate it at that time. hope that helps a little.
Megan, welcome to the boards! You will LOVE it here, there is SO MUCH support here, you are at the right place! Don't beat yourself up about your weight, just keep looking forward, keep on plan and we will all celebrate your results!
You can DO IT! Just give it some time. Be adventurous with your selection and preparations of foods.
I have to admit I have mental blinders on and never think of myself as the true weight that I am. Even today I'm in denial that these "few" (yep 55 of them) pounds to get into the 200's are just pre-diet of where I am supposed to start my diet. I know - omg - it's like I'm shunning these pounds - they don't exist still in my mind. I see them in photos or the mirror - but not day to day as I go about my day. They are really here (for a few more weeks at any rate and as of this morning there are 32 less of them in a bit over 5 weeks) but rather than dwell on them or even try and kick myself for allowing them to happen, I'll just get thru them and move on down the scale.
Setting mini goals (obviously getting under 300 is my main mini-goal) really helps. I can't wrap my head around the whole big picture - yet I have tracked out if I lost 2 lbs a week (I'm loosing much faster than that now, but towards the end I suspect it will be slower)- with each weekly weigh in date going forward to when I'm at my goal- what will I weigh by my birthday, or by New Years, etc. It is the belief in this program that if I stay 100% OP I will have that goal by those dates. I should have my <300 by my birthday or very near that date :-)
We can do it!
Barb
Barb, I started off 33lbs HEAVIER than YOU...I was at 388....66 weeks ago .....175lbs ago.....over the last 66 weeks my average is 2.89lbs a week. Some weeks I have 3lb losses, some ZERO and some GAINS for no apparent reason but that my body is changing. I have been 100% committed to the program, have not cheated once. IF your mind is made up to get off this weight then IT WILL COME OFF. This program works, I am living proof as are many others here BUT take the blinders off and accept where you are at now, it will help you see where you don't want to be again. I was in a 5x MEN"S shirt and it was too tight, over the weekend I tried on a size 18 shirt and it FIT!....Pants were a TIGHT size 36 from Catherine's Now I fit into a size 18 and they are getting loose for me. You will lose a lot of inches and weight, just take it one week at a time, stay focused. Reward yourself with something for each 10lbs you loose, I buy myself a charm for my bracelet for each 10lbs I lose. My BF owes me one now since I hit 175lbs while he was gone....lol....experiement and enjoy the journey, its not so bad. The last 66 weeks have FLOWN by for me, I don't live by months anymore I live by weeks because I look forward to my Wednesday Weigh ins. Enjoy your journey, it will change your life, be open to change, you will be surprised
THX- Rofl @ how to train your pancreas! ^_^ Too funny.
Scrubs... having to buy larger scrubs was a big push for me to start paying attention. What kind of work do you do? I'm a CNA and nursing student (1 more semester!).
(Beg pardon for a lurker who's not on IP, but who enjoys reading your threads and getting high protein/veg meal combo ideas from here... I'm actually on South Beach myself)
To the OP: you can do it!! These wonderful folks will support you every step of the way (and I send my good juju as well, though I don't share the same diet...)
welcome...i can really relate to what you said about doing this long term....maybe you can do like i did...i decided when i started to commit to 10 weeks....then evaluate the results and determine it i could do it another 10 weeks. Well, my first 10 weeks came and i was happy with my results...try to remind yourself, its not just about losing weight, its about re-training your pancreas to work properly...so now i am making a new commitment to 10 more weeks and will again, evaluate it at that time. hope that helps a little. 
