OneUh thank you for bumping this.

CenTx I loved your list, thank you so much.
I think, aside from the myriad of things you all already mentioned, one of the most touching for me has been how much my 11 year old niece has been effected. Her body is very healthy but she clearly got my family's genetic tendencies toward blood sugar swings. Using my experience, her parents have been able to talk with her in a very healthy way about how her body handles sugar, and the tendency toward weight gain, and how her eating effects that - without getting into the negative realm of body issues. My niece talks very freely with me and asks me a lot of questions, like "what would you do differently at my age".
Very grateful and hopeful, like you shared CenTx, to hopefully redirect some of the health woes my extended family has experienced.

This is so great to hear about!

I discovered the Judith Beck books several years ago. I wrote out my "advantages" as a computer document rather than on cards, that way just worked better for me. I just looked up my list. It included *60* items!

I am pleased to say that after 5 months, most of the items on my list have come true. The vanity/social aspects for sure. I had some severe body issues and while I still have issues to work through, now I just feel normal again. I still have a lot of work to do with eating behaviors and physical activity but I am taking this journey one step at a time... :D

Here are the issues I am working on now (Advantages of Losing Weight/Staying On Plan):

Physical/Health
Won’t have secret eating
Will have less cravings
Will have more energy
Will have optimal stats for longevity & health
Will nourish my body with fresh, nutritious foods
Won’t poison my body by gorging on processed, carby crap
Will be able to do more yoga poses, to run more efficiently, hike with friends without slowing them down
Will have more ability to do daily activities, such as walking more and taking stairs, without being so winded that I can’t speak

wear a bikini for the first time in about 24 years!

My man has already agreed to buy me whatever bikini i want for our holiday next year, only condition is, i wear it to the pool at least once.

I've never been a non-plus-sized person (very briefly, like 2/3 months 10 years ago...doesn't count). I don't really know - but damn it, I am going to find out and enjoy it all!
Wearing these size 8 jeans today feels like a piece of heaven.
I went to the mall for the first time since getting down to a size 10 and kept looking around stores like Limited Too and Calvin Kline thinking 'wow, I look like I belong here'
Hopefully care more about what I look like - to some extent. Don't want to become vain, but maybe care a little bit more than I used to

Stay healthy and active

Keep living MY life - it really wasn't bad at 234 pounds, I was active, I never let my weight limit me from doing what I wanted (except wear sexy clothes / bikini) but wow, what awaits now???? :D

oh, and I AM getting my tattoo :p

I want my clothes to fit comfortably.
To be able to buy something because I love it and not
because its "flattering" :rolleyes:
But the main thing I am looking forward to is being able
to wear my wedding ring again. For some reason when I gain
weight my fingers turn into little sausages - totally embarrassing!:o

Hysteria....please tell me about this tattoo! I'll be getting one that says, "Sweet Freedom" in ornate script with an art nouveau look of vines and morning glories.
Sun

What a great thread! Thanks for reviving it. I’ve never actually made a list before, so here goes…

---Stop being so critical of how I look; just work at being the best I can be with what I’ve got to work with
---Take more time to exercise and tone my body, had always seemed like a losing battle when I was overweight
---Be able to look at photos of myself with other people and think I look pretty good.
---Go to a party, wedding, or other special occasion or event without thinking, OMG! what can I wear that won’t that won’t make me look like a fat cow, then trying to go shopping to find something that might be good enough, and buying something out of desperation ....that I won't be happy with and will never wear again… Instead I’ll be able to just go into the closet and have a choice of several things that will look great!
---Get rid of all my baggy clothes (that I used to wear thinking they were hiding all that fat )
---Stop being envious when I see someone wearing a cute outfit and wishing I could wear something like that.
---Wear a skirt...and HEELS!
---Wear a sleeveless top and shorts on a hot summer day
---Wear a bathing suit at a beach/pool
---Get rid of joint pain from the extra weight - since I have RA it will never be all gone, but sure will be nowhere as bad
---Be able to walk/run more, climb stairs or hills, without huffing and puffing; maybe even start playing tennis again

and most importantly -
---Be successful in maintaining my goal weight
---Never forget where I was when I started this journey, and never forget how I felt when I started this journey

(Well, that sure was a longer list than I expected :))

I will...

.... become a runner. Not a jogger.
.... do several 5Ks and 10Ks a year.
.... work toward my bucket list item of completing a marathon.
.... buy a real fitness watch/monitor (something like a Garmin).
.... stop feeling guilty for spending money on exercise clothes and fitness gear.
.... smile more in photos. :D

Hi all! I am now on Phase 3, even though I'm still a few pounds away from my ultimate goal, I have reached the goal weight set with my coach and have decided to phase off. I feel comfortable where I am now, and if I really want to lose the extra 9 lbs. I feel that I can lose this on my own while on maintenance.

I remember this thread from way back in February when I first started, so I thought I would revisit...

• Be able to wear clothes that really fit my personal style rather than those that just "fit" and "hide".
  YES! I have been trying to discover my "new" style that is more about accentuating my figure rather than hiding. It's a hard mindset to get into but I'm working on it!
• No longer aching every time a have a relatively active day.
  This is so exciting because this was the main reason I started this diet to begin with. I was in daily pain, and at 45, couldn't imagine what my quality of life would be 10 or 20 years in the future (and frankly, wondering if I would be around in 10 or 20 years if I didn't do something about this now). Now I feel so much younger and have so much energy. This alone was worth the last 9 months!!!!
• Showing my legs - that literally haven't seen sunlight in years.
  This was really hard for me because I have naturally really large calves, but I did wear shorts this summer! It felt amazing. In addition, one of my goals was to buy a pair of boots this fall (because I've always had trouble with boots due to my large calves) - and I just bought a pair this weekend!
• Being taken more seriously at work.
  I honestly don't know if this is a result of my losing weight, of my renewed confidence, or just a coincidence, but my career has really taken off in the last few months. I can't tell you how great it feels to be able to walk in a room with business people I've never met and not wonder if they are judging me on my weight.
• Being able to run a 5K... or more!
  I have not taken on this challenge yet, but plan on making some strides to start jogging and eventually work my way up to a 5K.
• Being a better role model for my 9 year old daughter.
  This is so important to me, and I really feel that I have made a difference with my daughter. We had such an active summer together and did so many things that I just couldn't do before.
• Riding a bike again.
  I bought a bike and rode it around all summer - it was wonderful! Another thing I was able to do with my daughter.
• Feeling healthy and happy with my life.
  Absolutely!!! For those just starting this diet, or even those that are still in the middle, stick with it, it is SOOOOO worth it. I was able to stick on this program for 9 months and came out of it a whole new person. You can do it too!!!:hug:

Kurisitaru, I hope you didn't really leave 3fatchicks. If the only people posting are the ones having success all it will do is make the rest of us feel like incorrigible failures. I am not the type that needs people to pat me on the back when I am doing well, I can enjoy my own success even if no one else notices. it is more important to not feel like an isolated exception when things are down. Hope you are still around. Don't know how to send a private message so I'm posting here.

I started IP recently for health reasons and nothing is more important than that but if I had to pick something else I would say SHOPPINGGGG!!!
I know it is shallow but I WANT TO WEAR a MEDIUM SIZE AGAIN and be able to wear nice clothes like the ones I spend hours pinnning on Pinterest.

I don't think it's shallow to want to look our best. That's just self-respect. :)

I recommend that while you are on protocol, you find a good thrift shop. I found that I went through sizes pretty quickly. Early on, I spent $30 on a pair of new jeans that I wore only 4 times before they were too big, so since then I've been thrift shopping until I get to my final goal. I've been fortunate to find some great brand-name clothes (Ann Taylor, Limited, Banana Republic, etc) for just $2-$5 for each piece.

I found what I posted early on in my weight loss journey. Still a few things I havent done yet but I'm not through yet!


:D buy the clothes that I want to wear instead of the ones that I have to wear because nothing else fits (I LOVE shopping! Maybe too much :dizzy: )
:D tie my shoes with ease ( not only can I do this, I also bought a pair of cowboy boots and will be boot scooting soon!!)
:D quit worrying about if I can "fit" in a booth (the hostess doesn't give me the once over any more and doesn't even offer the choice between booth or table!)
*ride roller coasters again!!!! (first chance I get, you betcha I will!)
:D feel attractive ( I definitely got my sexy back!!!!!!!!!!)
:D be able to take the stairs instead of the elevator to go to the first, second or even the third floor of a building (stairs are exercise now, not intimidating)
:D wear a sexy swim suit instead of one that tries to cover things up (I bought a 2 pc with a bikini bottom and halter top! I be looking good!)
*take that cruise I passed up because I didn't want to be "seen" (may not can afford it now but if I could...)
:D not be embarrassed for even my hubbie to see me naked (even with the loose skin: it's part of me-it has to be accepted)
:D play with my grand daughter on the floor, in the treehouse, on the slide, etc (and I can even get up without help!)
*cut out high BP and Cholesterol meds (haven't had bloodwork done since January but I expect the chl will be normal; BP was a problem before I had such a weight issue so that may not change)
:D be more social (Absolutely!)
:D know that I am healthy (Yes, ma'am I am!)
:D avoid knee replacement surgery (I am pain free now- may need it later on but for now I am good!)

Oh!! And hike the South Rim at Big Bend Nat'l park!! (I will in December!)

I have never been to a thrift shop but 5$ a piece is definitely a reason to start going. I didn't realize it was that cheap!

I wasn't sure where to start posting, but I am enjoying this thread so I have decided to start here.

I began IP Oct 1 and had my first weigh in yesterday. I'm off to a good start having lost 8 lbs from 237 to 229.

I think what I am looking forward to is being able to wear all the things that I have hidden away in my closet for 20 years wondering if I would ever be able to fit into them.