Do you/did you believe that you could reach goal when you started your weight loss?
No, frankly I didn't. But I did, and even though I've regained a good percentage of it, I believe I can reach that goal again.
Do you believe that you can keep the weight off for life?
Yes. Because I know, after being honest with myself, why I regained. It's not pretty, and it makes me angry with myself, but I have worked through that (I think) and I'm slowly creeping down again.
How important do you think it is to believe that permanent weight loss is possible in order to achieve your goals?
It's not necessary to believe it to reach a goal weight. Lots of people do that without the belief in permanent weight loss. Keeping it off absolutely requires the belief.
What does maintenance mean to you?
It means doing whatever is necessary - eating right, exercising - to keep my body at my desired goal. In my case, this is a clothing size rather than an actual weight as I recognize that my weight varies in about a 5-8 lb range. But it also means maintaining a healthy lifestyle - which includes the above eating right and exercise, but also getting enough sleep, having a healthy marriage, and the like. Having experienced a much-too-close brush with death with my DH's cancer, we are both much more aware of how we want to live.
Are you presently in one of the four stages of weight loss? How many have you experienced?
I am very familiar with frustration, and spend much of my weight loss life there! Acceptance is familiar. Never had much of a honeymoon period.
Have you ever tried to lose weight by non-dieting? Was it successful?
In short, yes, no. I surely was not in touch with my satisfaction level. I needed, and still need, to be mentally aware of portion size and nutritional info.
Do you believe that you control your weight or do you believe that forces beyond your control predetermine your weight?
Oh I wish it were the aliens who controlled it! I KNOW that's it me that's in charge, but if someone else will take responsibility, they can have it!!
Thanks for the synopsis Meg. I'm enjoying hearing everyone's responses.