THANK YOU for the wealth of welcomes! It's truly motivating, especially after a long day of student conferences cutting into my walk time with my dog.
Before I say what worked, I have to say my stall has been as stall of about a year in a 2 1/2 year process that began in August 2000. In the past 3 months I've gained back 1 jeans size, but I still hold on to an optimism and resoluteness. I just tell myself I'm in it for life, that this IS a part of my life and who I am. AND I can still say I haven't had a fastfood burger or fries in 2 1/2 years. And I don't care if it's a long stall, I haven't gained it all back, so I'm Still in the good.
I started this as part of an overall life change. Ended a 2+ year relationship with a man who mushed my heart. Lost two lovedones. Had gall bladder surgery. and thought, "I'm 30 years old. This is Not what my life is going to be." Started getting my body and mind on the same page ... I really think fitness is about Total body, mind, spirit, relationship, career, family and home fitness.
When I'm at my best, I think attitude is my biggest ally -- I had always seen myself as a fat girl with fat habits (interested in books, friends, cafes and other sedentary things) and told myself a lot of junk about how I couldn't get out there and be active, how other people would see me as clunky and clumsy, how I was simply destined to be heavy. I was my worst head trip. So the biggest hurdle for me was Not the exercise hurdle, but all the defeating thoughts Before the exercise. "Stop thinking. Just do it and argue with yourself later. Like **** I'm not a jock -- I'm a hikerchick, dang it, a treadmill warrior. Let the critics Bite Me. Okay, so I'm tired, right now -- at 7pm tonight will I feel better about myself if I exercised today? Oh Yah." .... Lots and lots of talk-back to my inner critic.
That and 64 oz water, a strict boycott of fastfood, 5 x week exercise, a food/exercise journal and a modified food pyramid. When I'm at my best. I did it for 1 1/2 years, moved from Washington to California (my homestate) and just lost some focus for awhile. But I really like who I am on this journey and I don't want to fall back into berating myself -- it's wasted energy when it's so very possible to start each day as a new chance to be the person I want to be.
eek, a novel for my first real post ... I promise, more moderate posts (mostly) in the future.