I really thought I would never lose the weight. I had really convinced myself that it was impossible, too hard, not my fault.
And I can't really say what changed, except that last March, right after my 24th birthday, at 208 lb, I decided I was going to do it. I still doubted myself and my ability to lose weight, but I signed up that night for the WeightWatchers online program.
I started to follow the program, and to my surprise, I actually started to lose weight! I started exercising on the elliptical and actually began to enjoy it.
I'm really not sure what made it work this time, but it helped that I had a bit of a deadline. I was scheduled for breast reduction surgery in June, and I wanted to lose as much weight as possible before then.
I made it down to around 173 before the surgery, then lost another 5 pounds in a few hours
I put losing weight on hold for a while I recovered from the surgery, but instead I focused on eating healthier foods.
Then I got back on the wagon.
I'm not sure I'm totally ready to say that I'm done yet, but I'm pretty happy where I am now.
I'm trying to figure out this whole maintenance thing.
Next up is trying to eat healthier foods and more of a variety of foods. And maybe even exercise?
Some things I learned along the way from 3FC and myself (perhaps a little cliche, but true):
- I don't need to eat the bread/cake/cookie right now because unless it's the last one in the world, I can always have it later.
- Good food is worth the calories; most of the food I used to eat is not good food.
- Eating makes me feel better in the moment, but food is for nutrition, not comfort.
- Shopping for clothing can actually be fun.
- I actually have a choice of what to wear now, so I don't need to buy something just because it fits.
- The extra 85 pounds I was carrying around was literally weighing me down: it's much easier to breathe now.
- I need to focus on making a good choice right now and not worry so much about the past or the future. All of the "nows" add up.
- Losing weight doesn't actually solve all of your problems.
- Goals are achievable.
Thank you all! I haven't posted a lot but I'm a hardcore lurker and everything you've posted has been a huge help.
