Maybe when I'm feeling better I'll start a new thread.

Another "secret" (that I'm almost too embarassed to tell) is that I've always wanted to write a book (I'm working on a novel, and have a lot of nonfiction ideas as well), so I'm sort of combining the two.

Ok, this may sound a little foolish, but one day I was reading a magazine article written by a woman who had lost TONS of weight in a very unhealthy manner (at least in my opinion), and I thought "Wow, they'll publish anything written by someone who has lost weight, no matter what they did to lose it." It got me thinking about all the diet books I've read, and what I found motivating and inspirational about them, and how COOL it would be if I could write a diet book after I lost all the weight. And then I realized that even though it seemed that all of the books I'd read had been written after the person lost weight, it hit me that I could start on the book now. I keep my journal, and write down everything I'm doing that has been helpful (and what has backfired).... I write down all the awesome recipes I've created.

It isn't anything I wasn't doing before I started "writing," but the thought keeps me motivated (after all I have to lose the weight, to get it published).

Maybe I'll never actually have the book published (some of what I've written is pretty personal, and alot of it is pretty stupid), but it keeps the whole process very FUN! And I'm alot more motivated to try new things "research for the book," you know? It makes this all such an adventure, instead of boring and mundane (which for me has always been the biggest diet ender - guess I'm just a thrill seeker, who has found a way to make my goals thrilling enough to hold my interest - but whatever works, you know?"

Hey LFH, so sorry to hear you're feeling down on yourself..though you do sound perkier in your last post!

This weight loss thing really is an extremely important mission and I think you know that. Life is simply too short to live this way forever. That weight is hard on your joints and it makes simple activities that should be fun a drag because its so hard, sometimes just to walk up the block.

Weight loss can be accomplished in many ways, including having the occasional "treats"/"slip-ups"..whatever you want to call it..as long as most of the time you're eating healthy and lower total calories.

Many of us log everything we eat into fitday.com so we can see how many calories we're eating. There are days where I have 2400 calories (and this is while I'm on this "diet"..LOL) or I eat a burger with fries..last week I had one but I figured I'd save lots of calories by getting a turkey burger instead, and I did eat lots of the fries (but saved a few for my dog) and that's OK. I just logged it in and found my total calories weren't that high anyway.

Point being, if most of your snacks and meals are healthier substitutions of your normal meals (e.g. egg beaters or whites rather than regular eggs or turkey burger rather than beef or baked chips rather than fried chips..etc) and you're eating reasonable portions, a few treats wont hurt. So the question is, what are you doing the rest of the time?

I've found that weight loss is like a science or an art form. You just need to get the hang of it and figure out how it will work best for you. This board will definitely help you with that, so keep posting!

Kaploids, I don't think it sounds foolish AT ALL. In fact I kinda had the same idea. My 17 year old daughter out of the blue mentioned this to me the other day. She said "Ma, you ought to write a book and give motivational speeches." And I told her, "Honey, I just may do that." And you know what? I just may. Hey, ya never know. Stranger things have been known to happen.

Colleen, we were posting simultaneously. That is a great idea..I'll be the first one to go buy the book! I can just picture it now..they'll have your book on the 3FC homepage and there will be a link so we can all go purchase it at amazon. LOL. Looking forward to it

Why bother? Because you want to change. And you can. Trust me.

What a great thread this is!

shrinkingchicka, I believe you! rockinrobin, I believe you too! I can see from your tickers that you know what it is! And you other great chicks who are on the path of health!

Why bother? Well it would be one thing if giving up meant staying at the weight you give up at--but most people don't, they keep gaining. Is that what you want? Heck NO! NO! Healthy weight, that's what we want! All that extra fat, GONE!

It DOES get easier as you keep with it. I find I literally can't eat the way I used to if I go out. I fill up and can't finish. Same goes for exercise--and here's a little known secret ha ha: the less you weigh, the easier the exercise gets.

It IS possible to have those treat type foods--I like kaplods' approach to making it yourself. A fruit smoothie is wonderful. But even the "bad" foods can be handled--you just have to plan and not decide to throw everything into the wind. Tonight I went to the theater. At intermission I ate three cookies and had fruit punch. I still came in at 1244 calories for the day, so I'm good!

Stick with it. It will work. You'll see.

Jay

The post surrender pounds are definitely a big motivator for me not giving up (even more than the "book), because it's very possible that post-surrender gain for me would put me in the bed-bound-take-me-out-through-the-picture-window weight class. it's hard enough finding clothing at my current size, without having to resort to bedsheet chic.

It's fun to see I'm not the only aspiring author.

Lisa,

As I was reading all of the posts your thread has generated I am overwhelmed by the kindness and support. As I was reading I noticed a quote in one of the replies that says "Forget past mistakes. Forget failures. Forget everything except what you're going to do now - and just do it." -- William Durant

Be kind to yourself. We ALL have those days and we always will. Celebrate your little victories and be proud of yourself for them. You WILL get to where you want to be. So here is a and a Now stay away from the street that DQ is on and get back on the wagon. You deserve it my friend.

Tawna

Hi Lisa!

You've gotten PLENTY of great advice from all of those who have already posted, but I wanted to add this:

Lisa, you have already lost SIX POUNDS! That is 21,000 calories of fat that are NOW gone from your body! That's a HUGE CHANGE!

Now, maybe losing fifty pounds sounds too daunting right now. I know for me I need to lose about forty to get to my ultimate goal. SOOOOOOO, I think of little goals. My next goal is to get to 195. That's just four pounds. Then when I get there I'll aim for 190. Before I know it I will have reached my ultimate goal.

If you haven't visited Fitday to record your calories and exercise, I'd suggest you do that now. It's free and really is helping me change my dream into a reality! www.Fitday.com

Stick with it, Lisa! We are there for you!

Cheryl

This thread is awesome.

Whenever I feel bad for something I ate, I say to myself "one ice cream cone did not make me fat, one ice cream cone a day made me fat". Or whatever food you binged with. It reminds me that getting fat is also a process, and that I have to change that process in order to get healthy. There`s so much good advice and support here, be thankful that you can and will change!

I tend to go overboard when I visit my family...which is why I try not to visit too much.

But I did spend a couple days there, just got back home yesterday. And I had ice cream AND pizza. Yum. Does that make me quit? No. I ran the high school track with my daughter while I was there to work a bit of it off. And I remember that it was TWO days. Two days doesn't undo weeks, months, years. If I have two days a month it STILL isn't going to hurt me. I don't call it a slip. I'm not trying to DIET. I'm trying to change my eating habits, and I have. I don't eat ice cream and pizza every day. I use to though. So I HAVE changed my eating habits. And I'm allowed to have ice cream, pizza, whatever from time-to-time. They're not no nos, they're just not every times.

All day today, the day after my original post, I kept your 'voices' in my head. I kept remembering all the things you wrote. I ate handfuls of grapes instead of a candy bar when I wanted something sweet. I went to a sub shop for a chewy low fat/high veggie sandwich for lunch and dinner was low fat stir fry and a salad. I'm saving some calories tonight for lite popcorn and a diet pepsi.
In a very short time, this forum and you wonderful people have come to mean so much to me. I open up here and tell you things I don't tell my friends because there is no negative judgement. Just support and advice and hugs.
Thanks, everyone.

Yeah Hope!!!! Great Job! Pat on the back, Kiss on the cheek and all that!