Okay, so I am much more of a lurker than a poster. But, twice in the past 4 years I have lost 35 lbs. Both times, I decided that I needed a "short break" from dieting.... and ended up gaining all the weight back and then some.

So, I am currently at 32 lbs lost. I think you can see where this is going.

I am worried that I will fall into the same trap again. I mean, sure, right now the thought of stopping sounds silly, but my mind is a dangerous place. I am feeling frustrated with things right now. I am worried that the old pattern will re-emerge.

I have decided to start this thread as a way of being accountable to someone to get past 35 lbs lost. This thread is my "get-to-40-pounds-lost" thread. I would appreciate some support over the next while.

Thanks and peace....

Heather

All I can give is encouragement and support. I went through the same thing. I would lose 10-15 lbs and then give up and put it all back on, plus more. The change for me (and this was back when I weighed 250 lbs) was when I figured out what I called "the missing puzzle piece." I realized that I didn't have to do it in such an all-or-nothing way. I didn't have to give up or take a break; I could just lose weight slowly, eating enough but not overeating. That's me, though, and of course actually putting that into practice was much harder than just having the ah-ha! moment.

Good luck with your progress. I know you can do it.

That's why I decided that I wasn't ever going to diet again.

The problem with "going on a diet" is that eventually you "go off" the diet. "A diet" is something you stop and start, something that deprives you. I don't want to spend the rest of my life going on and off diets - and losing and gaining the same weight over and over and over again. I would venture to guess that the most successful folks here are the ones who decided they weren't "going on a diet" - they were going to change their lives.

Maybe it's time for you to change your plan - instead of "going on a diet", think about how you can change your life so that it's not something you have to worry about again. Because what you don't want to happen is to push through to 40 lbs and then repeat the cycle.

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How did you lose the 32 pounds before? If you lost them by yo-yoing then that's your problem right there.

Heather, Yay for you! I can relate to where you are. Congrats for recognizing it before you loose control this time. You have come too far to backslide and ruin all your hard work. Keep plugging away because it will be soOOoo worth it when you hit that 40 pound mark! Imagine how great you'll feel the morning you step on the scale and your down 40 pounds.... !!!

I'm having trouble staying consistant lately myself, so I'll be glad to cheer you on. It keeps me pepped up too. For me the problem is sliding into 'old habits' some people say 'falling off the wagon', etc. Whatever you call it, there are tough days, and I'm sure you just want to get over that 40 lb hump.

You are too close to lose steam now!

I was doing South Beach both times before... and I think, for me, that was part of the problem. I got really frustrated with not being able to eat certain foods, that I just wanted them. So I would take "a break".

This time, I am doing WW, and I have to say, I really like it. The idea that there are no "off limit" foods is appealing to me, and has been sustainable over the last 3 months. (I started WW on July 22). I find myself thinking that I could eat like this forever. (a good sign).

Also, I have found an exercise regime I love. I truly never thought that was possible. I HATE exercise. I would rather be fat forever than do most exercises. However, I have been doing hot yoga (yoga in a room that is 105 degrees) and I love it so much. It calms my mind and I love the increased flexibility.

KendraLynn: that is a great "a-ha" moment. I am such an all or nothing person. That is a great insight.

I guess I am worried because I keep having this urge to eat chips... and that is how it always starts....

Heather

I'm with photochick on this one. I dieted my weight up and down for YEARS. I finally had to learn how to make changes that I could do for the rest of my life. It may take a bit longer to lose the weight, but it is soooo rewarding to know that a pound lost is a pound lost FOREVER!

Tweak your plan to include only things that you can do indefinitely. You CAN do this! It takes some experimenting, but is very, very rewarding - and worth it!

EDIT: (you were posting at the same time)
BTW - I think WW is a great plan that you can sustain for life Either banish the chips as a "trigger food", or learn to incorporate them - in moderation. I'm gonna follow your thread to see how you are doing - I'm betting you will get past that magic number this time

Hi Heather,
I absolutely agree with Photo. I have dieted and I've never even made it to 40 pounds and I found it constant torture, I was always wanting what I couldnt have.
This time I'm hoping to make it to goal. I found that I eat more so I'm never really hungry so I dont get those binge urges. Since nothing is forbidden I just make sure that if I want a treat in the evening I bank a few calories during the day and/or work out extra so I can afford to have that piece of pie. One other thing I did was buy those 100 calorie chips. I know there is only eight in a bag but I know when it gone its gone. I just make sure I eat them real slow...lol...I know you can do it. just keep posting, and we'll read and cheer you on.

PhotoChick is a wise, wise woman; listen to her.

It's smart to be cautious considering your past patterns, but it sounds like WW may be your answer - a way that you can eat forever. I am very much like you; all my past weight loss successes involved dieting and yo-yo gains and losses. This time, nothing is off limits; I just count calories and track every morsel I put in my mouth. Like today, the Halloween candy sat in the bowl mocking me and I wound up eating one snack sized Snickers @ 60 calories. Now, obviously I could have (perhaps should have) made a better snack choice, but I'm ok with the choice I made. Why? Because clearly, I'm not going to live the rest of my life without Snickers. I just need to learn not to eat the whole bag! (And having the control to have just one made me feel pretty good today.)

I have the same issue, except mine is time, not pounds. I'm at seven months...my "usual" length of success.

I'm hanging on, comforted by the fact that my current plan, like yours, feels as though I could stick with it.

I'm rooting for you to make 40 pounds...You can do it! I'm rooting for myself to make 8 months...it gives me hope that I can continue to nine and beyond!

I agree with PhotoChick , also.

Rita - Good for you!!!

I remember when - this was well over a year ago - I bought a pack of Reese's Peanut Butter cups (my favorite candy ever). Not a bag - just one of the packs of 2. I ate one and while it was good and tasted just like I remembered and I really enjoyed it, it was also really SWEET. And I realized that I didn't *want* the other one in the pack. I could have eaten it easily. And in my previous life, I would have just snarfed it down w/out even thinking. But I wouldn't have enjoyed it much. This time I thought about how I really didn't want it ... and I wrapped it up and put it in the fridge. I think I ate it about 3 weeks later.

I practically cried when I realized I didn't HAVE to eat the whole thing. And when I realized I could let a pb cup sit in the fridge for 3 weeks and not feel like I HAD to eat it because it was there.

It's a huge realization, isn't it? So kudos for you for eating one Snickers and not the whole bag!

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