Why will you be successful this time? What's different?
 

Another thread got me thinking about this. It's not about 'Why do i want to lose weght?" I've been wanting to for years. I've been over weight and obese for years.

This time is different because:

1. I'm exercising consistently and longer.

2. Replacing my over eating with healthy or healthier habits.

3.Portion control.

4. Owning up to my problem of overeating and binging. Dealing with it. Identifying my 'triggers' and preventing them.

5. Public. Everyone knows i'm losing weight.

6. Accountable. Check in groups/challenges with real people.

7. Online support. No one understands better than 3FC. It really matters to have friends that really 'get' it.

i dont know if i will be successful or not....just know i'm better at losing weight than maintaining.....this time last year i weight 169 lbs....and well, in 2007 i weighed 322lbs.....and well, you can clearly see my ticker....i don't know what my problem is, but i am working on figuring it out...i am not worried about taking the weight off, for me, that part is easy, the hard part for me is thinking i deserve it.
so this time i'm just going to try and remember how crappy 300 lbs feels, and this time i'm going to try and take it off, and keep it off for my health.....we will see ;)

I have the education now... If you understand how the body works it's really hard to feed it stuff is doesn't need. The more aware you are of the chemical reactions and processes that occur within cells, the more apt you are to want to help that process. Health starts not just with your body but with each organ, each system, each cell.

Wow. I like these responses so far. They definitely give one pause for thought.

I've always preceded this kind of response with a "Well, I don't know if this time I'll be successful, but..."

Well now, I can honestly say, Heck yeah! I am successful! And I will continue to be successful! And here's why!

1. I made a commitment to be on plan for one full year no matter what. This is the NUMBER ONE key to my success. I safe guarded myself against giving up. Even better, when all kinds of people on 3FC are watching you to see if it works you really want to make it work.

2. I weigh daily. This is going to be a part of my success in maintenance. I know me. I can not bury my head in the sand if I have to face that number every day.

3. Like Zombie said, I am educated now about the foods I put in my mouth and it has become a hobby. I improve on my healthy intake every day and I enjoy it more and more.

4. Like Piper, I remember what it's like to be at my heaviest. I remember vividly and I remember every day. The smallest, most ridiculous things bring me absolute joy. I take time daily to revel in these joys. Today I have marveled at how easily I cross my legs and I remember back to the days when I had to hold my breath, bend over to grab the cuff of my pants and hoist one leg up over the other and that was just to cross them "like a man". Then I had to hold my foot up there or prop it up against something. Now I just cross them like a lady and I even fit under a table with them crossed. Today I marveled at how slim my thighs are becoming while I did a wall sit. Yesterday I was thrilled to be able to pull my legs in comfortably in a chair in a waiting room while other women had to sit properly. This is a "me" thing. I'm one to always have my legs pulled in, or sit on my feet. I kick my shoes off and sit like that wherever and whenever I can. But it gotten so I couldn't curl up that way and I wanted to.

birth control that stabilizes and reduces crazy monthly hunger

realizing low-carb can be healthy, and is healthy for me

daily weigh-ins without guilt or apology

taking punishment, blame and shame out of the weight-loss process

realizing that "staying the same" is nearly as good as a loss instead of feeling as if it were as bad as a gain

only making changes I"m willing to do indefinitely

being willing to change plans if what I'm doing isn't working (without feeling I'm entitiled to take a "break" from good habits before starting the revised plan).

"Unlearning" the counterproductive behaviors and beliefs associated with dieting and weight loss. Just because "everyone does it," doesn't mean I have to or should.

1. Portion and time control. I eat by the clock, and I portion all my food accordingly. I restrict myself almost nothing. If I have enough calories left over for it, I can have it. If not, I can always have it tomorrow.
2. Calorie counting. Without it, I'd be nowhere.
3. This website.
4. Daily weigh ins, so I can see what my body does naturally, and how it reacts to certain foods and certain amounts.
5. A much better understanding of how weightloss is achieved.
6. Because I don't want to spend my 20s the same way I spent my teens, alone and fat and inside on he weekends.

Great Thread!

Doing my diet as an everyday thing and not as something "special or temporary"

Not getting bent out of shape if I have no control over my food for one meal (relatives, restauants...)

Counting all calories and carbs whether high or low and understanding my needs change from day to day.

Challenging myself to think beyond my own little box of pre-conceived ideas about what it means to diet by making it more about monitoring my eating and food selections than it is about restrictions.

Most of all, I am successful because I want to be. I can remember at my heaviest weight I would whine and moan about how I had no control over my eating and couldn't lose weight no matter how hard I tried. The reality was my "tries" were whimpy attempts and my desire to eat was stronger than my desire to succeed was. I wonder why I ever believed that....I have been able to lose weight and control my eating for over a year now.

Great thread!

I'll succeed this time for one simple reason.

I'm doing this as a lifestyle change. Not a diet. I'm doign it for my health, my children's health, and my husband's health. The weight coming off is an added, exciting benefit. There are so many health problems in my family (and with my husband) that I saw a very bleak life for my children. I changed for them, and because DH wouldn't do it on his own. And once I changed, I realized that *I* deserve to be healthy too.

One word: Tracking.

I've lost weight before. A lot of times actually- but I've never consistently tracked my progress like I am now. I know exactly what I've eaten and when I've worked out and how much I weigh. That's what makes this time different.

I will succeed this time because:

* I have accepted that I had to change even though I was uncomfortable doing so.

* I have accepted that some of my old favorites, sugar and high carb cause me to crave them, so I have to avoid them or pay the consequences.

* I have accepted that my intuitive eating button just simply does not work. I will always have to monitor my food intake.

* I have accepted that walking from the couch to the kitchen is really not exercise and now I do real exercise.


On the positive side, I will succeed this time, also, because:

* I learned that the change was not as terrible as I always thought that it would be.

* I learned that there are healthy foods that I enjoy that can replace my old favorites.

* I have learned that keeping a food journal is really not that difficult and time consuming.

* I have learned that exercise is not that bad and can even be fun at times.

* I have learned that I don't have to be perfect. Being persistent is more important.

I will also succeed this time because I love the results that I see:

* playing on the floor with my grandchildren

* going shopping for hours for much smaller clothes

* sleeping better at night

* having much less pain

* feeling better about myself

* socializing more

* being a happier person

I have a better support system in place, both in spirit here and through technology with my online calorie counter.

I have eliminated the person in my life who sabotaged me constantly.

I no longer have to cook for a notoriously picky eater that lives on potatoes, ketchup and fast food.

I have found my stride with exercise. I like to run and I like to go to Zumba. I would honestly be unhappy to go without either one for more than 3 days.

I never want to see an obese BMI for myself ever again.

I can go a day or two without soda, a can of soda is now a filling treat to be indulged in.

This time is different because I have lost weight without a crazy crash diet. Because I feel incredible and am only 1 size from my goal size and 15 pounds from goal weight. And this time I feel confident that I can do this forever and be perfectly happily living like this (advantage to taking months to lose 15 pounds?h

I am hoping i will be successful this time and my reasons are mainly because im changing other areas of my life to.

1. Im focousing in more counting points
2. I have made a gym in my house
3. I am exercising aprox 3 times per week
4. I am starting my own business
5. I am learning to drive

Just all these litte factors should come together and create my new life style and in turn i will lose weight at a steady healthy pace and keep it off, i just feel like im achieving in other areas so eventually i will achieve weightloss:carrot:

so many of these are true for me too. i weigh daily. it's not a big deal if i go up or down slightly (well down is relative lol. new numbers is always fun.) tracking for sure, but telling real people about it is key. i hate telling my friends i didn't work out. I don't just forget about exercising anymore.

i was already eating pretty healthy, but i'm learning more and more about improving. i've never had success like this before. i'm getting rid of all my fat clothes. there's no turning back now!

This time it's a permanent change because:

1) I've finally learned so much about nutrition and the human body that I understand why I'm doing what I'm doing and why it works (and I will continue to learn!)

2) I've accepted that in order to be thinner, I needed to make changes in my life. I couldn't be thin and still eat as much as I was eating before, it was impossible. Being a little hungry isn't the end of the world, cooking isn't the end of the world, denying myself a piece of cake every day isn't the end of the world.

3) Habits, healthy habits, are so important to keep things going even when I'm tired or cranky or upset.

4) Learning to say no to friends and loved one that want to express their love through food. It's hard. I sometimes can't say no, but I have grown strong enough to let the junk spoil or throw it away.

5) My exercise comes ahead of my social schedule! In fact, I'm working to make physical activities part of my social life, instead of food.

I am doing this for my kids this time. I know that our children learn from us and I do not want my children to learn from my unhealthy habbits. I am also doing it for myself I have never been heavier in my life and I had a wake up call while on the phone with my friend and we were talking about weight. I gained the weight over 2 years and if I kept going this way I would be over 330 and then 430 and so on:?:. The next day I went to the gym, and have continued going everyday since then.:smug: with 15 lbs gone it has given me even more motivation to loose the other 75lbs

I've never really tried before. This is my first real effort at weight loss. I've invested way too much to let go of my dream.

I'm not quite there yet but I'm well on my way. Here's why:

1.) Moderation and sustainability. I could do this forever. I'm not depriving myself of things I like, I don't beat myself up over small slipups, and I still eat dessert.

2.) Regular exercise. I've developed a routine for the week and enjoy working out. I've replaced my prior addictions (nicotine, carbs) with an exercise addiction.

3.) 3FC and online encouragement. Being held accountable by strangers works well for me. 3FC is the best healthy living/weight loss forum on the Internet for sure!

4.) I'm super vain and determined to weigh less than my mom and wear a certain clothing size.

5.) There's no going back once you know what healthy living really feels like!

Honestly, this site is what's different for me this time. I've always been very private about weight loss attempts in the past, and I still am. Whenever I've hit stalls, or gotten frustrated, I would typically slowly phase out of whatever plan I'd been following and return to my old eating habits. This site gives me an outlet for frustrations and a source of inspiration and advice. It also has created a daily habit for me, almost an addition...a need to read the boards, drop in my own two-cents on occasion, update my signature when my weight cooperates, and overall, keep a positive mindset. Thanks so much to all of you for giving me the sense that I can do this. :hug:

This time I plan on succeeding mainly because :

1. I am doing it for ME , Myself and I !!!!! not for anybody else ! I have been that route too many time.

2. I am consciously thinking what I am putting in my mouth and the amounts !

3. I am making a conscious effort to move off the computer and my craft table for at least half an hour a day and doing something physical !

I will be successful this time because:
1) I have discovered that water really is terrific!
2) I don't let anyone or anything get in the way of exercise, NO MATTER WHAT!
3) I don't have any junk food in my house whatsoever
4) I track every single morsel of food that goes in my mouth
5) I have read almost everything I can get my hands on about nutrition, health and the human body
6) I truly push myself while exercising. I pretend that Jillian Michaels is right in front of me, screaming at me to realize my potential, and so far it has worked.
7) For me, sugar and carbs are my enemies and I stay away from them.
8) But, most of all, I will succeed because I am almost 47 y/o and I will not enter my 50s as a fat, frumpy, lumpy, lazy old lady. I will be fit and healthy!!

Krampus, I'm going to borrow your number 1, word for word. Moderation and sustainability! I have finally, after trying my whole adult life it seems, managed to find a plan that I'd rather do than not. I have never felt better, and I'm still almost 300 lbs!! I feel better now than I have at much smaller weights, because I am nourishing my body properly. And knowing what I know now about how that makes you feel, I don't envision ever deciding it's not worth it.

Another biggie for me is that I know what 350 lbs feels like, and for me, it felt like death's doorstep. I will NEVER feel that way again as long as it is within my power not to. Let's say I hit my rock bottom there.

I believe i will be successful because, for the 1st time;
1.) I watch what i eat and stay away from junk foods.
2.) I don't overwork myself to lose weight, i have settled for a daily exercise pattern i can stick to.
3.) I am determined to stop being categorised as 'FAT'.

1. DH is supportive :cheers:

2. Dr. is threatening meds. :(

3. I WON'T be the fattest one in next year's family reunion pic :dance:
4. I want to wear something cute!:belly:
5. I'm avoiding negative people :p

6. I'm staying off caffeine :devil:

7. I'm making real progress :tread:

8. I'm getting adequate sunshine :flow1:

9. I'm getting adequate sleep :angel:

10. 29 days on plan has improved my relationship with food !!! :encore:

I will be successful this time, mostly, because I have tossed the all or nothing mentality. I don't have to be perfect to lose weight, and I'm no longer giving up just because I fall down once, twice, or twenty times.

Not letting the scale dictate my actions. Similar to Eliana's "stick with it for one year plan", I was determined to track my calories in and out and count my "success" by maintaining a healthy average calorie deficit.

I know the majority on here are daily weighers, but tracking my actions rather than checking in with the scale has made all the difference in my success.

Why this time will be different from previous attempts:

- I'm refusing to punish myself because I don't deserve to get bullied, not even by myself. I would chew someone's face off for telling me the kind of mean-girl things I sometimes tell myself, and I'm not going to stand for it any more.

- Being kind to myself doesn't mean making excuses for myself. Some things are simply non-negotiable: half an hour of daily exercise, five servings of vegetables and fruits per day, mindful eating. This is who I am now--a person who does things, a person who enjoys her meals, a person who eats in color.

- I realize that maintenance, healthfulness, and sustainability are more important to lasting weight loss than speed. The scale is not the ultimate arbiter of my success; I pay attention to all the other positive aspects of weight loss like more energy and better-fitting clothing.

- My husband is tremendously supportive and is a wicked good cook. I love that man! :)

- I no longer see an arbitrary number as the dividing line between success and failure. In previous attempts, I would set myself a calorie (or carb gram or fat gram) limit and believe I'd "failed" if I exceeded it even slightly, leading me to set the whole plan aside. This time, I'm viewing the number as a target to aim for, not a cliff from which to tumble.

- Instead of losing because I hate my looks/my body/my clothes, I'm losing because I love stuff I can't currently do with ease. It's more positive to run toward something than away from something else; this time, I'm running toward spending a whole day at the zoo, trotting up the ramps at the Superdome to watch a Saints game, and wearing gorgeous vintage clothing instead of styleless schmattas.

- This time, I'm losing weight because I like myself, not because I don't.

I have been successful this time because

(1) I have enough past experience to know what kinds of diets don't work for me (e.g. low-fat) and to know that I can lose weight on moderate calories with a moderate low-carb approach.

(2) I was emotionally ready to commit to this for the long term. There's only one time in the last 1 year 10 months when I did something I'd classify as "emotional eating", and I got right back on plan fairly quickly.

(3) I worked to eliminate "habitual eating". It used to be that I'd snack heavily on car trips and when watching TV. I still sometimes eat in those situations, but it's out of my food allocation for the day.

(4) I walk a mile and a half six times a week, every single week. That's fairly moderate, as exercise goes, but it seems to be enough to let my body know that everything is OK and it's OK to continue to burn fat.

I expect to be successful in maintenance because

(1) I know that my "diet" will never be over. When I was younger, the thought of being on a diet for the rest of my life was terribly depressing, but now it doesn't bother me at all. I expect to maintain for now on 1750 calories a day, which I may have to reduce as I get older. But I'm not finding 1400 a day to be burdensome, and I find it much less stressful to count calories than to try to eat intuitively (something I don't know if I'll ever be able to do).

(2) I think I'm in the right "headspace". I've been interested to read posts from long-time and recent maintainers discussing the ways in which maintenance can be *more* challenging than the weight loss phase, and I think I'm mentally prepared. Time will tell, I guess.