andreaarnett10's Journal, 31 March 2018

Smile even when you don't want to. Pray. Watch a funny video to make you giggle. Stick your face in the sun. And remember you have a great support community here that will always be pulling for you! 😀 

Aww thank you Jitterbug, that’s great advice! Thanks for the support :) 

I used things that are important for me to do that I can't do at my current size to drive my motivation and focus. For my first effort back in my forties it was to get from a place similar to where I'm at now down to a place where I could run the length of the south rim of the grand canyon with my daughter (doing it with my daughter being the important part). That kept my head in the game through all the tough patches. Using the same strategy now with the goal to get back to similar condition so I can race motorcycles side by side with my son when old enough to run at the local road course. Bottom line IMO is to pick something so important to you that you can't help but keep your eye on the prize.  

I figure "going on a diet" isn't going to help me... because the implication is that someday I won't be on a diet anymore (and then bad habits creep back). Making it a permanent lifestyle overhaul works better for me - this is for the rest of my life! I've fluctuated between 135 and 155 over the past ten years or so - not great... I'm hoping that this time around, I don't jump off the boat! :) Good luck, not every idea works for everyone - I hope you find a plan that helps YOU! :D 

JLente that’s great advice! probably should be focusing on the long term. Short term goals are not enough! congrats on all of your progress!!! :) 

Hi, I think you are doing a good job. Kaiser medical has a program where you actually lose 1-2 pounds a week and it becomes a life style based on calorie counting or portion control. I started at 205 and down now to 187. It’s steady but a constant monitoring activity. Keep up the good work. We proud of you🤓 

It is a lifestyle change and you have to find the mind set that works for you. Looking at the precious picture with you hold the baby would be motivation. Slow weight loss is more permanent precisely because it is slow and you end up with better eating habits that last longer. I always tell my kids to use their stubbornness for good because they get stubbornness from both sides and I have found that works for me. It took me years to lose from 200 down to around 140 then I bounced up to 145 and it is taking forever to get back to 140. You will get there so just take one time at a day, drink your fluids, and pay attention to your macros so you know what works best for your body. I would add exercise if you can find the time. Most of all, know that you are not alone and you are worth the effort.  

Jeannine thats very true!!! Any time I reach a Short term goal I fall off the wagon! I feel ya! I will make mine a lifestyle chance as well!! 

Drnomar thank you! That’s good to know! Great job on your progress!!! Proud of you! :) 

Ginger thank you very much! That’s very true, I feel very stubborn myself and over the past year I have looked at my son for me motivation! I want to be at a healthy place as he grows up so that I can be a good example for him and be able to keep up with him! Thank you for that important reminder! :) <3 

Now you're getting to the real heart of the matter and it goes way beyond "KETO" or "Paleo" or "Atkins" or "Pritikin" or "HFLC" -- it gets into the real psychology of weight management. There's a somewhat outdated theory from the 1940's from psychologist Abraham Maslow called "Maslow's hierarchy of needs" in which, among other things, he states that our needs and priorities and motivations are always shifting depending upon the current circumstances. So, for example, when I couldn't zip up my motorcycle jacket and I didn't have a larger size, and motorcycle jackets are expensive and I didn't want to buy another one, losing weight was my top priority/motivation. I'm now 3 sizes smaller (with 3 sizes still to go) and my motorcycle jacket now fits fine (it's actually a little big now) so that initial motivation is long gone. What I've noticed after at least 6 significant weight loss adventures in my life (minimum 25 pound weight loss, up to 75 pound weight loss) is that after a while cheese cake starts to hog the spotlight rather than clothes and image in the mirror. This time around I've taken an approach similar to what FarmerJeannine stated, in which this is not about "going on a diet" for me, because that mindset definitely tripped me up in the past. I figured I could do just about anything for 4-6 months, after which I'd go back to "normal". The problem obviously was that "back to normal" was anything BUT normal when it came to eating. So I've switched my thinking towards a model in which I simply embrace a new plan of eating (borrowed from Overeaters Anonymous, of which I am not a member but I did read some of their literature). For me, the key so far has been finding foods and combinations of foods that fit the daily calorie requirements and that are healthy and tasty and within my skill set to prepare regularly. (I've come to realize, since I live alone, that my daily food intake is highly dependent upon my ability to actually, you know, COOK! I laugh a little but I had to look up on the internet how to boil eggs to make hard boiled eggs! Fortunately, the internet is a big help in that regard.) Also, and I can't stress this enough, coming here every day and logging in everything I eat is really really really critical, because our minds tend to play tricks on us and unless we actually see how many calories we're taking in we tend to underestimate that figure by a lot. Also, reading the different successes and struggles of FS members is a big help as well. Just my 2 cents. 

Andrea, add yoga into your exercise routine. It will change EVERYTHING in the most beautiful way. You can do online, which surprisingly works well, and from convenience of your home. Yoga international and yoga glo have wonderful classes - Rod Stryker is my teacher and I can’t speak highly enough. Wishing you all the best! You inspire me! 

@sam1955 Damn well said. Unable to wear my 'fat' motorcycle jacket was the final wake up call (actually kick in the <bleep>) required to get things back on track, and now back into it. You are so right, it not about a temporary diet but about a change in life (with a focus on concrete long term goals for me). Stay to your path and keep the rubber side down.  

Love yourself everyday for who you are - Do the right things in your plan and stick to it - Bumps along the way, but you will be happy whereever you are at - The success will come AND you will be happy all of the time - You have shown you can do it -WHEN NOT IF , WHEN NO IF - There is not a timeframe except for you - RELAX , YOU ARE DOING IT - GREAT POST!!!!!! - My advice, enjoy the weekend - God Bless 

Slow weight loss = weight you keep off Visualize how you will look at your goal weight, or the scale reading, or you in a new, smaller outfit. Visualizing is very powerful, the mis-match between your vision and what you see today, sets up a cognitive dissonance that increases your will - power. 

I have a white board near my scale that has my starting point and where I am currently. I also write something motivational that reminds me of why I am on this path.  

JLente: Rubber side down and shiny side up! :-) 

@ JLente & sam1955 - Not being a motorcyclist, I had to look that up in good ol' Google - sounds like a useful phrase! :) 

Sam1955 thank you so much! It’s definitely all about lifestyle! You are all right!! Congrats on your progress! You and your positivity are an inspiration! 

Onelove1111 yes!! I used to do yoga and loved it! I need to get back into it! You are right, it’s wonderful for the mind AND body! I’m sure that would help with my mental health and staying on track! You are inspiring!!