Reflections on this WOL......

[MotherNature]

You know, I have been complaining a lot lately about my lack of progress, but I sat down yesterday and really thought about where I am at the present time in this WOE. When I started this WOE over a year ago, it was nothing unusual for me to sit down and eat a whole bag of M&Ms or a bag of chips. I would drink 3 or 4 regular cokes per day. My food choices were horrible and vegetables and salad in my diet were almost non-existent. Now, after over a year of this WOE, I am horrified at the thought of eating chips and if I stick one teeny M&M in my mouth I feel guilty for the rest of the day. I haven't had anything but diet coke in over a year. What a difference! Salad and vegetables are a daily part of my diet and I have learned to make much better food choices. I have eaten many new foods (some that I had never even heard of before Atkins like Jicama). While I am not losing much at the present time, I am effortlessly maintaining my weight thanks to my Atkins WOL. I am so very grateful for that. I had been obese for so many years before I started Atkins and had tried so very many diets before that didn't work for me that I really didn't expect Atkins to work either. When after a few months, I noticed that the weight was still coming off, and I was being subtlely retrained to eat correctly and make better food choices, I became hopeful that this time I was really going to make it. At that point I gave myself 2 years to lose the 133 pounds I needed to lose to reach goal. In the first year I lost 87 of those pounds. I am now 2-1/2 months into my second year and I have only lost 2 pounds, but I have until next January 12 to lost 44 more pounds to meet my weight loss goal. I am gradually edgeing back into the mindset I need to continue on with my weight loss journey. I haven't given up but just marked time for a while. I will get there. I just wanted to say that there are so many things I am grateful to have learned from this WOL. I am now in control of my eating habits. My health has improved so much. I feel better than I have in years. If I never lose another pound, I am still a winner. Thanks to all of you on this board who have stuck with me through thick and thin (literally). I appreciate all of you so much.

Cathy

P.S. Sorry this is so long. I must be in a babbling mood this morning. LOL

[cleochatra]

Babble on!

Which, incidentally, sounds like a place.

And congratulations to you for being so clear-minded and logical about this woe. It is so nice to have such clarity and the feeling that even though things might not be moving quickly, health and satisfaction overcome speed and material-thinness everytime!

*double disco hip bump to cogent thinking*

[softnred]

You sound similar to me. I've been griping to myself about my apparent lack of progress in the past few months. Yet this morning, as I watched some of our students downing regular coca-cola, I couldn't help but think of all the sugar they were throwing into their bodies. I had to stop and chuckle...a year ago I drank at least 44 ounces of Pepsi a day and didn't think anything of it. Now my only soda is Diet Rite, and I don't even drink very much of it.

It's soooo easy to forget how far we've come, and every so often we need to stop and take stock.

:hug :hug :hug :hug

JoAnne

[MotherNature]

Exactly right, Joann. I was so wrapped up in losing that next pound that I completely lost sight of what I had already accomplished. My main reason for starting this diet in the first place was because my health was so bad I was afraid I wouldn't be here to see my grandchildren grow up. I had had a mild stroke due to high blood pressure. My cholesterol and triglycerides were astronomical. My arthritis was so bad that I could barely get up and down steps. Just standing up from a sitting position was a huff and puff event! Now after losing 89 pounds, my blood pressure is low, my cholesterol and triglycerides are normal, my arthritis is much better, I'm much more active than I was, and for the first time in years I feel good. I have so much to be thankful for from this WOL that if I never lose another pound I am blessed. Not that I'm quitting. I fully intend to reach goal. LOL

Cathy

[2big4mysize]

woo hoo for you.


isn't it great that your healthy new way of eating for a longer healthier life also was a shrinking your body way of eating too.

Happy low carbing.

[ArcadiaX]

I can totally relate, JoAnne and Cathy, though I've only been doing this for 3 weeks. I used to drink about 4 cans of Dr. Pepper to get through a night at work (with a can at home with dinner). I could eat Hershey Bites til they were coming out my ears! After the reaction I had on induction...it just floored me how sensitive I was to sugar. It also clued me into a few family problems...such as my late Granny's hypertension problems. She was constantly baking desserts - cakes, pies, etc. I have a feeling most of her problems may have stemmed from a sensitivity to sugar.

I work in the Technical Support industry, for a national internet provider here in Canada. As a result, there's a lot of sugar floating around. It's only going to get worse, as I'm moving to the day shift after 5 years of being on graves. The supervisors and Senior Techs are always bringing doughnuts and candies for "Motivation", and I'm going to be the one saying "No thanks...I have my water bottle! At least on graves the main temptation is only put forth by the vending machine. If you don't bring change, you don't get sweets

And I'm still floored by the one Sr. Tech who keeps a box of chocolates at her desk. What in the world is up with THAT? :yikes

[doitnow]

Cathy and JoAnne: I'm in a similar place with the two of you. When I started and the weight was just falling off, I thought that I'd coast into my goal weight in a year. Well, I didn't hit goal by November 2004, in fact, I struggled for months just to maintain.

This week I stopped by the rec center to take a FitBall class for the first time. During the class I realized that I could not only keep up with the instructor, I surpassed a lot of the younger women in the class. That class made me realize that I'd done a lot more than lose weight over the last year and a half...I'd gotten fit and healthy, which was much more important.

I know now that it's going to take a lot longer than I had previously anticipated to reach my goal, but that's ok, cause I will get there eventually. In the meantime, I will continue to get healthier and stronger.

Good to know that I'll have company along the way!

[Binsk]

Cathy, you are so right. For many of us the weight loss has slowed almost to a halt. I think we set ourselves up in the beginning, because we see the weight coming off quickly and we let ourselves think, " It will only take so many months before I reach goal ", when that doesn't happen it can be very frustrating, and easy to blame yourself for doing something that is impeding your weight loss. It can also be frustrating seeing others lose so consistently while you are struggling.

I love your post because it reminds us of the other things that we have accomplished that enhance our lives much more than just a number on a scale.

Great post.

[AmyTheobald]

I am also in a slow moving phase, and just about jumped off the wagon. Instead I decided to not weigh this month, and keep on keeping on with the plan. This is a lifestyle, and if I presist so will my weightloss. Cheers to all you have accomplished. I am at 50lbs down and anticipating another 50 within the next year.

[jroche5998]

MotherNature,

What a great post. It must feel so good knowing that you are much healthier. You didn't just lose weight, you got healthy, the weight loss is just a bonus.

I like that your grandchildren were part of your motivation to start. Now keep it up so you are healthy enough to meet and play with your great-grand-children (whenever they arrive).

[MotherNature]

Joann, Monica, and Amy....Let's all stick this out together. So many of the people that I started out with last year have disappeared off the board. It is very discouraging to have them post less and less until they finally are gone altogether. Please let's don't do that.

2Big....I attribute a lot of my better health to the very good advice I have gotten from you over the past months. Thank you.

Arcadia...After 3 weeks, some of your sugar cravings should be beginning to disappear. You can resist the siren call of those evil sweet goodies. We all have faith in you!

Binsk...You are so right. It helps to keep everything in perspective.

Jim....My oldest grandchild is only 9, but I fully intend to be around to play with my great grandchildren! LOL

I think I finally have my mind ready to continue on my downward journey. So much of what contributes to the success of this WOE is in your mind and not your physical body. One thing that had me really depressed is that so many of the people who started this journey with me last year have now gone AWOL. I depended on them so much for support and encouragement and I watched so many of them disappear over time. Back in January when they were posting the 1-year anniversarys and I saw so many names on the list that I had depended on that were no longer posting it really brought me down. I felt like I couldn't succeed either and would eventually drift away from the board just like they did. I can't let that happen. This board and the people on it are my lifeline. I need to come here and talk to the friends I have made here to succeed.

Cathy

[doitnow]

Cathy: That was lovely! You're right, we've lost quite a few people along the way. Sometimes, I think back over the last 18 months and try to remember all the people who were so excited when they first started. It was so much fun getting to know them and celebrating their successes.

Never fear, I'm in it for the long haul. I may be collecting social security when I finally hit goal...but I will get there eventually! Thanks for the post!

[MotherNature]

Yes, Monica, so am I. But I really miss a lot of the old-timers who have drifted away like Book and Sprocketjones and Missy. And Ang, Cranberry, Neonsmile, and Pammie have become very infrequent posters. And there are many more. I just wish some of them would come back and post once just to let us know how there are doing. It's not fair to just disappear and leave us all wondering.

Cathy

[Deflating Diva]

I feel the same about the old way of living my goodness I could lie about it. Well I was trying to lie that is my large butt and gut told a different story. You are right so many have left but I hope they are occasionally popping on to see the progress that some of you have made. I am so excited about the new improved me.
Deflating Diva

[softnred]

Joann, Monica, and Amy....Let's all stick this out together. So many of the people that I started out with last year have disappeared off the board. It is very discouraging to have them post less and less until they finally are gone altogether. Please let's don't do that.
Cathy

I'm here for the long haul!!! I may miss a few days here and there, but I always come back. :hug

~JoAnne