Roll Call Sun 8/26

[Outback Jess]

Good morning STACers....Up very early for a big bike ride before a big church day! It's just part of the family routine...We are capturing the final days of summer...Getting out and enjoying (if you can enjoy yourself at 6:30) an active life. I want to be here all year long saying things like that. I truly do. (Not only that, but we are plotting and planning how to continue this level of exercise when being outside is not an option!)
My success and honeymoon are long over...I'm at a great weight in my life, and there was this moment in time, "NOW WHAT?" that I've never been to before...I've been facing the "Now WHAT???" in my family with my mother passing away, and I took care of her and my daughter on the verge of a driver's license and adulthood...All my mini-missions in life are over...
NOW WHAT...My weight is off, NOW WHAT???

Interesting crossroads for this 50 yr old? Low carb is my lifestyle, and pursuit of athletic achievement is in my mix to keep me focused and growing and dealing with food is right there in my day, each day...Dr. Atkins says that the struggles really begin NOW....keeping weight managed is different than taking it off. I am an excellent TAKE IT OFF-er, but keeping it OFF has always been my challenge...One I've failed at miserably...
Now I am facing the "real me" because this is where all my problems use to occure, at this crosss road in my life...this is where I embrace I do have food issues and I can't go back to carbs and keep these results...nor can I control foods when I eat carbs. This is where the rubber meets the road and I've got to face my behaviors and my trickly little mindset that wants to "slowly reintroduce devil food!!!"...(my sweet little nick name for my sweet little addictive foods....that turn my sweet nature into an addictive monster)...
Ahhh, just my sweet little thoughts this quiet Morning....

I hope everyone has a great day...That you plan your food, and stay on paln. That you enjoy your day, and keep your focus....there is so much to day besides think about food and eat!

[Sheepie]

Re: Roll Call Sun 8/26

Good morning! Yea! I can see your eyes! You're right there talking to me! You look like you've stopped just long enough for a photo and then you're on your way! No couch potato there! You look great! Thank you.

Your mother. Your daughter. You're at a crossroads, for sure, but you would be there with or without Atkins. I'm sure it's better with Atkins. Now what?? Are you bored with (pre?)maintenance and triathalon training? LOL! Well, you've got church. Do you work? You know, you seem to have the healthy living thing pretty well down. Is there anything that's not health-and-body-related that you already do or would like to add to the mix? This seems like a great opportunity presenting itself to you. The real you! Now that's a great challenge!!! Go find her! How many people here really know who they are? I've been searching for years and I feel like there's something out there that I have to find or find out in order to have my answer. For me it's a quest. Maybe for you it's a challenge. Maybe some here have their answer and maybe some have no idea what I'm talking about!!!

Have you found yourself?

Happy Sunday.

[OzLover]

Re: Roll Call Sun 8/26

LOL Outback Jess...I also call carbs "the devil's food". I think it is so appropriate!


Off to the grocery store with a detailed list. Have a much better attitude today. Realized last night that I need to start using some new recipes from this site & my low carb cookbooks.


Have a great day everyone!
Glenda

[Sherhic4]

Re: Roll Call Sun 8/26

Good Morning All...still a newbie but thanks for the inspiration...need to hear and read all this..hagd

[Evermind]

Re: Roll Call Sun 8/26

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I don't WANT to think about how to manage food! I LIKE having it completely controlled by the rules of the woe! Then I don't have to make significant choices!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I don't WANT to think about my relationship to food and what I use it for! I LIKE having it all regulated so that I don't have to delve deep into my psyche!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I don't WANT to think about what happens AFTER I lose all of this fat! I'm SURE, so SURE, that everything will be FINE then - why should I have to work to MAINTAIN?

<stomping feet> <clenching fists> <throwing self on floor and kicking the sofa>

LOL. There's something to be said, when climbing a mountain, for keeping your eyes on the path directly in front of you and NOT looking at where you are going to eventually get. It helps you not see how far you have to go, and it helps stay focussed.

Of course, if it's a TALL mountain, you have to think about the summit - how cold will it be, will I need a jacket; how thin is the air,will I need to adjust my breathing; how fast is the downhill side if I stumble, will I roll very quickly all the way down; what kind of life does one have on the top of this mountain?

Good reminder that the end of this journey is NOT when we reach our goal weight.


I'm up fantastically early and it's to take my ds to the airport. I want to be curled up in bed with my dh, sleeping peacefully! Ick! Well, maybe a nap later......

[BLAZING IN FL]

Re: Roll Call Sun 8/26

Jess, I have feared just what you are talking about. It's so exciting to lose the weight and feel a sense of accomplishment everday, but when you finally reach goal, what do you do? I have thought about that a lot. Last time I lost the weight, maintenance was not hard for me at all, I was actually able to add back a lot of carbs. I ate sugar free bread, wheat pasta, brown rice, sweet potatoes etc, and i never counted carbs, just stayed away from sugar and any food that was white...and I stayed at 135 for 2 years until i got pregnant. I'm afraid this time that it wont be that easy. One thing i do remember doing to stay on track is being proud of my weight and working on toning my muscles for that lean look, that's always a nice goal.

[Sherri]

Re: Roll Call Sun 8/26

Good Morning to you all! Great message Jess! You hit it right on the head this morning. For me, losing the weight was so easy. The real challenge was keeping it off. I lost 155 lbs. and have kept off 126 of those pounds. Going into my forth year of Atkins I have found that it is my lifestyle and my mind set to eat the way I do. It's easy to go through the day and know exactly what to eat and know the carb count off the top of my head. It comes by naturally. You're right when you say about the devil foods. That's where I got into trouble last winter. It was a well lesson learned to always stay away from those foods, goal or not. I know what foods to stay away from forever. They will always get one into trouble. Best to stay away from them for LIFE, literally. I'm at a different level in my Atkins journey now. I'm at a content level where I don't have to worry about trusting myself when it comes to food. I'm very comfortable in this lifestyle and with my body and health. I think I'll keep it. Wishing you all a great and happy Sunday!

[guekjian]

Re: Roll Call Sun 8/26

Gooooooooooooood morning STACers !!! Hope everyone is on track...I finally made the muffin in a minute this morning for the first time and I am SOOOOO EXCITED...I LOVE IT...LOL...feeling a bit extreme this morning...I think it is scale withdrawal getting to me...LOL...have a great one all!

[meena-beena]

Re: Roll Call Sun 8/26

Morning STAC'ers. I'm feeling much better today. I love the new siggy pic Jess! It's an interesting thread topic this morning. Crossroads are something one finds when they've finally completed a task in life and have no idea where life will take them next.

My philosophy is that crossroads always find a way to pick a direction--and that direction usually leads us to an end that we never anticipated.

Well, I'd like to post more but baby is crying, hubby is awake and kids are being kids.

I'll try to bbl.

[MojosRising]

Re: Roll Call Sun 8/26

Hi everybody! nice to 'see' ya

Oh, to have your troubles Jess... to acually have completed so many of my goals that I don't know what to do.... that's something I've never expierienced! Seems like I always get about 1/2 way to something then falter

thats what I'm learning here, how to get to the finish line. I guess I'll have a new game to play once I get there, too!

Tomorrow is weigh in day, and I am a bit worried this week. I've never been frightened before.. I guess I just don't feel that much smaller.

hope you all have a great sunday

cya tomorrow

[Lynsey]

Re: Roll Call Sun 8/26

Good morning fellow STACers. Yes indeed this is a life long journey, there is no true finish line, just mini and major accomplishments, as well as mini and minor setbacks. I think the kindest thing we can all do for ourselves is to keep coming to ADBB every day and take one day at a time. Have a good day!

[BabyGotBack]

Re: Roll Call Sun 8/26

Good morning, all. Yes, I remember being at my crossroads last time I was at goal. Except for me the goal was supposed to equal happiness and when I got there I still wasn't happy. Of course I felt good about losing the weight, but I was still unsatisfied. I guess b/c there are other things I feel I still haven't accomplished in my life.

But for now I feel like I need to lose the weight so I can stop having it in the forefront of my every thought. Waking up and having your first thoughts for the day be negative b/c you know most of your closet is too tight for you is not a good way to start the day.

I try to remember that each day I continue this WOE will get me closer to feeling like I can do something I set out to do. I NEED to do this to get some confidence back. And to feel like I am in control.

[harmony3098]

Re: Roll Call Sun 8/26

awesome picture jess...to go along with your awesome post...i am facing the "now what" in regards to my mom passing away too...she died almost 10 years ago (in march) and i am just learning to let go of some of her food and weight stuff, releasing it...my what now is all about challenging myself to stay in the moment and take care of myself...i am going to challenge my self to do more challenges and push myself to grow more confident in this woe and way of life...my time is now, i can feel it!

[bambinaUK]

Re: Roll Call Sun 8/26

First time round once I reached goal, I set myself new challenges each month, I did a few 5k races and a couple of 10k races. I climbed a couple of small mountains and was starting to think about running the london marathon!!! So I think im leaning that way again,,, except I fancy doing the Chicago Marathon as I have a friend that live there.

Next week im kicking lazy butt and starting exercising again,,, a few miles spead walking on the beach to start with.

[hopejoy]

Re: Roll Call Sun 8/26

Hi! Good morning!
Had a rough day at work, although I did great food wise... yummy salad!
Coworker keeps saying...'you need chocolate, you need sugar... ' She's bringing cookies in & I said 'I'll bring chicken'... she said 'I thought you coundn't eat that... ' I'm like what? She's getting on my nerves... explaining and re-explaining... but mostly ignoring her...
To my joy I'm down another 2 lbs this am...
Having a busy weekend... Got home from work at midnight and the house was in full swing with teenage son up in Jaccuzi with friend... they left this am for 1 week football trip with the team... Hope he uses his head and doesn't get stupid.
Gotta work again today... 10 hr shift... SO LONG! running my *** off! Went to church... very good. Having major rain and thunder storms here this morning, which is very refreshing! It NEVER rains here so that's major! Fun! Just taking a minute to check in and say Hi! Hope you all have a great day!
liz