When will it finally sink in??

[AllieCat0817]

Actually, its harder once you hit your goal, believe that or not.

Maintenance is a thousand times harder than all the weight loss phases put together. Just because someone is at goal does NOT MEAN they have 'arrived'. They're still in the journey. Betty's still in the journey, I am too. It's never over.

[Isabeau]

I just want to say that this have been a great discussion. :nod

[iyamamaschke]

It took a long time for it to sink in for me I tried and tried and tried I went on and off this woe over and over probably 15 times never once did I think of this as a WOE for the rest of my life. I just wanted to get sinny for someone other then myself. This time I finally looked in the mirror and cried was this what I had become was this who I wanted to be was this what I wanted my kids to learn NO DAMN WAY. I looked at this WOE as a first step to a new me, I lFinally wanted it so bad not for anybody or anything but, MYSELF no more messing around I was doing it this time and my mind has been made up to do this for the rest of my life. I finally realized that but it took many heartbreaks failed attempts and a lot of pain and anguish to realize what I truely wanted.

Now 7 months cheat fee I can't imagine what my life would be if I hadn't made the decision to change my life FOREVER.

Sarah

[goin2Bgood]

This is a good thread. I think everyone makes their own journey in their own way. What's black & white to one is not to another (as people before me have said). If we all did everything the same, and thought in the same way, life would be pretty boring

[FightingTheFight]

Sure, its work. It takes diligence and discipline ..

And theres where the unattractivness begins with most people. I am going to be totally honest here. It takes guts....And for some, they are not ready for the gut check.

People take things differently, and the results are mirrored by their pursuit. If you want something bad enough....GO AND GET IT! Unfortunatley, people just don't have what it takes, and its to hard for them. They don't have the strength to push through the barriers that hold them back.

What they don't know, is that the strength isn't a gift, its earned, and with each step a barrier is conquered. it all falls down to a question...

How much are you willing to sacrifice to get what you want? Willing to give up excuses such as, "I deserved a treat", "I've been doing so well, this won't hurt at all", "I feel deprived", ect. ect.

you either want it or you don't....its that simple.

[ttdriver]

What they don't know, is that the strength isn't a gift, its earned, and with each step a barrier is conquered. it all falls down to a question...

How much are you willing to sacrifice to get what you want? Willing to give up excuses such as, "I deserved a treat", "I've been doing so well, this won't hurt at all", "I feel deprived", ect. ect.

you either want it or you don't....its that simple.

AMEN AMEN AMEN!!

I have no more strength than the next slouch!! But what I do have is tenacity ... I refuse to give up or give in. Are there days I want to say 'Oh chuck it ..."? Of course. Dare I? Of course NOT.

I have the same 'entitlement' personality as anyone else. After all, I've been at goal for going on 3 years ... what's a little cheat here and there? I'll tell you what it is .. its A SLIPPERY SLOPE! And if I'm not diligent, there's no stopping me heading right back down the wrong path.

Are there days I don't feel like running? YOU BETCHA. But what drives me upward and onward is the progress I've made to date ... I refuse to let that slip away ..

I definitely want it. And I know what I have to do to keep it.

Betty

[punkin50]

These are very interesting posts. The varying opinions are helpful to a newbie like me. Thanks for sharing them. :nod

[AllieCat0817]

Y'all are PREACHIN!!!!!!!!!!

Preach on people!

[cruiser gal]

There are no right or wrong answers! Each person's opinions have merit. We chose what is right for us individually. I personally look to people like ttdriver, who have successfully maintained their weightloss, and kept their woe consistant and constant. This is the way I learn, and this board has definately been a learning experience for me, and all have been extremely helpful in time of need!!!

[dreamof145]

I have also given this question a lot of thought. I was not offended by it in any way...I think it is something that we all should think long and hard at as we get closer to our goals. I know that many of the people who fell off the wagon were gun-ho with Atkins swearing that they would live this WOE for the rest of their lives. So what happened?

I believe that as we get smaller and happier with ourselves, we start to feel NORMAL. By normal...I mean that we feel that since our bodies are the same size as our naturally thin friends and relatives...then we can eat like all of them. But, instead of being able to enjoy eating the forbidden foods and not gaining....our bodies do what is NATURAL for us...it starts to get bigger again.

That is just my opinion. I've given this a lot of thought and I think that I need to always be on my guard and never go back to the foods that made me fat. I am a carboholic and I need to always be aware of the number of carbs I eat.

[ttdriver]

I believe that as we get smaller and happier with ourselves, we start to feel NORMAL. By normal...I mean that we feel that since our bodies are the same size as our naturally thin friends and relatives...then we can eat like all of them. But, instead of being able to enjoy eating the forbidden foods and not gaining....our bodies do what is NATURAL for us...it starts to get bigger again.

That is an excellent point. Absolutely!

So the truth is, we can NEVER eat like our naturally thin friends again. Just like a reformed alcoholic can never drink again with his non-alcoholic friends on a social basis. One taste leads to another and another and another.

Like Fighting the Fight said, YOU EITHER WANT IT OR YOU DON'T. And if you decide you do, then you have to CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT FOOD FOREVER.

Betty

[yankee]

"A similar discussion a while back mentioned that women seemed to fall off the wagon much more than men. Someone asked if it was because men had more willpower than women. I answered by saying that if this WoE had people limiting sex rather than carbs, I think very few men would be able to stay on the wagon."

My husband and I were discussing this not too long ago. He said that if I ate exactly what he did every day I'd be thin. I countered with it being easier for him, and most men, because he didn't have to plan the meals, shop for the meals, or cook the meals. All he had to do was show up and eat them. Food takes up very little of his time. It takes up a LOT of time for the one who is dealing with feeding a family.

I've begun looking at this way of eating as a means to feeling better rather than a means to lose weight. Losing weight is becoming a side effect. The one time in the last month and a half that I've "cheated" I paid for it with horrid leg cramps that kept me up all night, an energy crash, and a general "hung over" feeling. And it's not worth it to me. Will I always be perfect? Of course not. Will I always TRY? Yes!

New goal - to NOT step on the scale for one whole month.

[LOWCARBINCLEVELANDOH]

Betty & Others -

I know the Atkins WOL works. You will most assuredly see me around.

No offense was taken on my part.

-Sharron

PS: I LOVE costume jewelry!!! :yes

[AllieCat0817]

For some folk, it will never sink in.

[ttdriver]

Betty & Others -

I know the Atkins WOL works. You will most assuredly see me around.

No offense was taken on my part.

-Sharron

PS: I LOVE costume jewelry!!! :yes

Yeah, I love costume jewelry too, but not as much as gold! :guns
Glad you weren't offended. That was not my intent.

KEEP ON TRACK!

Betty