One thing that I've been looking forward to post wedding and travel is getting rid of the pressure to lose xyz pounds by xyz date. That isn't to say I want to rid myself of goals, but just this rush of feeling that I need to be thin overnight. It never works for me, and I dare say anyone else.
In my head, I have a vision of how the healthier me behaves, not looks. I read blogs like fitnessista, Kath eats real food, and threshold of greatness and know that their consistency and dedication to eating good foods and exercise is the reason why they are healthy, not to mention stunning women.
I know that if I spent any amount of time behaving like any of them, I wouldn't weigh 274 lbs. It isn't about a gimmick for them, a diet plan, failure, an infomercial exercise plan, they just do it because it makes them feel good. They energize me and get me excited about eating real food.
I want my health to be my new hobby, my dedication, what I get excited about. The pay back is more energy, self-confidence and hopefully a longer and healthier life. Not for my next event, but for my life.
Today I weigh 274. I do not feel good, healthy, attractive, or energetic at this weight. I'm not Debbie Downer on myself about it, I just want to be more realistic about how I feel and the actions that brought me here.
I know that to be consistent, I need a flexible plan of action. Starting right now. I'll be back...
Of the blogs you mention, I only read Kath Eats but I do read a couple of other healthy lifestyle blogs and find great inspiration in them. You are right, they make consistent choices about their health and they are conscious of the choices they make. I, on the other hand, need to work on that. Like you, I want to feel healthy and fit, I want to wake up with bundles of energy and feel good about my body. The way to do that is to make consistent healthy choices both with food, exercise and lifestyle. It is all about choices and choosing what we want more: the food now or the healthy and fit body in the long run. Easier said than done, we just have to choose being healthy and fit more than not. We will get there, we just have to keep picking ourselves up each and every time we fall.
That is absolutely the right attitude! Well done!
I always say that my goal is to live a healthy lifestyle, so I would be eating this way and exercising this way even if I weren’t obese. It doesn’t matter how fast or slowly the weight comes off… I’m doing this because I want to be healthy!
I’m glad that you won’t have the pressure of “losing xxx amount of weight by such and such a date” anymore. If you do it for how you will feel, rather than how you will look, you’ll be feeling better soon I’m sure! Good luck
Just as Hanlie said, I’m really trying to make this “the way”, not just for now, but forever…
You will find your way as well - keep at it!
Well said, Lorrie. Glad you’re back. Will be happy to be “with” you in this healthier and less stressful journey.
Thanks for the shout out! I relate so much to everything you write. At times, losing weight comes so easily to me. At other times, like recently, I really, really struggle. Focusing on health and not weight loss primarily is one of the biggest things I did to help myself. You’re definitely on the right track!
I believe in the two products talked about on this website. These are not internet based companies. They have actual “brick and mortar” buildings and are located in Oklahoma and Georgia. I use both products and have met the owners of both companies. Nice people. If you can afford about $2.00 a day (sort of like a Starbucks), you might want to check this info out.
New to this - forgot to name website. Don’t know if first correction went through.
http://www.incredibleshrinkinglady.com
That is a very good outlook to have. I’ve been on diets off and on my whole life. What little success I’ve had I’ve gained it all back and thensome. But what changed for me, was when I really started working on what got me here in the first place. Therapy not for my weight but for my well being has really helped me embrace a healthy lifestyle. There are still obstacles, but somehow this time they don’t seem so insurmountable. I know I will get there, for the first time in my life I have absolute faith that I will succeed in becoming the healthy person I want to be. Keep up that great positive thinking!
what a great attitude, you do inspire me. Still trying to get to the point of ‘loosing’ weight….. I think its taken me my whole adult life to learn to ‘maintain weight’ - and now I need to push that one step further - blogs like yours keep my headspace right. Thanks.
And your wedding pics are amazing - I can’t wait to see more and more and more (as my two year old would say)
It is all about the consistent healthy choices and doing it because it makes you feel better and because the food is good. Everyone knows diets don’t work. Have fun and when you get back you can formulate the “plan of attack” and start working your healthy attitude and dedication into your life.
Today was my first time reading your blog! I honestly don’t remember how I came across it, but I’m glad I did. Its nice to see someone struggling with the same issues that I am, stay positive and hopeful.
I agree that in order to get to your goal weight (and become a healthier human being in general) requires a lot of time, effort, and energy! But its worth it…. feeling happy, attractive, and full of life is worth any amount of struggle! I wish you the best, I know I’ll be back to read future posts!
I can totaly relate. We just got back from a weeks vacation in Florida at the beach. Want to hear a heartening story that may help. I worked my but off for weeks trying to get to where I would’nt be totally embarased to wear a bathing suit and never lost a pound, in the last 4 weeks.
This morning after a week of vacation and no trips to the gym for 10 days I decided my work clothes felt a little loose, so I got on the scale…I lost 5 pounds while on vacation? The opposite of what should happen.
The only thing I can figure ( and believe me I’m going to analyze this mystery) is what I was eating. I had little tiny snacks all day long and only 1 sit down dinner in a restaurant since we had a kitchen in our condo. We completely skipped the traditional 3 sit down meals of the day. We didn’t do it on purpose, it just happened with my husband and I and my 2 girls running in and out to the pool and beach all day. I also drank a ton of water since it was like 100 degrees all week in south Florida. Anyway keep your chin up, sometimes when we least expect it we find something good happens.
I was doing a search to start a blog myself daily accoutability at this point was my thoughts on making my weight loss happen again….so i found yours,…amazing! you keep up the good work iam impressed and wish you God speed in your goals…we have a reason and excuse for why we are here where we are after all that really is teh 1st step at least admitting we need to get healthier
mine started when my mother died I got down to a wonderful size 8 and sometime 6 which was so many years in the making…and somehow after my mother passed away …ilet a lot go …i thought I was doing okay,,..then of course its those days things start getting tighter …my husband says ..you still look fine maybe a few pounds ,,,well it was a bit more than a few pounds,..
lately…my legs have been swelling and last night the leg cramps were so awful which hasnt happened since i was pregnant with my first child,…when i was in high school it happened a alot too…my mother use to tell me lack of calcium…my husband looks it up on the internet and one is extra weight,lack of electrolights and heavy exercising,,.yes I swam a lot yesterday but seriously doubt enough to cause close to 30 mins of leg cramps…
anyway searching for a way to dive and consume my life to getting back to where iwas ,,,it was simple rules..that worked for me ….power walk a least 40mins a day and no less than 30…no flour products , or sugar..really worked but we’ll see if i need to tweek things …to keep me happy after all it has been 2 years…
take care
thanks for letting me ramble….
You can do this! My husband has also started his new way of life. It is hard but definatly do-able. Start out with small changes and once you have those down move on to bigger ones and then one day you will look back on the way you used to eat and it will be very different from the healthy eating you will be doing.
I found the link to your blog on a friend’s blog (www.noweightolive.wordpress.com). I am loving your words, friend! It’s so encouraging to me to hear about women with the exact (I mean EXACT) struggles as me! Thanks for your words; they are soothing. Good luck. I know, I know, I know you can reach your goals!
wow we share the same sentiments regarding losing weight. It involves a lot of work, determination and discipline. But with a lot of support from family and friends, nothing is impossible. I’m taking Acai Total Burn alongside eating the right stuff and exercising and somehow it works for me. I wish you all the best!