REENIE DECLARES PRO-ACTIVE DAY FOR MARCHERS

Proposition: join me in letting go of life's trials and challenges we continue to face every day; everyone faces them, all of us, no matter our age, size, color, political affiliations, no matter what. We will always, for the remainder of our lives, have to deal with problems and issues that make us feel anxious, sad, angry, exhausted, defeated. So let's get on with it. I'm challenging myself to set a goal and to work toward achieving that goal every day - so that at least if I don't achieve it, I can look back and say I gave 100% toward the effort. And that's what counts. The journey, not the destination. I invite you to join me: Weight Today: 144 Goal: 140 Weigh-in Date: October 1st Commitment: Work-out 5-6 days a week; healthy food choices built around vegetables (stay away from spinach!), protein, limited whole fruits, and an occassional treat, as needed to stave off cravings I can do this for the next 10 days. I don't have to look beyond October 1st. This is my goal, this is my commitment. Who's with me? Dina, I'm asking you to take the lead because you continue to lose, and you maintain a steadfast positive outlook - I'm very proud of you. How about it? Even if I end up being all alone in this, at least I put it out there - and I'll get back to you on October 1st to let you know how I did. Love you guys. Maureen

I'm with you Reenie! I was really good at the conference, as I said before, but Thursday and Friday were poor food choice days. I actually ate two hotdogs in a 24 hour period. Sans buns, but large fat-filled hotdogs nonetheless. So this is exactly what I need. I'm taking it one day at a time and back on track with you. I'm going to not tie my success to the scale because my colon and kidneys work against me in the battle of poundage. Don't get me started on how frustrating it is to not perform the most basic of human functions without medical intervention. For Pete's sake, newborns come out of the womb able to pee and poop on their own, I need pills, suppositories, dynamite and an act of congress. I digress, enough of that. I'm going to rely on Fitday.com and my calendar to record my food and exercise and screw the pounds that may or may not come off. My goal is to move my body each and every day and not put crap in my mouth. Can't get much simpler than that, can it? Oh yea! Water, water, water! Already downed my first quart of the day. Hugs, Connie

Sounds good, Connie! A goal is a goal is a goal, and we have to design them to fit what we need as individuals.

Hey - just checking in before I have to run off for yet MORE overtime here in a few minutes, but I saw this and saw you directed some of this at me so I wanted to respond. I hardly feel like the poster child for this surgery, even though I still continue to lose a little here and there. I think the advantage to my being able to do this was that I never got to my goal yet, so I never relaxed to the degree that some might. But here is something interesting, I have relaxed more than some people. I know that sounds crazy and contradicting, but it's hard to put in words. I think the thing that was negative to me is that I never reached goal. But maybe this was God's way of showing me how to live with this. If I had gotten to goal so quickly, I would have continued the yo-yo pattern so prevalent in my life. I needed to be able to have something more steady. I know you and Connie have wonderful intentions, but here is what I do different: I bristle anytime anyone mentions they ate something they shouldn't. Why? Because I no longer consider anything off limits. If I want a hotdog...or two in a day, I will have them. And I will move on. The point for me is not over-doing it. No eating too much and feeling stuffed. No bingeing. And in order to accomplish that I had to stop depriving. Because bingeing has always been brought on by deprivation for me. So although I understand your good intentions in being rigid, I can't do that. Oh, I can "do" it, but it always brings on a rebound for me. So instead I just have a little of what I want and move on from there. Consequently, I don't crave large amounts of anything. Somewhere along the way my tastebuds got to the point where they were happy with a much smaller taste of something than before. I had Cheetos tonight and realized they were quite intensely flavored, and I quit before I was full. Quit way before I normally would. But I got the flavor and that was fine. I'm all for a renewed sense of committment to this. But for whatever that means to each person. For some it will be that they have been strict with their diet and exercise for the next couple weeks. For some it will be that they learned how to live with food - that for their whole lives they have had a love/hate relationship with. I know I probably won't be losing any weight by Oct. 1st. Essentially I lose a little here and there as a fluke. I just try to keep from gaining weight, and then on those days I don't eat a whole lot I might trigger another little bit of weight loss. I'm pretty happy where I am, so I'm not motivated to lose a lot more. I would love it, but it's not a priority in my crazy life right now. So I guess I would say my renewed sense of committment might just be maintaining what I have and continuing to challenge myself to live with the foods that I avoided for so much of my life that seemed to trigger me. Dina

I agree, Dina, with everything you say and I aspire to being able to deal with food in exactly the same manner that you describe. How lovely it would be to relate to food for what it is and nothing more - fuel for the body. For me, it has always represented comfort and a respite from my raging emotions. So my post only represents what works for me in maintaining my weight loss. I must have some degree of control and discipline, otherwise I gain. I can negotiate the hell out of the emotional or psychological relationship I have with food, but the fact remain the same: there is a science to maintaining a normal weight and and healthy level of fitness. I must be thoughtful about what I eat to keep the weight off; and I must move my body to build muscle, physical strength and remain fit. No getting away from this. So, my original post was about shifting my thinking away from my pitty-pot sensibility and toward moving forward - I'm tired of feeling unhappy all the time. And even if my life cir****tances don't change, no matter what, I feel better when I'm taking care of myself. I feel lousy when I'm gaining weight and letting go of my exercise. But I absolutely understand and respect that this may not be the case for everyone. I only wanted to extend the invitation to join me in setting a goal - redirecting our energies positively so that we can get out of our ruts and move forward. I feel like so many of us are stuck. I want to get unstuck, that's all. I wish all my Marcher friends health and happiness today, and always. M.

I'm in and agree to everyone! see how accomidateing I am? Now why can't I get a date???

I'm in too!! been in hiding this week. I am right there with you Pammy I am 52 never been married & nice lovable (smaller) person who just happens to collect teddybears & can't seem to get a date either. So I no exactly how you feel. It should not be this darn hard. Marilyn, the Bearlady

OK, OK, I'm trying, but it's an uphill battle. I'm here to come clean. Started the morning with a bowl of vegetable/beef soup. Very good and very good for me. So far, so good. Lunch was at El Paso BBQ company. Pulled pork with BBQ sauce (no bread), fully loaded baked potato (I left the potato and ate part of the the loaded part. Bad Connie!), corn bread muffin and 1/4 of a Bloody Mary. Yeeeeeesh! I guess I'm OK because I'm at 600 calories so far and still have dinner to go, but I feel like I was very bad. Will my head ever be right? I'm loading up gym bags for the week. My plan is to have a bag packed for each day so I have no excuse not to stop at the gym on my way home. Ever since my plastic surgery, I've been out of the gym habit and need to get back in the groove. I miss exercising and have let too many other things take priority. C.

I had an equally difficutl day of eating yesterday so all I can continue to say is we're in this together for as long as we keep coming to this board for help and support. I am unquestionably an emotional eater and can't seem to deal with things any other way. I have learned a great deal in terms of analyzing and making sense of what I do and why I do it; but to do it differently? Can't seem to get there from here. Dina, you've got your finger on the pulse of this - please post and give us some insight on how you've been able to come to terms with food in your life. Damn, this is hard stuff. M.