Maintaining -realisation

MAINTAINING AFTER LOSING WEIGHT- REALISATION 

I have been around goal for a year now.  I have found maintaining goal is harder than losing weight.  I can do it, but it's not like I got there and 'phew, well that's over' actually it's still hard work.

Here it is a year later and I have just realised WHY it's hard.  When I lost weight the loss itself motivated me to continue trying.  But maintaining doesn't have the same reward- the 'reward' is that the scales don't move too much.  That is nowhere near the buzz of loss. 

Especially since when you lose weight people give you high fives, say nice things like "wow, have you lost weight? you're looking so good!".  In maintaining land no one high fives you anymore.  Sure, you get to buy clothes that fit, sure you feel a whole lot healthier, and yes, slowly the brain adjusts to the new you. But the constant 'reward' moment is not there.

Em

yes, welcome to maintenance land! its no fun at all :P the mental game also gets more interesting. suddenly you are passing as an average joe who no one knew was ever fat, yet you still feel like the fat girl. it gets confusing. i do find that occassionally i'll run into people who haven't seen me since college or whatever and i get that whole dropped jaw who are you? look., which is nice. i was at a wedding a few weeks ago with people i haven't seen since college graduation (5 years or so). gotta have those reminders every once in awhile. it helps me keep perspective since i get all down on myself for not being 10 lbs less from where i am now when really i'm still 110 lbs down from when that person saw me last.  whats the dealio with your PS? i'm insane busy so i haven't been on boards much to see (if you have posted something about it).

I often think of you Andy. You and your long hard slog like me- you are one of the people who keep me inspired.

My PS is a sad story...  I WAS meant to going for my LBL 13 Dec... but then my health had other plans and I have just had 1/2 my thyroid out  (last week) and in 3 weeks I am having my gallbladder out too.

I was/am devastated at waiting. It took so long to even get to goal, to stay at goal then get my head around the scars/risks of a LBL... to then have to wait.  Arghh

Good news is that I have a new date- April 10.  Seems a long way off to me- but I need time to recover from these other ops first. 

How's life with your new body? Still loving it?  Must be great to live life as the new you. I know what you mean about the mind still reading yourself as the old 'fat girl'. The long time gap people who see the full loss still make me laugh and that is a sweet reward moment.

Em

I can imagine as time goes on that the thrill is going. This time around for me, one year later and 40 pounds lighter, I have noticed that a lot of people do not note my loss - never have, likely will not. Now, I have to be my own cheerleader - those folks never were, not really. Most people are into their own issues so far, they don't much care how I am doing, maybe my mother, but everybody else...no. Now, I should lose another 20#, 10 to get to my original goal. This will keep me in the losing arena for a while longer.  This exact subject is what the bariatric office gives as a pep talk...during the loss, it's a party ride, closer or at goal is errr, not glamorous. It really must become like brushing your teeth, or getting your hair done for the day - just a fact of life.

I getcha, but I only wish I had that problem.   Brenda

You will... you willl.... it might take some time but you will make it this time.

This is your time!

Em

It really must become like brushing your teeth, or getting your hair done for the day - just a fact of life.

I guess that's why I enjoy reading your posts- you get it.  You often talk about basic healthy foods and sensible eating that can be followed long term.

Sometimes a kickstart gets people going on their weightloss journey- pills, shakes.. whatever.  They are the training wheels that affirm that we CAN lose weight. But ultimately it has to come down to a lifestyle that can be embraced forever.

I think that's why I was never interested in WLS, for me it wasn't the lifestyle I wanted forever.

Em

That avatar makes you look like PS would be overkill, Em! You look like a movie star.

Why thankyou Neecee!   

Now that was just the sort of High 5 I needed while I sit here pondering how my thyroid scar will heal... hoping it won't go ropey or keloid.

Let me assure you... those lines from my mouth to nose don't disappear when I stop smiling. Sure wish they would! In 2 days time I am getting some fillers to try and smooth them out a bit. 

Em