Success is sweet and sweeter if long delayed and gotten through many struggles and defeats.

Hey everyone...  I'm not sure what it is about a new year that makes everyone want to start fresh, start over, reboot...etc.  Perhaps it is tradition? Who knows,....*****ally gives a crap..?   Whatever may be causing it isn't important. I'm feeling a churning, burning, desire to devote another year of effort to the journey.  Last year around this time I felt the same way.  I lost almost 50 lbs last year and gained back about 10 or so.  I ultimately failed last year because I did give up and I went back to my old eating habits.  So here I am..  Sitting around 293-295lbs and sick of feeling stuffed, bloated, and disgusted with myself.  It's time to begin again and hope for the best that this time will be the last time I resort back to my overeating habits. I'm a year older, more wise and further humbled.  Not to mention I have the option of WLS now hahaha!   All kidding aside though..I still not ready to bite down and cut my gizzards out. Moreso, I don't want to pay for 50% of it! I will start again this time as I did last year.... WATER...  Water always gets me motivated to eat healthy and feel healthy. Cleanses me I guess.? Sure as hell makes me pee a lot! I'm very thankful I never gave the water up. I had started drinking more diet drinks towards the end of last year but I still managed to drink at least 20 ounces a day.  So, today, I've made a trip to the water cooler and filled up my 20 ounce bottle.  It's so cold and refreshing! I've drank down about 10 ounces of it so far and I plan to fill it up at least twice before I leave.  This week and next I will focus on getting my water intake back up to my norm of 80 ounces a day.  I will no longer drink the diet sodas and limit myself to 2 lo-carb energy drinks a week. (god i love those!) As far as exercise goes I get in about 1 mile a day walking to and from work.  Additionally, I started taking karate classes twice a week about a month ago. I'm enjoying that so I will continue. Hopefully in a month from now I'll begin counting calories and logging my food again but I'm not gonna stress.. I'm not gonna pu**** I don't want to burn myself out as I've done soooo many times before.  I've had many defeats but I know that once I finally win it's is going to be SO rewarding, and so amazingly invigorating!  can't wait! :P Everyone wish me luck!!  On second though, don't wish me luck.. beat me with a big stick if I slack off and attempt to quit.  Oh, and if I whine.. beat me harder!

Best of luck, Chris!  And Happy New Year!!

CHRIS!!!!!! AHHH I want to jump up and down and hug the crap out of you. Oh how I missed you so! AHHH I am so excited that you are back. You have no idea. Yay for you! And if you slack I will beat you with a stick and throw things at you. :) 

Glad to be back!  Finally have some hope again.  Dunno where that come from but God I hope it doesn't leave anytime soon.  So sick of feeling discouraged and whipped.

Hey Chris....I'm new here and didn't even realize you have been missing (LOL), but welcome back!  I admire your resolve and wanting to start the New Year off on the right foot...and especially for taking it slow and not trying to do everything PERFECTLY from day one.  However, I think you're being kind of hard on yourself.  You said you lost 50lb last year...and had gained back 10.  I know you're probably disturbed because you've resorted back to old unhealthy habits, but I think we miss the mark sometimes with our negative thinking.  A 40lb weight loss is quite an achievement for the year, even if it didn't get you to your goal weight.  How many years have we ended up with a GAIN at the end of the year?  More than I care to count for me!! My goal for this year is to lose 50lb and maintain that loss....I lost 30lb this year, but then put 10lb back on and disgusted with myself as well.  50lb won't bring me to goal, but a lb a week sounds manageable for me and doable and I need a goal I can attain.  I think those of us who have battled obesity all their lives get so used to feeling like a failure, that it's hard to recognize our accomplishments. Way to go, Chris...I think 2007 was a GREAT year for you!!     Sherrie

You're quite correct! I am a little hard on myself at times.  I'm sure we all are.  Probably part of the reason we're in the position we're in.  To be honest I'm quite pleased that I only gained back 10 lbs. The only reason I say that I failed is because it wanted to make a once and for all complete lifestyle change. I want/wanted to eat sensibly for the rest of my life... So yeah I guess I did succeed in losing weight for 2007 but on the other hand I did go back to my old habits of gorging myself.  I suppose the right thing to do is focus on what I did right and the fact that I'm doing right again eh? Ohh to love myself! lol Though I didn't go back to eating the taquitos from the convenience store so I guess I have several accomplishments 2007! hahah Thank you for the encouragement and inspiration, by the way! :P Almost forgot to thank ya! heheh

GEE, Kris, I WISH, I would have FAILED my diet and LOST 40 lbs in the process.  LOL Great job.  We do focus on what we did wrong and not right.  You need to give credit where it is due. BTW, wls doesn't have to remove your gutt, that just band the **** out of you now!  LOL hugs, Kim

I have MISSED beating up on you; it will be my own personal pleasure!!!!! You ARE learning, in spite of your whiny, crybaby ways! I think that you are really getting this. No luck, just raw goal setting and looking over each day, then over a period of time to check for balance:  exercise (any), all foods n the right amounts, sleep, etc.  ALL of us will %^$& it up from time to time. But, the ones who *get it* don't retract and withdraw, they get up, get back on surveillance... I have finally learned to embrace the fact that I love food, not be afraid of it. I am teaching myself to have what I want in the right quantities--->small quantities.  I CANNOT have the amounts  I may want, so I will settle for less of food I love rather than none, ever.  I have missed you, Kriz.  

Thanks Neecee!!  I missed you too!

Chris: This is very admirable. Keep at it man you'll get there! -Bud