THAT ONE STUPID PIECE OF CANDY

I will admit when I started my weight loss journey I did a number of things wrong. I have learned the hard way that you MUST follow the guidlines to reach your goals. 3 years out I am still 52 lbs from goal. I started out at 626 lbs so I still feel that I did very well with this, but I still want to make my goal and I will. I have lost 7 lbs this month which is my best loss in about a year and a half so I'm very satisfied with the results. When I started out I was very good about the protein and the water, but the exercise was a little hit or miss. As time went on I started eating a few things that I shouldn't have. I thought what harm can one do? I didn't dump and I still was loosing weight. The problem is that once the weight loss slowed down I was still eating some things that were bad for me. Not a lot mind you. 9 times out of 10 I was making the right choices and eating right, but there was that one time. I know now that if I hadn't tried that first piece of candy I would be at my goal. It wasn't so much the few calories I ate, but it let the food demons out again. Since then I have struggled and won most of the time but I think it made it harder for me than it needed to be. If I had just stuck completely to the program I wouldn't have created this obstacle for myself. This is my own fault. We all know the program when we start, but I swear the longer out I get from my surgery the harder it is for me. As I have often said they did a surgery on my stomach, but not on my brain. The food demons are still there, but I am in control, not them. I still think I've done a great job with this. I have lost over 300 lbs and I feel so much better and my life has changed in more ways than I could count. I can't help but wonder how much better I could have done if I'd just have avoided that first piece of candy. So about a month ago I decided it was time to get this weight loss started again. I hit the gym and I am amazed what a difference it makes in my attitude and energy level. I did some exercise ever since the surgery, but now I do it 4 to 5 days a week for and hour and a half. I am seeing the difference in my clothes and on the scale. I guess my point to all the newbies is stick to the schedule and don't give into that temptation if you can avoid it. For those of us that didn't there is still hope for the honeymoon stage they talk about may be over, but we can still loose weight. Now we are like everyone else to loose any excess weight we must diet and exercise. And considering where I came from just 3 years ago I am okay with that. I will get there yet. Calvin

Amen! Other than the amazing weight loss (bravo!) I feel you're telling my story. This is exactly what I did. And I'm sitting here, 21 months later, 30 pounds away from goal for almost a year. I KNOW you can lose it, and I KNOW I can too! Now I just need to follow your example if I honestly want to get there! THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!! Angie

Thanks Angie, Let's see who can get there first. I'll keep you updated and you keep me uddated on how you're doing. No matter how it turns out, your surgery has been a great success. Congratulations to you. Calvin

Nooooooo... congratulations to YOU! Seriously though... although I did goof up and could have been at goal if I had continued to be as good as I was at the beginning, I most definitely still consider myself a success, because I feel better, I have a better chance at being healthier, and I look pretty good in my not-so-humble opinion So, thank you. We think very much alike. I hereby accept your challenge. Let's see who gets there first Angie

Have you been reading my mind? This is exactly my story! 20# from goal. Could have been there by now but not unhappy... just not giving up. Laurie

Ahhhh yes... don't ever give up! http://www.richard-binns.co.uk/graphics/frog-heron-lg.jpg

Calvin ... you HAVE done a great job!! I like your determination. And yes, you will get there. Just because we don't have our "window" anymore (and yeah, we all do stupid things ... like think we can control our "trigger" foods ... great if some people can, but I know I can't), doesn't mean we still can't get to where we want. You've done quite well ... you should be very proud of yourself ... and its good to see you here! Karyn

Thanks Karyn, I am proud of all that I've accomplished since I had the surgery. I've lost 85% of my excess weight so I know I'm above the national average and so many good things have come from this surgery. I just will have to keep trying. Calvin

Boy, I second that! If I could get back anything from the last 22 months, it would be the attitude change at 1 year. Gee, I've lost 100 pounds. I think I can eat just a little bit of this or that. At 22 months, I am 4 pounds from goal and not losing an ounce! Like you, I've hit the gym. The last 2 weeks, I've done water aerobics 4 times a week. As I tone up some muscles, I will move that into some wt training and more cardio. I have fibromyalgia so I have to take it slow or I will hurt myself and then quit. I am trying to develop a new attitude about food. I'm trying not to say I've been bad, but instead, I didn't make a wise choice. Saying you are bad is self-defeating. I am no longer going to beat myself up over a piece of candy or a chip. If I choose to eat it, I know it's me making a poor choice. But I am not BAD! I am a good person who is worthwhile. I am confindent and I look damn good! I AM NOT BAD!!!!! No more self hate talk in this brain! Only positive messages. I may not make good choices all the time, but what about the 99.9% of the time that I do? I need to praise myself for making the good choices. Calvin, you have done soooo well! We are proud of you! You have inspired me to really start pushing to get these last stubborn 4 pounds gone. They are history!

Great attitude Lyn, Four pounds from goal? You can do it. Please post when you hit that goal. I will do the same when I get there. Calvin