Hello Everyone

Good Morning!  Today is day 1 BOTT for me.  I am here because I have become increasingly frustrated with myself and my weight loss journey.  I am almost 2 years out and still have a ways to go to get where I would like to be.  This being said I am also very proud of where I am, but want to continue on my way.  I have down from a high 5X in plus sizes to a Large in the upper body and a 1x-XL in the lower body.  My lower body is soooo much larger than my upper body and I do not know what to do to help this along.  I have always been a pear shape but it is so much more noticeable now.

Although I have not lost weight in over 8 months, I continued to go down in sizes and inches.

I am also guilty of "stinking thinking" and need to start giving myself more positive feedback.  I find myself talking me out of so much that I shouldn't.

I need all the feedback you can give me to help.  I welcome any and all comments.

Thanks so very much,
Carrie

Good for you - losing inches.  I have just the opposite body shape - I'm bigger on top than on the bottom (I just have no fanny!)  That means neither of us can buy top & bottom sets of clothes.  Though make no mistake about it, I can overcome.  I have my "black belt" in shopping!!!!!!  Find a place that can advise you and help you work on your lower body.  I have found pilates helpful for me but everyone is different and what's available to them is differerent so scope out what's available to you.  Find a friend to exercise with you (I walk) because if you make a time to meet with a friend and exercise you will do it - but if you make a date with yourself you will just be amazed at the excuses you will find - and then you'll con yourself into thinking they are reasons.

WE CAN DO IT!!!! And yes, it's all about our thinking.  You know exactly what you need to do, so don't let yourself off the hook - don'****er down the truth about the positives.  Don't know if you remember the song in Pinnochio (spelling???)  Jimminy Crkicket signs Accent the Positive, Eliminate the Negative  That's might fine advice.   Don't "should" on yourself-but be firm in accepting your positives.  You can't think about two things at the same time, so while you are thinking positive, you can't think negative.  Celebrate the positives you have - and there's nothing at all negative about losing inches - that's really what we want.  We don't carry our scales around and weigh in front of our friends, but we do show up in smaller clothes and they see that.  Remember scales only measure our weight - they just can't measure our worth.

WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER!!  I'm so glad you're here to give and receive support. 

Have a fine day.  

GOOD MORNING CARRIE

I THINK I AM IN THE SAME BOAT AS YOU ARE. I AM 2 1/2 YEARS POST OP RNY AND NOW I AM NOTICING MY BODY MORE THEN I EVER DID BEFORE. THE MORNING OF MY SURGERY I WAS 446 POUNDS AND NOW DOWN TO 280.  WENT FROM 6X'S IN SHIRT'S TO 26/28'S AND THE SAME IN PANTS ALTHOUGHT SOME I CAN GET INTO A 22/24. nEVER COULD SHOP AT  FASHION BUG. ALWAYS HAD TO SHOP AT CATHRINES (WHICH FOR A 24 YEAR OLD, THEY DIDNT HAVE MUCH OF STYLE) OR ORDER THROUGH LANE BRYANT CATALOG.

ALTHOUGHT I AM VERY PROUD OF WHAT I HAVE DONE I WANT TO LOSE 80 MORE POUNDS.
I LET SOME BAD HABITS SLIP INTO MY LIFE AND SO FAR HAVE KEPT THEM IN 2008. MY GOAL THIS YEAR IS TO DROP ATLEAST 50 POUNDS.  I GIVE MYSELF A YEAR BECAUSE IF I DID SAY 5 MONTHS, I DONT WANT TO STRESS OVER IT.

I AM A CERTIFIED OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER AND FEEL SOMETIMES PEOPLE LOOK AT ME AND THINK "SHE'S HAD SURGERY?" (NEW MEMBERS, NOT THE ONES WHO HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE DAY ONE) BUT THEY ALL SAY HOW WONDERFUL I HAVE DONE AND SHOULD BE PROUD.

SO I KNOW HOE YOU FEEL AND GLAD THIS WAS STARTED TO HELP US GET BACK ON TRACK. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY AND GIVING ME COURAGE TO SHARE MINE

~KELLY

Kelly and HappyLapBander,

Thanks so much for your input.  I am generally a lurker (it's safer) and I have decided when I joined I would now be an active participant.  When I type it in, I become accountable to myself.

Kelly I have had 2 events where people inquired to when I was getting surgery, so that can be a very deflating comment.  Neither person said it to hurt me, but in fact it really did. 

Thanks again and have a GREAT day ladies.

Hi Carrie,

Congratulations on your success. 5X to a Large/1x-1XL is a huge success.

The "stinking thinking" is a habit that is engrained in our minds.  Try to really listen to it and ask yourself if you would have a loved one or a friend that says those things to you.  I doubt that you would so why say and believe those things.  Say to yourself the things you would to another BOTT member or a friend. 

I know it is normal to focus on the numbers on the scale.  Look up though at the true other successes.  Those are merely numbers.  Focus on your non-scale victories.  What can you do now that you couldn't at 5X?  I'm sure that is quite a long list.  Make a list of those successes that have nothing to do with the scale.

You deserve to feel very proud of where you are!

Cathy

Thank you so much for your reply.  I do tend to look at the numbers on the scale and give them much more importance than I should.  I will take the time to make that list you suggested.

I am very proud of where I am, but tend to compare myself to others on this journey although I do know this is wrong.

Thanks again........Carrie