Monday - Nov 9th. A new week everyone!

Morning all and a warm welcome to Jennifer P!

Yesterday was a MUCH better day and while my clothes are very snug this am and the scale is up am 'feeling' better.  Kairk, may I trouble you to reiterate what put you back on the path.  Have scrolled through the files and am unable to find it.  I remember at the time thinking:  Whoa, I better keep this.   Just at your convenience.

Do you ever have those days, after a bad day where you think, Oh!  what the heck, I was 'bad' yesterday might as well keep on keeping on?  So after a morning's thinking like that I suddenly realized what I was doing and stopped!   

For me the frustrating part of this journey is the 1 step forward and 20 steps back.  I seem to have been  much better at losing than maintaining.     Need to get into that head space once again.

There are way too many 'I's in this post.  

Have a wonderful Monday!

(am taking a friend to a Medical appointment three hours for here. Packed for the food journey so am not tempted by the lures of the big city) 

Good morning!  I'm still hanging out with the slight elevation of 116.  Other than my semi planned transgression on Saturday evening, I'm going into week 4 of full on diet mode. I've never had to do this for so long since I started maintenance well over two years ago.    Really hoping to see 114 before the week is done. 

We got a little snow last night. It's pretty but probably won't last through the day. Our kitty likes to sit on the back deck so he is not impressed with the white stuff. Both he and I are staying put for now! 

Nice relaxing morning with a 4 mile walk/jog.  My scale was an ugly ***** the morning but I knew it would be!  Maybe this is the way "normal" people live.  Indulge a little and the scale goes up.  Afterwards, back to regular eating.   Anyway...

Happy Monday!!!

Hi Everyone!  I haven't been here in person for a few days, but have been in spirit.  Life got incredibly hectic, but I have to try to prioritize and make sure I post, as it keeps me more honest and sane. 

So sorry to hear the struggles many of you are experiencing.  Life gets so hard sometimes, and for most of us, food was our primary soother.  It is understandable how easily we slip into familiar behavior when overwhelmed.  In the early days after WLS, I was able to get through some really tough things and thought I had it licked.  Ya right!   I was still on the pink cloud then.  I hear you Carbon on how hard it is to regroup the next day and not just keep going.  I am still struggling with that myself at times.

Got on the scale this morning and was up 3 lbs.!  I know I did not eat enough over the weekend to gain 3 lbs.  But I still needed to take inventory.  I ate out quite a bit this weekend, and did eat a bit more of foods I generally don't.  There are also hidden calories and lots of salt in those foods.  I also found myself having things like cheese and crackers instead of making a healthy meal when we were all fending for ourselves.  Protein bars are beginning to be a trigger food for me as well.  So this morning, I had a wake up call and have been super careful and clean with today's food.

I love the idea of friending folks from here on facebook.  I'm under Mary Ciampa Hansen.  Look forward to "meeting" some of you there!

Have a great rest of the day.    Mary

I was thinking about how thankful I am for all those little everyday things we inhabitants of North America have become so accustomed to. There are still many people in our world that don't have clean running water, plumbing, heating, access to medicine and the ease of life I do. While I have problems of my own, that are indeed real to me, I am so grateful that I don't have to struggle to live like so many in our world still do. 

Scale was up a little bit this morning. No biggie. My trend is downward and if I stay on this same trajectory I should meet my next goal before January 1. The longer I eat this way, the stronger my resolve is becoming to stick with it. I am enjoying the way I feel inside and out and am looking forward to being back at goal within the next few months. 

Carbon, please remember I gained a bunch of weight right before I got back on track. I spent from February to August exploring and trying to figure things out and getting my brain and mindset back in line with my health goals. I tried different methods of eating, but nothing really clicked until I did one thing. That thing was admitting on a very deep and meaningful level to myself that I really did have an issue with sugar. This admission was not surface. It was gut level and wrenching and maddening and tumultuous. I was angry and scared, but also resigned and knew in my heart of hearts that giving the no sugar route a try was the right route to take. 

I have not been 100% sugar free the past 3 months, but I was sugar free for 12 straight days, then back on the no sugar wagon for a full month. Since then I have had a few sugared foods and they have caused me issues. I want more right away. I take it one day at a time and sometimes one meal at a time. 

I'm not sure this is what you were asking for Carbon, but it's what came to mind. Maybe it will help - I hope. 

Everyone - please remember that we'd all be just a little better off with a little more kindness and understanding given to ourselves rather than to only those around us.   

I realize that I forgot to write something I'm grateful for today.  I am so grateful for this group.  I feel so supported and safe here.  I get the gentle nudges/reminders I need sometimes, but without judgment.  I know that a big part of my journey, and staying honest is by being here.  Thank you all!