What are you doing to secure success?

As we all know, we will need to change the habits of a lifetime, to ensure our longterm success. Let's inspire one another and share success habits we are putting into place.

I use a pedometer to make sure that I'm moving enough. I shoot for 10K steps a day. If it's getting later into the day and I realize the I'm off quite a bit, I take a break and go for a walk to boost my count. 10K steps equals about 4 miles walked. I find that when I'm wearing my pedometer and trying to register more steps on it, I'll park farther from the store, take the stairs, instead of the elevator, etc...

Please add your success habit to this thread.

 

Well now.. I find that the biggest thing that has changed about me (besides losing 175 pounds) is my attitude toward food.  The fat Jennifer would only think about my weight on certain occassions like anytime I was around people in a social situation, when I was at the doctor or when my clothes were yet again beginning to tighten up.  Then I would beat myself up and feel sorry for myself and try to find some type of "quick fix" to make my clothes magically fit again or make me love that image in the mirror again.  Alas, you guys all know that does not work.  I would get over my feelings being hurt in a few days, maybe a week at most, then I would get back on that rollercoaster of eating for comfort.  Im sure you remember those days when you would just shovel food in all day long without any recollection of how much you had eaten..  

Now, the healthier and leaner Jennifer thinks about food and maintaining my weight loss all day long.  Each time I put something in my mouth I think about what I have eaten all day long.  I keep a loose track of calories ingested.  I was wearing a pedometer like Barb, but when I realized I was taking between 15K and 25K steps everyday I just tossed it because just my average day is BUSY BUSY.  I also have started working out doing yoga and strength exercises.  I pay close attention to what my family eats and we make conscious decisions to be healthier.  

I will not sit here and tell you guys any lies.  I still eat things that are too carby and too sweet.  I still eat too much on occassion.  (You better believe my body lets me know that too!)  But I think the differerence is that I am eating/thinking/acting like a thin person now.  I dont eat a whole bag of chips..  I eat a small handful.  I dont eat 3 candy bars at a time.  I might eat a couple of snack sized bars.  For me this whole journey has been about moderation.  It has been a change of lifestyle, attitude and outlook.  I know that I can maintain this weight loss by not being a "carb nazi" or "fat gram nazi"..  I can just pay attention and make sure that I am making healthy choices.  I am the only person that can control that!!!

Jennifer,

What a great, thoughtful and inspiring response! I agree that I too think about my weight much more conciously now than I ever did before. I don't think it's negative or obsessive, but I weight daily. I know that I have a 'normal' window of fluxutation, but I keep an eye on it. Before, I could go weeks, months, even years without knowing my weight. Like you, I am also much more aware of what I'm eating and while I on occasion have 'forbidden' fruits, it is generally in moderation and on occasion where before, it would have been all time... especially, now that I'm under sooooo much stress. I still gravitate towards comfort eating, but I'm working hard at and mostly succeeding at moderation... I can tell that I'm succeeding because my scales are staying where they need to.

I want you to know that you are a voice of reason in the storm for me sometimes and I truly appreciate it.

Hugs,

Well thanks Barb!  What a kind thing to say.  I don't think it is obsessive to monitor your weight daily.  I do that as well.  I think it is smart advice to keep those old habits and tendencies at bay and make sure that we don't step back into our old "fat ways".  There is certianly a pattern of behavior that got us to the points we were at.  I didn't wake up one day and just magically be over 300 pounds.  It was years and years of abuse and neglect of our health and bodies that got us there.  :)  At least now we are "re-educated" and are thinking thin!!!  This is a cool discussion.  Thanks for starting it.  :)

Since Barb asked me for my two cents I'll throw in a quarter. I weigh myself everyday not as obsession but more as a gage to make sure I am still doing the right things. If my weight climbs I re-evaluate what I am eating or not doing. I am almost 3 years out now and am still within 5lbs of 219lbs after losing 241lbs overall. I try and just eat a normal diet now days but I also do eat thinks that are on the "not good" list but I also recognize there is a price to pay so Oreo turn into an extra 5 miles hiking to burn them off. WLS has taught me there is no "free lunch" in this world.I can eat anything I am willing to pay for with exercise. It may not be the perfect solution but it works for me and I am in the best health of my life and I still drink Margaritaa and enjoy all life has to offer everyday.
Good Luck,
Tim