Losing Weight: 5, 50 even 99 pounds

I know I need to begin the weight loss program, (again)
but my mind tells me to, and my heart just isn't in it..anyone else like me?

Dont give up... It is amazing how our heart sometimes is not as friendly as it supposed to be... All we are on the same train. Small steps.

I also am having a problem with motivation. I start working on myself and am GOOD for about a week then I fall off the wagon so to speak. Perhaps having someone who is also dealing with sustaining motivation will help. How be we give it a try. I have 90 lbs to lose and lead a very inactive life. My goal for this week is to eat smaller portions and to exercise (walking) for 15 minutes every day.

Being overweight didn't really bothered me until just recently when I realised that I used my weight
as an excuse for NOT living the life I would like to live..can you relate?..No point spending money on nice clothes, nothing looks good on me anyway. Not going bike riding don't want others seeing my butt overhang etc etc..I have already lost 33lb but could do with losing 77lb (35kgs).My excuses aren't good reasons for denying myself a happier, healthier more active life. I am going to write a list of things I would like to do over the next 5 years. Like winwin I am going to make small changes, 15 minutes exercise minimum per day, make healthier food and drink choices and monitor portion size. I know it's easier to continue living the life-style that contributed to the weight gain, putting family, friends etc first.. but that's not going to get me the life I would like to live. We can motivate each other by sharing our journey, celebrating the highs encouraging during the lows. Together we can do this. [img]

Being overweight didn't really bothered me until just recently when I realised that I used my weight
as an excuse for NOT living the life I would like to live..can you relate?..No point spending money on nice clothes, nothing looks good on me anyway. Not going bike riding don't want others seeing my butt overhang etc etc..I have already lost 33lb but could do with losing 77lb (35kgs).My excuses aren't good reasons for denying myself a happier, healthier more active life. I am going to write a list of things I would like to do over the next 5 years. Like winwin I am going to make small changes, 15 minutes exercise minimum per day, make healthier food and drink choices and monitor portion size. I know it's easier to continue living the life-style that contributed to the weight gain, putting family, friends etc first.. but that's not going to get me the life I would like to live. We can motivate each other by sharing our journey, celebrating the highs encouraging during the lows. Together we can do this. [img]

Being overweight has always bothered me but it was only 20 lbs or so. I don't know when I stopped caring but I did and the weight piled on. You are right cuddly-kiwi. Being overweight is an excuse for not living life to the fullest. I have been hiding and not participating in everything going on around me. I have dulled my senses with food. Time to stop. So far I am having a really good week. I did miss one 15 min. walk this week but I worked out in the garden moving dirt from one end to the other as I built a new flower bed. After this 2 hour workout I was too exhausted to walk. Now I walk first thing in the morning so there are no excuses later in the day for not doing it. I have been eating good sized portions but much less then I used to eat. I do not eat between meals. I will be stepping on the scale on Sunday morning to see how things are moving along..... can hardly wait.
I like the idea of writing a list of things to do over the next five years. One of the first things on my list would be to go hot air ballooning. Need to be in shape to get into the basket... What is your first wish? Let's continue to motivate each other.

Hi Winwin
Doesn't it feel good doing those positive things that you know will work. I just got off the elliptical having completed 25 minutes and 174 calories burnt. Already I'm feeling I'm back on track and can do this (losing the weight, stepping out of my comfort zone is another thing) Anyway I'll make Sunday my weigh-in day too and we can take it from there. At present I weigh 226 lbs (started at 261 back in April but lost focus for a time)
One of the first things on my list would be to travel overseas. I have always wanted to go outside of New Zealand and witness another culture. Doesn't have to be far - thinking Vanuatu, go snorkelling, see an active volcano... going to setup a separate bank account to help me pay for my to do list. Top on the list right now though is to lose 10% body weight before my eldest daughters wedding, which she annouced yesterday, is going to be in 3 months time. That should keep me motivated ... NO MORE OBESE PHOTOS.
My eldest son went hot air balloning and says it's an amazing experience. That's a great goal to work towards... so keep up the healthier lifestyle, from what I've read you're doing great.

Hi Reaching4It

BELIEVE in yourself, YOU have the POWER to make changes in your life. Sometimes the hardest thing is deciding what it is that we want.

Hi Kiwi, You should be so proud of yourself for having lost so much since April... WELL DONE....With the added bonus of the wedding coming up I am sure you will continue to do well. I will help you stay on track as much as I can. Love the fact that you are starting to put money away for your travel goal. I think that new experiences help keep us fresh, alive, interested and interesting. We should never stop learning. I am going to be digging myself out of the hole that I have dug for myself and become open to new experiences and reestablish friendships which I drifted away from.

Have a great goal-oriented day.

P.S. My new mantra is JUST DO IT. No excuses face life joyously.

Yep even through I would have liked to have lost more weight within the time frame, I am HAPPY that I haven't put weight on this year...and like the fact the curves of yester-year are hinting at a reappearance. I blossomed over the last ? years due to using food for comfort(lonely, sad, feeling helpless) I am a little embarrassed it has taken me so long to realise I have the POWER to make changes. For most of my life, I have felt like a square peg in a round hole, putting a smile on the dial and letting others believe everything is okay. So I know about digging yourself into a hole and the struggle of pulling yourself out. Believing you are worth it, deserve better, making YOU a priority. All in the attitude... And I like your attitude. Reaching out to others is a great way to invite opportunities into your life.

Another thing to put on my to do list,

get a social life


I took my youngest Miss 14 and one of her friends, to a Paramore concete earlier this year. Loved it(though I sware I was one of the eldest there). The feeling of being connected out weighted the discomfort of being pushed and the smell of sweat. It helped me to realise with a little planning I can make things happen without relaying on others. Small steps.... working towards a brighter future.

Hi Kiwi,
I invited myself along on a shopping trip with an artist friend yesterday. That is not something I normally do. (Talk about being a square peg....I hate shopping) We drove in to the nearest large city and bought art supplies .We had both sold paintings this month and decided to really overdo it in the new supply area. We filled up the car with canvases, paint and brushes. Then we headed out for lunch (Which was excellent) talked art and philosopy and discussed a movie which we had both seen and hated. We laughed and had a glorious time. Then we took in a few galleries and headed back home ( Making both sarcastic and insightful comments about the work....AT LEAST WE THOUGHT SO...). It was a wonderful way to reconnect.
Taking that step out of my self imposed prison was long overdue. I also feel revitalized today, I actually want to paint. It is so much much better to fight lonliness, sadness and helplessness by taking positive action rather then stuffing it down with food. These feelings are better shared.
Have a great day and stay on the positive side.
Deanna
P.S. I am a Canadian

Nice to met you Deanna.

Great to read you are taking action and having fun doing it. Stepping out of our comfort zone and having success is diffently a great way to keep motivated to strive for change. This weekend hubby and I have had the house to ourselves which means, less noise, less dishes and less washing it also meant I have allowed myself to put off what I could be doing today until tomorrow. So D-Day tomorrow NO EXCUSES.

regards Vicki

Hi Vicki'

Today was weigh in day and I am glad to report that I lost 5.5 lbs this week. This has been the first week on my on again diet and I expected to do well. Now comes the hard part.... the stick-to-itivness . They say that nothing succeeds like success but with me that isn't so. I think I should be rewarding myself and do so with such gusto that I immediately fall off the wagon. I have not done that today. The only thing I did was to give myself a day off from my walk. (It's just too hot these days) I posted new goals for the week on my fridge. I will walk 15 minutes a day (increasing speed) and again eat smaller portions. I know I can do this. On Tuesday I have to go collect some of my paintings from a local gallery. On Wednesday I have to deliver more paintings to a different gallery. I think I will be doing a lot of driving this week. No point in worrying about these very uncomfortable situations before I need to. (Talk about feeling inadaquate) Will have to examine those feelings in order to succeed and not stuff them down with food. Enough about me.

Sounds like you had a quiet weeekend and put off doing. give yourself a break. ( but only one day) Thank heavens a week only comes one day at a time.
Stay in the moment

Deanna

Yes, I am like you. It took my mother's sudden death to shock me into living life. I had been putting weight loss "on hold" thinking it was something I'd eventually get around to doing. The problem was I didn't value myself enough to make the changes I needed to. I was too busy taking care of everyone else but me. The short of it is my mom's sudden, unexpected death drove home to me that I can't keep putting off losing this weight. Is it a struggle? Yes it is. I keep telling myself I can and will lose this ugly weight. I, too, need to lose about 50 pounds. If I think of the whole number I get overwhelmed so I tell myself I will just focus on a small amount 1, 2, 5 pounds. That way I can take small steps in my diet and increase my activity to lose the weight.

I know you can lose this weight. You have to find what matters to you most and to understand that YOU DESERVE this weight loss. You matter, you have value, you can take the first step, then another and another...

Hi Deanna, welcome shelleBug

Congradulations on your weightloss Deanna and not falling off the wagon - way to go! Rewarding yourself for successing is a great idea. In the past I put $10 for each kg (2.2lb) lost aside and brought something nice for myself eg jewellery.

Shellebug, sorry for your loss.
I can relate, if I was to look at the final weight I would like to be, it would be overwhelming,that's why I don't veiw myself on a diet but on a journey learning about me. (weightloss is a bonus)

I have learnt I allowed fear of failure to stop me trying,now I see failure not as failing but a process in the learning curve. Not to ignore negative feelings, they are a sign that something is out of kelter. I have the choice to make changes within my life, trust in myself and change will happen.

THis morning I got on the scales , up a couple of pounds. No more lapsing in the weekend. Today has been a good day, running round after children, 25 minutes exercise, work and home to a cooked meal. Feeling positive, the scales WILL go down! Because I am making me a proriety.

have a great day all, stay strong, stay focused

Vicki

Hi Vicki, Welcome Shellebug,

I have been thinking of how to reward myself that isn't detrimental to my overall well being. Not walking is not really a reward. A special meal isn't either . I have come up with a really good reward FOR ME . I am going to donate $10. a lb to the local food bank. Giving to others makes one feel good. I would probably have spent that money on food anyway.... let it do some good for a change.

It is really difficult to make ones self a priority. For some reason we grow up putting ourselves down and feeling we are undeserving of all kinds of good things. Come on ladies.... no excuses. Lets just do it.

Deanna