Once upon a very long time ago, I was skinny…yep, really thin. I was in my 20’s and had just ended a four year relationship. Suddenly, 20 pounds just seemed to disappear overnight and now I was 105 lbs and a size 4. I’m sure you think that, at 125 lbs, no one would have called me fat but, in those days (and now), skinny was “in.” Suddenly I could fit in all the cute, trendy clothes and I could find just about any garment to wear. I was in 7th heaven and thought I looked great. Of course, my doctor did ask me if I was anorexic (which I most certainly was not) and, when I went to Europe for 4 weeks during that time, I did come back weighing 95 lbs from all the walking we did (don’t worry, I gained back the 10 lbs immediately). Life was good.Fast forward many, many years. I no longer weigh 105 lbs…I no longer weigh 125 lbs. I can’t say when the trek up the scale dial began but it seemed to be a slow, stealthy climb. Eight years ago, after being diagnosed with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, I did manage to lose 40 lbs but, before you get excited, I also managed to gain most of it back after a few years. So here I am at a number I can’t even reveal to my hubby. No… he’s completely in the dark and that’s where I want him to stay. The only two people who know my weight are my doctor and the pilot who flew us onto a glacier in Alaska last year. Yep…no one else!
So last night I was watching TLC’s “What Not to Wear” when suddenly I had an epiphany. If I want to have an easier time finding clothes that look nice and fit well AND if I want to feel and look better, I need to take control of myself and make a commitment to watch when and what I eat. If I could lose all that weight eight years ago, there’s no reason I can’t lose most of it again. What’s my plan of attack? It’s portion control. It means absolutely no eating between meals and cutting what I eat at each meal back by as much as 50%. It also means no sampling when I go to Costco, no bread rolls when we go out for dinner, no tortilla chips when we have Mexican food, no overloading my plate when we go to our favorite salad bar, no dessert anywhere.
Can I do this…you bet! By revealing this plan, I’m hoping the thought of publicly admitting defeat will prevent me from “falling off the wagon.” While I promise not to bore you with daily updates on my progress, I will occasionally mention milestones when I get there. And maybe I’ll finally post a photo of myself once I get down to goal. I said “maybe”…
24 comments:
Good for you! Um, when do we start? You did say that you would be my coach...didn't you????? O.K. so you didn't say that, but will you?
Sounds great, but you also seemed to have taken all the fun out of eating.
boo hoo :-(
Good luck. I should be doing this too.
is there cake?
good luck honey! i wish you only the best.
smiles, bee
Good luck on your weight loss journey. I will be starting my own after we return from our cruise.
(but really no Costco samples???)
xo
Wishing you a little good luck and a lot of strength.
The first step is the hardest. Now just take it one step at a time and the pounds will come off. Do it slow and steady. You can do this.
I would like to say I'll join you, but it's just so hot and I'm just so tired and I have so little willpower...........
I think a lot of us are in the same boat as you are and I find as I get older, it's just so hard to lose the weight. My problem is lack of willpower...sigh!! I'm soooo very proud of you that you will attempt this....maybe you'll give me incentive to start watching what I eat as well:-) You go girl, you CAN do it!!!! xoxo
The high BP and cholesterol did it for me....it was either I lose weight, change my diet and more exercise or another stupid pill.....I did it, so can you! Woohoo. Good for you!
I SO need to lose weight. I've done it before - I know how to do it. It's just getting started. Once I see some movement on the scale, downward movement that is, I can usually keep at it.
Since I really need to drop a little bit, about 5-10 pounds, in the next month, I think I'm going to do this with you.
There's strength in numbers! WE can do this.
I can most definitely say that I am in the same boat as you though at the weight I'm currently at there might be some that would be tempted to use me as a flotation device!
I've managed to stick with my lo-carb plan of attack for almost a week now and will check how things look on the scale before going into work tomorrow. Part of me feels like I've lost something but then again, there's so much to lose now that I know this is going to be a very long battle of the bulge.
I've never been skinny or a size 4 except in my dreams, it just doesn't run in our family, but what does is diabetes and hypertension and a whole host of other nasty things that excess weight exacerbates so it was either get serious or possibly get sick so it's bye-bye bread until I can get to a point where I can handle it - if ever!
Good luck to you and I'm right there with you if you ever need any encouragement!
Sounds like an awesome plan. I may have to do something like that.
But I really want a soda right now...there's 150 useless callories.
That's the way you do it! And maybe a bit more movement too.
Good for you!
Lynn: You can start this when you get BACK from vacation.
Patti: There is sure no fun in dieting...that's for sure.
Empress bee: I wonder if there are calories from just inhaling the wonderful aroma of a freshly baked cake.
Susie: One should never start a diet with a vacation in the near future. And sadly, yes...no Costco samples.
Ms Chica: I will need lots of strength of will to do this. Thanks for the good wishes.
Mom: That's me and my weight...slow and steady. Only this time I hope it's downward.
Betty: I can't say I'm loaded with willpower either but looking in the mirror every day will be my motivational secret!
Pea: You can join me any ol' time in this endeavor!
Rosemary: I so appreciate hearing a success story...it only gives me even more hope for a positive outcome. Thanks!
Lynne: Welcome aboard...we can do this...oh yes we can!!!
Linda: Reading about your just started diet this week actually gave me the twinkling for my own attempt so thanks so much! Good luck to both of us!
Renee: I stopped drinking soda (at least most of the time) during my last attempt at dieting and I've never gone back. Why waste the calories on liquid when you can eat cake instead!!!
Meno: Yeah...there's that movement "thing." Hubby has already begun to badger me about increasing my activity level with a little exercise. [Sigh...]
I'm glad you revealed this plan of yours. I'd love to cheer you on from the sidelines!!
But you've got me intrigued by something else now too: How do you feel about your helicopter flight in the Alaskan glacier? I'm asking because we're considering (as you know we're heading on our honeymoon, an Alaskan cruise, in less than 2 weeks)
Anything we "MUST SEE"?
Onefullhouse: Our flight was actually a small airplane out of Talkeetna (landing on a part of the McKinley range) and was part of the land portion of our cruise/land tour. It was spectacular and the highlight of our trip. I'm not sure about the helicopter landings which are usually done during the cruise portion but I'm sure they're similar. Whatever you decide, I know you'll have a great Alaskan honeymoon adventure.
This is such a worthwhile a doable plan - you will benefit in so many ways. You go girl!
Wow, you are inspiration to a lot of people, obviously. I'm looking forward to your reports and to your successes. This is really exciting... I don't think this will be a bore at all so don't leave out too much... I would love to hear about it! Good luck, my friend... and perhaps, I will have to come up with a whole bunch of tips and hints on exercises and good eating habits, huh? :)
Val: Thanks for the encouragement!
Michele: I promise to give results when I get on the scale...which I'm only planning to do every few days. Also...any tips and hints you can share will be most appreciated.
You can do it Joan!
My weight has done the yo-yo thing my whole adult life. I'm a know-it-all when it comes to nutrition facts and the "right" way to eat, but still I battled the bulge. A few weeks ago I did something I never thought I would do in a million years - I joined Weight Watchers. I'm down 15 pounds so far! I think it's a doable lifestyle -- I don't feel deprived, I don't go hungry, and I have never eaten in such a healthy manner before.
Anyway, just an excited blurt...
Good luck and keep us posted! You can do it!
Iamthebookworm: Thanks for having faith in me.
Pam: Wow...15 pounds...congratulations! That's awesome. I'm only hoping I'll be able to report that kind of progress soon.
you have been my rock since we started on the road a year and a half ago for my stomach bypass surgery . I will be there for you, supporting you always. I think you are perfect the way you are (well maybe not the knobby knees) but you are the one who makes the decisions. I guess it's salads for both of us Wed nite.
The moose buyer: Thanks for the encouragement. As for dinner...I can eat almost anything...just less of it so it doesn't only have to be "rabbit food" when we dine.
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