Sunday Cycling – Wordless Wednesday
November 18, 2015
How To Get More Than Yes And No From Your Kids
November 21, 2015
I was talking to a friend who recently returned back to the Philippines. She was not around me last year during my weight transformation, so she commented that I looked a lot slimmer then she remembered. As we were talking, it occurred to me that today is the my one-year anniversary! I am celebrating one year of freedom from weight.
Freedom From Weight
Of course, I knew the date was close but life has a way of pulling at your attention. I had intended to write something about it, but here it is…one year has passed and I can honestly say I have freedom from weight worry, consideration, contemplation, chastisement or concern. It just doesn’t seem to worry me anymore, which is saying a lot because there have been many points in my life when my weight constantly weighed on my mind.
Interestingly enough, your weight becomes a non-issue when you get to the place where you are not watching for the scale to rise and fall. In essence, the mental space that used to be consumed with fretting over my inability to control my weight is now freed up to pursue other things.
So what did I do, what was the turning point for me? I figured out what makes me tick in terms of food. I uncovered some long-held thoughts and assumptions that I had about food and I dealt with them one-by-one. Last January I wrote these words about my, at that time, two months on a new weight journey…
Obviously, it would be inconceivable to consider cutting back when the holiday season was just around the corner. That’s when it hit me! I wasn’t in charge of my body or my choices about food. Sometime in my past I had ceded control of my eating to the pleasure of food and the taste of food. After all, no one can resist the draw of rich holiday foods, right?
That day was November 16 and I decided then and there that something had to change. I didn’t make an elaborate plan, nor did I go on a swan song binge before I hit the miserable diet road. I just made a decision that from that day on I was making the choices, conscious choices, about the food I ate. It was time to find out what was behind my life-long roller-coaster ride with food. I wasn’t just going to treat the symptomatic weight like I had always done in the past. This time, I was going to explore my thinking about food and try to get a handle on it once and for all. – You Can Lose Weight Over The Holidays
I Am Sharing The Love This Time Around
So, I am sharing the love this time around. I made it through Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year last year and actually lost weight in the process. Just in case you are preparing to react with, “yes, but that was you and this is me” let me remind you that I was a 47 year-old mother of two when I did it. I know what it is to struggle with constant thoughts with food and constant dieting…I have been there.
Now, since that’s out of the way, what are we going to do now 😉 Starting next week I will be doing a series of targeted posts based on your responses to last week’s survey. I believe that you can be victorious over the lure of food this holiday season, if you arm yourself with a can-do attitude and a plan. If you didn’t respond to last week’s survey, I would still love to hear your feedback – SURVEY.
See you next week and we’ll get started!
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Check out the other fabulous lifestyle linkups I’m joining this week – My Linkups!
23 Comments
Thanks so much for sharing this Shellie! Our stories are so similar. My frustration point come just before November when I said I’m just tired of being tired. I wasn’t eating right or making the time to work out like I used to. My goal was to lose weight over the holidays & met it! It wasn’t much because I was working hard to gain muscle. But I’m good with that & feel so much better! I’m excited to read more on your blog 🙂
I’m so glad you hit your decision point, Jena! I’m also glad you stopped by to say hi.
Thanks for entering this inspiring post in #ThePinterestGame! Good luck!
Managing one’s expectations about weight loss is critical. Even gaining a measly pound a year, you’ll be 20 pounds heavier at 60 years old than you were at 40. So, it will take time to take off the extra pounds.
I took a bit different tack. Cut the carobs to once a day; slightly reduce portions & continue to eat the healthy foods you like; drag yourself to exercise at least three times a week; try to walk fast on the off days.
Contrary to WW, weigh yourself daily. Daily weight check-in provides a better sense of progress. If the scale is up one day, perhaps you alter what you consume the next.
Be realistic. And no bites of birthday cake, splitting desserts, licking batter spoons, gobbling down free samples of cheese at the grocery store, etc., Everything counts. Avoid the Thanksgiving cheese tray and spreads to save the calories for something you really want. (Can you eat pecan or pumpkin pie without the crust? Yes, you can!)
Short term weight loss generally does not stick. While it took a year (goal:1 – 2 lbs a month), I lost 15 pounds and kept it off. And the snug waistlines of yesterday fit like a dream…only they are woefully out of style!
Good for you, Judith!I so agree that daily weighing is essentail when it comes to maintaining your weight. The important thing was that you found a method that works for you and then you stuck with it.For me, I find that a few bites of dessert make life just a little sweeter,but then I make adjustments in other ways. Thanks for the excellent comments!
Congratulations Shellie, we all know that the keeping it off is the big thing, and you have done it. Thanks for showing us all that it can stay off. You are an inspiration.
Kathleen
Fridays Blog Booster Party #33
Thanks Kath!
Just arrived from #BlogShareLearn. Looking forward to your series of targeted posts!
Hey Margaretha, glad you stopped by…I hope they help!
that’s quite a milestone! Mazel tov!
Thanks Roz!
Great post! Congratulations!
Thanks Liv!
Congratulations, Shellie! Your realization about not being in charge of your choices about food reminds me of when I decided to finally quit smoking for good–I suddenly realized that that stupid rolled stick of tobacco was controlling me instead of the other way around. That was real turning point, and after 10 years of smoking 2 – 3 packs a day, I’ve now been tobacco-free for 32 years.
Hi Roxanne, yes food is an addiction for many and has to be approached that way!
Hi Shellie! Congratulations! It sounds to me that you found a “SMART” formula for healthy AND happy eating. I too believe that conscious eating is a real key and make it a practice in my life as well. I look forward to hearing about your details in your coming posts. ~Kathy
Yes Kathy, mindfulness has made all the difference for me!
Congratulations, Shellie! Awesome inspiration for those wanting to slim down and especially during the holidays when you eat more.
Thanks Freda.
You are giving such wonderful advice about weight control and weight loss. I hope lots of people are reading your posts.
Thanks Stacey, I really appreciate that. I am so glad you stopped by!
This is a great post, Shellie, and congrats on your weight loss success. Before I hit menopause, I ws able to lose weight fairly easily in my 40s. Once I hit the big M, the ability to lose weight has become a slow, arduous process met with little success, despite dieting and exercise.
I am sure it must be very frustrating, Terri. I can tell from your blog that you have always been fit and active.