Graduation...?

[diemde]

My 60 year old brother in law is graduating today with a bachelor's degree from Ohio State University. He spent 33 years in the Navy, retired, took a job for a few years at the local Meijer store, then finally went back to school.

And my 29 year old niece is graduating with her master's degree today, too. She just graduated last June with her bachelor's. She took a few years off from school for various and sundry reasons. Both are graduating from OSU, along with about 8,000 other students. OSU is one of the few huge schools that still holds a real commencement where the graduates actually walk up and are handed their diplomas. How great both of them must feel today when they walk across the stage and get that diploma! It's been a long time coming for both of them!

Their successes got me to thinking... just like college grads, we low carbers come from all walks of life, at different ages and with different life experiences. And just like these graduates, we have goals we are aiming for, things we have to learn to hit our goals, and lots of "homework" to do. I wonder if we would be any more motivated to achieve our health goals and weight loss if we got a degree and had a graduation ceremony? I wonder what our courses of study would be... nutrition, phys ed, psychology, biology... and cooking 101 in my case. :lol:

All of these graduates have their book learning down and now they get to go out into the real world and put it into practice. The smart ones have already completed a few internships, maybe worked a part time job in their field, or did something like student teaching. Or better yet, maybe they had their employer pay for their education while they continued to work their full time jobs. I wonder how many of them were able to put their book learning to use while they worked their jobs? And I wonder just how many have huge student loans?

At what point do we low carbers graduate? Is it after we've read all the books and learned how carbs, fats and proteins work in the body? Is it after induction? Is it after we hit our goal weight? And how many of us are willing to invest in our low carb "degree?" How many of us are willing to take out loans if we have to in order to buy the books and work out equipment we may need? How many of us are willing to pay the price and do what it takes to accomplish our goals?

Just like my niece and my brother in law, I want to graduate. I want to shout to the roof tops that I did it. I want to use the skills and knowledge I've gained to do something good in the world. And just like my niece who is going to start in the Fall as a high school English teacher, I want to share what I've learned with those who are still learning. I just hope I can graduate sooner rather than later. How about you?

[BayouBecky]

Dianne, this is a marvelous post!

I think that I won't consider myself to have graduated until I get to the weight I want to be at and have moved on to Lifetime Maintenance. Like how I'm trying to get my degree now, there's lots of things to learn and accomplish before graduation, and I think moving on to Lifetime Maintenance and reaching my goal weight are only a couple of the things to know.

[greenshamr]

I enjoyed your eloquently written post! Thank you for sharing!

I want to graduate and share my knowledge as well....that is what inspires me daily!

[kathleen24]

Hmmmm . . .I've never thought about graduation, except for getting on here and throwing an I-made-it-bash when I hit goal.

For me, it will be a matter of hitting goal, and figuring out how to stay there--sort of like finishing your med degree, but then working in a hospital for a few years as a medical intern, then setting up a practice.

What are the rebound stats? I'd like to be a stats-buster--outlast the "most people regain their lost weight within . . . "

On the other hand, to play a few more notes on your analogy, I fully intend to be what I am in academic life, a lifelong learner.

"He who learns from one who is learning, drinks from a running stream."

[katwoman]

This is a very insightful post Dianne. Great food for thought. In my mind, graduation is reaching goal--but as I've learned concerning earning a "real" degree, that's when the really hard work begins. It's also more fun. I enjoyed earning both my degrees, loved the coursework and the challenges--but more than that I love applying what I've learned in my classroom and interactions. I'm having a great time with LC--learning what my body actually needs as opposed to the junk it's had to live on so many years. I'm even to the point of enjoying the challenge of exercise (well, not so much enjoying the exercise itself but the feeling I have after doing it). But how much more fun will maintenance be when I'll need to be diligent for the rest of my life, but also able to really see the benefits of all that work and learning.

I've got to say, although I wish I'd never taken it I think I learned the most from "Falling off the Wagon 101". At first glance that course looks like a failure on my transcript, but when I consider all I learned from it I have to move it to the A column.

Again, great thread and I'm looking forward to hearing what others have to say.

[ndurance1]

For me, graduation would be measured in how long I am able to maintain after hitting goal weight. I met a fellow who did so over ten years. I would LOVE to hit ten years at goal. That would be something to celebrate.

I refused to start a weight loss program till I believed it was truely sustainable over the long haul.

I don't ever want to declare myself a success story, or have an AFTER PICTURE. Just BEFORE and IN PROGRESS pictures.

Maybe if I can get 10 or 20 years at Goal Weight I'll post a success story, if the Lord God wills that I live that long! Otherwise every day I am not living like I was (~410 lbs) is a success story! Every day I am daily living on-track is a celebration. It really isn't so much about the destination - but it is about the victories along the way and about the low carb journey for me. I am learning how to eat and live well.

So far I have my blood pressure down, my acid reflux has dissapeared, and my blood sugar issues are a thing of the past. I feel so much better. I am lighter and lighter on my feet.

At some point I may even (GASP!) start working out and excercising a little! I have been thinking lately about breaking out my weight equipment and dusting off the dumbells and barbells and plates and all.