To my fellow slooooow losers

[Cathy B.]

I had a funny thought tonight. I was feeling a little frustrated with my up-down, up-down weight loss saga over the past two months. I said to myself, "At the rate you are going, it is going to take you the rest of your life to lose this weight." Then the smart ass inside me replied, "Well, at least that way, you won't have time to gain it all back!"

At first, that made me giggle, then I thought, "Hmmmm....you might just have a point here." (Am I the only one that has conversations like this in my head?)

As I thought about it, I asked myself, "What's the hurry?" Statistically, the faster people lose weight, the more likely they are to regain it. And, speaking for myself, trying to maintain weight loss is much more challenging than trying to lose it. Historically, I have only two modes of operating where eating is concerned. 1. Eating whatever I want, whenever I want. or 2. Being careful about the food choices I make and trying to restrict calories.

Obviously I would like to avoid going back to Mode #1 and eating myself into any early grave. But if I am going to have to be careful about food choices and portions for the rest of my life, then what is the big rush about trying to lose all the weight?

So just for fun, I plugged some numbers into Fitday. I told Fitday I wanted to lose 162 pounds over the course of the next 20 YEARS!!!! LOL. I thought maybe my computer might explode or something, but no, not a problem. Fitday tells me that in order to do this, I will need to restrict my calories by 78 calories per day. I will lose .16 pounds per week and I should reach my goal in 1038 weeks and (get this!) TWO DAYS! LOL. I don't know why, but that two days part cracks me up.

Okay, I am being a little silly here, but I think you get my point. I will TRY to restrict my calories and make good food choices each day and hopefully I will succeed in restricting calories by 78 or MORE. But even only 78 is way better than EXCEEDING my calories burned by 1000 or more, which is my "norm" when I am not trying to lose weight.

I enjoy gambling as much as the next person and if someone asked me to put some money on A. Cathy restricting her daily calories by 78 calories for the rest of her life; or B. Cathy restricting her daily calories by 500 calories for the next two years and then maintaining the weight loss for the rest of her life, I would definitely put my money on A! Of course, the smart ass inside me just asked, "Is there a third option?" I gotta put a muzzle on that smart ass, one of these days. :-)

[diemde]

Oh, Cathy, this is great! Gave me a chuckle here in the early morning in Ohio!
And, speaking for myself, trying to maintain weight loss is much more challenging than trying to lose it.
Me too! While I would love to lose the excess fat quickly, it's just not that important in the grand scheme of things. Keeping what I've lost off of me is the more important goal.

I never thought about trying that in Fitday. Now you've got me curious enough to play around with it. I do use that feature of Fitday PC, but with more realistic dates. :lol: Right now, it's predicting I'll hit 210 around the end of November if I lose 1.26 lbs per week. I know myself... I figure it'll be closer to Christmas. :lol:

[katwoman]

You have no idea how much I needed these exact thought this morning. I know this is for life, but do get a little frustrated with how slowly I'm losing.

Love your sense of humor! But I also greatly appreciate the wisdom behind the humorous presentation. New self talk, "slow is good--I LOVE being a turtle!" (Why do I sound like a Ninja Turtle?).

[sherbear]

Great insight!
Sherry

[Scented1]

great post! and no you are not alone in the head conversation corner. :) I have a lot of inner dialog. lol

For me the rate of loss and the time frame is directly proportionate to my immediate health needs.

A life time change is what this is definitely about for me. But/and I also need to get the initial bulk of my weight out of here for my heart. And my self esteem.

It is definitely different for everybody.

;)

Rach

[Charran]

Cathy...What a wonderful post! Thanks for typing out your thoughts. They speak loudly to me and believe me, I have felt this way being a "Turtle" myself. In fact, I really should just copy your post into the Turtle thread that I frequent so that the Pond Pals can have a share of your wisdom.Historically, I have only two modes of operating where eating is concerned. 1. Eating whatever I want, whenever I want. or 2. Being careful about the food choices I make and trying to restrict calories. This has also been my experience in life too. There is no happy medium with me, which can explain how I got to be the size I was in the first place. I think if I was able to find that middle ground I wouldn't have a problem like I do. But if I am going to have to be careful about food choices and portions for the rest of my life, then what is the big rush about trying to lose all the weight? This is exactly me also. I'm a Type 2 diabetic. There is no other option for me but to plug away at this. I tend to stay away from those threads talking about how long did it take you to lose your weight because I was actually embarrassed that it has taken me 6 years to lose 50 pounds, but after reading your post, I realize that I should be proud to have lost the 50 pounds in 6 years and kept them off. When I think of the alternative as you so eloquently and amusingly pointed out, well, I guess I'm much farther ahead than I thought I was! The next 6 years will come and go whether I am doing something about my weight or not, so heck, what do I have to lose? Oh that's right! Another 50 pounds! :lol: And then I'll be at my goal. :D

[Cathy B.]

Hey everyone,
Thanks for responding. I am glad you were able to find some humor in my post and that my words rang true for some of you.

I have been thinking a bit more about it today. Here are my thoughts.

We are all members of the Triple Digits Club. We all have, or have had, at least 100 pounds to lose or more. We didn't get to that point because we made a few bad choices at the cookout last weekend. We got to this point because we have a serious food addiction that can easily take over our lives and can cause us to eat in a very self destructive way.

I guess what I was trying to say in my original post, to myself and to anyone else who might be able to relate to this, is to not get discouraged if it seems like it will take you forever to lose the weight. Do not get discouraged when you stumble and fall. Do not beat yourself up when you make some bad choices on your vacation or at the July 4th party.

Because if we cannot forgive ourselves or love ourselves just the way we are, we are going to get discouraged and throw in the towel because we don't think we are worth the fight. And THEN we are going to be in serious trouble. Not only will we not lose weight, we will gain all the weight back and more.

I applaud those people who seem to be able to stick to their food plan, no matter what. I admire their determination and self discipline. There was even a time in my life, when I was in my 20's, when I was one of those people. Of course, all the weight came back plus an extra 150 pounds over the course of the next 30 years.

Does that make me less worthy now? A failure? No. As long as I continue to TRY, I am just as much of a success now as I was then.

We all know what can happen when we stop trying. So no matter what happens today, we have to climb back on that horse tomorrow and try again. And if we fail, then we climb back on the next day and try AGAIN. It's the trying that matters, not the numbers on the scale. We didn't get to be members of the Triple Digits Club because we tried and some days we failed. We got here because at various points in our lives, we stopped trying.

So here's to hanging in there and to loving ourselves enough to keep trying!

Best wishes to all,
Cathy

[Charran]

Very well said Cathy! Another wonderful post that rings so true. I think that is why I know that I AM going to be successful. I just keep on trying and learning about myself and my body! Right now, my body and me are in a bit of a disagreement, but it will be worked out in time!

[katwoman]

We all know what can happen when we stop trying. So no matter what happens today, we have to climb back on that horse tomorrow and try again. And if we fail, then we climb back on the next day and try AGAIN. It's the trying that matters, not the numbers on the scale. We didn't get to be members of the Triple Digits Club because we tried and some days we failed. We got here because at various points in our lives, we stopped trying.

So here's to hanging in there and to loving ourselves enough to keep trying!


Very well said! Thanks again Cathy.

Pam

[Mousesmom]

Thanks for the eloquent posts Cathy.... I agree that we didn't get where we used to be with a couple of bad choices on a weekend or even several weekends.

I spent a long time making bad choices and have to make good choices every single day for the rest of my life to maintain what I have already lost and hopefully lose the rest one day. Even if I never get there, I am still better off than where I started.

It's a lifelong process to re-educate myself to pick good things over "other" (not "bad") things. Rationally I know what's good for me but the petulant child inside wants to be "normal" (whatever that actually is...) and be able to have whatever I want whenever I want it without consequences.

Someone told me a long time ago "you ate it, you own it" and it's still true.

Char, my Pond Pal - I agree with copying into Turtle Club - go for it.

Julie

[amy411]

very well said and much needed :)

[~Bri~]

Thanks for such a wonderful post! It really helps put this new lifestyle into perspective. I've never been able to stick with something and maintain, this time I will. One day at a time!

[MNLisa B]

We've got a winner!!! This sure rang true to me, I am a member of the Turtle Club. When I started, my goal was losing 80 pounds (nearly 100), don't know where it will all shake out once I am closer.

I have been on this journey since September and as frustrating as it has been sometimes, it has been equally rewarding, and have learned lots about myself and diet and nutrition in general. Sure wish I had faithfully followed this WOE earlier; but like Dorothy and her ruby slippers, I needed to find out that I did have the power to do this all along.

Best wishes, Cathy, very sage words, thanks for the well crafted thought.

[OtherCher2]

Great thoughts, Cathy! I thought I was the slowest loser - at 1.1 lb. per week - but it has given me time to adjust to this woe over a long period of time. I love this LC lifestyle.