I recently got to the mark of 50 pounds of weight released (I like this better than "weight loss"), and have been so focused on the NEXT goals that I haven't really savored reaching this point and the overall changes to me and my whole lifestyle.

Right now I am actually in the two-twenties for the first time in I don't know how long. I can remember how through all of this summer I was stuck in the high two-sixties and just felt completely powerless to escape, just kept losing and regaining the same 10 pounds for the past couple years, brushing against 280 with unpleasant frequency.

I had to live by myself for over a year just to begin to take responsibility for myself, and to actually start taking care of myself and be the ADULT that I needed to be. I really had to get to the point where I felt I was going to die if I didn't change that I finally let go of my old toxic life. And the degree, rate, and quality of change haas been near-miraculous.

So here is to losing 50 pounds and a lot more than 50 pounds of "baggage!" YAY!

I like you "jaguar" picture. Congratulations!

Congrats Carlos! You surely are inspirational. I hope to reach that type of loss someday. When you mentioned becoming an adult, a thought came to me. For some of us, when we are high on carbs its hard to do anything really right. It's like being a drug addict getting hits to stay high. Just my opinion on it. All the best with the rest of your effort.

Thanks Peter,

I think you are exactly right. I have also thought of it as being a carb "junkie," and my old lifestyle as a "junkie lifestyle" where things like carbs and tv, etc, were my drugs. Carbs are just one element of the toxic life - nearly everything had to change to make this possible.

YOU WILL GET THERE TOO!

Congratulations on your 50 lbs loss, Carolvs! Well done!!!

MrBuffalo and you are absolutely right. It is exactly like a harddrug or alcohol addiction. No matter the amount of overweight if any.

I'm fighting exactly the same battle as you are and I am regularly losing it. A tiny piece of cake or a simple chocolate can be the trigger of days or weeks of unwanted behaviour and corresponding weight gain.

I have to leave out sugar altogether. If I don't it is just a matter of waiting until the next cravings appear which cannot be controlled for some time.

Congratulations Carlos!! 50 lbs "released" is awesome!! (I like that term too - "lost" sounds like an accident, or like you expect to "find" the pounds you "lost". "Released" sounds like you purposely got rid of them because you don't need them in your life!!)

Yeah, we had to break up - this time for good.

I had to say goodbye to my favourite foods...my security blanket goodies! It is an addiction and it was harder for me to say goodbye to junk food than it was to quit smoking (possibly because I fell back to the junk food even harder when I quit smoking). Everytime I go into the grocery store I feel the urge to surrender to the candy/chip aisle or anytime when I'm alone and have a chunk of free time the temptation to pull out a good book and go buy some chocolate or chips or both (!) is almost overwhelming. We're all fighting it I think...and for the most part are winning!

Congrats on your 50 lbs of weight released - be proud

Exactly! You have spoken right from my heart. You describe the exact experiences and battles we obviously share.

Congratulations! "Release" sounds so... cleansing, and it IS! You have done a great job with your life, not just releasing the weight, but it sounds like you've worked hard on all aspects of your life

Kudos to you!