Re: The last few weeks/Struggles

[Guest guest]

Good for you, Mitch!!! Way to get back on track!

in OKC <><

238/200/under 200

> I hit the 100 pound - lost mark 3+ weeks ago. Since then,

> I've struggled ... put on a couple of pounds... OK more

> then a couple (4 or 5)... part of it

> was all that's going on - I was sick... the kids were sick...

work's

> gotten insane .... part of it was I was just tired of journaling,

> weighing & measuring, calculating points ... part of it was

> everyone telling me how good I looked --- " stop, don't lose any

> more " , " I can't see you getting any thinner then this " , " you're

> looking pale " , " oh, no - you don't need to lose any more " . I think

> I began to " buy into this " and got very lax with what I was

> doing.

>

> A lot of self-talk later, I remembered that I'm a person that

> lives a more healthful lifestyle ( " self-definition " ) then I'd been

> living the last couple of weeks; I realized that my struggles were

> affecting my attitude and my relationships with everyone (including

> my wife & kids); despite the busy times, I'm forcing myself to

> catch up on all the posts here - because I get so much motivation

> from them - threads like " Why did You Start? " have been great

> reminders for me.

>

> I I think the last few weekswere more about having made such a

focused

> effort - reaching a milestone - and then letting some external

events

> (illness, beingbusy, outsider's comments) play with my resolve. My

> first reaction to all this was embarrassment - how can I let myself

> be thrown like this - then anger - now a new resolve to move

forward -

> to think of this as continuing to learn, not as a value judgement

> on my worth. I feel it all slowly coming back - the desire, the

> motivation, the resolve - I haven't " ruined " anything - I have to

> re-trace a couple of pounds, that's all. In the past, I would never

> have been able to re-assert control - this time REALLY is

different!!!

> So, I'm totally back in control now. THanks to all, who, without

even

> knowing it, have helped to inspire....

>

> Mitch

[Guest guest]

Mitch,

I appreciate your honesty in admitting your struggles. I have a hard

time doing that myself. I think it is because I am such a strong WWer

normally, that when I start to lax, I get so made at myself for not

being in control and ashamed at failing that I hide it from those

that support me.

I, too, have had a rough few weeks. I was within a couple of pounds

of my WW goal, and then let things get out of hand. Sure, I can use

all the crazy work stuff, my brother's arrival back from Iraq and

subsequent adjustment problems, my birthday celebration, and my

emotional issues with my mother as excuses, but that is what they

are: excuses. It's so strange. This isn't the first time this has

happened to me (getting really close to goal, then gaining weight

back). Last time it was ten pounds, this time it was only four. I

think I get real comfortable at my size (everyone says I look fine,

so my minds wonders and I forget why I wanted to lose more) and I am

close to goal. Plus, I was on such a plateau (not gaining or losing

for several weeks) that I think I got discouraged. Something about

hitting " landmarks " with weight loss just does me in...maybe I'm

afraid of succeeding? Okay, that was way too Dr. Phil!!! : )

Anyway, I've come out of the funk and I'm once again focused and

ready to get to goal. I've been doing WW a long time (2 1/2 years)

and if I have learned one thing, it is that my journey is a constant

learning experience. I am not one of those people that started the

program, lost all their weight without falling off the wagon, and

made goal. But, I am one of those people that weigh less now than I

did last year or the year before. I think of myself as a success

story, not because I've hit my goal weight or always been perfect,

but because I've kept at the program despite setbacks, and I've

picked myself up off the ground more than once during this struggle.

Old me (before WW) would have dive bombed into a gallon of ice cream

during the last few weeks and continued to do so until I'd gained

every ounce back plus some. Successful me may stray at times

(although I have to admit I have went through some stressful times

and not turned to food, so that gives me hope that one day I'll

conquer the monster), but I get back on track right away and take

care of business.

I'm not sharing this to say it's okay to do the program the way I

have. I wish I had done it the way others have, but you can't change

the past, only the future. I just wanted you to know that there are

others out there who have struggled. Don't beat yourself up about

past mistakes. If this truly is a lifestyle change, then even if you

deviate from your normal, healthy patterns, that lifestyle change

will take control and get you back into the groove.

Thanks again for sharing.

April

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for this post April. It said what I

was trying to say so much better then I said it :-)

I too hold my self up as a successful weight watcher, so

when I hit a rough patch, " shame " is the right adjective. I

have learned that not hiding it, but sharing your struggles

and getting support is the more effective route to renewed

success.

I guess we're both learning that its' not " all or nothing " ,

that we can stop the negative behaviors and get back to the

positive ones. Yeah for us!!!!

I agree that there are a million " reasons " we may slip, but they're

all just excuses. Maybe there are deep-seated psychological

issues (I often think that I've used my weight as protection

against failure - " I wasn't selected for the promotion because

I'm fat, not because I didn't deserve it " ), but even if that's

true ---- it's another " excuse " as far as I'm concerned.

So, April, we've put the excuses aside, and we're heading back

in the right direction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mitch

> Mitch,

>

> I appreciate your honesty in admitting your struggles. I have a hard

> time doing that myself. I think it is because I am such a strong WWer

> normally, that when I start to lax, I get so made at myself for not

> being in control and ashamed at failing that I hide it from those

> that support me.

>

> I, too, have had a rough few weeks. I was within a couple of pounds

> of my WW goal, and then let things get out of hand. Sure, I can use

> all the crazy work stuff, my brother's arrival back from Iraq and

> subsequent adjustment problems, my birthday celebration, and my

> emotional issues with my mother as excuses, but that is what they

> are: excuses. It's so strange. This isn't the first time this has

> happened to me (getting really close to goal, then gaining weight

> back). Last time it was ten pounds, this time it was only four. I

> think I get real comfortable at my size (everyone says I look fine,

> so my minds wonders and I forget why I wanted to lose more) and I am

> close to goal. Plus, I was on such a plateau (not gaining or losing

> for several weeks) that I think I got discouraged. Something about

> hitting " landmarks " with weight loss just does me in...maybe I'm

> afraid of succeeding? Okay, that was way too Dr. Phil!!! : )

>

> Anyway, I've come out of the funk and I'm once again focused and

> ready to get to goal. I've been doing WW a long time (2 1/2 years)

> and if I have learned one thing, it is that my journey is a constant

> learning experience. I am not one of those people that started the

> program, lost all their weight without falling off the wagon, and

> made goal. But, I am one of those people that weigh less now than I

> did last year or the year before. I think of myself as a success

> story, not because I've hit my goal weight or always been perfect,

> but because I've kept at the program despite setbacks, and I've

> picked myself up off the ground more than once during this struggle.

> Old me (before WW) would have dive bombed into a gallon of ice cream

> during the last few weeks and continued to do so until I'd gained

> every ounce back plus some. Successful me may stray at times

> (although I have to admit I have went through some stressful times

> and not turned to food, so that gives me hope that one day I'll

> conquer the monster), but I get back on track right away and take

> care of business.

>

> I'm not sharing this to say it's okay to do the program the way I

> have. I wish I had done it the way others have, but you can't change

> the past, only the future. I just wanted you to know that there are

> others out there who have struggled. Don't beat yourself up about

> past mistakes. If this truly is a lifestyle change, then even if you

> deviate from your normal, healthy patterns, that lifestyle change

> will take control and get you back into the groove.

>

> Thanks again for sharing.

>

> April

[Guest guest]

I found this subject was interesting too, reading all the responses

to it. I am finding that as time goes on and I use the good behaviors

and habits that I tend to find it easier to incorporate them instead

of the old me habits. These new ones are becoming the " habits " now.

Everyone gets bored, tired, deperessed, upset and goes through bad

times, and I am finding that I am not reaching for the old habits

most times because the new ones have been taking over by themselves

without me even realizing it.

I guess because with time I have gotten away from them. When I do

make an unwise choice now, I am like some of you, I really hate it.

I remember when I started WW how gung-ho I was, and I found it so

easy and I was so ready. Then I can remember when all of a sudden it

was not fun or easy anymore and I was struggling a lot just to stay

on top. I still go through these periods every now and then. I have

come to realize that this is reality, nothing can stay perfect all

the time and I need good habits in place to get through it.

Of all the times I went on diets to lose weight, I don't ever

remember changing my habits and way of eating, like I have this time.

I don't ever remember taking it this serious. And I never was on one

that let me have it all.

When I read how someone has started WW or any good plan, over and

over and finally succeeded, well that says it all, never give up.

Once someone like this succeeds, they have so much to give. I have

seen people like this, and boy do they shine and people really do

take notice. I have found there are many people on this list who are

so much like me, and reading how they handle a situation helps me

too. These days are a bit bleak for me, but I think I am handling

them ok. I have not fallen into my old habits and that says an awful

lot for me. I believe forming new habits is one key to success for

sure. One that takes time and effort.

Best to everyone, have a nice week....Kallie

In Serious-Weight-Watchers , " mjaveline " <mitch@p...>

wrote:

> Thanks so much for this post April. It said what I

> was trying to say so much better then I said it :-)

> I too hold my self up as a successful weight watcher, so

> when I hit a rough patch, " shame " is the right adjective. I

> have learned that not hiding it, but sharing your struggles

> and getting support is the more effective route to renewed

> success.

> I guess we're both learning that its' not " all or nothing " ,

> that we can stop the negative behaviors and get back to the

> positive ones. Yeah for us!!!!

> I agree that there are a million " reasons " we may slip, but they're

> all just excuses. Maybe there are deep-seated psychological

> issues (I often think that I've used my weight as protection

> against failure - " I wasn't selected for the promotion because

> I'm fat, not because I didn't deserve it " ), but even if that's

> true ---- it's another " excuse " as far as I'm concerned.

> So, April, we've put the excuses aside, and we're heading back

> in the right direction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

> Mitch

[Guest guest]

In Serious-Weight-Watchers , " mjaveline " <mitch@p...>

wrote:

Mitch,

What a great post. I was the one who started the thread of " Why did

you start " and I am glad it helped. I, too, needed to remember

where I started from and why and where I would be today if I had not

made the decision to join ww and turn things around. What I was

doing was not working for me and I was so tired of making the

promises to myself to " start Monday " or " start next month " or " start

after the holidays " . Although I didn't have as much weight to lose

as a lot of people on this board (30 pounds), it was still an

unhealthy weight for me and those 30 pounds were dragging me down,

making me tired and cranky, not wanting to go anywhere or do

anything. I hit lifetime last week and feel great. Now it is a

diffrent phase and a , shall we say, new adventure. I wish you the

best on your journey. You WILL make it. Have you made a decision

on your ww goal yet?

Terri in WI

> I hit the 100 pound - lost mark 3+ weeks ago. Since then,

> I've struggled ... put on a couple of pounds... OK more

> then a couple (4 or 5)... part of it

> was all that's going on - I was sick... the kids were sick...

work's

> gotten insane .... part of it was I was just tired of journaling,

> weighing & measuring, calculating points ... part of it was

> everyone telling me how good I looked --- " stop, don't lose any

> more " , " I can't see you getting any thinner then this " , " you're

> looking pale " , " oh, no - you don't need to lose any more " . I think

> I began to " buy into this " and got very lax with what I was

> doing.

>

> A lot of self-talk later, I remembered that I'm a person that

> lives a more healthful lifestyle ( " self-definition " ) then I'd been

> living the last couple of weeks; I realized that my struggles were

> affecting my attitude and my relationships with everyone (including

> my wife & kids); despite the busy times, I'm forcing myself to

> catch up on all the posts here - because I get so much motivation

> from them - threads like " Why did You Start? " have been great

> reminders for me.

>

> I I think the last few weekswere more about having made such a

focused

> effort - reaching a milestone - and then letting some external

events

> (illness, beingbusy, outsider's comments) play with my resolve. My

> first reaction to all this was embarrassment - how can I let myself

> be thrown like this - then anger - now a new resolve to move

forward -

> to think of this as continuing to learn, not as a value judgement

> on my worth. I feel it all slowly coming back - the desire, the

> motivation, the resolve - I haven't " ruined " anything - I have to

> re-trace a couple of pounds, that's all. In the past, I would never

> have been able to re-assert control - this time REALLY is

different!!!

> So, I'm totally back in control now. THanks to all, who, without

even

> knowing it, have helped to inspire....

>

> Mitch