Re: finding the will

July 30, 2004

I was in the same boat two months ago. I would do OK on program for about 3

days and then blow it. I did this for WEEKS! I could not understand why I

couldn't get my head on straight. I actually lost over 40 lbs. when I started

WW in July 2002...and now that I gained it all back, why was it so hard to do it

again.

Well, my husband suggested that I needed a goal. I'm a very competitive person

and I'm very goal-oriented. When I first lost the weight, I did it because I

had hit my highest weight mark EVER- 175 lbs. on my little 5'3'' frame. I went

on a cruise and actually bought size 16 jeans the day before the cruise so that

I would have clothes that still fit me by the end of the week. By the time the

cruise week was over, my 16s were too tight. I felt and looked like a blob. My

hatred for myself and my inability to control my eating sent me to WW. But, I

just didn't have that hatred for myself this time (thank goodness!) so there was

nothing driving me to lose the weight.

So, I set a realistic weight goal and mini-goals to hit along the way. Having

these mini-goals has given me the drive to keep on going. And once I started

fitting into my old " skinny " clothes from last year, that has totally boosted my

self-confidence.

Once you get back on program you're going to feel so good about yourself!!! I

don't know about anyone else, but eating badly has never left me feeling good

about myself. " Wow...I'm so glad I had that gazillion calorie Cinn-a-bon. "

Ummmm...nope... never thought that. I usually say " Wow....I wish I hadn't eaten

that Cinn-a-bon..now I feel super-stuffed. "

If you go to meetings, imagine not having to blush and explain why you put on

those extra 3 lbs. Think about smiling and going " Wow! I did great this week!

Woohoo " No apologies or excuses. Just joy over doing it!

And, honestly, there are some days when I just want to eat everything in sight.

Will power is a fickle friend and it's not always going to be there. In those

times you just have to suck it up and say to yourself, " NO!!! I'm not going to

eat bad!! I don't care what you say stomach/brain/devil on my left shoulder. "

Then, close the refrigerator, get out of the kitchen... shoot. Get out of the

house if you have to!

Let us know how things go for you. We have ALL been there. And that's not to

say we won't have a bad day like you're having, 'cause this is not always easy.

166/153.6/130 (all-time high 175)

finding the will

> everyone,

>

> I introduced myself a while back and faded into oblivion, don't

> know

> if any of you remember me. I've still been lurking, but wasn't

> following the program so didn't feel I should be posting. Well

> anyway - I am so impressed with everyone here, and feel I should

> turn

> to you to see how you do this day in and day out - how do you

> fight

> the hunger, the temptations, the day to day challenges and stay on

> program? I struggle each minute of everyday that I try to stay on

> program, does it get easier? How to you dig deep into yourself and

> get the will it takes to just say I'm doing this no matter what!?

>

> I just can't seem to find the will, and each day I wake up saying

> today is the day and by lunchtime, I've blown it. I REALLY want to

> lose weight, I HAVE to lose weight, I'm obese, overweight by 100

> lbs,

> I must do something about it, why then, am I blowing it everytime

> I

> try?

>

> I'm not whining, I'm just trying to understand how you all are so

> good all the time and I'm such a loser (and not in the right sense

> as

> in losing pounds!). I truly want to change my eating habits and

> activity level.

>

> Any help or insight you can give me to get that boost I need to

> " just

> do it " would be greatly appreciated.

>

> Kelli in MN

>

July 30, 2004

Wow, thanks - that was such a great help. I'm starting to feel

some motivation and excitement about being on program. I really

appreciate your help and advice. I helps to know that people can

relate!

I am going to join a meeting tomorrow, as that always seemed to help

me stay on track in the past, so I think that is also key, plus

coming to this group for support when I need it will be key also. I

know this is a serious weight watchers group, and I'm truly ready to

get serious!

Thanks!

Kelli

> I was in the same boat two months ago. I would do OK on program

for about 3 days and then blow it. I did this for WEEKS! I could

not understand why I couldn't get my head on straight. I actually

lost over 40 lbs. when I started WW in July 2002...and now that I

gained it all back, why was it so hard to do it again.

>

> Well, my husband suggested that I needed a goal. I'm a very

competitive person and I'm very goal-oriented. When I first lost the

weight, I did it because I had hit my highest weight mark EVER- 175

lbs. on my little 5'3'' frame. I went on a cruise and actually

bought size 16 jeans the day before the cruise so that I would have

clothes that still fit me by the end of the week. By the time the

cruise week was over, my 16s were too tight. I felt and looked like

a blob. My hatred for myself and my inability to control my eating

sent me to WW. But, I just didn't have that hatred for myself this

time (thank goodness!) so there was nothing driving me to lose the

weight.

>

> So, I set a realistic weight goal and mini-goals to hit along the

way. Having these mini-goals has given me the drive to keep on

going. And once I started fitting into my old " skinny " clothes from

last year, that has totally boosted my self-confidence.

>

> Once you get back on program you're going to feel so good about

yourself!!! I don't know about anyone else, but eating badly has

never left me feeling good about myself. " Wow...I'm so glad I had

that gazillion calorie Cinn-a-bon. " Ummmm...nope... never thought

that. I usually say " Wow....I wish I hadn't eaten that Cinn-a-

bon..now I feel super-stuffed. "

>

> If you go to meetings, imagine not having to blush and explain why

you put on those extra 3 lbs. Think about smiling and going " Wow! I

did great this week! Woohoo " No apologies or excuses. Just joy

over doing it!

>

> And, honestly, there are some days when I just want to eat

everything in sight. Will power is a fickle friend and it's not

always going to be there. In those times you just have to suck it up

and say to yourself, " NO!!! I'm not going to eat bad!! I don't care

what you say stomach/brain/devil on my left shoulder. " Then, close

the refrigerator, get out of the kitchen... shoot. Get out of the

house if you have to!

>

> Let us know how things go for you. We have ALL been there. And

that's not to say we won't have a bad day like you're having, 'cause

this is not always easy.

>

> 166/153.6/130 (all-time high 175)

July 30, 2004

Joining a meeting will DEFINITELY help! Having the accountability of

weighing-in once a week really makes you take a serious look at yourself. If

you do great...great. But if you did bad that week, seeing that number written

down really makes you think about what you need to do.

Plus, even though you might not really know the receptionists or the leader, it

is SO hard to look them in the eyes when you've put on weight. They usually

won't say anything, but sometimes they'll tell you to do better that week...or

treat that day as a new day and work the program. If you lose, well, they're

probably as excited for you as you are for yourself. =)

Have fun at your meeting tomorrow!

166/153.8/130 (all-time high 175)

Re: finding the will

> Wow, thanks - that was such a great help. I'm starting to

> feel

> some motivation and excitement about being on program. I really

> appreciate your help and advice. I helps to know that people can

> relate!

>

> I am going to join a meeting tomorrow, as that always seemed to

> help

> me stay on track in the past, so I think that is also key, plus

> coming to this group for support when I need it will be key also.

> I

> know this is a serious weight watchers group, and I'm truly ready

> to

> get serious!

>

> Thanks!

> Kelli

>

> > I was in the same boat two months ago. I would do OK on program

> for about 3 days and then blow it. I did this for WEEKS! I could

> not understand why I couldn't get my head on straight. I actually

> lost over 40 lbs. when I started WW in July 2002...and now that I

> gained it all back, why was it so hard to do it again.

> >

> > Well, my husband suggested that I needed a goal. I'm a very

> competitive person and I'm very goal-oriented. When I first lost

> the

> weight, I did it because I had hit my highest weight mark EVER-

> 175

> lbs. on my little 5'3'' frame. I went on a cruise and actually

> bought size 16 jeans the day before the cruise so that I would

> have

> clothes that still fit me by the end of the week. By the time the

> cruise week was over, my 16s were too tight. I felt and looked

> like

> a blob. My hatred for myself and my inability to control my

> eating

> sent me to WW. But, I just didn't have that hatred for myself

> this

> time (thank goodness!) so there was nothing driving me to lose the

> weight.

> >

> > So, I set a realistic weight goal and mini-goals to hit along

> the

> way. Having these mini-goals has given me the drive to keep on

> going. And once I started fitting into my old " skinny " clothes

> from

> last year, that has totally boosted my self-confidence.

> >

> > Once you get back on program you're going to feel so good about

> yourself!!! I don't know about anyone else, but eating badly has

> never left me feeling good about myself. " Wow...I'm so glad I had

> that gazillion calorie Cinn-a-bon. " Ummmm...nope... never thought

> that. I usually say " Wow....I wish I hadn't eaten that Cinn-a-

> bon..now I feel super-stuffed. "

> >

> > If you go to meetings, imagine not having to blush and explain

> why

> you put on those extra 3 lbs. Think about smiling and going " Wow!

> I

> did great this week! Woohoo " No apologies or excuses. Just joy

> over doing it!

> >

> > And, honestly, there are some days when I just want to eat

> everything in sight. Will power is a fickle friend and it's not

> always going to be there. In those times you just have to suck it

> up

> and say to yourself, " NO!!! I'm not going to eat bad!! I don't

> care

> what you say stomach/brain/devil on my left shoulder. " Then,

> close

> the refrigerator, get out of the kitchen... shoot. Get out of the

> house if you have to!

> >

> > Let us know how things go for you. We have ALL been there. And

> that's not to say we won't have a bad day like you're having,

> 'cause

> this is not always easy.

> >

> > 166/153.6/130 (all-time high 175)

>

July 30, 2004

Kelli Dear,

We all are NOT " so good " ! Please! And controlling weight isn't about " will

power " . It's about finding the right tool and committing to it.

Losing weight is not easy. And people who are carrying a lot of weight

generally have a certain set of genetics which means your body may be

fighting your attempts to lose weight.

We can do it. But don't be hard on YOU. Losing weight for those of us

" gifted " with genetic obesity is a totally different ballpark from someone

losing 35 lbs they accumulated over a lifetime of poor food choices.

Here's some advice:

1. If you think you will be beautiful when you lose 100 lbs, look in the

mirror now because you should see a beautiful lady.... beauty is beauty AT

ANY SIZE. Unless you love yourself first, you will not be able to do

something FOR yourself.

2. Start an exercise program if you are not exercising at present. I can

say more about this but don't know if you are exercising now so if you need

advice on starting an exercise program, let me know, OK? That's for health

rather than weight control although if you do enough exercise, it will help

in weight control.

3. JOIN the nearest Weight Watchers and plan the meetings as a part of your

life. Also, as in 12 step programs which suggest 7 meetings in 7 days the

few week or two, attend at least 3-5 meetings the first week or two. You

don't have to pay extra and you will find it will help you to get on a good

path and really learn the program. WW is a very powerful tool but cannot be

learned quickly.

4. Focus in on changing your life to health. Know there will be bumps in

the road but that's ok... as long as you attend as many meetings as you

need, you will be able to overcome that.

5. For your first goal, set a goal weight at 10 percent of your current

bodyweight. WeightWatchers tells us that a lose of 10 percent of the

bodyweight reduces health risks by a whopping 85 percent so that's major.

That's why you get an award when you lose 10 percent! But set small goals

first, if you look at 100 lbs it can be overwhelming. If you look at smaller

increments, it's doable.

6. Consider this an adventure. Do it all the way and have fun with it. Try

new recipes. Think of how your healthy program is making you feel better.

7. and this is a BIGGIE - get up close and personal with the " Ten Tools for

Living " . These are wonderful powerful helps in keeping On Program.

8. Be reasonable with yourself. If you lose 40 lbs and KEEP IT OFF FOR GOOD

(which you can with this program) and combine your loss with the food

choices Weight Watchers suggests and a DAILY exercise program, that is all

you need and that is doable. The Weight Loss Registry which has registered

thousands of people successful in weight control found that setting a

REASONABLE goal was a big part of success. Yes I know you'd like to look

like Cyndy Crawford but we know know that with a genetically obese body and

a " moveable setpoint " , it may not be practical for you to lose all your

excess weight.

Oh, did I mention LOVE YOURSELF, LOVE YOURSELF, LOVE YOURSELF... you are

beautiful????

hugs,

Sue

finding the will

> everyone,

>

> I introduced myself a while back and faded into oblivion, don't know