I'm Starting to Like What I Feel

Drum roll, please!! 17 pounds in 38 days!! I'm totally pumped.

The thing about habits taking 21 days to take hold must be true because interestingly enough, after 38 days, I don't think about this diet as a diet any more. I know what I can and can't eat and how much I can have. Sometimes I follow the menu plan, other times I go with the flow, but I keep with the program. The best part is, I'm not even tempted to get off it—in fact, I cringe at some of the hit fat foods I used to love—good-by McDonalds.

Now this doesn't mean I don't sneak a bite of the occasional chip or cookie (our office couldn't survive without someone bringing in something to eat), or a slice or two of pizza. Okay, so last night I had three, but 1) I don’t gorge myself, and 2) I don't panic or feel defeated by these little detours.

For me, the big difference this time around has been the reason for losing weight. I’d hit rock bottom on the health meter. I was tired of feeling sluggish and out of breath, my joints hurt all the time and I knew I had to do something. I could clearly see myself headed straight into the emergency room with some life-threatening and irreversible condition that I’d pay for, for the rest of my life because I couldn’t keep food out of my mouth.

One reason other diets failed for me was boredom with the limited kinds of foods I could eat. I mean, who can really make a life-long commitment to existing without carbs or protein--not me, to say nothing of what it does to your health.

Another reason that hindered my success at weight loss was my outlook. Weight alone isn’t a strong enough motivator for me. You know the old, “My face I don’t mind it, because I’m behind it” syndrome. Frankly, as long as I didn’t see or feel a threat to my life, there was no reason to deny myself of the foods I loved.

Then there were those moments of weakness. You ladies know what I'm talking about. You starve yourself (which I haven't, but ... ), and then suddenly a cupcake dances before your eyes and you go into a feeding frenzy. Guilt sets in and you think, "What the hell? I'll comfort myself with another one and another one. Hmm need to wash it down with some milk." Then you move on to that bag of taco chips and salsa that’s been daring you for the past few days. Before you know it, you're right back where you were weeks before.

First of all, and this goes back to my mind set now, I haven’t had the impulse to gorge, but the important thing for me has been to consider those little temptations (emphasis on “little”) as small rewards—a bite of this or that for having been good all week. The important thing is to stop at that one cookie or whatever other temptation is out there and then get right back on eating well.

The bottom line for me is that I’m 55, my husband and I will be celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary this June, our children are in their early 20’s and I want to be there to watch them as they head on into their next several stages of life. I have wonderful plans for my life as I near retirement and damn it, I want to be there to make them happen. I CAN do this!!

Okay, this was a bit long-winded, but know that if I can do it, so can you!!!