Living the Lifestyle (LTL) - Wednesady, 7/27/18

minimyzeme

We meet here to explore, share, celebrate, and (sometimes) agonize over how we do (or don’t) incorporate weight loss guidelines into our daily lives. “ It’s a lifestyle, not a diet" is easily and often said, but sometimes not so simply put into practice.

This is a thread for everyone. If you're new to GoaD, or to weight loss, your questions and comments are always welcome. If you're maintaining, or a long-term loser, your thoughts on the topic may be just what someone else needs to hear. If you're reading this, join in the discussion!

Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion. Thread starters for June are:

Monday - whathapnd (Emmie)
Tuesday - calvin2008brian (Brian)
Wednesday - minimyzeme (Kim)
Thursday - 88olds (George)
Friday - Al_Howard

Today's Topic: Many in our realm state not to look backwards--that we are where we are and what really matters is what lies ahead. Sometimes though, I think we can get insight and motivation without beating ourselves up by reflecting on where we came from. If you'd started your weight management routine earlier, what one thing ("ripple effect") would you have wished had been different that would have been a positive factor in your life?

gadgetgirlIL

If I had maintained my first significant weight loss back when I was 16, then perhaps I wouldn't currently be dealing with an issue with my knee. When I had arthroscopic surgery on this knee back in 2003, no one could explain how a piece of articular cartilage had managed to come off my femur. Normally that happens with a traumatic blow to the knee. But my personal theory was the wear and tear of years of morbid obesity was the culprit.

And if I had maintained my original and not had two very large weight swings (110 & 130 pounds) then perhaps I wouldn't have so much loose skin on my upper arms and thighs, as well my torso. Summer is the time when I am so much more aware of the loose skin. Winter clothing hides everything.

whathapnd

I always think about the amount of time I wasted on self-loathing and the things I avoided from not feeling good about myself because I was fat. I'm a fairly confident and upbeat person, so this was all experienced internally. There was a ton of negative self talk. I had a bit of it last year when I couldn't get back on the horse to start losing.

I'd love to have the wasted time back. And I wish I'd learned earlier to counsel myself the way I counsel others in life. I'm now able to be more objective with and forgiving of myself. Losing weight (and participating on GOAD) helped me with that.

myallforjcbill

I think not regaining all the weight twice would have meant my back would not be so bad and my right knee probably would be further away from the knee replacement process. I would be able to do more outside. I probably would still be running and hiking. But the truth is I don't really know how it would have all played out.

88olds

When I was 26-30 I wasn’t overweight. Or if I was, it was a few lbs. What I needed was fitness, particularly weight training.

But (where have we heard this before) I’d go to the gym today, jump on the scale tomorrow and freak out when there was a 2-3 lb gain. There was no internet to check in with then.

Different? Wish I’d stayed in the gym and worked at it.

minimyzeme

Back in the day, if I'd started my weight loss journey earlier, I'm confident I would have been more athletic. Even as a kid I remember dabbling around the edges of various high school sports, hell even running on my own. My weight and my attitude got in the way--even then. I was fat at that point, and still remember that feeling of being dragged down by my body. That worked its way into a defeatist attitude that wasn't limited to weight loss.

If things had been different, I think I very well might have had a much more positive and confident attitude going forward and would have conducted parts of my life quite differently. To a large extent I think I've overcome those early feelings through success elsewhere and more recently with weight loss. When I'm approaching a challenge these days, sometimes it's a struggle to put my brain in the 'can do' direction, but I do so and often find that's the case.

No sense mourning the past, but I'm still learning from it going forward...

podkey

yeah I try not to dwell on the past but would have less loose skin. True enough