First anniversary thoughts

mrk34

I had always thought that losing weight was difficult, if not impossible, process. I had felt it myself when I unsuccessfully had tried to lose weight in the past.

May 20 will be a year since I started my weight loss journey. On that day I became super motivated and I decided to do something about my weight. This time was different. The motivation was super strong.

I would like to share some thought about my process and get some feedback from you.

First here are some of my numbers:

261 lbs – May 20, 2010 (start point)
242 lbs – June 20, 2010 (19 pounds lost in 30 days)
233 lbs – July 23, 2011 (9 pounds lost in 28 days)
224 lbs – August 12, 2010 (9 pounds lost in 31 days)
222 lbs – September 17 2010 (2 pounds lost in 25 days)
216 lbs – October 7, 2010 (6 pounds lost in 20 days)

I have been maintaining average of 215 pounds since then. I had moments of small adjustments. Once my weight went up to 220 lbs, and the other time I brought it down to 209 lbs but on average I have been 215 since then.

Changing my eating habits was not super easy and initially I experienced some level of stress after I gave up most of the food I ate. But since my method provided rapid weight loss at the start, I had the additional incentive to keep going.

During my weight loss process I learned a lot about losing weight, different diets, and challenges faced while attempting to lose weight. I read several dozen books and extensively researched the weight loss subject on Internet. I had many “I wish I had…” and “I wish I hadn’t…” moments when researching issues associated with weight loss.

Very likely I know now more than an average person about nutrition, foods and what my body needs for successful weight loss and good health , and I try to use the latest knowledge to continue to be successful.

My weight loss was relatively easy but there were some challenges on the way.

After I lost almost forty pounds in less than three months I became aware of muscle loss issue. I slowed down the weight loss process and started to eat a little bit more proteins.

I had my weak moments, too. Joyful situations like holidays, birthdays and other celebrations, having my son at home for college break - beautiful moments themselves, but at the same time, created opportunities to deviate from my new behaviors and new eating habits.

I learned that alcohol does not support weigh loss. It derails the process. But I could not have drinks having eaten vegetables only. I did not find a solution to this issue. When I know we are going to have a guest or I will be attending an event with alcohol being served, I would eat food that does not support weight loss process. I know well that having a drink on empty stomach is not a good idea.

Additional challenges I experienced were associated with my daughter college process. Out of state college visits, hotels and long hours of driving were challenging to my weight loss process. By the way I wonder what parents do in terms of money when they have two kids at college.

I still sometimes have moments of emotional eating, do not always remember the 20-minute rule while eating, and frequently forget about drinking enough water.

I haven’t overcome lack of enthusiasms for green tea, but I bought it and am working on my motivation here.

I am happy that I overcame my dislike of spinach and it is now a part of my regularly eaten food. I don’t know what happened, but it actually does not taste that bad, as it used to. It is probably my mind that is playing trick on me. Since I intellectually know that spinach is good for my approach to weigh loss I probably experience its taste in a more positive way. I’m not sure here. What do you think?

I am a healthier person now. My cholesterol numbers are good now. I fell successful. Moments, when co-workers or other people I did not see for while make comments on my new look are empowering. Buying new, smaller size suits feels good, too.

Since I lost a significant amount of weight and kept it off, I believe I am in the position to be able to offer hope to others.

My message to anybody struggling with weighs issue is: it can be done and there are ways to make it easier.

I'm someone just like you. I am no different from you when it comes to losing weight. I don’t have more will power than you do. I don’t lose weight more easily than you do.

If I could do it, anyone can.

My job is not done. I am not at my healthy weight yet, but I am on the way there.

Nanadena

Bravo. A wonderful piece of insight and information. Thank you sir!

mikeyml

I really enjoyed reading this post. Hopefully when I reach my 1 year anniversary I will be able to write one just like it. You said a lot of things that I've been thinking over the past 4 months and I agree with pretty much all of it. Great job and I'm happy you not only lost the weight you wanted, but were able to keep it off. Awesome!

WIQQID

Congratulations on your successful journey! After reading that fantastic post I can't help but think that you must have read Dr. Mike Moreno's book, too.

Good luck with your continued journey and may the rest of it be as easy as the first of it was.

nurse_carolyn

Congratulations! It sounds like whatever motivation came over you really worked. It also sounds like you are in control of your weight loss and that's great.
All the best:)