What surprised you most?

mom2kpr

I have been trying to lose weight for 20yrs & never kept it off for more then a couple years. Now I know why. I always thought to lose weight I had to eat very little calories - no more then 1200 a day ever & it ALL had to be healthy - NO junk food. Boy was I wrong. I am finally losing weight & happy doing it. How? My calories are set at 1800, I eat what I want when I want. That doesn't mean I eat junk every day. I eat healthy most days (except today - hamburger, fries, & pizza - but still w/in my goal even before exercising). What it does mean is that if I want pizza or brownies etc I know I can have it as long as it fits in my day. I no longer feel guilty about anything I eat. I exercise almost daily. I don't eat back the first 500 calories burned. If I burn more, it gives me a cushion if I go over. For the first time I feel like I can succeed. Oh and I stopped using the word diet.
What's your story?