About FOUR years in maintenance! WOO! :)

Well here I am, coming up on four years after I reached my goal weight. January 15, 2009 is that official date. I started the "change" in September of 2007. So I've been at this way of doing things for some time now.

There is a quote I saw that says if you "If you focus on results you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results." I can honestly say that is how I succeeded. I had failed so many times before and knew I had to do this a different way. By educating myself and not comparing myself to anyone else as we are all different. Our bodies cannot do exactly the same thing as another person. Same as our fingerprints are different so is the way we will respond to certain things. So you need to find what works for you.

I have had some challenges over the past few years. The same week I met my goal weight in 2009, I found out I was pregnant with my second child. I kept consistent. I gained about 30 pounds. It was all in my boobs and belly! haha! And it came back off after. Also, at 6 months pregnant I decided to leave my husband. I went through a separation/divorce (not a pretty one)...through a third trimester or pregnancy, newborn, toddler....TWO little boys and no family around to help. And I remained consistent. And I've kept the weight off.

I've actually experimented a bit. I've felt too skinny there for awhile. An amazing change that happened is that stress makes me not be able to eat now. I don't know how that happened! lol! But it is what it is. And I've had holiday fun and my clothes get a bit tight...but I "detox/cleanse" and get rid of the bloat and move forward. I'm living life and not letting food control it anymore.

I do love exercise and am somewhat fierce on the elliptical! I can only get to the gym about three days but I do about 115 minutes at the highest level and burn 1500 + cals each time. I used to hate exercise. Go figure!!

So the common theme in this is change. I truly changed my way of thinking and living. The biggest realization that helped me was seeing that it doesn't have to be all or nothing and that I can be in control of this. Holidays..New Years splurging does not mean I need to eat like that every day. In fact eating healthier makes me feel a lot better.

I wrote a thread awhile back about how I did it. For those that haven't read it and are interested.....please check out The Keys to My Success.

I actually saw myself on TV yesterday. They were talking about My Fitness Pal on The Today Show...and showed the login page where my face is as a testimonial. It was a bit of a trip but fun!

So keep on keepin on! Just keep moving forward despite any slip ups. Those are all valuable and teach you how to gain control of this. So you slip up, eat crap...then get back on track. That is a HUGE part of why I've been successful. Knowing I have the knowledge and understanding to keep moving forward.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!
Tami