Finding the Strength

You have done this before, get that kick *kitten* attitude in gear and get started ! I was never ever in shape been overweight since I was a kid. Weigh less now than I did at about 12 if I can get off my butt anyone can. Good luck !

Somewhere inside yourself you have the strength, you know you do. You can't rely on someone else to help you, you have to dig deep and pull it up. Talk to yourself as you would to someone you love and want the best for. When you wake in the morning, ask yourself "who am I, what am I going to do". It is in your power and yes, you can do it on your own. The mind is a very powerful thing and can easily be our own undoing but can also be the thing that rises us up. Like the Seinfeld episode "you are the master of your own domain". Sorry just a little humor to go along with the pep talk. I know it's hard. It is a constant struggle. However, just pick yourself up and dust yourself off and begin. One moment at a time. This is how I tackled smoking and now my strength and health. Be kind to yourself and remember you are worth the effort. Good luck and keep plugging along. You will get there one moment, one thought at a time.

Hi! Thanks for sharing this. I, like you, have had a love/hate battle with food. I've lost weight in the past - many times, most of the time they were 50+ lb losses to boot, and I was *happy*, ecstatic even. Swore I'd never go back to my old body. And, like you, something would always go wrong, and I'd crawl into my comfort zone - eating. Food made me happy - food never judged me. It tasted good, and with that came a sort of euphoria that only an obese person can truly appreciate. I would hit my breaking point when my belly was so big it made it hard to breathe, and then I would go into full-fledged fitness mode. Losing weight was easy then, 50 lbs was a breeze - I could lose 50 lbs in 3 months, that's how easy it was. I know all the right things to eat, and all the right ways to work out...and then I turned 45.

Now, I still remember how to eat right, and I am, but as for working out...yeah right. Where I used to could not wait to get home and exercise, now I dread it, look for any and every excuse not to do it. I know exactly what I need to do, and my mind says I want to do it, but honey - I am TIRED!! And I used to looove to work out.

The main thing is we both know what we need to do...we just need some motivation, some encouragement. I'm not giving up this time, I am serious about this thing...and you shouldn't, either. Don't let it beat you...just put your game face on and show those lbs who's the boss, as corny as that may sound.

Here's a couple of tricks I've been using: When I'm eating lunch (at Subway,. I work in Walmart Pharmacy), I watch ppl walking by. I look for an obese woman who's bigger than me and ask myself do I want to someday look like that. Then I try to spot a woman the size I want to be, and say to myself "Nope, I wanna look like that!" Also, while I'm working, walking back and forth, I imagine myself a size 14, which is my short-term goal. It makes me feel great, and I know that once I really am that size I'll feel even happier!

Best of luck to you!! :happy:
--April

P.S., I forgot to mention that when I turned 45 I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, which is my reason for taking this all so much more serious this time. I'm insulin-free, and by this time next year, I plan to be med-free as well. Diabetes is no fun - do something before you join the ranks as well...