Todays Struggle

I hear you! I've tried to set some non-scale related goals that I can work toward that are more for my health than my appearance, like running times and speeds. You can love yourself the way you are and still try and improve your health.

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Remember just because someone is small and looks like they are healthy and fit does not mean they are.

I don't want to be stick thin, but I want to be the best version of me that I can be. And that includes being at a healthy weight, but more important to me, it includes exercising and keeping my internal organs working properly (that is, no diabetes or heart disease!) so I can feel my best. And meditating so my mind and spirit stay healthy too.

But I also want to make this sustainable. I've failed so many times in the past trying to do too much. I used to want to have this perfect food diary when I was on other sites as I didn't want to ever be embarrassed by my food choices. Now, if you look, you'll see I have plenty of unhealthy food options (including cookies for breakfast this morning). Am I proud of the cookies? No way. But I'll make sure the rest of the day includes good choices, I'll exercise, and I'll try hard to be within my calorie goal.

Your physical body is merely the house that you reside in. Don't let it disturb your intimacy like that. You are beautiful as long as you believe that yourself.

It took me a long time but now I realize that I love my imperfect chub, there is nothing wrong with being me and if I choose to lose or gain weight I will still be just as awesome.

I believe striving for good health is excellent goal and I have no doubt that you will be able to achieve it.

You brought tears to my eyes! This is the body I have control over and inside is who God created! Thank you everyone for the great advice. I am going to be setting a non visual goal and work towards that!

Godspeed4me, healthy isn't a size, it's a state of life. I started my journey at 386 pounds because I was missing out on so much that I just couldn't do or places I couldn't go because I was so big. I didn't do this to be "model thin". I did this to be healthy. I'm still 75 pounds from my "ideal weight" of 160, but let me tell you, my personal goal is land somewhere under 200. As long as I get below 200 and stay there, I will consider myself successful, becuase anywhere below 200 is a healthy weight for me. If I make it all the way to 160, fantastic, if not, that's OK too. God's word tells us to care for our body, it does not say what that body needs to look like or what size it should be. Eat helthy and exercise and accept the blessing God has given you in a healthy body.

That's a really good point I've never thought of another goal besides the scale. I have learned that it takes some looking inwards as well as working on my outside appearance. There are plenty of bigger women with tons of confidence and who really feel good about their selves.

I have learned that my weight loss journey is MY OWN! It is different than anyone elses and there for I can't compare myself. When we stop focusing on the rest of the world and society it helps us focus on ourselves.

I have had issues with my weight for as long as i can remember and it's always bothered me. At the end of the day there is a conversation that is needing to be had within yourself that although may be weight related, it is not purely based on your body image. Self confidence and self esteem comes from an internal place that we all need to find.

I figured this out when watching Hungry for Change.

I am sorry that its affecting your intimate relationships, I have had that happen as well. The people that don't build you up and stick with you don't deserve to be apart of this leg of the journey. THATS MY OWN PERSON FEELINGS.

When I first signed up to start this program I had up and down days. I am 50 lbs over weight and felt like I was climbing a mountain only to fall and fail. I went through feelings of, I just need to except that I will always be over weight. But the truth is I was so unhappy with how I looked, I hated taking pictures. I wanted to do activities with my family but would run out of energy. Then I would go binge to comfort myself. I was at a crossroad so I wrote out a pro and con list of where I am at and what the benefits and payoffs were and a pro and con list of setting a weight loss goal and the benefits and pay offs from that. I looked at all the health problems I was starting to have due to being over weight and it can only get worse. So I decided to go for health by setting goals and making a commitment to myself that I would set myself up for success by planning great meals, asking myself, " What are my triggers? and what can I do to find a new way of handling them?" I choose one workout to do everyday with one day off. Jillian Michaels 6 pack ab workout was the seller for me. I have held to my commitment everyday. I have had rough days, I have a couple of times fallen off the "wagon" but determined to get back on. During my workouts I watched "Extreme Weight Loss" with Chris Powell on hulu, It motivated me everyday that if they can do it I can to. I was so encouraged that after 30 days of consistent work out and holding to my calorie intake goals I lost 3 inches in hips and lower abdomen which is where a lot of weight was. I have finished 6 weeks and I lost 5 inches and a total of 10 inches overall. Know I am so grateful that I decided to choose to be healthy and live with energy and feel good about me. I still have weight to lose but I am learning to enjoy the journey and get excited to find an exercise to challenge myself with. Choose a healthy you, You are worth it! Ask yourself what are you really wanting? what do you wish were better, different? be honest and go for it!!!

I've tried to focus on the milestones along the journey rather than any destination...celebrating a 100th workout for the year (reaching #200 in the next couple weeks!), running an entire 5K, making a 20 mile bike ride...I've tried to envision the weight/size loss as a pleasant side effect of simply living an active and healthy life. The pounds and inches will eventually stop decreasing, but we can all take pride in what our new bodies can do...and then make new challenges for the road ahead!

Great goals! I will add a couple of these to mine!

I think we've all been there, and will have our down days as well. We just have to remember that the most important thing is loving ourselves. Learn to love who you are, and what you are. If you are not comfortable in your own skin... you... yourself should be your own motivation.

I use to worry about what the scale said as well... but now I have set a rewarding goal for myself. I want to be STRONG not skinny... and if that means I'll have to gain SOME weight to achieve the strength, then so be it! With the unwanted chub here and there, I know my muscle will thrive through and help me be the active mommy I want so much!

We're all imperfect, and those imperfections are who we are...Love yourself!

Try setting short term goals to help with your confidence and will power! I have faith in you! Sending blessed thoughts and positive vibes your way!!! :bigsmile:

That's what it's all about. The joy that you get when you can do things that you didn't do before.

Yes seeing those numbers on the scale go down is a great feeling. For me it's a better feeling knowing that there are so many things I can do now that I couldn't do before. A couple of weeks ago I ran a 12km fun run. Now I run everyday. Last night I carried my 35kg daughter around the house. I love to shop and Now I'm training for my first half a marathon. These are the things I get a buzz from.

Mentally it took me a long time to get here but I'm glad I made the effort to stick to it.

I think you're on the right track keep.????

I am a bit confused today...:ohwell: I keep thinking that maybe I just need to accept the way I am. You see all these posts of FB or Pinterest about society thinking every woman needs to be stick thin and why dont we just accept the way we are. I dont want to be super skinny I want to be me. Although I am not comfortable in my own skin and it has affect intimacy in my marriage as well as various other things. Maybe if I look at it as making healthy choices and not about weight loss. Become healthy and I will feel better about myself, my health will be greater and the weight may come off as well. So I am asking for some encouragement today.

Thank you

the Jeremiah verse is a good one, i have it outlined in my bible. i also like Philippians 1:22 "Yet if I live, that means fruitful service for Christ". He can use you no matter where you are in life. you are created in His image. so maybe pray about how you could be used now, and how if you lost weight and were more healthy. when i decided i needed to lose weight last yr. i wasn't didn't really have a big goal in mind. earlier this yr me, my wife and daughter went on a mission trip. i realized part way through that if i hadn't lost weight and started getting back in shape i wouldn't have been able to do half the work i did. just because i would have been so wore out. i wouldn't have had the energy. or prob the strength. i might have been to wore out to be a positive encouragement to others. that has kept me motivated as we plan to do more trips in the future. how is God going to be able to use me. He can still use me if i am out of shape, it will just be a lot harder, and maybe i would be too discouraged.

I am a bit confused today...:ohwell: I keep thinking that maybe I just need to accept the way I am. You see all these posts of FB or Pinterest about society thinking every woman needs to be stick thin and why dont we just accept the way we are. I dont want to be super skinny I want to be me. Although I am not comfortable in my own skin and it has affect intimacy in my marriage as well as various other things. Maybe if I look at it as making healthy choices and not about weight loss. Become healthy and I will feel better about myself, my health will be greater and the weight may come off as well. So I am asking for some encouragement today.

Thank you

I have that very same problem. I don't have that much weight to lose and I was my goal weight not so long ago and yet I didn't love myself then either. It's as much about perception as it is about losing weight and getting fitter and healthier. It's sounds corny, but I try to stand in front of my mirror naked and pick a couple of things that I think are good and beautiful about me. It is slowly getting better, but it is a long process and it will take time.

I mean in the diet forum at least once every 2 days you will get a girl with a very low bmi posting saying that she has fat arms/thighs/hips or whatnot, so I truly think our perception of ourselves also has to be worked on, I guess it has to become more healthy as well. Good luck with everything :-)