First anniversary thoughts

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.