Psst.....I have some advice here!! :)

I havent written anything in awhile..but wanted to share this..on this particular weekend.

To those in the states, this is a big eating, party, carefree weekend and nothing ruins that carefree feeling like knowing you are trying to lose weight, knowing the temptations that are out there....and not wanting to miss out!

I am here to tell you...that you don't have to miss out. It took me a LONG time to understand this. I yo-yo'ed through my 20's because I would deprive myself to get the weight off and then want something so bad, I ate too much and gained it all back. I finally realized it doesn't have to be all or nothing. You CAN enjoy fun events, foods and drinks. The key is not doing it every day. And not letting one day of fun become the "norm" again. YOU are in control of this. YOU control food. It does NOT control you!

I am going to a BBQ today. I want to enjoy myself. So, I ate light yesterday...worked out well this week and will eat lighter tomorrow. To me it's a fair trade and a small price to pay to go enjoy myself without counting every single calorie today. It's all about being sensible, NOT deprivation.

Of course some might not be confident about that yet. You might not feel you can enjoy yourself without it becoming the norm and derailing all your hard work. I am not trying to tell you to do something you aren't ready for. All I can say, is when I started my weight-loss journey in September of 2007...it was right before the holidays. I kept on track the majority of the time....but when Thanksgiving, Christmas, Superbowl Sunday came around....I enjoyed. No, I didn't go NUTS and gorge....but ate...enjoyed..picked...grazed....for that ONE day. And the next day, I got back on track. And every time I did....my confidence that I could do this FOREVER...increased. My loss might have not been great that week...or I might have maintained. But, I didn't feel deprived, enjoyed myself and when it came to getting back on track....I was at peace doing so because I knew...I COULD enjoy myself.....and it wouldn't derail me.

Anyway, just wanted to share that today.. I lost the 135 lbs in 16 months. Maintained it through pregnancy and after...and I have stayed in my size 6 jeans since.. And want to know a secret? I have weighed maybe 4 times since my second son was born in September, 2009. I go by clothes, how I feel. I give myself leeway. When my clothes start to feel snug...I know I need to cut back a bit...and step it up at the gym. And i've remained consistent! It's truly an amazing thing for me considering I struggled SO much from the time I hit puberty!! I have conquered this!! No, that doesn't mean I assume I've "got it"...but I am confident in the knowledge I have gained by doing this the right way.....and if you listen to your body...you will know what you need to do. Doing that is so much more accurate than a scale.

GOOD LUCK!! And here is the link to a couple of my posts...for those newbies that might need it!! :happy: :flowerforyou:

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH!!!

The thread about how I did it!
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/81336-the-keys-to-my-success?hl=the+keys+to+my+success

The thread with my before and after pics!!
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/129824-tamtastic-before-and-after?hl=tamtastic+before+and+after&page=1#posts-1762206

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!! :drinker: