How do you stay accountable?

When I started I knew that I had to make some permanent changes for my health (had at least 50 lbs to lose to get in the overweight BMI category). had been tracking my food and knew I was eating too much and enjoying my wine too much and too often. I decided that I was not going to go on a diet (they didn't work long term). instead I was going to make some small sustainable changes that I could live with for life.

At 5'8" (61 years old) I set my daily calorie goal at 2,000 knowing that was about 500/day less than I'd been eating and committed to staying at that goal, skipping the wine during the week, tracking all my food, making one small change each week, and finding times to move more. The first change I made was to start bringing my own sandwich to work and buying reduced fat chips....probably saved me about 200 - 300 calories/day. Stopping the wine saved calories too.

I accepted that this was for life so there was no hurry. Nothing was really off limits and I'd have about a 1/3 or 1/2 of the French Fries every week or so. I parked my car far from the office and walked around the building. Started taking a 10 minute walk after lunch cutting the time sitting with my work pals a bit.

Dropped the potato chips from lunch and started bringing a salad or soup to go with my sandwich. Made dinner at home most nights.

the weight came off slowly and there were times when I hit a plateau and someone suggested I look at that as practice for maintenance. I bought a pedometer and started really walking more (after about 4 months).

Maybe it was my age, maybe it was years of going on and off diets...I don't know but this time it just wasn't as hard. I wasn't as hard on myself if I went overboard at a party or over the weekend. Knew that I could adjust and one meal or even a few didn't need to derail me.

After losing about 50 lbs I started gradually increasing my calories; my walking was more intense and longer so I kept losing. then I had a heart attack - fortunately not serious but that was the wake up call to get the rest of the weight off. Started cardiac rehab and have been a committed exerciser since then ended up dropping about 35 more lbs which I've kept off over 8 years.

I still track every day everything thing I eat. Exercise is non negotiable so I do something every day. Have changed the way I eat and love the more plant based approach. Feel great!

You can do this... slow and steady and be in it for the long haul.

I joined Overeaters Anonymous.

I made post its and put them on my mirror. Simple things like one penny per meal, 2 smoothies a week, walk 10,000 steps, read i like it bc before I go to bed, it holds e responsible. When I reach a goal I switch it with another goal. I tell you though the key was making them small at first. To feel accomplished.