Losing weight in spite of myself.

I began this blog in February 2011 as a way to help me not quit trying to lose weight, and to learn a few things. It's been an interesting and powerful experience. It certainly confirms what I've long suspected--that although I am a genuinely happy cheery person in the main, I am NOT a happy cheery dieter. I DETEST losing weight. I resent being overweight in the first place and I am a virtuoso in the art of self-sabotage. And YET--I'm doing it! I'm fighting and kicking and EATING all the way down, but the weight is finally going down. The plan I was following in February was a half-baked one largely based on wishful thinking. I gained a little weight and decided to get real. I knew I couldn't just join weightwatchers or count calories or do any one plan and expect to be successful. I decided if I was going to bother to make the effort to lose weight I was going to throw everything I could think of at the problem. And so I do. My real "Day One" for this blog is April 1, 2011. I joined weight watchers, I joined caloriecount.com (awesome website), I read the blog losingweighteveryday.blogspot.com religiously, I keep this blog faithfully, I joined the health programs sponsored by my insurance, I use the principles from overeater's anonymous, I use my church's 12 step program as well, I subscribe--and use--Healthy Cooking Magazine.



The result of all this? Painfully slow progress (About 20 lbs in 10 months). But it IS progress and like the little engine that could I keep on trying in my rebellious way. I have no intention of quitting. This is by far the longest sustained weight loss effort I've ever made in my life. Successful I think, because for the first in my life I've done this MY way--which I've discovered, involves a lot of pizza and restaraunt food. I'm convinced this is the only way to lose weight. For me it must be MY way. For you it MUST be YOUR way. Not weight watcher's way, not your doctor's way, but YOUR way. Any plan or idea I use is only a tool.

The latest plan to lose weight my way began on Oct 29, 2013. It really is my own crazy plan. As you'll see if you read that post. I've implemented the best ideas of all sorts of eating plans and thrown out the scale. A couple of months in and I'm definitely healthier. I'm actually enjoying myself. I won't weigh until April 1, 2014, so I'll see then if this works the way I hope it will.

There is no magic weight loss bullet. But there IS a great deal of magic in the discovery of what I can happily live with (very different from what weight watchers tells me I can happily live with) and still have the body and health I want.

Good luck to all of us on this journey. It's quite a trip!







Saturday, July 28, 2012

487 too full

I think I might rediscover good old-fashioned eating sense along this path. Last night for the Olympic opening ceremonies we ordered from the Pie Pizzaria--INCLUDING their fabulous cheesy bread. We also made salads and sat down to feast. I feasted and enjoyed every bite. I stopped after eating 2/3 of a calzone that was the size of the plate, four cheesy bread sticks (large) and all the salad. I wasn't overly full. 1/2 hour later I WAS overly full. Ah HA! Maybe that's why grandma always said to leave the table before I was full--because if I eat till I'm actually full at the table, I'll be TOO full shortly after.

Course, part of my problem is that I don't mind feeling too full. I like that feeling, and my lifestyle usually supports it--sitting on the couch watching the Olympics was just right. Sewing, reading, practicing the harp, doing any kind of craft, cooking, talking---all those things work just fine. Books always talk about feeling sluggish and bad after overeating. Sluggish--yes,probably, but bad? RARELY. I've been blessed with good health and I usually feel just fine.

I will admit though, that I had no desire for the rest of the calzone today. I still ate plenty, including a delicious steak at a friend's. Will I ever just get tired of food in general? I don't think so---especially if I'm waiting for hunger before I eat. That's what makes me nervous about trying to do this. One thing I can try is to do something more active after dinner---then I might notice more that being weighed down with food doesn't feel good.

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