How does it make you feel?

Yes, you want that cookie.  Think about how you felt the last time you gave in and bought that cookie and ate it.  You weren't hungry, you wanted something that that cookie represented.  The delicious first bite, those close conversations over a cookie with Mom, the "license" it gives you to sit alone at the coffee shop?  Seriously, though, how did you feel?

I know that I felt terrible.  Not only was I disappointed with myself, but also I was quite sickened by the sweetness.  I ate it, I felt stupid, sick and regretful.

When I wanted that cookie the other day, I remembered it.  I did not stop at the bakery, I did not buy the cookie, I did not eat the cookie, best of all, I did not feel bad.

That made me feel good.

In the fight, Fanaticism is Easy Moderation is Hard

Having a shake at breakfast and lunch is the only way I lose weight.  Not the most generally applicable plan, but with one meal available I am able to go out to friends and have grilled chicken and veggies out if needs be.

Remember how you felt during a fast.  Think about how easy it is to have all your decisions made.  Get back to that.

I am down 6pounds.... I hope to break this plateau this week if I can put in a solid week of 2 shakes, 1 meal.

Remember fanaticism is easy, moderation is hard.

Update: March 2015, I am in week 7 of renewed fanaticism and it is working well.  it is that voice that helps you pass up the temptation.  I don't eat cheese, I don't eat carbs, not a little, none.

I offer you this in process poster to help you in your maintenance path.

I am never going back - fighting the creep up

So it has been 8 years since I lost 72 pounds.  I maintained my loss for 4 years, then my mother passed away, I took a new job, worked 60 hours a week and I watched my hard earned 72 pounds shrink to 42 pounds.  Okay, good job, yes, you have maintained a 40 pound weight loss for 8 years.


But, no, the pants don't fit.


the shirts are tight.


I don't just sit, I adjust myself so my belly doesn't stick out.


I am hiding behind people in photographs again.  I have tried to go back to the fast but it doesn't work well when you have been off.  It doesn't work well when you are at work and the sound of the mixer might disturb a lunch time meeting in the room next door.


So, yesterday, I decided I needed a plan.  A plan is part of a successful weight loss, it just is.  you are conscious, you make decisions and you are ready.


So, I bought turkey and a low fat/low calorie wrap and brought it to work.  It worked well.  My dinner was a shake.


I will do it again today.


I know if I can continue this, my weight will come off.


1 day and counting.  Isn't this really what weight loss (and any addiction recovery) about?  Stay with me, let's get back to "dancing on top of the mountain."  Remind me to explain that.


B

Keep yourself "company" in the car

We've all done this... we face a drive of 30 minutes or even longer... I think I will buy something to eat in the car...

"to keep me company"

"because no one will see me"

"I am bored in the car"

"I am alone" (lonely) 

so you buy early lunch, snack, fast food, cookie,etc.

Next time you are at Whole Foods, buy  bag of good apples, put a bag in your car with a case of water (or multiple refillable bottles - my preference)

Several times this weeks I looked at getting something and said to myself, "nope, no need, I have great apples and a bottle of water in the car."

Try it.  Anything that gets you to delay your action, gives you a chance to forget about it (it is amazing, but you will forget about it.)

Going for your goal - give yourself a gold star

We must make 25 decisions a day about food.  What am I going to have for Breakfast?  Will it last?  Protein?  What am I doing for lunch?  can I get a decent lunch?  Do I pack a lunch?  How many ounces is that piece of chicken?  Wow that scone looks good, I want to buy that with my coffee...

No, I will wait...


Ah !!! Give yourself a gold star.

So here is the idea,  you know those push buttons for counting people?  or maybe the image of a button giving you morphine?  no wait... how about just the smiley faces and gold stars of our childhood.  So you make a goal, clean out the house, eat mindfully, eat only 1200 calories, exercise, whatever.  You make choices all day.  here is a day for me:

So, I got up at 7 and made a shake instead of leaving without breakfast *****  good for me.  I stop and buy a coffee and put in half and half - - - maybe 3 negatives, but I want to buy a scone and I don't ****  good for me.  I park away from my office to get a walk in *** good for me.  There was a coconut cake in the conference room  I look at it and walk out of the room, ***  good for me.  I stop by the kitchen two hours later and cut a piece but it is a 1" by 1" piece rather than a piece that might be 4" x 4"  not so bad *...

okay get it?  It is like I had a slider switch and slide it to the right for things I do to advance myself towards my goal and to the left for the things that do not foster my goals and by the end of the day if the slider is more positive than negative, I am moving toward my goal.

This doesn't respond to how fast or how well, or how true, etc... it is do you have a goal (to fit into a size 14 dress for wedding in June) and every one of the decisions you make all day long either moves you closer or further from that goal.

Again this could be a page of a screenplay or a drawer of  clothes awaiting cleaning.

Think about the many many decisions you make everyday about food.  It is no wonder we liked the Fast, no decisions at all except the flavor of the shake (soup) that might fill the need to eat.

There is great knowledge that came from the fast that can be used in the maintenance plan.  Think about it.