I have struggled with trying to lose for the past 12 years. Sometimes I would succeed, but it was always short-lived. I wanted to lose and keep it off, but the temptations were stronger than the desire to lose. Participating in BL10 helped me to get past that. It was really tough in the beginning. I kept my meal tracker private because I didn't want anyone to see when my cravings won out over my desire to lose. Something changed for me in week 3. I came across this saying.
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I have struggled with trying to lose for the past 12 years. Sometimes I would succeed, but it was always short-lived. I wanted to lose and keep it off, but the temptations were stronger than the desire to lose. Participating in BL10 helped me to get past that. It was really tough in the beginning. I kept my meal tracker private because I didn't want anyone to see when my cravings won out over my desire to lose. Something changed for me in week 3. I came across this saying.

** A woman who wants something will find a way, a woman who doesn’t will find an excuse. **

It made me realize that that's what I was doing and it was hurting nobody but me. I asked myself the toughest questions of my WL journey. "Am I READY to lose?" "Am I committed to sacrificing immediate gratification for the long term goal?" "Do I truly want to resist temptation so I can lose for real this time or am I just paying lip service to myself?" "Am I going through the motions of WL or am I committed to the performance?" No one else cared about my answers but me. No one else was going to suffer or benefit from my choices. No one else was going to make it easier. Most importantly, no one else could make it happen, but me! I had a real heart to heart with myself and came to the conclusion that I had been my own worst enemy. I knew what I said I wanted, but I didn't listen. I acted and reacted for immediate gratification, not for my long term goal. Once I realized that even though I said I wanted to lose and truly believed I wanted to lose, I had never been committed to losing. I would lose a few pounds and then be so proud of myself that I would "allow" myself an indulgence. The truth was, I never denied myself the indulgence and that's why I "thought" I couldn't do it. I wasn't truly committed. It isn't easy but it does get easier. I'm so proud that I've finally committed and I'm not just losing the same 5 lbs repeatedly. I realized if I could be strong enough to lose it over and over, all I had to do was be strong enough NOT to regain it in between. I still fall occassionally. The difference is, it's just a slight stumble, not a head over heels, come crashing down hard, fall. When I realize I'm stumbling, I STOP! I use to just say, I've already messed up. Might as well enjoy the whole box, carton, whatever. Sometimes I would keep looking for that something, that flavor, that was going to make me feel better, when all it did was make me feel worse. It wasn't the food I wanted. It as a lower number on the scale. The food was temporary. The WL would continue to satisfy me if I could just stop tripping myself up and enjoy the continued success.

You have to realize that by overindulging you are hurting no one but yourself. By winning this war against weight, you are the one who benefits. The first step is most definitely the hardest. What you need to realize is the first step isn't deciding to lose, it's deciding to resist and making it a permanent decision. Resist, resist, resist! Every time. If you can't stop at one, then you have to stop BEFORE that. Yesterday is over. Last week is over. Today is a new day. Those words are all true, but you need to decide if this is the last time you are going to use them or will you be saying them again in two weeks. When I opened my eyes to that realization, everything clicked for me. I had a decision to make. Where did I want to be at the end of this challenge? Did I want to be the one who lost 1-2 lbs a week, EVERY week? Or did I want to be the one who yoyo'd the same 5 pounds for the entire 12 weeks? If that was the case, why was I bothering? I had all the tools in front of me. I had all the support I could ask for. Why not use them to my full advantage?

That was 2 challenges ago. I made it through the 2009 Holiday season without gaining a pound, thanks to BLC11. Now I'm anxiously awaiting BLC12, which is scheduled to open in hours. I am 14 pounds less than I was a year ago and I am ready to buckle down and lose another 15-20 this round. I'm healthier, more active, more optimistic and I know I will only get better!

I hope my story helps you. Take that first step. If you are like I was, you've done that a hundred times. Now allow yourself to win by taking the next, most difficult step, and continuing to take those tough ones until they get easier. If you slip, STOP, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and continue down the road. Choose a goal and don't let yourself get off the beaten path. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Follow that path to your goal.

"Lord, please help me to remember, that nothing is going to happen today, that You and I, together, can't handle."

Read More About MAMACHAMBS (Updated January 26)

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