A year ago, I wrote a blog on a report that I had read. The report stated that the average American would gain 10 pounds between Halloween and New Year’s Day. I have not seen any articles this year that would show that average dropped. Most articles are concerned with the subject of the weight gain in America . It is said that 2 out of 3 Americans is overweight or obese. It would seem that it is a given that we will gain weight. In the past 2 months , I have seen a number of comments from Spark members that they are concerned that they will gain weight. I think of it as somewhere within our sub conscious, we have permission to gain the weight. The good news is that anyone reading this is a Spark member and that gives us a opportunity to stop the gain. The articles and quizzes supplied by Spark and that great support system that we have with our Spark friends here will certainly help each of us to stay on track. After lastyears blog and the season was over, I had a number of Spark Members tell me that it was the first time they had gone through the season without gaining weight.

I look back at my life, before I started my healthy journey and I can’t recall even thinking about gaining. Starting with Halloween ,eating as much candy as I could find , Thanksgiving Day, a day to enjoy family and have a huge meal. I can remember, loving food as I did, not eating well, I mean, not 1 serving, but 2 or 3 servings of every thing on the table including extra pie and other deserts, coming away from the table feeling so stuffed but happy. Of course, we had our big meal at noon and when the evening came along , more stuffing myself with more of everything. This was every year. As Christmas approached it was a time to bake our favorite cookies and who can eat just one cookie, everyday at work people would bring in special cookies and I love cookies. I wouldn’t have just one, I munched all day ( in fact I would take some and hide them so I could get my share.) Christmas day also had a special meal and of course I took advantage and overate. There were also special parties with lots of food , and of course I had my share. New Year’s is the same, parties, and more food. It is no wonder that I gained weight. After New Years, I vowed to go on a diet and that lasted a few weeks. So If the report is accurate, many people are and will be doing the same thing I did in the past.
I am saying to all of us that this does not have to happen. For those that don’t know me, I will only speak for myself and tell you how it is for me. In 2007, I had started my healthy journey program and in the “Season”, I released weight every week. I followed my plan, did not get off track and did not participate in eating all the goodies that was available.
The next 3 years, 2008 & 2009 and 2010 , I was on maintenance and again, I continued on a daily basis of eating healthy. I did have the traditional dinners, but limited the food to small portions and no seconds or thirds, I had desert, but a small portion. I found I could eat a cookie without the need to eat all the cookies. This year, 2011, will be no different, as I now say I am living life, I am going to do the same as in the past, eating with controls. I don’t feel a temptation that I would revert back to old habits. In fact I have learned that I no longer live to eat, I eat to live. I know when I have eaten enough and no longer continue to eat.
Why am I writing this? I gave my example of how it was and how it is now and I want each person to know that you also can get through this season and continue to release weight. I believe there is no reason to gain weight. I have seen a number of blogs where there are plans being made to keep things under control. That is a great idea, another area to look at, is that I have seen people write that they went off track because of a special event , like a birthday or special night out and it frightens them that in this season it will happen again.
It certainly could, but it does not have to be that way. I suggest that a strong focus be made on our attitudes and what we really believe. This can be the time to put all that hard work that each of us has done and know that it is time that we take control of our lives, If you can vision the weigh-ins with a release of weight, feel what that number would be and get excited. I also feel at this time in our lives as we work towards a healthy weight or maintain what we have accomplished that we need to have a new excitement about our lives. A positive outlook, a knowing that finally we are in control and have the ability to face each special day and enjoy it with a new feeling. I love the idea that I can participate in the special days and meals knowing that I eat healthy.
My purpose is to tell you, that if I could release the 84 pounds and continue for almost 4years now of maintaining it, that all of us here on Spark can do the same thing.
I believe that each person can be successful, but WILL they. I am making a challenge to each of us that this will be the year that we will release or maintain our weight. Make the commitment to yourself that this is the year. Writing makes the commitment stronger, so if you want to, make the commitment on the blog. Lets make this the year that we went through the “season” successfully.