#416: How I Got My Weight Loss on Track

Like others, I have lost weight only to gain it back. I believed I knew about proper nutrition and thought my eating habits were healthy, but have realized I was in the dark about food and that my eating habits were what got me to the point two months ago that I weighed the heaviest I have ever been .

And, like others, my weight interfered with my happiness and caused doing everyday things such as putting on socks and shoes to be a difficult task. I was embarrassed by how I looked and felt and had developed diabetes.

Then my nurse practitioner, bless her soul , referred me to a weight loss clinic, one I wrote about in September. On my first visit to the clinic, I weighed 290.4 and was ashamed looking at the "before" picture that was taken . Today, seven weeks later I weigh 268.6, a loss of 21.8 pounds , including week two where there was no gain or loss.

* I now read SP articles with a new focus and better understanding of healthy foods and the importance of meal planning.

* Instead of having a whole sandwich with potato chips and a couple of cookies, now I have half a sandwich with whole wheat bread, a smear of mayo or mustard and turkey or chicken. No chips, no cookies.

* Since that start date I have had NO sweets except for one day early on when I had a small ice cream sandwich. I don't miss cakes , pies , ice cream , donuts or cookies and no longer crave them.

* I upped my daily water intake .

* I cut down sodas (diet ones) from sometimes 5 or 6 a day to perhaps 3 a week.

* For a sweet taste snack I eat fruit or Yoplait Light yogurt (100 calories).

* To eat more vegetables I add lettuce and tomatoes to sandwiches and meals and snack on carrots and celery.

* When I go to restaurants I take half of the meal home and order fruit instead of fries .

* I have started doing push ups and using dumb bells again, will rejoin our neighborhood gym soon and have looked for ways to build movement into the days such as scrubbing the bathroom walls and tub, raking leaves, trimming trees, chasing the dogs in the yard and other activities. I am limited by back problems but the more I move the more I want to move. There is a theorem that states that a body at rest tends to stay at rest while a body in motion tends to stay in motion. I beg forgiveness for forgetting my school lesson as to who said that.

As the belt has tightened by two notches and people have offered positive comments about the loss so far, my confidence and willpower have increased and I now want to be one of the members who posts a 100 pound loss .

To some, nearly 22 pounds is a drop in the bucket but my journey is not over. I'm nearly down 1.5 of the four bowling balls that is my initial goal.

Now that portions are controlled, food choices have improved and exercise is something I again look forward to, I am confident the losses will continue . My blood sugars have also dropped as has my cholesterol.

The support and education from SP is invaluable. Now that my outlook is different, I see the information here in a new light . Remember, I thought I knew it all before but I didn't.

So, whether you want to lose 100 pounds or 20:

* Take a look at your attitude and habits.

* Watch your portions.

* Cut down on sweets and full-sugared sodas.

* Exercise more by doing what you can and building on that.

* Have confidence that you CAN lose weight.

* Relish small accomplishments such as walking a block or tightening a belt one more notch.

* Keep a mental image of how you will look when you reach your goal.

* Most importantly:

NEVER GIVE UP!

NEVER!