I completely agree with you about the importance of the mental state in weight loss. The biology part means that if you were locked in a room for a year and your food was appropriately controlled, you’d lose weight. The problem with that is, if nothing else changed within you, the weight would likely start piling on again the minute you were free.

Living in the world of choices, what I’m seeing is how many of those around food have been emotionally driven. Looking back at my years of struggling with diets, I was struck by the word “struggling”. Why would I be fighting against something that was good for me? What was my reward for self-sabotage? Where was the benefit? It only makes sense when I understand that using food to relieve anxiety was more important to me than how I looked. As a bonus, I was able to avoid dealing with the real issues by seeing obesity as the thing holding me back.

Food was my solution until it became my problem. Then I was stuck.

I’m not sure that I have words to describe what has changed for me. My mind shifted. I’ve stopped struggling. Acceptance has replaced resistance, and somehow I have learned to bend with the wind. I can picture myself at a healthy weight and know that, slowly but surely, I will get there. I also know that this is the least important thing about me today.

I have absolutely no doubt that others hold you in far higher regard than you hold yourself, Fuvvie. I know I do. 🙂

Absolutely the right answer, coldpizza — all we ever have to be is ourselves. Simple. Not easy, but simple. The empathy you describe makes understanding more likely and judgment less so. I do hope the adjustments you’re making will help you find your feet again.

It’s Wednesday Weigh-In time. I was away last week so this covers a fortnight and I’ve dropped 2 pounds. Happy to see the numbers, but I was more thrilled to pull out a pair of jeans I couldn’t button up last time and discover that the waist is loose! I don’t want to spend a lot on clothes on the way down, so I’ll take some of my old stuff down to the charity shop and see if I can find some new-to-me things to tide me over. That, and a bit of elastic in a few waistbands, should do the trick.

Looking in the mirror and realising that my old clothes were positively flapping on me was a brilliant moment. I’m more than 1/3 of the way to my goal and if I just keep going as I have been — one day at a time — I’ll get there.

17 st./4 lbs.

What a splendid result for back2thefuture — and such proof of how this works when we work it!

I do get the kicking oneself part, Fuvvie. I did that for a couple of months until I was able to finally let it go in January. “Why did I do this?” “Why didn’t I do that?” “If only…” “Now I have to regain lost ground…” “I’ve wasted time…” All completely unproductive and perilously close to self-sabotage.

My year anniversary is coming up this month and while I won’t be able to say that I’ve lost 89 lbs., I will be able to say that whatever weight I have lost isn’t coming back to MY future. 😀

Switching out my flapping old clothes for ones that fit better has been an interesting experience. I liked seeing how loose my old ones were becoming but I was surprised by the difference I saw with new ones on. The brain doesn’t really “see” what it thinks it already knows. There’s a lesson in that somewhere for me…

Thanks, coldpizza — I truly appreciate the support. 🙂

It’s Wednesday Weigh-In time and I’m so pleased to report another 2 lbs. dismissed this week. Not doing anything spectacular, just a simple one foot in front of the other. I look back occasionally and marvel how far down the road this approach has taken me, and I am filled with gratitude.

17 st./2 lbs.

Wednesday Weigh-In and the news continues to be good — down another pound.

I had noticed some time ago that milk wasn’t agreeing with me but as I’d switched to cream for my tea and coffee it wasn’t a big issue. When a friend introduced me to kefir I was intrigued because the starter bacteria which causes the fermentation consumes the lactose during the process — and it is that lactose which commonly causes intolerance problems. I wasn’t interested in drinking the kefir since the carb count was higher than I wanted but by straining off the whey I was able to produce a creamy kefir cheese. It’s low-carb, deliciously tangy, an aid to digestion, and useful in recipes. And unlike commercial versions, I know exactly what’s gone into it. Plus I get to feel like a mad scientist in my own kitchen every few days. 😀

16 st./12 lbs.

Thank you so much, Dragon Fly — lovely to see you back again! Congratulations on the weight loss. Sometimes a break is what we need to test our truth, and it sounds like you’ve found the path which works for you.

The 5:2 way of life is definitely do-able. And I don’t mean in a white-knuckling self-denying style, either. I love the food I eat and I love the way I eat it. My body has changed but so has my thinking, and that’s what’s made the difference.

Today is all we ever have. But it’s all we ever need. Make it a good one!

Testing for disappearing posts…

It feels a bit surreal to be back here again and thinking about self-care. For the past few months I’ve been involved in providing palliative care for someone else and I put my own needs on the back burner. I’ll always be glad that I was able to do it, but I’m tired.

Now, it’s time to re-group but I find myself resisting. Not sure why. But I know that I don’t have to understand it in order to do the right thing.

Anyway. I’m back, I’m sugar-free, and I’m on a fast day.

Thank you for the welcoming messages — I hope you’re all doing brilliantly well.

“Empty space” is how I’m still feeling, Fuvvie. I can’t seem to be enthusiastic about moving forward yet. In the old days, I’d have binged myself into oblivion but that’s not an option any more so it’s just one day at a time. I’m not eating badly but am resisting fasting. Not sure what that’s about.

I can’t tell you how encouraging it is to see you all here still. I have missed you.