I have been reading the book "THin for Life" and there was something that was repeated in my reading of all of these people that was studied in the book. The author asked the question "When did it click for you when you decided this time was it to loose weight and keep it off." So if that click has happened for you When or what happened for you to decide this was the time. For me I don't know if I have gotten to that point or not. I have sat and pondered that quesion my self.

My success story (Laura) is on the site. It covers my "light bulb" moment.

More interesting is that I keep having occasional light bulb moments as I continue to strive toward losing weight. My most recent one is that I have no desire for rich, sweet desserts, and can live quite contentedly without cookies (or more accurately, raw cookie dough) or any other "sweet". I'm happy with a piece of fruit and a few almond M&Ms after each meal.

quote:

Originally posted by Bee:
I think there a couple of things that made me successful this time around that are different from the times I tried and failed in the past.

This time ALL I cared about was keeping it off. I didn't care how fast it came off. I didn't care how long it took. All I cared about was making this the last time, maintaining my losses.

I really enjoyed Thin For Life too and have wondered what made this "light bulb" moment the one that stuck and not the others I had in my life.

I think there a couple of things that made me successful this time around that are different from the times I tried and failed in the past.

First off, I was very focused on the health aspects of losing weight this time around and not just body asthetics. Wanting to be around for my then 2 year old and be able to fully participate in her life were huge motivators.

This was also the first time I didn't crash diet and focused on life style changes.

Third, this was the first time I ever incorporated exercise into the plan.

I still worry sometimes that this is somehow just temporary but when I really sit and look, I know I can do this for the long haul.

The turning point came when a friend invited us to go water skiing. I had skied as a kid and a young adult and I was REALLY looking forward to it. I considered myself overweight but thought that I was still strong, healthy and fit. I was bobbing in the water trying to put on my skis. My stomach was in the way and I was literally having trouble reaching my own feet. I was worn out attempting to put the skis on.

I struggled to get up on the skis and was unsuccessful after several tries. I climbed back in the boat defeated. I tried one last time later in the afternoon. After several more tries, I finally got up and skied 100 yards and tossed the rope. I hauled myself back into the boat (which was no small feat), exhausted. I hadn't realized how out of shape I had gotten. My cholesterol had crept back up to about 225. My BMI was 30. For the first time in my life, I developed asthma. I later learned there's a strong link between obesity and asthma. I was not as fit. I was not in good health.

I'd also been saying for about a year, "I KNOW how to lose weight. I don't NEED a plan or to join a weight loss program."

Finally, I had to admit... I HADN'T lost on my own and maybe I needed a plan or a program.

I joined eDiets the next week.

I think this is kind of the same as Jill's Friday homework.

For me, every time I have ever made the decision to start losing, I have felt like this was it. Somehow, there is always a roadblock or bump in the road that causes a setback.

I think though, that those bumps are always going to be in our lives, it is how we handle them and how long we dwell there, that is different.

If we are going to be successful, we have to really throw out the "diet" and decide that what we are doing is adopting better habits toward a healthier life.
When we recognize that we will still have some food "issues" and pit falls, we have a better chance at success. If those moments hit us as a surprise, we will be more likely to give up and fail.
My moment came several years ago, when I found out about my heart condition. My struggles come and go. My thought has been all along, that this is it. I am not dieting ever again, just aiming to be healthy.

I say all of this, 30 pounds lighter than my heaviest and having just ate some marble pound cake my husband brought home. I ate it while I read Fitness magazine and drank some green tea.

My life is just full of irony. My food "issues" are always with me. Sometimes I handle them well, and sometimes I don't. I have enough knowledge to know better, but as they say......even the choices you don't make are still choices.