Writergirl

This is my third long post on my journey so far. Probably should have been a blog, but no time to keep it up! Thanks for hanging in there with me!


“If you work at something with total commitment for a really long time, you will succeed.” 8th grade runner, in newspaper story.
Such a simple but profound statement from a young girl who set out to change her life by running. A statement that has come to define my journey.
I gauge my progress by non-weight goals. Yes, I do weigh in every morning. I do love to see the scale go down. But my real excitement comes not from the number of my weight, but from the increasing quality of my life.
The time I started trying on all my clothes and ended with a totally empty walk-in closet!
The first time I walked a mile in 20 years!
Sitting in a seat in a plane and not touching the person next to me anywhere!
The first time I felt a lump, thought it was a tumor and realized it was a bone!!!
Walking out of Coldwater Creek—a store I had always longed to shop in--with a bag full of clothes!
I feel like I have been let out of a cage. I am excited about life every single day. Even the hard days.
Joy, empowerment, potential…these are the things that keep me on track. However, every outcome involves a journey, and there are a few essential tools that keep me focused. You’ve probably heard all these before. Even if you have, when you start doing these things yourself you’ll feel like you’ve made a terrific discovery you want to share with the world!
Here, then, are my tools for success.
1. My Fitness Pal… Except for the time when my life was consumed with taking care of my dying sister, I have tracked every bite I’ve eaten almost every single day. This has been the most valuable thing I’ve ever done. Why have I stopped losing? I’ll look back over the last month or so. Oh… I see I’ve added in a couple of tablespoons of Peanut Butter a night. Could that be it? Oh… I see that a greater proportion of my daily calories is coming from carbs. Could that be it? Knowing that no one will see it but me, I am completely honest. You can download it for free for your smart phone or computer. If you don’t have one, just track somewhere! Track everything!
2. An honest assessment of my eating habits and problems… You may want to read my old post, “Sneaks, Snacks, Sweets and Lies… “ I posted this when it first began to get hard, and it seemed to resonate with a lot of people. I continue to live by this each day.
3. Protein. I HATED the protein regimen when I first started it. Now, I love to have my Protein Drink almost never miss a day. You know those delicious Starbucks Mocha-Frappes? The ones with about 500 calories? Well, I figured out that the ingredient that gives it its flavor is espresso! So now I go to Starbucks every few days and get 6 shots of espresso, straight. Into the blender goes ice, 2 shots of espresso, Water, maybe a little coffee, and chocolate Protein powder. I top it off with a little real whipped cream! 150 calories and low carb! Yum!!! I have energy for hours, and believe it or not, espresso has much less caffeine than real coffee!
4. Mostly Low carb diet: Once upon a time I craved carbs every 20 minutes or so. Now, I long for them but don’t crave them. The difference is huge. Craving: Addiction. Longing: Eh… that would be nice, but I can do without. If I eat heavy carbs, I crave them. If I begin my day with refined carbs, I want them all day. I don’t obsess about them, but I am careful about them. If I want a couple of bites of baked potato, I have it. About once a week I have a McDonald’s vanilla cone. But toast for Breakfast? Hash browns and French fries? Cookies and chips? If I eat these things for a couple of days, I feel poisoned, and I don’t lose weight. If ever I get seriously off track—and I have—for an entire month at a time, I know that to get back on track I first have to cut out the carbs. Then it gets to be easy again.
I made a commitment to myself. If I was going to undergo major surgery, with all its potential risks, I was going to totally commit to the process. If I never reach my personal goal—and with as much as I have to lose, it’s possible I won’t—it won’t be because I didn’t give it my all, for as long as it takes.
The last thing I want to share with you in a separate post is dealing with food addiction. Watch for it soon!
Hope this helps!

Well said! Especially the part about tracking BEFORE eating and then making different choices. I do that frequently. Congrats on your gym life!

I think that losing 97 pounds is amazing. Since your surgery you have lost an average of 10 pounds a month!!!
One of,the problems,with a site like this is that we tend to compare ourselves with others. There are young people,with loads of bone and muscle mass who,are just going to lose so fast. I find it best to just compare myself with me. Nothing worked before, so this has been so incredible.

Writer Girl,
Thanks for another enlightening post! Love your whole series. For those that missed a few, from the website, you can click Writer Girls phtoto to display her profile, the click Topics in the nav bar on the left to find the other posts.
Lynda

I was thinking writergirl should write a book. And we should help you title it:)

This is my third long post on my journey so far. Probably should have been a blog, but no time to keep it up! Thanks for hanging in there with me!


“If you work at something with total commitment for a really long time, you will succeed.” 8th grade runner, in newspaper story.
Such a simple but profound statement from a young girl who set out to change her life by running. A statement that has come to define my journey.
I gauge my progress by non-weight goals. Yes, I do weigh in every morning. I do love to see the scale go down. But my real excitement comes not from the number of my weight, but from the increasing quality of my life.
The time I started trying on all my clothes and ended with a totally empty walk-in closet!
The first time I walked a mile in 20 years!
Sitting in a seat in a plane and not touching the person next to me anywhere!
The first time I felt a lump, thought it was a tumor and realized it was a bone!!!
Walking out of Coldwater Creek—a store I had always longed to shop in--with a bag full of clothes!
I feel like I have been let out of a cage. I am excited about life every single day. Even the hard days.
Joy, empowerment, potential…these are the things that keep me on track. However, every outcome involves a journey, and there are a few essential tools that keep me focused. You’ve probably heard all these before. Even if you have, when you start doing these things yourself you’ll feel like you’ve made a terrific discovery you want to share with the world!
Here, then, are my tools for success.
1. My Fitness Pal… Except for the time when my life was consumed with taking care of my dying sister, I have tracked every bite I’ve eaten almost every single day. This has been the most valuable thing I’ve ever done. Why have I stopped losing? I’ll look back over the last month or so. Oh… I see I’ve added in a couple of tablespoons of Peanut Butter a night. Could that be it? Oh… I see that a greater proportion of my daily calories is coming from carbs. Could that be it? Knowing that no one will see it but me, I am completely honest. You can download it for free for your smart phone or computer. If you don’t have one, just track somewhere! Track everything!
2. An honest assessment of my eating habits and problems… You may want to read my old post, “Sneaks, Snacks, Sweets and Lies… “ I posted this when it first began to get hard, and it seemed to resonate with a lot of people. I continue to live by this each day.
3. Protein. I HATED the protein regimen when I first started it. Now, I love to have my Protein Drink almost never miss a day. You know those delicious Starbucks Mocha-Frappes? The ones with about 500 calories? Well, I figured out that the ingredient that gives it its flavor is espresso! So now I go to Starbucks every few days and get 6 shots of espresso, straight. Into the blender goes ice, 2 shots of espresso, Water, maybe a little coffee, and chocolate Protein powder. I top it off with a little real whipped cream! 150 calories and low carb! Yum!!! I have energy for hours, and believe it or not, espresso has much less caffeine than real coffee!
4. Mostly Low carb diet: Once upon a time I craved carbs every 20 minutes or so. Now, I long for them but don’t crave them. The difference is huge. Craving: Addiction. Longing: Eh… that would be nice, but I can do without. If I eat heavy carbs, I crave them. If I begin my day with refined carbs, I want them all day. I don’t obsess about them, but I am careful about them. If I want a couple of bites of baked potato, I have it. About once a week I have a McDonald’s vanilla cone. But toast for Breakfast? Hash browns and French fries? Cookies and chips? If I eat these things for a couple of days, I feel poisoned, and I don’t lose weight. If ever I get seriously off track—and I have—for an entire month at a time, I know that to get back on track I first have to cut out the carbs. Then it gets to be easy again.
I made a commitment to myself. If I was going to undergo major surgery, with all its potential risks, I was going to totally commit to the process. If I never reach my personal goal—and with as much as I have to lose, it’s possible I won’t—it won’t be because I didn’t give it my all, for as long as it takes.
The last thing I want to share with you in a separate post is dealing with food addiction. Watch for it soon!
Hope this helps!

Trying to get this active again as people have asked about it.

This is my third long post on my journey so far. Probably should have been a blog, but no time to keep it up! Thanks for hanging in there with me!


“If you work at something with total commitment for a really long time, you will succeed.” 8th grade runner, in newspaper story.
Such a simple but profound statement from a young girl who set out to change her life by running. A statement that has come to define my journey.
I gauge my progress by non-weight goals. Yes, I do weigh in every morning. I do love to see the scale go down. But my real excitement comes not from the number of my weight, but from the increasing quality of my life.
The time I started trying on all my clothes and ended with a totally empty walk-in closet!
The first time I walked a mile in 20 years!
Sitting in a seat in a plane and not touching the person next to me anywhere!
The first time I felt a lump, thought it was a tumor and realized it was a bone!!!
Walking out of Coldwater Creek—a store I had always longed to shop in--with a bag full of clothes!
I feel like I have been let out of a cage. I am excited about life every single day. Even the hard days.
Joy, empowerment, potential…these are the things that keep me on track. However, every outcome involves a journey, and there are a few essential tools that keep me focused. You’ve probably heard all these before. Even if you have, when you start doing these things yourself you’ll feel like you’ve made a terrific discovery you want to share with the world!
Here, then, are my tools for success.
1. My Fitness Pal… Except for the time when my life was consumed with taking care of my dying sister, I have tracked every bite I’ve eaten almost every single day. This has been the most valuable thing I’ve ever done. Why have I stopped losing? I’ll look back over the last month or so. Oh… I see I’ve added in a couple of tablespoons of Peanut Butter a night. Could that be it? Oh… I see that a greater proportion of my daily calories is coming from carbs. Could that be it? Knowing that no one will see it but me, I am completely honest. You can download it for free for your smart phone or computer. If you don’t have one, just track somewhere! Track everything!
2. An honest assessment of my eating habits and problems… You may want to read my old post, “Sneaks, Snacks, Sweets and Lies… “ I posted this when it first began to get hard, and it seemed to resonate with a lot of people. I continue to live by this each day.
3. Protein. I HATED the protein regimen when I first started it. Now, I love to have my Protein Drink almost never miss a day. You know those delicious Starbucks Mocha-Frappes? The ones with about 500 calories? Well, I figured out that the ingredient that gives it its flavor is espresso! So now I go to Starbucks every few days and get 6 shots of espresso, straight. Into the blender goes ice, 2 shots of espresso, Water, maybe a little coffee, and chocolate Protein powder. I top it off with a little real whipped cream! 150 calories and low carb! Yum!!! I have energy for hours, and believe it or not, espresso has much less caffeine than real coffee!
4. Mostly Low carb diet: Once upon a time I craved carbs every 20 minutes or so. Now, I long for them but don’t crave them. The difference is huge. Craving: Addiction. Longing: Eh… that would be nice, but I can do without. If I eat heavy carbs, I crave them. If I begin my day with refined carbs, I want them all day. I don’t obsess about them, but I am careful about them. If I want a couple of bites of baked potato, I have it. About once a week I have a McDonald’s vanilla cone. But toast for Breakfast? Hash browns and French fries? Cookies and chips? If I eat these things for a couple of days, I feel poisoned, and I don’t lose weight. If ever I get seriously off track—and I have—for an entire month at a time, I know that to get back on track I first have to cut out the carbs. Then it gets to be easy again.
I made a commitment to myself. If I was going to undergo major surgery, with all its potential risks, I was going to totally commit to the process. If I never reach my personal goal—and with as much as I have to lose, it’s possible I won’t—it won’t be because I didn’t give it my all, for as long as it takes.
The last thing I want to share with you in a separate post is dealing with food addiction. Watch for it soon!
Hope this helps!

Let's share some personal truths about the process here.
At 9 weeks post-op, I have found one thing to be consistently true: I have to take a total no-BS approach to this process or I won't be successful in the long-term. After a very long night of thinking of my past, my present, and my future, after confronting all the habits that got me into this place, I realized that to be successful I need to be CONSTANTLY DILIGENT about sweets, Snacks, sneaks, and lies.
Sweets: It's possible that sugar really was the glue that held me together through all I've been through over the years. I love sweets. I still love sweets. I think about chocolate chip Cookies for way too many moments each day. Unfortunately, it won't take too many sweets to add on hundreds of calories each day. One McDonald's cookie is 160 calories! So... my sweets... you have to go. But wait! I'm supposed to have 4 calcium chews a day! Those are like Starbursts and make nice treats! However... this means I'm still in the habit of popping sweets all day. From now on, I'll be chewing those with my Protein Drinks. It's a slippery slope from popping Calcium chews to popping real candy, so the habit itself has to go.
Snacks: My nutritionist gave me a meal and Protein plan. Unfortunately, I have always been a huge fan of what I call "boredom grazing." Passing the fridge? Maybe there's something interesting in there! Just returned from shopping? Must be time for a snack! Going through a drive-through for a drink? A small fry order wouldn't hurt much. Sigh... If I have to avoid the whole main floor until I break this habit, I will do so.
Sneaks: I'm not going to have a snack. I'm just going to have an olive. I'm done eating dinner, and I'm full, but I think I can squeeze one more bite in as I put the food away. I stuck my "to go" box in the fridge after returning from dinner, but I'll just have another bite or two before going to bed. Need I say more?
Lies: Oh, boy... the lies I told myself as I got to this point. "I'll eat what I want on vacation but lose it as soon as I get back."; "This looks like about a 100 calorie serving..."; and, oh, yeah... "I'll start tomorrow." What's my current lie??? "This is about a quarter of a cup serving. Ok, I'm being really good, so I'll MEASURE that quarter of a cup... yeah, that's a quarter cup, but I'm just going to heap a couple of mashed carrots on top of that cup, because those won't really hurt." These lies hurt no one but me. If I'm going to succeed, I must demand TOTAL HONESTY from myself.
So my solution is now to track every single bite of what I eat--even one measly olive--and analyze what I've done each day, to do my best at all times, to be as plan compliant as possible, and to get right back on track the moment I notice I've gone astray.
I am determined to succeed.
I am detetermined to change.
I am determined to get my life back again. One habit at a time. Every day. Forever.

This is my third long post on my journey so far. Probably should have been a blog, but no time to keep it up! Thanks for hanging in there with me!


“If you work at something with total commitment for a really long time, you will succeed.” 8th grade runner, in newspaper story.
Such a simple but profound statement from a young girl who set out to change her life by running. A statement that has come to define my journey.
I gauge my progress by non-weight goals. Yes, I do weigh in every morning. I do love to see the scale go down. But my real excitement comes not from the number of my weight, but from the increasing quality of my life.
The time I started trying on all my clothes and ended with a totally empty walk-in closet!
The first time I walked a mile in 20 years!
Sitting in a seat in a plane and not touching the person next to me anywhere!
The first time I felt a lump, thought it was a tumor and realized it was a bone!!!
Walking out of Coldwater Creek—a store I had always longed to shop in--with a bag full of clothes!
I feel like I have been let out of a cage. I am excited about life every single day. Even the hard days.
Joy, empowerment, potential…these are the things that keep me on track. However, every outcome involves a journey, and there are a few essential tools that keep me focused. You’ve probably heard all these before. Even if you have, when you start doing these things yourself you’ll feel like you’ve made a terrific discovery you want to share with the world!
Here, then, are my tools for success.
1. My Fitness Pal… Except for the time when my life was consumed with taking care of my dying sister, I have tracked every bite I’ve eaten almost every single day. This has been the most valuable thing I’ve ever done. Why have I stopped losing? I’ll look back over the last month or so. Oh… I see I’ve added in a couple of tablespoons of Peanut Butter a night. Could that be it? Oh… I see that a greater proportion of my daily calories is coming from carbs. Could that be it? Knowing that no one will see it but me, I am completely honest. You can download it for free for your smart phone or computer. If you don’t have one, just track somewhere! Track everything!
2. An honest assessment of my eating habits and problems… You may want to read my old post, “Sneaks, Snacks, Sweets and Lies… “ I posted this when it first began to get hard, and it seemed to resonate with a lot of people. I continue to live by this each day.
3. Protein. I HATED the protein regimen when I first started it. Now, I love to have my Protein Drink almost never miss a day. You know those delicious Starbucks Mocha-Frappes? The ones with about 500 calories? Well, I figured out that the ingredient that gives it its flavor is espresso! So now I go to Starbucks every few days and get 6 shots of espresso, straight. Into the blender goes ice, 2 shots of espresso, Water, maybe a little coffee, and chocolate Protein powder. I top it off with a little real whipped cream! 150 calories and low carb! Yum!!! I have energy for hours, and believe it or not, espresso has much less caffeine than real coffee!
4. Mostly Low carb diet: Once upon a time I craved carbs every 20 minutes or so. Now, I long for them but don’t crave them. The difference is huge. Craving: Addiction. Longing: Eh… that would be nice, but I can do without. If I eat heavy carbs, I crave them. If I begin my day with refined carbs, I want them all day. I don’t obsess about them, but I am careful about them. If I want a couple of bites of baked potato, I have it. About once a week I have a McDonald’s vanilla cone. But toast for Breakfast? Hash browns and French fries? Cookies and chips? If I eat these things for a couple of days, I feel poisoned, and I don’t lose weight. If ever I get seriously off track—and I have—for an entire month at a time, I know that to get back on track I first have to cut out the carbs. Then it gets to be easy again.
I made a commitment to myself. If I was going to undergo major surgery, with all its potential risks, I was going to totally commit to the process. If I never reach my personal goal—and with as much as I have to lose, it’s possible I won’t—it won’t be because I didn’t give it my all, for as long as it takes.
The last thing I want to share with you in a separate post is dealing with food addiction. Watch for it soon!
Hope this helps!

Let's share some personal truths about the process here.
At 9 weeks post-op, I have found one thing to be consistently true: I have to take a total no-BS approach to this process or I won't be successful in the long-term. After a very long night of thinking of my past, my present, and my future, after confronting all the habits that got me into this place, I realized that to be successful I need to be CONSTANTLY DILIGENT about sweets, Snacks, sneaks, and lies.
Sweets: It's possible that sugar really was the glue that held me together through all I've been through over the years. I love sweets. I still love sweets. I think about chocolate chip Cookies for way too many moments each day. Unfortunately, it won't take too many sweets to add on hundreds of calories each day. One McDonald's cookie is 160 calories! So... my sweets... you have to go. But wait! I'm supposed to have 4 calcium chews a day! Those are like Starbursts and make nice treats! However... this means I'm still in the habit of popping sweets all day. From now on, I'll be chewing those with my Protein Drinks. It's a slippery slope from popping Calcium chews to popping real candy, so the habit itself has to go.
Snacks: My nutritionist gave me a meal and Protein plan. Unfortunately, I have always been a huge fan of what I call "boredom grazing." Passing the fridge? Maybe there's something interesting in there! Just returned from shopping? Must be time for a snack! Going through a drive-through for a drink? A small fry order wouldn't hurt much. Sigh... If I have to avoid the whole main floor until I break this habit, I will do so.
Sneaks: I'm not going to have a snack. I'm just going to have an olive. I'm done eating dinner, and I'm full, but I think I can squeeze one more bite in as I put the food away. I stuck my "to go" box in the fridge after returning from dinner, but I'll just have another bite or two before going to bed. Need I say more?
Lies: Oh, boy... the lies I told myself as I got to this point. "I'll eat what I want on vacation but lose it as soon as I get back."; "This looks like about a 100 calorie serving..."; and, oh, yeah... "I'll start tomorrow." What's my current lie??? "This is about a quarter of a cup serving. Ok, I'm being really good, so I'll MEASURE that quarter of a cup... yeah, that's a quarter cup, but I'm just going to heap a couple of mashed carrots on top of that cup, because those won't really hurt." These lies hurt no one but me. If I'm going to succeed, I must demand TOTAL HONESTY from myself.
So my solution is now to track every single bite of what I eat--even one measly olive--and analyze what I've done each day, to do my best at all times, to be as plan compliant as possible, and to get right back on track the moment I notice I've gone astray.
I am determined to succeed.
I am detetermined to change.
I am determined to get my life back again. One habit at a time. Every day. Forever.

Let's share some personal truths about the process here.
At 9 weeks post-op, I have found one thing to be consistently true: I have to take a total no-BS approach to this process or I won't be successful in the long-term. After a very long night of thinking of my past, my present, and my future, after confronting all the habits that got me into this place, I realized that to be successful I need to be CONSTANTLY DILIGENT about sweets, Snacks, sneaks, and lies.
Sweets: It's possible that sugar really was the glue that held me together through all I've been through over the years. I love sweets. I still love sweets. I think about chocolate chip Cookies for way too many moments each day. Unfortunately, it won't take too many sweets to add on hundreds of calories each day. One McDonald's cookie is 160 calories! So... my sweets... you have to go. But wait! I'm supposed to have 4 calcium chews a day! Those are like Starbursts and make nice treats! However... this means I'm still in the habit of popping sweets all day. From now on, I'll be chewing those with my Protein Drinks. It's a slippery slope from popping Calcium chews to popping real candy, so the habit itself has to go.
Snacks: My nutritionist gave me a meal and Protein plan. Unfortunately, I have always been a huge fan of what I call "boredom grazing." Passing the fridge? Maybe there's something interesting in there! Just returned from shopping? Must be time for a snack! Going through a drive-through for a drink? A small fry order wouldn't hurt much. Sigh... If I have to avoid the whole main floor until I break this habit, I will do so.
Sneaks: I'm not going to have a snack. I'm just going to have an olive. I'm done eating dinner, and I'm full, but I think I can squeeze one more bite in as I put the food away. I stuck my "to go" box in the fridge after returning from dinner, but I'll just have another bite or two before going to bed. Need I say more?
Lies: Oh, boy... the lies I told myself as I got to this point. "I'll eat what I want on vacation but lose it as soon as I get back."; "This looks like about a 100 calorie serving..."; and, oh, yeah... "I'll start tomorrow." What's my current lie??? "This is about a quarter of a cup serving. Ok, I'm being really good, so I'll MEASURE that quarter of a cup... yeah, that's a quarter cup, but I'm just going to heap a couple of mashed carrots on top of that cup, because those won't really hurt." These lies hurt no one but me. If I'm going to succeed, I must demand TOTAL HONESTY from myself.
So my solution is now to track every single bite of what I eat--even one measly olive--and analyze what I've done each day, to do my best at all times, to be as plan compliant as possible, and to get right back on track the moment I notice I've gone astray.
I am determined to succeed.
I am detetermined to change.
I am determined to get my life back again. One habit at a time. Every day. Forever.

Let's share some personal truths about the process here.
At 9 weeks post-op, I have found one thing to be consistently true: I have to take a total no-BS approach to this process or I won't be successful in the long-term. After a very long night of thinking of my past, my present, and my future, after confronting all the habits that got me into this place, I realized that to be successful I need to be CONSTANTLY DILIGENT about sweets, Snacks, sneaks, and lies.
Sweets: It's possible that sugar really was the glue that held me together through all I've been through over the years. I love sweets. I still love sweets. I think about chocolate chip Cookies for way too many moments each day. Unfortunately, it won't take too many sweets to add on hundreds of calories each day. One McDonald's cookie is 160 calories! So... my sweets... you have to go. But wait! I'm supposed to have 4 calcium chews a day! Those are like Starbursts and make nice treats! However... this means I'm still in the habit of popping sweets all day. From now on, I'll be chewing those with my Protein Drinks. It's a slippery slope from popping Calcium chews to popping real candy, so the habit itself has to go.
Snacks: My nutritionist gave me a meal and Protein plan. Unfortunately, I have always been a huge fan of what I call "boredom grazing." Passing the fridge? Maybe there's something interesting in there! Just returned from shopping? Must be time for a snack! Going through a drive-through for a drink? A small fry order wouldn't hurt much. Sigh... If I have to avoid the whole main floor until I break this habit, I will do so.
Sneaks: I'm not going to have a snack. I'm just going to have an olive. I'm done eating dinner, and I'm full, but I think I can squeeze one more bite in as I put the food away. I stuck my "to go" box in the fridge after returning from dinner, but I'll just have another bite or two before going to bed. Need I say more?
Lies: Oh, boy... the lies I told myself as I got to this point. "I'll eat what I want on vacation but lose it as soon as I get back."; "This looks like about a 100 calorie serving..."; and, oh, yeah... "I'll start tomorrow." What's my current lie??? "This is about a quarter of a cup serving. Ok, I'm being really good, so I'll MEASURE that quarter of a cup... yeah, that's a quarter cup, but I'm just going to heap a couple of mashed carrots on top of that cup, because those won't really hurt." These lies hurt no one but me. If I'm going to succeed, I must demand TOTAL HONESTY from myself.
So my solution is now to track every single bite of what I eat--even one measly olive--and analyze what I've done each day, to do my best at all times, to be as plan compliant as possible, and to get right back on track the moment I notice I've gone astray.
I am determined to succeed.
I am detetermined to change.
I am determined to get my life back again. One habit at a time. Every day. Forever.

Let's share some personal truths about the process here.
At 9 weeks post-op, I have found one thing to be consistently true: I have to take a total no-BS approach to this process or I won't be successful in the long-term. After a very long night of thinking of my past, my present, and my future, after confronting all the habits that got me into this place, I realized that to be successful I need to be CONSTANTLY DILIGENT about sweets, Snacks, sneaks, and lies.
Sweets: It's possible that sugar really was the glue that held me together through all I've been through over the years. I love sweets. I still love sweets. I think about chocolate chip Cookies for way too many moments each day. Unfortunately, it won't take too many sweets to add on hundreds of calories each day. One McDonald's cookie is 160 calories! So... my sweets... you have to go. But wait! I'm supposed to have 4 calcium chews a day! Those are like Starbursts and make nice treats! However... this means I'm still in the habit of popping sweets all day. From now on, I'll be chewing those with my Protein Drinks. It's a slippery slope from popping Calcium chews to popping real candy, so the habit itself has to go.
Snacks: My nutritionist gave me a meal and Protein plan. Unfortunately, I have always been a huge fan of what I call "boredom grazing." Passing the fridge? Maybe there's something interesting in there! Just returned from shopping? Must be time for a snack! Going through a drive-through for a drink? A small fry order wouldn't hurt much. Sigh... If I have to avoid the whole main floor until I break this habit, I will do so.
Sneaks: I'm not going to have a snack. I'm just going to have an olive. I'm done eating dinner, and I'm full, but I think I can squeeze one more bite in as I put the food away. I stuck my "to go" box in the fridge after returning from dinner, but I'll just have another bite or two before going to bed. Need I say more?
Lies: Oh, boy... the lies I told myself as I got to this point. "I'll eat what I want on vacation but lose it as soon as I get back."; "This looks like about a 100 calorie serving..."; and, oh, yeah... "I'll start tomorrow." What's my current lie??? "This is about a quarter of a cup serving. Ok, I'm being really good, so I'll MEASURE that quarter of a cup... yeah, that's a quarter cup, but I'm just going to heap a couple of mashed carrots on top of that cup, because those won't really hurt." These lies hurt no one but me. If I'm going to succeed, I must demand TOTAL HONESTY from myself.
So my solution is now to track every single bite of what I eat--even one measly olive--and analyze what I've done each day, to do my best at all times, to be as plan compliant as possible, and to get right back on track the moment I notice I've gone astray.
I am determined to succeed.
I am detetermined to change.
I am determined to get my life back again. One habit at a time. Every day. Forever.

Thank you so much for all your great responses to this post. When I wrote it, I was having a really bad food day. I had a big cortisone shot the other day, and I've just been wanting to eat and sleep ever since. After I wrote this, I got up, put on my bathing suit, and went to the gym. After posting this reminder of my goals and then swimming, I just felt totally positive again. We can ALL DO this, but we have to "walk the walk," not just "talk the talk."

Yeah I have avoided a blog for the same reason, but I recently started one here so I have one place with answers to frequently asked questions. It saves me time from hunting up a previous answer. I think a blog with helpful info is good even if isn't frequently updated or even if it is later abandoned.
I've posted in the What did you eat today thread and will be posting there for a few days till my weight is back at 135.
http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/79628-what-did-you-eat-today/
Thanks for your help.
Lynda

Let's share some personal truths about the process here.
At 9 weeks post-op, I have found one thing to be consistently true: I have to take a total no-BS approach to this process or I won't be successful in the long-term. After a very long night of thinking of my past, my present, and my future, after confronting all the habits that got me into this place, I realized that to be successful I need to be CONSTANTLY DILIGENT about sweets, Snacks, sneaks, and lies.
Sweets: It's possible that sugar really was the glue that held me together through all I've been through over the years. I love sweets. I still love sweets. I think about chocolate chip Cookies for way too many moments each day. Unfortunately, it won't take too many sweets to add on hundreds of calories each day. One McDonald's cookie is 160 calories! So... my sweets... you have to go. But wait! I'm supposed to have 4 calcium chews a day! Those are like Starbursts and make nice treats! However... this means I'm still in the habit of popping sweets all day. From now on, I'll be chewing those with my Protein Drinks. It's a slippery slope from popping Calcium chews to popping real candy, so the habit itself has to go.
Snacks: My nutritionist gave me a meal and Protein plan. Unfortunately, I have always been a huge fan of what I call "boredom grazing." Passing the fridge? Maybe there's something interesting in there! Just returned from shopping? Must be time for a snack! Going through a drive-through for a drink? A small fry order wouldn't hurt much. Sigh... If I have to avoid the whole main floor until I break this habit, I will do so.
Sneaks: I'm not going to have a snack. I'm just going to have an olive. I'm done eating dinner, and I'm full, but I think I can squeeze one more bite in as I put the food away. I stuck my "to go" box in the fridge after returning from dinner, but I'll just have another bite or two before going to bed. Need I say more?
Lies: Oh, boy... the lies I told myself as I got to this point. "I'll eat what I want on vacation but lose it as soon as I get back."; "This looks like about a 100 calorie serving..."; and, oh, yeah... "I'll start tomorrow." What's my current lie??? "This is about a quarter of a cup serving. Ok, I'm being really good, so I'll MEASURE that quarter of a cup... yeah, that's a quarter cup, but I'm just going to heap a couple of mashed carrots on top of that cup, because those won't really hurt." These lies hurt no one but me. If I'm going to succeed, I must demand TOTAL HONESTY from myself.
So my solution is now to track every single bite of what I eat--even one measly olive--and analyze what I've done each day, to do my best at all times, to be as plan compliant as possible, and to get right back on track the moment I notice I've gone astray.
I am determined to succeed.
I am detetermined to change.
I am determined to get my life back again. One habit at a time. Every day. Forever.

Let's share some personal truths about the process here.
At 9 weeks post-op, I have found one thing to be consistently true: I have to take a total no-BS approach to this process or I won't be successful in the long-term. After a very long night of thinking of my past, my present, and my future, after confronting all the habits that got me into this place, I realized that to be successful I need to be CONSTANTLY DILIGENT about sweets, Snacks, sneaks, and lies.
Sweets: It's possible that sugar really was the glue that held me together through all I've been through over the years. I love sweets. I still love sweets. I think about chocolate chip Cookies for way too many moments each day. Unfortunately, it won't take too many sweets to add on hundreds of calories each day. One McDonald's cookie is 160 calories! So... my sweets... you have to go. But wait! I'm supposed to have 4 calcium chews a day! Those are like Starbursts and make nice treats! However... this means I'm still in the habit of popping sweets all day. From now on, I'll be chewing those with my Protein Drinks. It's a slippery slope from popping Calcium chews to popping real candy, so the habit itself has to go.
Snacks: My nutritionist gave me a meal and Protein plan. Unfortunately, I have always been a huge fan of what I call "boredom grazing." Passing the fridge? Maybe there's something interesting in there! Just returned from shopping? Must be time for a snack! Going through a drive-through for a drink? A small fry order wouldn't hurt much. Sigh... If I have to avoid the whole main floor until I break this habit, I will do so.
Sneaks: I'm not going to have a snack. I'm just going to have an olive. I'm done eating dinner, and I'm full, but I think I can squeeze one more bite in as I put the food away. I stuck my "to go" box in the fridge after returning from dinner, but I'll just have another bite or two before going to bed. Need I say more?
Lies: Oh, boy... the lies I told myself as I got to this point. "I'll eat what I want on vacation but lose it as soon as I get back."; "This looks like about a 100 calorie serving..."; and, oh, yeah... "I'll start tomorrow." What's my current lie??? "This is about a quarter of a cup serving. Ok, I'm being really good, so I'll MEASURE that quarter of a cup... yeah, that's a quarter cup, but I'm just going to heap a couple of mashed carrots on top of that cup, because those won't really hurt." These lies hurt no one but me. If I'm going to succeed, I must demand TOTAL HONESTY from myself.
So my solution is now to track every single bite of what I eat--even one measly olive--and analyze what I've done each day, to do my best at all times, to be as plan compliant as possible, and to get right back on track the moment I notice I've gone astray.
I am determined to succeed.
I am detetermined to change.
I am determined to get my life back again. One habit at a time. Every day. Forever.

Let's share some personal truths about the process here.
At 9 weeks post-op, I have found one thing to be consistently true: I have to take a total no-BS approach to this process or I won't be successful in the long-term. After a very long night of thinking of my past, my present, and my future, after confronting all the habits that got me into this place, I realized that to be successful I need to be CONSTANTLY DILIGENT about sweets, Snacks, sneaks, and lies.
Sweets: It's possible that sugar really was the glue that held me together through all I've been through over the years. I love sweets. I still love sweets. I think about chocolate chip Cookies for way too many moments each day. Unfortunately, it won't take too many sweets to add on hundreds of calories each day. One McDonald's cookie is 160 calories! So... my sweets... you have to go. But wait! I'm supposed to have 4 calcium chews a day! Those are like Starbursts and make nice treats! However... this means I'm still in the habit of popping sweets all day. From now on, I'll be chewing those with my Protein Drinks. It's a slippery slope from popping Calcium chews to popping real candy, so the habit itself has to go.
Snacks: My nutritionist gave me a meal and Protein plan. Unfortunately, I have always been a huge fan of what I call "boredom grazing." Passing the fridge? Maybe there's something interesting in there! Just returned from shopping? Must be time for a snack! Going through a drive-through for a drink? A small fry order wouldn't hurt much. Sigh... If I have to avoid the whole main floor until I break this habit, I will do so.
Sneaks: I'm not going to have a snack. I'm just going to have an olive. I'm done eating dinner, and I'm full, but I think I can squeeze one more bite in as I put the food away. I stuck my "to go" box in the fridge after returning from dinner, but I'll just have another bite or two before going to bed. Need I say more?
Lies: Oh, boy... the lies I told myself as I got to this point. "I'll eat what I want on vacation but lose it as soon as I get back."; "This looks like about a 100 calorie serving..."; and, oh, yeah... "I'll start tomorrow." What's my current lie??? "This is about a quarter of a cup serving. Ok, I'm being really good, so I'll MEASURE that quarter of a cup... yeah, that's a quarter cup, but I'm just going to heap a couple of mashed carrots on top of that cup, because those won't really hurt." These lies hurt no one but me. If I'm going to succeed, I must demand TOTAL HONESTY from myself.
So my solution is now to track every single bite of what I eat--even one measly olive--and analyze what I've done each day, to do my best at all times, to be as plan compliant as possible, and to get right back on track the moment I notice I've gone astray.
I am determined to succeed.
I am detetermined to change.
I am determined to get my life back again. One habit at a time. Every day. Forever.

Let's share some personal truths about the process here.
At 9 weeks post-op, I have found one thing to be consistently true: I have to take a total no-BS approach to this process or I won't be successful in the long-term. After a very long night of thinking of my past, my present, and my future, after confronting all the habits that got me into this place, I realized that to be successful I need to be CONSTANTLY DILIGENT about sweets, Snacks, sneaks, and lies.
Sweets: It's possible that sugar really was the glue that held me together through all I've been through over the years. I love sweets. I still love sweets. I think about chocolate chip Cookies for way too many moments each day. Unfortunately, it won't take too many sweets to add on hundreds of calories each day. One McDonald's cookie is 160 calories! So... my sweets... you have to go. But wait! I'm supposed to have 4 calcium chews a day! Those are like Starbursts and make nice treats! However... this means I'm still in the habit of popping sweets all day. From now on, I'll be chewing those with my Protein Drinks. It's a slippery slope from popping Calcium chews to popping real candy, so the habit itself has to go.
Snacks: My nutritionist gave me a meal and Protein plan. Unfortunately, I have always been a huge fan of what I call "boredom grazing." Passing the fridge? Maybe there's something interesting in there! Just returned from shopping? Must be time for a snack! Going through a drive-through for a drink? A small fry order wouldn't hurt much. Sigh... If I have to avoid the whole main floor until I break this habit, I will do so.
Sneaks: I'm not going to have a snack. I'm just going to have an olive. I'm done eating dinner, and I'm full, but I think I can squeeze one more bite in as I put the food away. I stuck my "to go" box in the fridge after returning from dinner, but I'll just have another bite or two before going to bed. Need I say more?
Lies: Oh, boy... the lies I told myself as I got to this point. "I'll eat what I want on vacation but lose it as soon as I get back."; "This looks like about a 100 calorie serving..."; and, oh, yeah... "I'll start tomorrow." What's my current lie??? "This is about a quarter of a cup serving. Ok, I'm being really good, so I'll MEASURE that quarter of a cup... yeah, that's a quarter cup, but I'm just going to heap a couple of mashed carrots on top of that cup, because those won't really hurt." These lies hurt no one but me. If I'm going to succeed, I must demand TOTAL HONESTY from myself.
So my solution is now to track every single bite of what I eat--even one measly olive--and analyze what I've done each day, to do my best at all times, to be as plan compliant as possible, and to get right back on track the moment I notice I've gone astray.
I am determined to succeed.
I am detetermined to change.
I am determined to get my life back again. One habit at a time. Every day. Forever.

Let's share some personal truths about the process here.
At 9 weeks post-op, I have found one thing to be consistently true: I have to take a total no-BS approach to this process or I won't be successful in the long-term. After a very long night of thinking of my past, my present, and my future, after confronting all the habits that got me into this place, I realized that to be successful I need to be CONSTANTLY DILIGENT about sweets, Snacks, sneaks, and lies.
Sweets: It's possible that sugar really was the glue that held me together through all I've been through over the years. I love sweets. I still love sweets. I think about chocolate chip Cookies for way too many moments each day. Unfortunately, it won't take too many sweets to add on hundreds of calories each day. One McDonald's cookie is 160 calories! So... my sweets... you have to go. But wait! I'm supposed to have 4 calcium chews a day! Those are like Starbursts and make nice treats! However... this means I'm still in the habit of popping sweets all day. From now on, I'll be chewing those with my Protein Drinks. It's a slippery slope from popping Calcium chews to popping real candy, so the habit itself has to go.
Snacks: My nutritionist gave me a meal and Protein plan. Unfortunately, I have always been a huge fan of what I call "boredom grazing." Passing the fridge? Maybe there's something interesting in there! Just returned from shopping? Must be time for a snack! Going through a drive-through for a drink? A small fry order wouldn't hurt much. Sigh... If I have to avoid the whole main floor until I break this habit, I will do so.
Sneaks: I'm not going to have a snack. I'm just going to have an olive. I'm done eating dinner, and I'm full, but I think I can squeeze one more bite in as I put the food away. I stuck my "to go" box in the fridge after returning from dinner, but I'll just have another bite or two before going to bed. Need I say more?
Lies: Oh, boy... the lies I told myself as I got to this point. "I'll eat what I want on vacation but lose it as soon as I get back."; "This looks like about a 100 calorie serving..."; and, oh, yeah... "I'll start tomorrow." What's my current lie??? "This is about a quarter of a cup serving. Ok, I'm being really good, so I'll MEASURE that quarter of a cup... yeah, that's a quarter cup, but I'm just going to heap a couple of mashed carrots on top of that cup, because those won't really hurt." These lies hurt no one but me. If I'm going to succeed, I must demand TOTAL HONESTY from myself.
So my solution is now to track every single bite of what I eat--even one measly olive--and analyze what I've done each day, to do my best at all times, to be as plan compliant as possible, and to get right back on track the moment I notice I've gone astray.
I am determined to succeed.
I am detetermined to change.
I am determined to get my life back again. One habit at a time. Every day. Forever.

Let's share some personal truths about the process here.
At 9 weeks post-op, I have found one thing to be consistently true: I have to take a total no-BS approach to this process or I won't be successful in the long-term. After a very long night of thinking of my past, my present, and my future, after confronting all the habits that got me into this place, I realized that to be successful I need to be CONSTANTLY DILIGENT about sweets, Snacks, sneaks, and lies.
Sweets: It's possible that sugar really was the glue that held me together through all I've been through over the years. I love sweets. I still love sweets. I think about chocolate chip Cookies for way too many moments each day. Unfortunately, it won't take too many sweets to add on hundreds of calories each day. One McDonald's cookie is 160 calories! So... my sweets... you have to go. But wait! I'm supposed to have 4 calcium chews a day! Those are like Starbursts and make nice treats! However... this means I'm still in the habit of popping sweets all day. From now on, I'll be chewing those with my Protein Drinks. It's a slippery slope from popping Calcium chews to popping real candy, so the habit itself has to go.
Snacks: My nutritionist gave me a meal and Protein plan. Unfortunately, I have always been a huge fan of what I call "boredom grazing." Passing the fridge? Maybe there's something interesting in there! Just returned from shopping? Must be time for a snack! Going through a drive-through for a drink? A small fry order wouldn't hurt much. Sigh... If I have to avoid the whole main floor until I break this habit, I will do so.
Sneaks: I'm not going to have a snack. I'm just going to have an olive. I'm done eating dinner, and I'm full, but I think I can squeeze one more bite in as I put the food away. I stuck my "to go" box in the fridge after returning from dinner, but I'll just have another bite or two before going to bed. Need I say more?
Lies: Oh, boy... the lies I told myself as I got to this point. "I'll eat what I want on vacation but lose it as soon as I get back."; "This looks like about a 100 calorie serving..."; and, oh, yeah... "I'll start tomorrow." What's my current lie??? "This is about a quarter of a cup serving. Ok, I'm being really good, so I'll MEASURE that quarter of a cup... yeah, that's a quarter cup, but I'm just going to heap a couple of mashed carrots on top of that cup, because those won't really hurt." These lies hurt no one but me. If I'm going to succeed, I must demand TOTAL HONESTY from myself.
So my solution is now to track every single bite of what I eat--even one measly olive--and analyze what I've done each day, to do my best at all times, to be as plan compliant as possible, and to get right back on track the moment I notice I've gone astray.
I am determined to succeed.
I am detetermined to change.
I am determined to get my life back again. One habit at a time. Every day. Forever.

This is my third long post on my journey so far. Probably should have been a blog, but no time to keep it up! Thanks for hanging in there with me!


“If you work at something with total commitment for a really long time, you will succeed.” 8th grade runner, in newspaper story.
Such a simple but profound statement from a young girl who set out to change her life by running. A statement that has come to define my journey.
I gauge my progress by non-weight goals. Yes, I do weigh in every morning. I do love to see the scale go down. But my real excitement comes not from the number of my weight, but from the increasing quality of my life.
The time I started trying on all my clothes and ended with a totally empty walk-in closet!
The first time I walked a mile in 20 years!
Sitting in a seat in a plane and not touching the person next to me anywhere!
The first time I felt a lump, thought it was a tumor and realized it was a bone!!!
Walking out of Coldwater Creek—a store I had always longed to shop in--with a bag full of clothes!
I feel like I have been let out of a cage. I am excited about life every single day. Even the hard days.
Joy, empowerment, potential…these are the things that keep me on track. However, every outcome involves a journey, and there are a few essential tools that keep me focused. You’ve probably heard all these before. Even if you have, when you start doing these things yourself you’ll feel like you’ve made a terrific discovery you want to share with the world!
Here, then, are my tools for success.
1. My Fitness Pal… Except for the time when my life was consumed with taking care of my dying sister, I have tracked every bite I’ve eaten almost every single day. This has been the most valuable thing I’ve ever done. Why have I stopped losing? I’ll look back over the last month or so. Oh… I see I’ve added in a couple of tablespoons of Peanut Butter a night. Could that be it? Oh… I see that a greater proportion of my daily calories is coming from carbs. Could that be it? Knowing that no one will see it but me, I am completely honest. You can download it for free for your smart phone or computer. If you don’t have one, just track somewhere! Track everything!
2. An honest assessment of my eating habits and problems… You may want to read my old post, “Sneaks, Snacks, Sweets and Lies… “ I posted this when it first began to get hard, and it seemed to resonate with a lot of people. I continue to live by this each day.
3. Protein. I HATED the protein regimen when I first started it. Now, I love to have my Protein Drink almost never miss a day. You know those delicious Starbucks Mocha-Frappes? The ones with about 500 calories? Well, I figured out that the ingredient that gives it its flavor is espresso! So now I go to Starbucks every few days and get 6 shots of espresso, straight. Into the blender goes ice, 2 shots of espresso, Water, maybe a little coffee, and chocolate Protein powder. I top it off with a little real whipped cream! 150 calories and low carb! Yum!!! I have energy for hours, and believe it or not, espresso has much less caffeine than real coffee!
4. Mostly Low carb diet: Once upon a time I craved carbs every 20 minutes or so. Now, I long for them but don’t crave them. The difference is huge. Craving: Addiction. Longing: Eh… that would be nice, but I can do without. If I eat heavy carbs, I crave them. If I begin my day with refined carbs, I want them all day. I don’t obsess about them, but I am careful about them. If I want a couple of bites of baked potato, I have it. About once a week I have a McDonald’s vanilla cone. But toast for Breakfast? Hash browns and French fries? Cookies and chips? If I eat these things for a couple of days, I feel poisoned, and I don’t lose weight. If ever I get seriously off track—and I have—for an entire month at a time, I know that to get back on track I first have to cut out the carbs. Then it gets to be easy again.
I made a commitment to myself. If I was going to undergo major surgery, with all its potential risks, I was going to totally commit to the process. If I never reach my personal goal—and with as much as I have to lose, it’s possible I won’t—it won’t be because I didn’t give it my all, for as long as it takes.
The last thing I want to share with you in a separate post is dealing with food addiction. Watch for it soon!
Hope this helps!

Sooooo perfect for me! I have been searching for days about cheating, how much my sleeve can hold, my obsession with "no sugar added" fudgesicles (I can eat 10 a day if I'm not mindful-extra 400 calories at 5 weeks out). Last night I promised myself I would wake up determined today...and here you were!!!! Bless you! ❤

Let's share some personal truths about the process here.
At 9 weeks post-op, I have found one thing to be consistently true: I have to take a total no-BS approach to this process or I won't be successful in the long-term. After a very long night of thinking of my past, my present, and my future, after confronting all the habits that got me into this place, I realized that to be successful I need to be CONSTANTLY DILIGENT about sweets, Snacks, sneaks, and lies.
Sweets: It's possible that sugar really was the glue that held me together through all I've been through over the years. I love sweets. I still love sweets. I think about chocolate chip Cookies for way too many moments each day. Unfortunately, it won't take too many sweets to add on hundreds of calories each day. One McDonald's cookie is 160 calories! So... my sweets... you have to go. But wait! I'm supposed to have 4 calcium chews a day! Those are like Starbursts and make nice treats! However... this means I'm still in the habit of popping sweets all day. From now on, I'll be chewing those with my Protein Drinks. It's a slippery slope from popping Calcium chews to popping real candy, so the habit itself has to go.
Snacks: My nutritionist gave me a meal and Protein plan. Unfortunately, I have always been a huge fan of what I call "boredom grazing." Passing the fridge? Maybe there's something interesting in there! Just returned from shopping? Must be time for a snack! Going through a drive-through for a drink? A small fry order wouldn't hurt much. Sigh... If I have to avoid the whole main floor until I break this habit, I will do so.
Sneaks: I'm not going to have a snack. I'm just going to have an olive. I'm done eating dinner, and I'm full, but I think I can squeeze one more bite in as I put the food away. I stuck my "to go" box in the fridge after returning from dinner, but I'll just have another bite or two before going to bed. Need I say more?
Lies: Oh, boy... the lies I told myself as I got to this point. "I'll eat what I want on vacation but lose it as soon as I get back."; "This looks like about a 100 calorie serving..."; and, oh, yeah... "I'll start tomorrow." What's my current lie??? "This is about a quarter of a cup serving. Ok, I'm being really good, so I'll MEASURE that quarter of a cup... yeah, that's a quarter cup, but I'm just going to heap a couple of mashed carrots on top of that cup, because those won't really hurt." These lies hurt no one but me. If I'm going to succeed, I must demand TOTAL HONESTY from myself.
So my solution is now to track every single bite of what I eat--even one measly olive--and analyze what I've done each day, to do my best at all times, to be as plan compliant as possible, and to get right back on track the moment I notice I've gone astray.
I am determined to succeed.
I am detetermined to change.
I am determined to get my life back again. One habit at a time. Every day. Forever.