I don't post often but lurk almost daily. I am almost 2 years out, lost 50 lbs the first year and 30 so far this year. I have always been a slow looser and I have to work hard at it. There have been 2 times when I stalled for 2 months or so. (total bummer, but I did not let it get to me, I kept going)

Anyway recently I was laid off from my job.....last time I was not working was in 1983 or so, so this is completely forien to me. (and scary) But I have learned that anytime you make a major change in your life it is easier to change other things, I guess because it is in the air.

So I did not have to eat Breakfast before I went to work cause I did not have to go to work, there was no standard "lunch time" either. So I was not eating because I was not hungry and my scheduled eating times went out the window. I AM NOW ONLY EATING WHEN I AM HUNGRY, NOT BASED ON MY SCHEDULE FOR EATING! I know a lot of us have talked about the clean plate club and all, but now it has hit me in the face. And what about the 3 squares a day?

I have come to the realization that my estimate of what one normal person needs to eat in a day is seriously to much. I would like to see laid out on a table how much say a 150 lb person should eat in a day, and how often. After thinking about this alot I also realized that I have had the idea of three square meals a day drilled into my head and that it is just not necessary. Not my idea of a meal anyway.:nervous

And then I recall my little sister being made to sit at the dinner table till it was bed time because she did not finish her food. I had finished mine and I am very large, but my sister now at 45 years old is still 120 lbs and had 2 children. I love my sister and we are best of friends now but it was really hard growing up overweight with 6 very normal brothers and sisters.

My point in all of this is that this revelation has now helped me begin to loose again, 5 lbs last week! In fact over the holidays at one point I began feeling ill and could not figure out what it was, well I was not eating enough because of everything going on. I had not had enough time to eat, I had to start stopping myself to take time to eat so I do not get that low again. I have always kept myself well fed I had never felt this way before.

The moral of this story is to change it up. (my thinking, my routine and my mothers rules)

This has helped me learn more about my eating habits and begin to turn the tide on my unrealistic food thoughts. Hope this will help someone else, best to all. Trish

Sounds like you have a real hand on that head hunger!

And then I recall my little sister being made to sit at the dinner table till it was bed time because she did not finish her food.

Hey, I "was" that "little" little sister sitting at the table til bed time. And all through childhood and adolescence I was picked on for being skinny. Because my mother and sister had been obese since childhood, I tho't I'd escaped that genetic "curse".

My sister was thrilled several years ago to realize I was finally as big as she is. But, 11 years older than me, a diabetic who recently had a double by-pass.....I DON'T want to follow in her footsteps!

Thanks for the post, Trying2live....I've recently come to realize that I still need to work on my portion control....making healthier meals is good. But that's not the end of it.

I think I need smaller plates.

You go girl!! Keep up the good work! Fight the demons!

Thanks for the post. I still struggle with the mental issues of why I became fat and I hope that some day I'll have that mess in my head figured out. In the mean time I'll be thinking of your thread because it gives me hope.

Gosh, that's half the battle.

Yeah, I eat 3 times a day because it fits in with what's expected and fits in with the family. But seriously, for me, I could eat at 11 am and about 5.30 pm, just twice a day and that would suit me really well.

Good for you! Thanks for the post too!

Thank you for taking the time to post your insights and experience. I think that's what makes this board different...it is so easy to see that we are all different in some ways, the same in some ways, and haven't figured it all out enough to tell if we are the same or different! I have learned something from your post, and the biggest part of the battle is finding the chains, then finding the keys to unlock them. Thanks! Cindy

Awesome post!

What a great mental breakthrough! We are all very happy for you- and impressed, too.

Thanks for writing.

Thanks to all of you who replied, it makes me feel so good that someone replied.

Banded for life, if I could get my head on stright there would not be a problem, lol.

And Nana I still use a desert plate for my dinner the other ones seam huge now, and my small portions look kinda pathetic on a large one.

Jessibear we are all fighting the same deamon, you would think he would be a gonner by now.

cmr - hope is a good thing keep working at it.

harleynana - half the battle and half the weight I have to loose and quite frankley I don't buy that you can not loose as well at 2 or more years out, I believe that we slow down because we need a break or rest period and that we get out of it what we put into it. I plan on loosing the rest.

Jachut- I only eat 2 meals a day now, that's all I need.

Iloveharleys-OH NO, with 90 down and TEN lbs to go, GOOD FOR YOU!

mousecrazy-love the chain analagy. This board is truly my favorite of all.

living2canoe-better a breakthrough than a breakdown, lol.

Best to all. Trish

Isn't it amazing when we go through life & than "click" something just goes off in our minds that finally makes sence. Good for you!

I'm like Jachut, I could easily have an 11am meal and 5.30pm. I'm a slow looser but have not really got into the exercise bit.

Purchased some bathers yesterday and went for my first swim in years.

I will also walk more and see if I cannot move some more of this weight. I can be on a plateau for 3 months. Have never put on weight tho, and am never discouraged as I feel so much better and I know it is only time for me and have to be patient.