I weighed myself at the doctor this morning & was so THRILLED!!!! It said I weighed 208 which means I have hit my first goal of 50 lbs!! (My home scale said 211, but I am definately going to take the doctors scale over mine!!!) Yesterday I went shopping & could hardly believe that I could fit into a size 16 pants. I've worn 22/24 for so long!

Here's what I've learned so far:

1) You will hit LOTS of plateaus. I stayed at the same weight for 2-3 weeks many, many times & then all of a sudden I'd drop 4 or 5 lbs. Don't get frustrated at the scale.

2) Exercise really does work. I joined a gym only because I knew it was the right thing to do. I hated going & was emberassed to be seen among all the muscle men. I could barely walk on the treadmill for 5 min. without feeling like I was going to pass out. BUT....I made myself go & it's been very, very worth it. I'm now a regular & 2 days ago one of the buff women came up to me & said - "I've been watching you the past few months & you've really inspired me. Keep up the great work." Wow! I inspired HER!! That was a big NSV to me.

3) You really do need to follow the bandster rules. THEY WORK!! I had moments of just wanting to do my own thing. But, whenever I went back to taking small bites, chewing my food A LOT, & not drinking after meals I lost more weight!!

4) Patience is important. It took me a while to get this weight on & it's going to take me a while to get it off. I'm not only losing weight, I'm changing a life time of bad behaviors & that doesn't change overnight.

5) DRINK YOUR WATER!! I have never been a good consistent Water drinker until recently. But, I can tell a difference!! I realized that sometimes when I THOUGHT I was hungry, I was really just thirsty.

6) It's okay to eat junk once in awhile. You can't deprive yourself forever!! Friday evening is my free night & I let myself choose something fattening & sugary to eat. ONLY ONE ITEM. I eat it & it's gone. I've never gained any weight from doing this & I am satisfied. If I am tempted to eat junk during the week, I tell myself - "You can have that on Friday!

I don't like to be told NO. If I know it's something I can't have, I want it more. Knowing I can have it on Friday makes it so much easier. Which reminds me, today is Friday!! WAHOO!!!!

Thank you to everyone on here for all the great support & good information. I learn a lot from you all & consider you my friends! I can't wait to reach my next goal!!

Change your signature!!! You go girl!!! That is so awesome... You are doing great!

I am so close to 50 pounds lost I can taste it.

I am really happy for you!

Thats awesome! congrats!

Forgot to add...

you need some new pictures in those new smaller sizes!!! That is just great!

Oh wow!! Good for you girl! Yay! Big celebration day for you!

I'm so happy for your success!

I'll have hubby take pictures of me tonight & send them over!!

Congratulations!!!!!

I'm about 2 pounds away from the 50 mark, and every single one of your tips is right, in my experience...

Thanks for the postive post!

Cindy

Awww that is so wonderful Dianne, Congratulations !!! HUGS !!!!!

Size 16, I'd be thrilled too.

AWESOME, I'm so excited for you, keep up the good work.

:clap2: :whoo:

You go girl! Great job!!

Congratulations! That is an inspiring weight loss!

Congratulations on reaching your first goal! It must feel WONDERFUL, and I hope you savor every minute...you earned it!!! I read somewhere that often our body sends out the thirst message and we ignore it, and so then it sends out the hunger message but really wants Water and just wants to get our attention~

Emily

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations!!! Dianne..you listed some wonderful banster rules.

Congratulations on your weight loss! And thanks for sharing what you've learned. It's so easy to slip back into old habits. I'm slinking into the kitchen to get my water right now...

Great job Diane, What a great feeling!!!!