Is this what it feels like to be free???
For the first time in a VERY long time... I am not obsessing about food and calories every second of every day. I feel like a load has been lifted. I feel like I finally have control over what is going into my mouth... instead of what's going into my mouth controlling me. I feel like I am eating like a "normal" person for the first time in my life.
It took a gain of almost 40 pounds... and a whole lot of thinking and pondering and plotting... to get me to this point. I just KNEW that I had to do things differently... that I HAD to find something that would work for me for the rest of my life. And, God willing... I think I've found it.
I decided that I just can't live the rest of my life being food-obsessed. I need to focus on what I CAN eat instead of what I CAN'T eat. And that's what I've been doing for the past 2 weeks. And I feel fantastic... both physically AND emotionally.
I'm eating 3 small meals a day, plus 2 or 3 snacks. I'm drinking lots of water. I'm not counting calories, but I am being mindful of portion sizes. I'm not measuring anything except salad dressing, because over the past year I've learned how big portion sizes are for various foods. And I've just been focusing on healthy foods. I'm eating lean protein, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, whole grain breads and cereals, and lots and lots of fruits and vegetables. And, since fruits and vegetables have NEVER put a pound of excess weight on this body... I'm allowing myself to eat as many servings of fruit and vegetables per day as I want.
Freedom from food obsession, freedom from calories, freedom from diets...
And, eventually... FREEDOM FROM FAT!
I feel like a butterfly slowly making its way out of a cocoon. And some day... I'm going to fly.
24 comments:
Fly, Baby, Fly!!!!!
Absolutely! I have nave followed a "diet" because a diet implies that you're going to end it eventually (which I did, lost 100 pounds and gained 120 back. I don't count calories - it's much easier too choose to eat fish instead of steak, and fruit instead of candy. It's too time consuming to count and weigh every little thing!!! It does feel good to be free, free to enjoy what you CAN eat!!! I'm glad that that burden is lifted for you, good luck!!
Awesome, awesome, awesome! So proud of you & happy FOR you!!! I also feel that focusing on what's healthy for my body instead of what's bad for me puts me in a totally different frame of mind. Getting excited about what I'm cooking for dinner because it's so healthy is so great!
You're doing so great! A positive mindset is half the battle and it seems like you've got it. Keep up the awesome work!
Good for you!! It definitely takes a huge weight off of your shoulders when you are not obsessed with food.
Go you! That's so awesome.
I've tried counting calories several times over the past few years, and I never keep up with it. I think I do better limiting things I shouldn't eat, and watching portion size.
Fly high!
It's so great when you finally find a way to eat and lose weight that you can stick to for life. You're so right about feeling free. I've lost weight at a pace that would drive other people crazy, but even though it's taken me 2 1/2 years to lose 97 pounds, I've never felt deprived at any point. I've got 18 pounds left to lose and then I'll keep eating the way I'm eating right now for maintenance.
I'm so glad you're feeling strong and free now!
So happy for you!!! That is awesome! FLY AWAY :)
"I need to focus on what I CAN eat instead of what I CAN'T eat."
you know that's a very positive/logical way to think about eating! good for you! i'll have to give that a try myself!
You go girl!
That is why I don't get on a scale much anymore. I was obsessing about numbers and food...one thing at a time for me!
you sound so great! it seems like you have finally figured it out. i just know this is really going to make such a difference!
It is a lifestyle change, not a 'diet'. Good for you for changing your approach. Freedom is a great thing. :)
Good for you. That's my goal as well. Right now I'm in the phase of weighing, counting and journaling because it makes me more aware of what I am doing, and keeps me accountable. But my goal is to not have to do that forever. We'll see.
Wish you the best.
Good for you girl! I'm happy for ya.
I'm actually really trying to do the same thing. I went vegetarian and started running in hopes that both lifestyle changes would help get the weight off without being obsessed over how many calories I need to take in or how many points I need to eat. The scale has showed a little loss, but I know I'm losing more inches and I'm gaining more muscle from running.
Sounds very sensible to me. I am doing the same thing, but found I need to count calories. Can't trust myself just yet. Keep up the great work!!
Congrats on your weight loss!!! I'm trying to lose weight this time by watching my portion sizes also and so far it is working. You're doing GREAT!!!
for Mother's Day, my sister gave me a pair of butterfly earrings, because, she said, I have been in a cocoon for many years and have busted out to be a butterfly. She cried. So we're both butterflies!!! Big hugs to you. I've been thinking about you a lot.
hey chick, been a little while, hope everything continued well for you. Check in and let us know.
I'm glad you found something that will work for you and make you happy. I think you are on the way to success!!! You can do this!!! Fly free!!!!!!!!!!
I can confirm the problems with calorie counting - at one point of time it simply becomes to cumbersome. However, it still is worthwhile to do it for a time, simply to get an education what the nutritional and energy values of food is.
Since my calorie counting episode (which resulted in 50lb lost and gained) I have embarked on another journey - a makeover of lifestyle, with focus on food habits and exercise (would you believe). I have lost so far (after 1 year and 9 month) 126lb.
The bumps are amazing - I am plateauing from time to time and weight loss has been slow recently. Each and every time I am discovering a reason for that plateau - e.g., recently I realized while I am eating healthily (lean protein, veg etc) the simple fact that at dinner the wok was placed in the middle of the table caused me to overeat.
It took me 21month of weight loss to discover this simple fact!
Of cause the remedy is easy and simple - I am confident weight loss will speed up to about 2lb per week again (about 50-60lb more to go).
What I learned so far is that my eating disorder was not caused by one single problem (e.g., eating to much snacks), but by a whole variety of different issue - and each one of them needs to be identified and tackled.
Resolving one or some of them provides some results, and one literally get stuck somewhere along the way.
The consequence (for me at least) is that diets or habit changes only addressing one issue don't work or only work up to a certain point.
My speculation is that these diets and life style changes work well for people with only a moderate amount of weight to lose (where indeed the one cause addressed by the diet my be responsible for most of it), but not for people like me who have a large amount of weight to lose - our weight issue is caused by multiple behavior issues.
This may warrant to write a new diet book (once I am through with this). I am interested to learn from your experience as well - I am sure you will be seeing plateaus as well - don't be discouraged!
Hope you are alright. HAven't heard from you in a while!
That sounds awesome! Go you! :o)
So, its been two weeks since your last post. Are you doing okay??
That sounds perfectly sensible and reasonable! Good for you!
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