Baby it's cold outside!

Temperature this morning when I left the house was -12.5 degrees celcius (9.5 farenheit)and it's not supposed to warm up very much. I'm much colder now with 80+ pounds less on my body but have found that after my morning workout I'm warmer for a few hours. That's good incentive to get my rear out of bed and get on with it.

I've been out to far too many lunches and dinners to count over the last couple of weeks and although I had a game plan it's been challenging sticking to it. I've had some of the best wine and food ever and although I've been eating far less than I would have during the same time last year it's more than I should be eating. I've found it far too easy to say yes to the many tempting treats and they go down so easily. I hit a new low last week (212) but am up a pound this week. I don't think I'll hit my goal of getting into the ones by Christmas but I'm going to keep working on it. I will get there, it's just a matter of time.

There has been some interesting dialogue going on in the blogosphere, much of it has not been kind to the banded. Here's the thing, we are all trying to get healthier and for most of us that involves weight loss. There are many ways to accomplish that goal and we are doing what works for us. For the majority of people who choose gastric banding it is after in-depth research and conversations with medical professionals. It is not something that is entered into lightly and it may not be the best method for everyone.

I know that after losing and gaining weight for over half my life I wanted something that would provide long term results and this is working for me. We have all been successful at losing weight, it's the keeping it off part where many of us struggle. We know the stats; it is very difficult for dieters to maintain their weight loss in the long term. Those that are able to maintain their losses are the fortunate few rather than the norm. How many of us have sworn that we would never regain after a successful diet attempt? I know that I did. The most that I lost on a diet was years ago on WW, about 55 pounds. A year later I had regained most of it, the following year I gained another 30+. I was 100% convinced when I made that vow after WW that I had this thing beat. The embarrassment of regaining plus more started the isolation. I didn't want anyone to see me and so began the self-imposed exile. I would start another diet, stick to it for a few weeks and give up. I have lost the most weight I ever have this year and I'm maintaining what I lose. This is a huge accomplishment and I know that I will reach my goal.

Long-term weight loss is hard regardless of how we do it. There is no best way and there is no prize for how quickly one loses. We need to be kind to ourselves and to each other.

Bit by bit

Weight today is 214, finally closer to 210 than 220 and getting closer to my goal of being in the one's by Christmas.

I was at a dinner party last night and wore a pair of size 14 Gap pants from their new collection. I felt great and got lots of compliments. I hadn't seen some of the friends there since the beginning of this year and they were particularly vocal about my weight loss. As I told them it wasn't overnight, I've been working on this for 10 months - we sometimes forget, me included, that it takes time.  There was lots of good food and wine, but I stuck to my plan and had protein first, a little salad and a bit of cheese. I actually said no to both dessert and wine (!) and stuck with water. Lots more dinners and luncheons to attend in the up coming six weeks, hopefully they will all go as well as this one did.

Keep calm and carry on

I started my Christmas shopping last week as I am determined to have it all done by the end of this month. It makes December so much more pleasurable. I love everything about the holidays; the carols, family and friends, the decorations, church, the food...

The food. In the past, by this time of year I would have given up on whatever diet I was on, either because the weight loss had stalled or I had gained a few pounds. I would rationalize that "it's the holidays" I can eat, drink and be merry until the new year and start again.
This is the first year in a long time that I am not going to use the holidays as an excuse to eat with abandon regardless of the consequences. It's freaking me out a bit as there are already so many meals out that I cannot decline, not to mention all the cookies, chocolate and other goodies at the grocery store. I am developing an action plan to deal with all of this, the first being that none of those treats are coming into the house until just prior to entertaining. Any leftovers will be sent away with guests. Second, I am going to stick to the cardinal rule of protein first for all of those luncheons and dinners out. My challenge will be declining dessert, I'm hoping that I'll be full enough so that I can only have a bite or two or none at all. Third, I am going to make sure that I get my workouts in, no excuses allowed.

I plan to truly enjoy the holidays this year without feeling miserable about my weight for the the first time in a decade.

What is your action plan for the holidays?

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Destination Onederland - week 2 results

Last week was a great week, until the weekend. I worked out all week, followed my eating plan and hit a new low of 215 on Friday.  I was out most of the weekend and didn't plan for meals away. I didn't eat a lot but didn't make the best choices, lots of sodium and not enough protein or water. Weight on Sunday was 217, just a blip along the way and I'm back on track. Still determined to hit onederland by Christmas or at least be pretty darned close!

Destination Onederland - Week 1 results

In my previous post I mentioned that getting back into the ones is a goal that has eluded me for over a decade. But not for long; I am determined to get there before Christmas. To that end I've buckled down.

Weight at start of "operation onederland" - 222.5 (All that grazing I mentioned a couple of posts ago resulted in a 2 pound gain)
End of week one weight - 217.5. My official weigh-in day is Sunday and it's been the same the last couple of days as well.

What I've been doing:

• Drinking 6 - 8 glasses of water
• Exercising at least 4 days a week for 30 minutes
• Keeping my calories between 1200 - 1500

If I'm hungry between meals I have a snack. usually a handful of almonds along with some greek yogurt or a luna bar or a few rice crisps with some cheese. Getting the water in really helps.

A potential stumbling block is all of the left-over Halloween candy that everyone (including me) brought to work. There are bowls and bowls of it. I know that I can't have just one, so I've bought some sugar-free mints and everytime I get the urge to have a "just a wee bit of candy" I have a mint.  Something about the minty-ness really takes away the craving for sweet.

An excerpt from my journal circa 2000

"I don't know when it happened, when I got lost or rather when I lost myself. I went for my yearly physical last Monday and according to the doctor's scale I weigh 210 pounds. When I saw the number I couldn't believe it. Part of me knew it was bad, but where, when, how? When did I give up on myself? I have lost sight of everything and I don't know how to find my way back. I do know that I have to lose this weight. I must, it cannot be good for my health and this is not me. I do take complete responsibility for gaining all of this weight, it was my doing. It is easier to keep sinking than to try and pull myself up, but no more it has to stop."
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I recently found some old journals and the above entry. When I had my first consultation for lap-band surgery, I weighed 295 pounds and at the start of my pre-op diet in January I was 292.5. It has taken me a while to find my way, but I truly believe that I have.
I weighed anywhere from 125 - 140 through most of my teens. Then things seemed to start spiraling out of control around me and I turned to food for comfort and stopped working out (I had always worked out). I gained weight very quickly; I moved from 130-something to 210 in less than  5 years. I haven't been out of the 2's since that physical in 2000.  I feel great about myself even though I weigh more than I did when I made that journal entry. It's amazing how the perspective changes. I know for some bloggers reaching the 1's has been anti-climatic, but for me it's been an elusive goal for over a decade. I finally believe and know that I will get there.