What am I willing to give up?

[LAinSEA]

Warning - this is introspective, even for me...

I just walked out of our breakroom filled with patries leftover from a sales meeting - danishes, scones, croisants - they are all there. One of my thin co-workers was in there enjoying the bounty and noticed as I used the microwave to heat up a cup of green beans for my afternoon snack and commented on how "good" I was being, that she wasn't willing to give up the opportunity for such treats being shared. Now if I was still twenty-something and thin, I might have felt the same way. But at age forty and 45 lbs over my goal weight - those sweets just didn't even seem appetising to me until she said something about it. It made me realize that I'm giving up certain things to reach my health goals - things that I will need to not want for the rest of my life if I want be thin.

Honestly, the pastries are an easy thing to pass up for me - lemon bars and brownies, I miss. I also miss french fries but can easily live without potato chips. I miss licorice - both red and black. I also miss pasta and fried rice and phad thai. Even when and if I get to goal weight, these are things that I won't be able to eat on a regular basis, even in moderation, because that is how I got to be heavy in the first place.

What else am I willing to give up? I'd start with not having three sizes of clothes in my closet. How about the "security" of being heavy? or the luxury of staying in bed for an extra hour instead of getting up and going for my brisk walk every morning. These are all things I need to be willing to give up permanently to reach and stay at my goal.

thanks for listening,
Laurie

 

[ZerasPride]

Laurie - what a wonderful and thought provoking post!

I can read the grit and determination in your post. You are going to get to goal and be able to maintain it because you get "it". "It" to me is the realization that for some of us we are just not going to be able to go back to the way we used to eat if we want to maintain our weight loss. For so long I was under the impression I could starve myself or "be good" to get to a certain weight and then I could eat whatever I wanted.

I now realize as you mentioned that there are things I will never be able to have again on a regular basis like McD's 20 piece chicken mcnuggets and double fillet of fish sandwiches, etc. I'm okay with that though because like you said, I'm giving up other things too. Positive ones like the horrible snoring that was almost driving my DH out our bedroom at night and kept waking me up so I couldn't get any rest, the size 26/28, 22/24 and now some size 20's that are too big for me, the seatbelt extender on the airplane and so many other things.

I applaud all you are doing to make your goal. I know you will do it. We will do this together!

 

[FreshTressa]

I know, totally.

That is how I justified being heavy for so long. I enjoyed eating out with my family. I enjoyed having desert. My DH never said anything, I was still fit enough to be active. In a way, my weight had zero obvious effect on my life.

Except that nagging feeling of being not good enough because of my weight, or the embarassment when I met new people.

Still, after all of my work I am not sure if it is worth it. I think the one thing that keeps me motivated is fear of diabetes and how life altering that would be. I have the signs of insulin resistance and I would much rather stop it now, than after I am taking meds and stuff.

I just hope I can find a happy balance at maintenance where I can cut back on the exercise to 3 times a week and eat occasional desserts.

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I know this is not easy.

You do get it! I am so proud of you! It is indeed a lifelong commitment of being healthy and making the choice to do what it is that our bodies need to get to or maintain health.

Don't feel as if you are missing out on anything. Feel that you have made a choice to be in control! Be happy!

It is worth it. You are worth it. We are worthy! Look for enjoyment in other things. I WISH for all of us to find happiness away from the table. I also WISH that it would be easy for all of us some day.

Keep on keepin' on.

 

[Tiggerkeeper]

Great thread! The things you are giving up are "harmful" to you. The positives are so many more than the negatives. The biggest thing is how you feel about yourself.

I am going to miss all the junk food but I am going to LOVE coming out of my cave and shopping off the rack. But best of all I am going to be proud of the "ME" I achieve...to be what I believe I should be. Does that make sense?

For me it is not a question of giving up but correcting bad behavior. Eating the things that I know are not healthy and make my body ache are bad things.

I lurk a lot these days but you all are doing a great job and deserve a pat on the back. You are an inspiration to all!

 

[nativetxn]

This was so inspirational and motivating to read. Thank you. You have made me do some thinking, too.

Katholyn

 

[kwnancy]

i can't ride in the front seats at seaworld (kracken) and IOA (hulk, deueling dragons) since the "FAT" seats are in the middle. i am willing to give them up to someone else, CAUSE the NEXT time i'm in orlando, I"M RIDING IN THE FRONT!!!!

Atkins since 2/26, 45 pounds lost and 110 to go

 

[sharoncity]

Me - I wanna dance!!!!

My husband and I went to a family wedding Sat evening. I have always LOVED to dance. But I didn't want to this past Sat because I was too self conscious. I felt that I didn't look the way I wanted to in my dress. Therefore, I was more comfortable sitting on the sidelines watching.
I'm willing to give up cake and sweets, fries and chips so that I can participate FULLY in life. I don't want to be sitting on the sidelines watching anymore!!

I WANNA DANCE!!