Tawanda

nickieluv · Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:42 pm Post subject:

Thanks for coming by my journal, Tawanda. I appreciate you taking the time to share your own struggles. It is a hard truth to hear that losing the weight doesn't magically solve all weight and eating problems. I guess if it did, no one would ever regain and have to restart a diet again. But as Lauren has said to me, it's probably more enjoyable to try to solve those problems in a smaller size outfit.

Thank you for supporting me - I know one day I will be on the maintenance side of this struggle and I hope I can have some answers for both of us when I get there. If you have any epiphanies, please share them.

SuzyQ66 · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 9:54 am Post subject:

Happy Thanksgiving T. I hope all is going well with you.

origAUgirl · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 8:07 pm Post subject: Happy Thanksgiving Tawanda!

Hope you had a good day!

Leigh

SuzyQ66 · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 4:43 pm Post subject:

Hey T...how did Thanksgiving and your weekend go? Did you do any shopping??

Tawanda · Preferred Member 60# Club Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 2919

Hi Sue, I had a nice Thanksgiving (I didn't have to cook or have a crowd at my house so little pressure on me this year). The weekend was laid back and low key. DH and I did do a tiny bit of shopping on Saturday morning, not Christmas gifts, just mundane odds and ends. Today I've been house cleaning......exciting life.

origAUgirl · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 7:25 pm Post subject: Hey T,

hey T, hope you are having a good week.

Leigh

SuzyQ66 · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 6:44 pm Post subject:

Hi T - I hope all is going well. Have you started or gotten done your Christmas shopping yet? You mentioned in an earlier post that you bought a case of the bars. How many are in a case? I didn't see the option on the MF website to buy a case. Am I missing something? The bars are really coming in handy with all the runny I have been doing lately....I was thinking I might just need a case.

smartipantz · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 9:06 pm Post subject:

Hiya T,

What a great New Years Resolution to stay below your goal weight! You can do it - you are doing so well! It's tough getting back to the traditional way of eating FOOD again. Trust me, I know... I got down to 145 a couple years ago and waaalaaaaa..... here I am again, trying to get back down to my goal weight. It creeps up pretty darn fast. The New Years Resolution will help you alot!

How's your mother and brother doing?

Keri

Tawanda · Preferred Member 60# Club Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 2919

DogMa · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 9:23 am Post subject:

I think you explained yourself just fine; I totally understand what you're saying. I'll go one step further, even. Sometimes, even better than I "want" to do something is "I GET to do it." As in, "Yay! I get to take a long walk today" or even "Yay! I get to have a bar this afternoon." It may be silly sometimes, but I try to remind myself that I'm LUCKY to be able to do this stuff.

Bummer about the jeans, but you've still accomplished a whole lot just to be in the 8's. And I have no doubt that you'll make it back into the 6's if you set your mind to it.

DutchChoc · Preferred member Joined: 01 Aug 2004 Posts: 435

Nice post, Tawanda. I think it's easy to start to panic and let things get into the "should", as though it's only with extreme pressure we can get ourselves to do something that's challenging and, let's face it, unless I'm deluded, not as much gratifying "fun" at the time. Well, the old saying is a moment on the lips and a (I forgot what here, a measure of longer time) on the hips. I guess it's time to start protecting the hips as though they are worth more than the moment of pleasure. Even better if we can find things other than the food to produce the same pleasure, I guess.

May you enjoy a very good day because you "can".

Lauren · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 11:28 am Post subject:

I LOVE that post, T.! You absolutely hit the nail on the head, and your explanation was spot on, really!

I remember that every step of the way during my weight loss process I was excited! Honestly, people would question if I felt deprived, if it was difficult, if I was annoyed that I couldn't participate in their food, whatever, and I swear that I felt like what Robin just said, it was a "YAY!" for me all the time! I felt lucky that I found MF. Lucky that I could breathe easier, that I didn't feel guilty anymore, that there was a lightness to my step. Every single time I ate an MF meal I "re"-felt that same joy that I was "choosing" and "wanting" this. And yes, attitude is nearly everything!

It gets harder in maintenance to continue that level of enthusiasm (besides it may piss off my friends, ha!), but being reminded of it just brought it right back home. I posted last week in Maintenanceland that getting accolades also serves as a reminder, but this one is really a good one!

I think you're doing great, T., but don't let the few pounds slip further. You'll beat yourself up about it. It's not that there is anything wrong (at all!) with size 8 or size 10 pants, it's that you felt your best and most proud and most excited in the size 6 ones, and you DESERVE to feel that good all the time. So don't let that go, okay?

Best to you!

Lauren

origAUgirl · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 11:30 am Post subject:

Wow Tawanda, I get it totally. i think you are right. That is definitely where I am right now, I 'want' to do it. But I've been where I 'should' lose weight many times, and you are right...that leads to nothing but rebelliousness. Love the thought! You get right one with what you 'want' to do, young lady, and I will too!

All the best,
Leigh

Tawanda · Preferred Member 60# Club Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 2919

I'm thankful that my thoughts were of some help to others. I know it wasn't rocket science , but for some reason I needed to remember that everything is so much easier when we are excited and wanting it with anticipation, excitement and willingness to work towards making it successful.

Yesterday was a wonderful day for me in regards to keeping my 'want' (and, yes, even " I get to do this!" ) attitude. I did go through a short bit of time in the afternoon where I was already 'tired' of not getting to eat whatever I wanted, LOL. All I had to do was sit for a couple minutes while I ran my earlier 'should' vs 'want' thoughts through my head along with the bonuses of 'wanting' to do this versus the drawbacks of having to do it because I 'should'. I was able to get myself excited and happy about staying on program----because I wanted to stick to program and not because I had to. I 'get' to lose my extra pounds which will allow me to, once again, wear those smaller sizes and feel light, good and proud of myself as I did many months ago.

So........today is going to be another 'good' day.......I feel it.

The graphics on this site haven't been working for me for over 24 hours. It is a bit odd to see a lot of little red 'x's everywhere.

I hope everyone has a great day with a great attitude & a lot of excitement over our good fortune in having a safe and effective way to take off our extra pounds. Whether they be 10# or 100# or more.....we have the power if we chose to get excited and keep a positive 'I am so lucky to be able to do this!' attitude.

I hope it works for you and that we can all keep that mindset.

SuzyQ66 · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 4:58 pm Post subject:

T: Boy did your posts hit home. I felt the same way when I started gaining all my weight back. It was such a burden and I tried to get back on MF but just couldn't do it. I am glad I finally fought through that and was able to get back into the MF groove. Is it easy...no...not as easy as that first time around. The weight is coming off at about the same pace but the attitude is sometimes harder to convince...'I should' should be 'I want.' Believe me, I totally get it. However, I just ignore that little bratty self inside of me...knowing in the end that this is the best program for me. Thanks for sharing. And the tip regarding the bars.