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Doing the “head work” is so important to weight loss. We can lose but if we don’t figure out why we got fat in the first place, I believe that we’ll put it back on sooner or later. I find that most people can’t get into their heads until they’ve had some success losing and begin to understand what’s going on with them. I know that was the case for me. It’s also a little like peeling back an onion — I discover… change… grow and then discover more. Perhaps this is the mind’s way of protecting itself from TOO much self-discovery.

That’s for the food for thought. I’m NOT going to be good today. I’m going to be healthy… and normal. And then I’m going to do it again tomorrow. And maybe I can finally lose those last five pounsd that stand between me and “normal” BMI.

I understand what you mean about the knowing what to do but believing you’ll succeed??? Yep, I was there. When I hit the scales at 140kg, I think I had accepted that I’d be obese all my life. But then I watched as my sister lost 50kg+ and realised that I could do it too. Every milestone has been an eye-opening adventure for me. Like when I finally dropped below 100kg for the first time since I was 13. Relief and disbelief (I think I hopped off and on the scales 3 times to make sure it was true!) fought an almighty battle in my belly!

I still have moments of doubt that I’ll make it just like I am sometimes gripped by the absolute fear that I’ll wake up tomorrow 54kg heavier again. Logically, I know it’s not going to happen. Emotionally… yeah, still working on that.

I’ve noticed a very strange phenomenon going on in my head though. When I didn’t give any thought to the food going into my mouth, I just got bigger and bigger. Now that I’ve lost all this weight, I think about food 10x more than ever before. I think there’s a fine line between obsessing over it and being aware. I’m totally okay with keeping a food diary for the long term. After almost a lifetime of being a mindless eating machine, it’s a rather refreshing slap of reality. And of course, the benefits far far outweigh the negatives!

Belinda, – I am going to take something from your idea of fines! Tough but good and effective! Maybe a fine if our start of month weight is heavier than start of the previous month during weight/fat loss? And when at maintenance a fine for if weight is any more than 3kg over target weight or something similar. Of course waist measurement or other means can be used. A fine each time we break a non-negotiable behaviour too could be good! I will work on that!

It seems the longer we (I) have had annoying issues the more complex and probmatic they can come. I know what needs to be done, know how to do it, know it’s possible, even think I CAN do it but somehow don’t believe I WILL do it and sustain it which helps make re-starting again harder each time. The more yoyo/stop/start/time consuming and financial baggage behind us, the less confident we can become in whether we see things through! Although when on track I make great progress, feel great, invincible/unstoppable, balanced to a degree and not deprived! But then CRASH!

I’m thinking this. Imagine you are bankrupt and you get the chance to rule off and start again. I have decided to apply this to my doings regarding physique/health/fitness management. That is back to basics, not worry or analyse the past or make big plans for quite a while in the future and ignore the ‘now’. Yes, I have goals for future and targets to meet with dates in mind. But from now the focus will firstly be on the day at hand, secondly on the week at hand and to take it day and week at a time analysing progress week by week………..Drumroll starting tomorrow 16 Oct 09. I am still achieveing in my modest financial goals but need to get it all happening still.

Pip

Eating a Crunchie very methodically is a great technique. It is all part of what I call mindfull eating…. ie being fully aware of what you are doing and enjoying each mouthful rather than just pigging out and then a bit later wondering “shit did I really eat all that?”

For me what works is having a balance between what the emotional me wants to eat and what I know is good for me. I tend to take a long range view of food over a 4 week period and rather than viewing food as good or bad my motto is that it is all about balance.

Chocolate, pizza or whatever is OK in occasional moderation. No foods are forbidden – it is just a matter of finding a balance

I wrote a guest article on an Australian Nutritionist’s (Kathryn Elliot) blog site about how I eat ALL foods (OK well not Maccas etc cos I hate that type of stuff) guilt free and keep a sense of balance:

http://kathrynelliott.com.au/blog/2009/02/03/diy-food-panel

Perhaps someone might find the Food Panel I refer to a useful technique.

Cheers…..I am off too eat a delicious mango….yummo yummo

The Mars Bar is eaten in the same order. Seems I do chocolate bars like I do vegetables – in a particular order every time. Am NOT a sad, dysfunctional, anal-retentive freak!

Did I spoil your illusions??