11 Key Insights To My Success So Far

This morning I took time out 

and looked back on some 

of my previous posts.

Here are some of the key things

to my success so far that

I have learned throughout

this journey.

1. Giving in to temptation gives 

only a few moments of gratification, 

followed immediately by a deep sense 

of regret and worry until weigh in.

Valentines Day

Valentines Day....... A day of Love, Devotion, and CHOCOLATE!

Every year for Valentines Day the kids always get loads of chocolate.  Between friends, relatives, and their class parties, it is like Halloween all over again.  This year was no exception. 

I thought Valentines Day would be harder for me.... diet wise. I haven't eaten any sweets in 7 weeks! Nearly 2 months!! And to make matters worse, I'm on my period.  A time when I am NOTORIOUS for eating an entire bag of candy.  Mostly Hershey Nuggets. YUM! 

I didn't figure I would be able to avoid the temptation of eating just one, teeny tiny piece of candy.  Especially if caramel or peanut butter is involved..... or Toffee.  I LOVE chocolate with toffee, caramel and/or peanut butter. 

Drinking Binge

Medifast recommends getting a minimum of 64oz of water in each day.

This has always been a struggle for me.

I know that water is reported to help with weight loss and improve your skin or complexion, and I have told myself numerous times in the past that I HAVE to start drinking water..... but, I've never been a big drinker. (and I'm not talking about alcohol).



In the past I would have maybe 1 or 2 glasses of tea throughout the day, or I would open a can of Dr. Pepper, keep it in the fridge, and sip on it throughout the day. I have never liked water. My husband says I am crazy, that water has no flavor, but to me..... water has a "mineral" taste to it. In order to get any water down without gagging, it has to be ICE COLD! Even then...
I don't like it.

Since starting Medifast I have felt as if I have been on a daily drinking binge. Crystal Light Singles packets have been my hero! I add one packet to a bottled water, and thanks to Crystal Light, I have been able to get in my recommended 64oz of water each day.

Now, I add the packet to bottled water then stick it in the freezer for a little bit until it gets all slushy, then take it out and drink it. Yummy.

Yesterday I decided to up the ante. I will start getting in 96oz of water each day (which I manage to do yesterday), and see if that has any effect on my weight loss.

(Did I mention I have also kicked my Soda habit? I only drink diet soda now, and even then, not very often)

One drawback to the Crystal Light packets, however, is that each packet adds 10 calories to my daily calorie intake. I tried to make myself drink water without them, but I just couldn't do it. I still hate water....

I'd rather have the extra calories.

Week 4 -

Well..... yesterday I started Week 4 of my diet.  In 7 days I will have officially beat my record of lasting on a diet without cheating. 

I'm kinda proud of myself. 

I don't want to glamorize this program, and say it has been SOOOO easy...... but.........kind of........ It has.  I don't know if it's the program so much, as my Mind Set this time.  I am DETERMINED to take control of my life, health, and happiness.

I really like this program, because if you are addicted to food (which I obviously was) it helps break those addictions.  It really shows me what a portion size should be like.  It is teaching me not to skip meals.... to eat small meals throughout the day.  It is also forcing me to choose healthy dinners, and teaching me to like them.  I'm becoming accustomed to eating my "Lean and Green" meals, and look forward to them each day.  I can remember when dieting before, always "planning" to eat healthy meals, but after a few days, when it came time to cook something, the thought of baked chicken and green veggies DID NOT appeal to me.  So instead...... I would fix something really tasty, and of course fattening.  Now I even eat foods that I normally would have never even tried... like.... Garden Burgers and Egg Beaters! And I LIKE THEM!

This program is something that I would definitely recommend, but it is SO EXPENSIVE! If it were not for my Mother, there is absolutely NO WAY I could be on this.  I'm kind of afraid sometimes, that something might come up, and she will no longer be able to work there, thus..... no more discount.  And I know that eventually, I'll have to go off the program once I reach goal (and I WILL REACH GOAL).  But I know that it is possible to do this without Medifast.  Medifast just makes easier.  

But.... if something should happen, and I have to quit this program, I just need to remember what I have learned.  Eat 6 meals throughout the day,  5 small meals, and one larger HEALTHY meal. Pay close attention to my portion sizes, watch my condiments, and REALLY watch my carb intake. Eat lots of protein, keep an eye on calories consumed, and avoid all sugar.  Sounds complicated.....  (which is why I like this program so much.  The "premade" meals (bars, shakes, puddings, brownies, etc. make it simple). 

__________________________________

For the first time in 12 years or so, I feel HOPE.  I can see my way out of this hole I have dug myself and crawled into.  For the first time in 12 years........  

I BELIEVE IN MYSELF.

Commitment and Happiness

“There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.” - Author Unknown

I saw the above quote on a blog post today, and it really hit home.  One of the reasons why I think I have been successful so far to this weight loss program is because I am committed.  I do not accept excuses from myself anymore.

For years, I have struggled with my Weight.  I've been on diets, lifestyle changes, and times that I just didn't care enough to do anything.  I look at myself sometimes and I wonder HOW did I get here? HOW did I let myself get so out of control?

Here's How :
Next week vs. Today
I wish vs. I will
Occasionally vs. No more
Just this once  vs.  Never again
Who cares vs.  I care

I am making a commitment to myself.  I am committing that I will take control of my life.  I will get healthy.  I will wear sexy clothes.  I will play with my children.  I will no longer let anything or anyone else control my life.  I will not let anything keep me from my goal.  I will find my own happiness.  I will be more active.  I will live life to the fullest.  I will stop watching my life go by from the sidelines. I will get out there and be an active participant. 

For so long I lived my life always trying to please others.  Going above and beyond to ensure that no one was mad at me, everyone was happy.... but I never focused on my happiness.  What would make ME happy?  I'm not talking about self indulgence, but of basic necessities.  Every choice I ever made was with someone else in mind.  I never even CONSIDERED what I might want....

Did this lead to my love of good food? Was this the only thing I was doing "for myself"? Giving myself those moments of "instant gratification".   Eating larger and larger portions of what I loved because it was the only satisfaction I was getting?  ......... Maybe.

I was living my life in other's Shadows.  According to how I thought they wanted me to live.  Like a puppet on a string, I went through the motions of life at their direction.  The problem with this, is that when you live in the Shadow of someone else, you never learn how to be yourself.  I had no sense of Self Identity, and lost a sense of Self Worth in the process.  I didn't have dreams of my own, plans for my future.....  I let others make decisions for me.  In fact, I felt incapable of making decisions.  I struggled with even simple things.

When asked "Where do you want to eat?" when going to lunch with a friend, I was overwhelmed, and could never give an answer other than "I don't know" or most commonly "wherever you want to go".  When pressured to make a decision I became flustered, the only thoughts going through my head were..... "Where would they want to eat? What if they don't like Mexican? What is a safe choice? I know they like seafood, but I really don't like it. Maybe I could find something on the menu I could eat? What about Italian, do they like Italian? What if I make a bad choice, and then they feel obligated to eat there?" 

And you know what I learned? If we are not happy with ourselves, we can not make anyone else happy.  And it is not our "duty" to do so.  No matter how much we want to, we can not be responsible for anyone else's happiness.  We are all individuals, with our own thoughts, ideas, and goals,  whether we choose to acknowledge them or bury them deep within, keeping them hidden even from ourselves.  We can BRING happiness to someone else, but we can not be RESPONSIBLE for their happiness.  It is for each of us to find our own happiness.

Happiness doesn't grow on trees either.  We make our own happiness...... or misery.  We can focus on all the negative in our lives, and wallow in self pity and loathing, or we can find the things in life that bring us joy.  Things that we are passionate about, and hobbies that we really enjoy.  We can spend our free time doing things we love, or obsessing about the things we hate.  We can find all the flaws in our bodies, or we can embrace our individuality, and learn to love ourselves.  We can live our lives as we are told to, or we can live our lives as we want to.

While I still struggle at times with this, I do listen now to that little voice within and I at least take my wants into consideration when making decisions.  I can't always choose what I want, but I do acknowledge it, instead of suffocating it out.

Life is too short to live someone else's dreams.  And we only have this one life here on Earth. Why not enjoy it?