Hi don,
I've only been using this site for a week and I already feel a connection to you. You welcome everyone and help with peoples questions and concerns all the time. How have you been going with the weight loss. Have the family become more helpful?
I was interested by your question 'how long does one persist with something that seems ineffective?' They say something like 'the definition of stupidity is to keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result'.
I had been thinking only last week that it is so hard to maintain motivation and will power when the final goal seems so far away and achieving it will take a very long time and a lot of saying no. So its pretty tough to work out how to proceed. The tools we choose are critical.
This time I've started to write down food and thoughts/feelings and its helped me find lots of useful stuff about my bad habits and risk situations. These writings are now a really great tool when I start slipping off the rails.
The gastric banding may be your choice of tool. Its a big choice to make with all its risks and benefits. Are you still working toward that and the first week in December? Its a particularly unfortunate time of the year to be on such a strict diet.
I'd like to volunteer something to you.
- Firstly, If you originally thought that anyone could do this for you, with you or get you through this challenge that was your first mistake. Damn straight "you'll be doing more of this by yourself!!!", however
- You should not feel guilty for claiming credit for the results. If and when you get the weight off you should stand tall and be proud as punch of what you've achieved and the amazing life changes and improvements you'll have accomplished, not to mention the temptations you've rejected and obstacles (family christmas') you've surpassed, however:
You dont need to go into Christmas alone and without support. Aussie Christmas culture is to eat and drink to gluttonous excess. I dont have the doctor on my back telling me to stop, but I want to do it for myself and for my kids and my future. I make you this pledge,
Over Christmas whenever I am faced with an event where I am offered excessive and unhealthy food and drink I will remember your Christmas challenge and ... go without!
I offer this pledge as a tool for you. If you know you're not alone in this terrible time for weight loss and diet control you may find it helps.
On a more practicle note here's a few tips I've picked up along the way which I revisit this time every year and may be of help.
· Keep up the water to avoid over drinking alcohol & soft drinks.
· Eat a healthy meal before going out.
· Try chewing gum at parties to remove the need to nibble.
· If hosting visitors, offer a good variety of healthy foods, your guests will appreciated it too.
· Encourage guests to take left-overs home.
· Position yourself far away from the food and drinks table so you are less likely to pick.
· Stop when you are full. Don’t keep nibbling just because it is there.
· Don’t let alcohol become the reason for weight gain. Its high calorie and weakens your resolve
· Fill your plate with veggies and salad and leave only 1/4 for meat and high calorie foods.
· For dessert have fruit salad and a Slither of the best dessert available.
· Balance up the extras with exercise.
Anyway, that's enough from me. As you can see I get a bit long winded. Good luck and chat to you soon.
Jo :-)
