I feel better today than I did yesterday. Sharon ( Theoslady) reminded me to pray for God's grace during this time in my life. Bess reminded that God has a way of making bad things turn out good. I know all these things and have even spoken these words to others, but it's comforting to have others speak them to me when I need to hear them. As I thought about my emotions today, I realized I wasn't running to the pantry looking for something to eat or popping a vicoden all which are available to me. Sure, I'm a little depressed today, but I seem to be handling it in a more positive way then in the past and I don't think it has anything to do with the fact I'm on a drug to help that too. I think it's because I've changed on the inside. The walk the Lord wanted to take me on was far greater than one that concerned losing a few pounds, it was more to do with changing who I was on the inside. My eating habits were an indication that there was a person who had problems, and the Lord was waiting for me to surrender to Him for the process to begin. Now, since this process has begun, I am finding out how I am reacting differently to things and am surprised if not amazed. I ask myself, is this me or someone else? I should be heading to the pantry right now saying I have the right to eat, after all I need all the comfort I can get. It's my right to comfort myself. My dog is sick. I need me to feel sorry for myself. Instead I am holding firm to my diet and saying, " Lord, I put Gambit in your hands today, give me the strength to eat right and comfort my wee little puppy." He has. The slight depression I feel right now is also lifted because I am filled with joy and tears because I know the Lord is there right by me. I realized once I lose this weight I will keep it off because the Almighty has done a work in me. I am becoming a new me. Here are some practical things that have changed me and could probably help some of you all:
1.Because I now know how to keep track of my food and thus I will always know what I am putting into my mouth. I accomplish this by putting down my food in a log and measuring out my food daily.
2. If I binge, I will keep track of my food by logging it too. This will help stop that binge and keep the calories down thus preventing me going all out and gaining tons of weight. My knowledge of weight gain tells me that I can go back on my diet the next day and get my diet right so the binge will not hurt me. If by chance that binge did hurt me, I know how to lose the weight I put on. This is where I have lost the battle before. I gave up here many a time after a battle of the binge, but not anymore.
3. I have become content on my 1330 calorie diet and that is my weight loss diet, how much more will I be on a maintenance diet! If I can live off of a weight loss diet and enjoy it, then I have truly changed my eating habits. I don't miss the way I ate before nor the masses of food. Oh occasionally I get real hungry, but those are the special times we all go through because our bodies are crying for some special nutrients. So that's ok. That's to be expected, but it's the average times I am talking about.
4. I have learned I can exercise, and I enjoy it. Now, I do not like sitting around watching TV all day like I used to. In fact in drives me crazy and I want to go to the gym. My body is beginning to respond. OK, I still have a lot of pain, but I have proven even pain patients can reduce that pain through exercise.
5. A positive attitude can change a persons ability to keep on a diet as well believe in oneself. I've been writing on this subject lately. This is still a work on progress, but I know it will have a lot to do with me keeping the weight off.
6. I have the support of the people I need behind me. Enough said.( Family)
7. I got the proper knowledge I needed this time around from all the people I needed to. There's Ann ,my dietitian,Dr. Alo, Dr.Garner, Charise( my medronics rep), plus all those class from Medtronics. Then there are the people from CalorieKing, thanks everyone. You all have educated me and encouraged me for a lifetime of success.Knowledge Is what makes you successful in this game. It doesn't take a brilliant person to count calories, but it does take perseverance and some good tools.
8. I have some good tools now to help me. Whether I stay with CK or not, I know I will need some kind of program to help me keep tabs of my calories each day. I also found some good reference books. That will help as well.
9. Recipes and food products. There are an abundant of these products now more than ever in which to help me stay on a good diet. We are living in the time of plenty and the land of great choices. How can you complain. Dieting can be exciting now.
10. I have tasted both what it is like to be heavy and what it is like to be thin, and this motivates me more than anything else. So, I have a great motivator. I like feeling healthy. That motivator is strong in me. Everyone of us has a very strong motivator to lose weight. This is mine.
I hope my list can help you find your list. I hope my confidence will become your confidence.
Have a good day and remember that tomorrow is the day of hope.
easy list summary:
1. Journal, weigh and measure
2. The plan
3. Being contentment
4. Exercise
5. Positive Attitude
6.Family support
7.Knowledge
8. Tools
9.Recipes and Products
10. Motivation