Any other 55+ and 100 lb+ folks?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-25-2007
Any other 55+ and 100 lb+ folks?
15
Sun, 02-25-2007 - 3:47pm
Hi
I'm Sharon. I'm 59 yo and initially had about 180 pounds of fat to lose. I was wondering if there are any other oldies (but goodies) out there in reformed eating land with as much fat as I have to lose. A little about myself, I started my new eating program on 1/15/07 (330.2 lbs) and as of 2/19/07(304.2) had lost (hopefully not to be found) 26 pounds. I got fat by eating too much (large portions), eating sweets (I'm a sweetaholic), and no exercise. I am a successful weight loss professional. A professional because I have been losing weight practically all my life and know most every reason for being fat and have probably used them all. Additionally, I feel like I am certified in weight loss because I have lost hundreds of pounds over the last 40 years so I do know what it takes to take off pounds (sensibly or otherwise). However, until recently I never knew why I always put the fat back on and then a little extra for good measure. Oh, don't get me wrong, you can't have reached my age (plus being a female we analyze everything we do) without having some idea of why I am fat. It's the fatty story of pain alleviated with seeking comfort/protection in food. But none of our stories are alike, they are all truly unique, rather the common thread which connects all fatties is our perception of the helpful nature of food. When I reach my goal of 150 healthy pounds, I'll tell you my story. Now that I've provided my credentials, I'll let you know why I will reach my goal and stay there. I'm not giving up. I have never-ever stayed on a diet (i.e. eating, program to lose weight) to the very end. I've come close, but lost focus and zoom-zoom the pounds returned. I never got into the behavior modfication. My goals at different times in my life were sufficient to get me near my goal but not get me there and make me stay. I remember my husband and I were going to vacation in Las Vegas and I didn't fit in an airplane seat. I was so worried that our travel agent would book us through Southwest Airlines (where I had read they had kicked a woman off because she was too fat) that I lost 50+ pounds (went from 304 to 252) so I could sit in an airplane seat. Mission accomplished, I zoom-zoom put the weight back on when we returned and additional pounds (see starting weight). That's pretty much been my motis operandus (MO), lose weight for an event or an occasion and then put it back on. This time, I'm losing weight to be healthy for the rest of my life. I know that obese people develop diabetes and I know what can happen. I simply don't want to lose my vision one day (I love to read), because I felt a piece of chocolate cake was as valuable as my eyesight. So, any oldies out there who want to track their success with me. It's a long journey from 330.2 pounds to 150 pounds. I follow my eating program - one-day-at-time. I can do anything for one day. I set mini-goals so I can have lots of little successes along the way. It's always nice to hear other people's thoughts and successes.

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-25-2007
Tue, 02-27-2007 - 7:32pm
Yes, I am very focused on getting healthy. Of course, the key to getting rid of the fat is staying focused! Easy when you have only been at it for 6 weeks, I am striving to keep it up until I reach my goal. I refuse to look at the time involved to reach my goal (150 healthy pounds), that can be overwhelming, so I just concentrate on one-day-at-time. Keeping it off will require a lot of effort at changing my behavior... I've started walking as a form of exercise. Actually, on my walk today I saw 3 baby gators and their mother, a 2 foot juvenile gator, and 2 big gators. In Florida, if there is standing water there is probably an alligator in it (ha). I'm on the Medi-Weight Loss plan. It works for me. Actually, I don't recall ever being on an eating program where I lost so consistently. Even during those weeks when I didn't walk (hurt my knee), I still lost 3+ pounds a week. The big problem with the plan is all the liquids you have to drink. I sometimes think I will float away. My girlfriend is on South Beach and seems to do okay without anyone monitoring her. Me, I need to be held accountable for my eating. I am much too forgiving of myself and going it alone with out someone saying, "Hop on the scale and let's see how you did" is just another way for me to get off track. I think I am a people pleaser so when I drop the pounds the nurse is ooing and awing and is down right pleased with me. I like having my own private cheerleader (who isn't related to me). Well, got run. Thanks for the support, it is very appreciated.
Sharon
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-25-2007
Tue, 02-27-2007 - 7:57pm
I agree. Keeping the fat off is all about changing my behavior. Right now, though, I am just focused on getting the fat off. I've always thought rapid weight loss was worthless because I wouldn't change my behavior that made me fat. But then I never completed a eating program because I was faced with such a long time frame and the weight drop from week to week (after the initial first few weeks) was so small (1 or 1/2 pound). I would get very discouraged. I WANTED, NO I NEEDED TO SEE A DIFFERENCE. So it didn't make sense to me to continue on a journey that I would never complete and the mirror and the scale told me all my effort was not making an impact. So why set myself up for failure. I thought about a lap band, but the idea that I needed a mechanical device to control my eating was too unsettling. So, I've gone with a physician supervised rapid weight loss program. I still can't believe that I've lost 30 pounds in 6 weeks. I never-ever did that before. I've begun to incorporate exercise into my life. Granted, only walking but hey, I didn't do that before. So, the little behavior changes I am making are all about exercise. I enjoy the walks and I feel like it contributes to my weight loss. The big eating behavior changes will come when I go into the maintenance program. How rapid is rapid? I don't really know. I am always surprised to see 3 or more pounds drop a week. The weekly weight drop motivates me to stay focused on getting the fat off. I think we are all so different and special and unique. Whatever program/process gets us to where we need to be is what we should do and the support we get from others in the same boat really helps.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-25-2007
Mon, 03-05-2007 - 7:38pm
Weigh-in Monday. I lost another 3 pounds. I am so happy. In 7 weeks I have lost 10% of my body weight. Who would've thunk it! The amount of water I have to drink still makes me nauseous, but that's small price to pay for losing 33 pounds. Also, the bonus to the nausea is I'm not hungry. Hope everyone else is having a good week. Remember, small goals allow us to be successful and give us the boost we need to stay focused.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2006
Tue, 03-06-2007 - 4:42am

That's awesome news Sharon!! CONGRATULATIONS!!


You know you should consider giving yourself a nice reward for this milestone

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting




Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2006
Tue, 03-06-2007 - 9:28am
CONGRATS

image

 

Angela

image

Pages