Confessions of a Lifer

It does not get any easier!

I’ve given a little thought to this post, wondering if I should attempt to air my feelings on a subject such as this, or just let it go, but sometimes, getting it "out on paper" is helpful, so here it goes.  

 I realize that everyone has their own experiences with their weight loss (or whatever type of journey you are on) but this bloggy thing is simply a way to share my experiences. These are my thoughts, opinions, and struggles.  And they are real.  If this doesn’t apply to you, then kudos to you and please tell me your secrets.

 Ok. About that whole “it doesn’t get any easier” thing.  Let me just say this.  There is a reason that Weight Watchers markets itself as a lifestyle and NOT a diet.   A diet (with the first syllable being "die") is a quick "fix" for losing weight. Sadly, what usually doesn't get "fixed" is you mindset.  You have strict rules, such as no carbs, low carbs, no sugar, high protein, no protein, etc. You have to count calories, drink only juices that taste like chalk, tree bark or cow poo.  Basically, you are the ones stuck at home crying wo is me, while others are out having fun and enjoying life. You make it so you "can't go" to any event or activity because your DIEt won't allow it. Well SIGN ME UP!!! I LOVE having zero fun and being known as a Debbie downer. Not.  

Granted, some diets can be successful, but once you hit your goal, and bring back the restricted foods, BAM! The weight comes back. Why? Because you haven't had to learn how to eat. I'm talking, regular food you find down ANY aisle from the grocery store. NOTHING is off limits with Weight Watchers because it's not a diet. It's a lifestyle.  Weight Watchers taught me to account for EVERYTHING I eat. If I bite it, I write it. If I lick it, I bic it and so on. Letting me eat whatever the heck I want turned weight loss into a maintainable lifestyle. I can have my cake and eat it too,  as long as I account for it. Life is good. Cake is good-er.

That being said, I want cake. I want cinnamon rolls. A fresh glazed donut sounds mighty fine right now. Those cravings don't suddenly disappear once you hit lifetime status. At times, I feel they are stronger. The good news is, I know that I CAN have them. I've learned that a taste is sometimes enough, and an entire donut is sometimes sooo worth it. I've also realized that I'm stronger than I think I am, and a cold glass of water, or some fresh fruit takes those cravings to a minimum and bearable. And then before I know it, (and it could be days later) I don't have that itch anymore, and how GOOD do you think it feels to come off conquering those demons? DANG GOOD! 

Am I the only one that actually finds the endless process of weight maintenance to be harder than the actual process of losing the weight?  Weight loss isn't a "one and done" type of deal. This is where shifting your mindset comes in handy. Because of the weight watcher program, I have learned and embraced my non restrictive way of eating. I have been maintaining the same weight (up and down 1-2 pounds) for 1 year and 5 months  now. It CAN be done. I am committed to live this lifestyle forever. Tough days and all. 

This post is not meant to be a downer post. In fact, I hope that it would be inspiring or motivating and reach someone that might be feeling some of my feels.   There's no magic pill. There's no fad diet that will make you magically thin, or have less cellulite, or any of that weirdness.  The magic comes from within.  It takes a lifetime of hard work, dedication and self-discipline, or I have called it in the past, "Won't power!" I WON'T go back to the days of old, and so I write about it here so on my hardest days, I can look back and say, Oh yeah. I already know what giving up feels like. Let's see what it feels like if I don't.  

The only thing that is coming to mind right now, is the Dos Equis guy....