Weight Loss Issues–My Own Perspective

By Vicki Boster−

The issue of weight gain is a deeply sensitive and personal situation for many people, me included. Like many of you, I’ve gained and lost a ton of weight in my life.  After a while, that starts to get old~

About 2 years ago, I just happened to mention on one of my blog posts, that I had struggled for many years with my weight and was working hard to keep off the pounds that I had recently lost.  That statement set off what would turn out to be an avalanche of emails from so many of you — asking how I lost my weight, how I kept it off, asking for my personal weight loss strategies, and in general, asking for support for so many of your own weight issues.To many of you, I responded personally– but as the emails kept coming, I decided that I would post about my weight loss struggles and what was working for me. I promised to do this post — but then, I lost my nerve, because as I previously said, “this issue of  weight gain is a deeply sensitive and personal issue”. Your emails kept coming, so now — I’m here, (just a tad bit nervous,) but as promised, I will share with you my own perspectives on weight loss, how I made a weight loss plan for myself, how I made it WORK for me, and why it is STILL working for me now — after almost 8 years.

Here’s my story..About 10 years ago, I finally got to the point where I was unhappy with my appearance. I was becoming increasingly self conscious about my weight–and, painfully — someone that I greatly admire, made some callus and unkind remarks to me in reference to my weight.  Even though the statements were true, it hurt.  After some serious reflections, I decided that one way or another, I would do whatever was necessary to lose my excess weight.My goal was to lose 60 pounds — but just saying that out loud was overwhelming. To me — this was a goal that I felt I was not likely to achieve — the task seemed daunting.  So — I made a new goal for myself —-

“My weight next week will be less
than my weight today.”

~~

that’s it — that was my goal.
I taped it to the refrigerator door —
my bathroom mirror,
and wrote it on the monthly
pages of my day planner.

Like you, I have watched my friends try every fad diet out there.  Watched them all lose weight on the diets and them watch them gain it all back — because, seriously, you can not live your life on liquid diets, buying manufactured boxed diet dinners, eating only meat and proteins, cutting out all fats and carbs,—- and the list goes on and on.  I had decided that if I was going to do this — I was going to do this in such a way that I could live my life and incorporate weight loss into my everyday activities.  For me — that was Weight Watchers. Their motto is “it’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle”– and for me, that was the only way to do this and make it work.

So — I did my own version of Weight Watchers and in about 8 months, I lost that 60 pounds.  Honestly, it was easy, really it was.  I kept the weight off for about 2 years, then—- I began to get complacent.  I stopped keeping track of my foods, stopped my regular exercise routine,and — gained back almost 30 pounds.

For the next year, or so– I just buried my head under the sand and ignored my weight.  But even though I thought I was trying to watch the things I ate — I still saw myself adding on a few more pounds gradually. And then, again, I hit the wall — I thought, I cannot keep doing this.  I have to lose this weight AGAIN –– and this time I have to keep it off.  The task seemed daunting — but I knew what to do — so once again, I went back to my own version of the WW program, restarted my exercise routine, and the weight came off — more slowly this time — but it came off.  I’ve now realized that the older I get, the harder it is to lose weight, and to keep it off.  So— I’m not doing this again.  This time, I have kept my weight off for 8 years, and I am not ever going off the program.  “It’s not a diet — it’s a lifestyle.”

So– this is how I live my life now.  I will share with you the things that I do that work for me and have helped me to lose weight and to keep it off — but first — (and I have to do this!)– my disclaimer~

I am not selling a weight loss plan.
I am not advertising a weight loss plan.
I can not guarantee your success using these tips.

~

I am merely having a chat with you, my friends,
in which I am answering the questions that
you have asked me.

I am offering to you my own ideas
about weight loss,
and the strategies that work
for me.

Read more on Vicki’s blog…