I realized something last night during my surgeon's support group. It was an epiphany. Like a big brick hit me across my noggin. Yeah, I said noggin. Sometimes it takes the big bricks to get me to realize some pretty obvious things.
This "big brick" of a message was actually said by our support group leader (Hi Mark!)
Here's how it went down:
After showing the newbies my before photo of when I was a fatty and giving them my 30 second summary about how I lost 111+ lbs in 14 months....blah blah blah, I continued to carry on about how I love to on occasion enjoy a Dairy Queen Chocolate Brownie Blizzard or how last Saturday I inhaled half of a (big) bag of Maui onion potato chips.
The newbies in the room who haven't had surgery yet looked at me like I had just grown horns and was speaking in tongues.
Mark quickly interrupted me and said something like this (I'm paraphrasing) "she's in a different phase now...maintenance....she gets to play a little."
That's the big brick. I get to "play a little" now with my food choices. And do you know what? I completely agree. This is soooooo true!
Sure, I still keep an eye on my food choices and make exercise a priority just like when I was losing, but there's no way I would I would eat the "extras" that I do now when I was losing. I was a woman on a mission with some serious determination when I was losing.
So, when you see me talking about my occasional unhealthy food choices, please remember that I am in MAINTENANCE and eating foods that I NEVER ATE when I was losing. Maintenance is a little different of a game than losing, similar yet different.
I am still learning about the craziness of maintenance...it sure is an interesting place to be. I can't wait for more of you to join me and "play a little" in the land of maintenance.
PS: I saw an all time low this morning on the scale...140.1...crazy! We'll see what happens on Friday's official weigh-in.
Show off,,,LMAO
ReplyDeleteI ate occasional "treats" all the way down, in moderation just like I do now.
ReplyDeleteGee I guess I better stop with the snacks until I too get to play. Ouch I just got that brick in the noggin. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThey "looked at me like I had just grown horns and was speaking in tongues" Ha ha You were confusing the poor things. You are doing a great job and what would life be without the occasional treat? Dull, I'm telling you!
ReplyDeleteI can definitely see why they would look at you that way! I enjoy a treat every now and again, but I still have 45 pounds to goal.
ReplyDeleteGreat epiphany! Also, a good reminder that we shouldn't "play" until we are at maintenance. And I think "play" is different from making a mistake or cheating. I've read your blog from beginning to present more than once, and you weren't perfect (no one is), but you didn't allow yourself to "play."
ReplyDeleteI learn more and more from you all the time. :) Keep blogging!
I really appreciate your honesty. Both with the potato chips and flat-out reminding us how hard your worked and now that you can 'play a little'. Sounds like a good group ... my support group (thru the doc) stinks ... so I read blogs !
ReplyDeleteYou are so good and so determined, or I should say whilst you were in your losing weight phase. Probably why I can't get rid of my last 16 odd kg's. I'm 'playing' to much. Although I am not eating any differently to how I have through my whole weight loss journey. I think the big thing is I need to increase my exercise. I did some at 4.30 this morning lol. Do I get extra credit for that (I wish weight loss worked that way)
ReplyDeleteNot to say you aren't determined now btw. Sorry if that came across wrong. I just meant how determined and hard working you were to lose the weight.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I am having band amnesia. People ask me what I ate when I was losing and I can't remember! BC yes, now I eat what I want (for the most part) to maintain my goal, as long I work out. And it's hard for me to remember when I didnt used to eat so freely. Like, I vaguely remember beating myself up if I were to eat cookies or something. I need to go back and read in my blog I guess. I do remember in Chicago when I went to trader joes and bought a bag of chocolate chip cookies and didnt think much of it and some new bandsters were looking at me like "whhhhaaat?"
ReplyDeleteYep, I'm like Amanda K - I eat occasional planned treats even during the losing process. I find that I'll take a slightly slower pace if it means I can enjoy the journey a bit more. I'm so proud of you though!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Amanda on this one. Having reached my goals, there have been very few times in the last 6 months where i have flat out denied myself anything. Over the last 16 months I have learned how my body works and that I can have food that I enjoy, I just can't eat them in portions I used to. I've changed my lifestyle, not just my eating habits...it just goes to show that we are all different!
ReplyDeletePerfect point! I think that was my issue that I started eating as if I was in maintenance before I really wanted to stop losing weight. Which is why it was time for me to refocus. Great post!
ReplyDeleteHi There!
ReplyDeleteCame across your blog as I was doing some googling this morning. I have my Lap Band consult tomorrow and I dont know anyone that has one so I figured I would reach out to read people's stories. You have done AMAZING! I have only read a few of your entries but I am excited to read more!
I started a blog too:
http://crystalslapband.blogspot.com/
There isnt much there yet but I hope to have a lot to share eventually as you have!