Hi there, I'm posting this in case it can help someone else in their efforts to shift that weight! I am 53 years old, 5'5" and when I started off I was at 236lb. I have a lot of weight to lose to reduce the risk of stroke which runs in my family. Even knowing I have that risk, I've found it frustratingly difficult to "stay on my diet". My healthy weight goal seemed so far away. As I've become heavier, the bar has gotten higher and higher, and the goal more distant. I know it will take about a year to get to a healthy weight. A whole YEAR! So now I'm following a tip I heard a while back, to lower the bar, to bring the goal closer. I've decided to make my "goal" to lose just a tiny ten pounds. Ten pounds is NOTHING, and now it's easy to remind myself "I can DO that!!" It was such a gloomy picture to think of having to lose 100lb. By changing my focus in this way my goal now seems less like a mountain and more like a molehill. It's changed my outlook, I've become more optimistic about reaching a manageable goal. And today, I've done it and reached my "goal"! I started at the beginning of August and now I am at 226lb, so it's been a slow, but steady progression. I haven't been entirely strict, but I feel much more confident this time that I can keep going without throwing in the towel. I'm walking a lot more now, averaging 8000 steps a day on my pedometer. I'm also drinking plenty of water, and including plenty of colour in my food choices. I'm actually eating a LOT of food, but choosing far less meat, and eating plenty of vegetables for variety, and legumes or liquid egg replacement (packaged eggwhites) for protein. I love the "Southwestern Style" variety! I also enlisted the help of a nutrition consultant who calls me on the phone one day per week, which is another thing which is helping me stay more accountable. It's a free service from my health insurance company, and it's been great. Thanks Heather! The excellent tools here on Calorie Count have been another great thing which has helped me to stay focused this time. So, today I'm on a new page, I feel cheerful about "starting off" at 226lb. My goal is just ten pounds to lose, and I can DO that! I'll post here again when I reach my goal... It shouldn't take too long!
4
