I am probably alot like you!

I have been at war with my body since the fourth grade.  Like so many women, I have watched my body  betray me by expanding  and sagging. I look in the mirror and think “How the hell did I let this happen?” I have read dozens of weight loss books and fitness magazines. My mother and I were charter  subscribers to Shape Magazine in the  1980’s. I’ve made countless menu plans, shopping lists and workout plans, only to mercilessly berate myself when I ignore them.  I’ve been to Weight Watchers meetings, weight loss hypnosis seminars, nutritionists and personal trainers. I’ve “donated” at countless gyms.  I’ve had doctors tell me that I am going to start paying for my  dietary misbehavior sooner rather than later.  I am probably a lot like you.

I’ve learned a lot about what I should be doing to lose weight. Most of us know what we’re supposed to eat, how often we’re supposed to exercise.  But after thirty years of beating myself up for failure, I’m searching for the answers to how. The diet industry tends to focus on menu and workout planning.  Magazine articles feature titles like: “Amazing Three Week Fat Loss Diet!”  “Six Weeks to a Bikini-Ready Body!”  Why my problems are solved! I had no idea that I should be eating a grilled chicken salad for lunch and not six Oreos, a bagel and a Diet Coke!  

Well meaning friends and relatives will offer advice like “You know what you should do? You should just take a walk three times a week.”  “Drink more water.” “Eat lean meat and vegetables.”  Naturally thin people have a hard time understanding why the rest of us don’t choose to eat salmon more often than pizza.  We will have a long discussion about that on another day.

No, I am all too aware of what I SHOULD be doing. What I need is an electronic collar that will zap me when I walk into my pantry four times in an hour and grab three cookies each time.  I’ve always been looking for someone to teach me how to MAKE MYSELF do what needs to be done.  I’ve needed  advice on winning the mental part of weight loss.

If I were a smoker, I’d get the patch. If I were an alcoholic, I could go to rehab. But when we are addicted to food, it’s like being told that we’re allowed to have three small glasses of wine a day, but no more!  We have to eat, we can’t avoid it like other addictions. So that means we have to learn control. Control comes easily for some people. I’m not one of them!

For the past few months, I have slowly begun to find the advice I’ve been searching for.  My goal for this blog is to share it with you, thereby reinforcing it for myself! I also want this to be a place for idea exchanges. If you have a technique that you’ve learned to help you make the best choices, share it! I’m also planning to feature inspiring stories from real women who have lost weight the old fashioned way – through learning to change long ingrained habits.  I have two friends who have been major inspirations to me this year – look for their stories soon!