Key to My Success

Hey y'all!  During the course of my weight loss journey, I have had numerous people look to me for guidance and support.  Often I'm asked the question, "What is the secret to your success?" I wish I had a real answer for them.  But, unfortunately I really don't have the secret to my success. There is nothing magical or miraculous to help you lose weight and keep it off.

Just yesterday someone I know approached me asking for help and guidance.  This person had weight loss surgery several years ago and lost 100 pounds.  However, due to stress factors and some health issues has managed to put the majority of this weight right back on.  She was looking to me for help, and I willingly offered her the only meager advice I had at the time.

This kind of goes along with my post from yesterday, but this is what I told her:

1) Make a firm resolve and be determined you will successfully lose this weight and keep it off.

2) Do some research, decide on an eating plan and then follow through on it.  Weigh and measure everything!!  Also, I suggest you read up on portion sizes to help you figure out how much you should be eating.

3) Put everything in writing.  What you ate, how you felt, etc...

After she asked me what type of eating plan I was following, and I told her I ate no more than 1,200 calories per day. (Per my doctor's instructions.)  She asked me how I was able to count the calories in everything I ate.

Now, I know some of you out there will cringe at this, but here's the truth of the matter.  I was completely confused, and more than a little overwhelmed at the beginning of my journey.  I knew how to count calories, after all I was the self-proclaimed Queen of Dieting.  However, I knew if I was going to be successful in the beginning I had to take the easy road, so I did.  I needed convenience without the added costs of meetings or weight loss counselors.  So, I ate only pre-packaged foods when I first began my journey.

Okay, I can hear all the naysayers, and negative comments.  "But Debbie, how could you eat that junk? Those prepackaged foods are so full of sodium, preservatives, chemicals, yada, yada, yada."

 I get it and I totally agree, most prepackaged foods are not healthy.  However unhealthy those prepackaged foods are for you, which is worse, eating prepackaged foods or weighing 347 pounds?

I knew if I didn't take the "easy" way out, I was never going to successfully lose weight.  I was in effect accepting my death sentence.  Those of you who have read my blog for awhile know how extremely sick I was when I first began my journey in August 2009.  My blood pressure was totally and completely out of control.  I had high cholesterol, I was having breathing problems and gasping for air after little or no exertion.  Not to be blunt, but I will be anyway, I was also bleeding from places I ought not.  Although these last two can't kill you, they can make your life miserable.  I had been diagnosed with early signs of Macular Degeneration.  In addition, I was having major problems with my knees.

I never felt I was lazy, but I felt terrible 24/7.  I never woke up in the morning saying I felt great or even thought the day was going to be great.  It was extremely difficult for me to do the smallest of things, things we all take for granted on a daily basis. For instance, I would have to sit on the bed after showering in the morning, because I felt worn out, just from showering.  Walking up the stairs in our home just about killed me, literally.  During the last few months before my journey began I would often find myself gasping for breath.  I was hyperventilating just from the short walk up the stairs in our home.  I lost my breath from crying or getting upset, too. 

I was not only at death's door, but I had my hand on the handle, and it was turning!  I think the frequency of the breathing issues is one of the things that finally made me wake up and realize I was going to die sooner rather than later.  I didn't love myself enough to take action, but the thought of leaving behind my husband and our little boy just about ripped my heart out.  I kept thinking about how they would fare without me.....someone has to keep them in line, after all.

After carefully considering all of my options, which included talking to my doctor, reading everything I could get my hands on regarding weight loss, and talking to a local hospital about gastric bypass surgery, I put my plan in motion.

I have nothing against anyone who decides on weight loss surgery.  However, I knew it wasn't for me. For one thing, even with my health insurance we couldn't afford it.  Also, I have known several people who have successfully lost weight after having the surgery only to regain it all back.  I am an expert at losing and regaining weight and didn't see the need to pay $10,000+ to make that happen.

I knew diet pills were not the answer.  Again, nothing against those that choose that road, but they were not for me.  Been there, done that.  I lost weight as long as I took the pills, but immediately gained it all back when I stopped.

For me, I had to find a solution which took little or no effort.  I had tried Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig.  Both programs were expensive and I wasn't really happy with the food.  I was actually sick the entire three months I was on Jenny Craig.  My stomach did not agree with something in their food.

I finally decided I could make my own weight loss plan up along the same lines as Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig.  I sent my husband to the store, (You see, for years I was unable to go shopping.  I would get winded and have panic attacks in the store.  Thank goodness he is such a sweet, kind hearted man!  He still does a lot of the grocery shopping.  He says he likes it, but I actually go with him more often now!)   I told him my idea and he was happy to pick up everything to get me started.

In the beginning my diet consisted of a Weight Watcher's Smart Ones, or Lean Cuisine for breakfast.  At lunchtime, I ate another Smart Ones or Lean Cuisine, along with a non fat yogurt.  For dinner, I would eat anything as long as I knew the calorie content.  I ate lots of Smart Ones and Lean Cuisines.  I also frequently ate at Subway or any other place with the nutritional information available.

I kept a daily log of all of the food and calories I ate in the day.  I also logged all of the water I drank.  The water was a big issue for me, since for years I drank only Diet Dr Pepper or iced tea sweetened with Sweet 'N Low.  I found putting a little Crystal Light in my water to be my salvation! 

I was determined to do whatever it took to be successful!!!

After losing my first 75 pounds, I knew prepackaged food was not the permanant solution to my weight issues.  After all, I knew I wouldn't be able to eat those and only those for the rest of my life.  I knew I had to find a permanant solution, if I was going to keep the weight off successfully.

I slowly started collecting cookbooks featuring low calorie recipes with the posted nutritional information. Some of the ones I've purchased include Weight Watchers, The Biggest Loser, Cooking Light and Taste of Home.  At first I was a little intimidated to interfere with my success, and I sat pouring over them for hours on end.  Thinking about it, but not actually doing it.  I knew I had to re-teach myself how to cook in a more healthy, low calorie manner if I was going to successfully keep my weight off this time.

Eventually, I started trying one recipe at a time.  Believe it or not, some of those cookbooks have some pretty tasty dishes in them.  Even my son likes the majority of them, and he's not easy to please when it comes to food.  He's my worst critic.  He knows what he likes and how he likes it!  He's honest and will happily tell me if something didn't work for him!

I occassionally eat things even if I don't know the calorie content.  However, when I do I try to use good judgement and exercise portion control.  Who knew a half cup of cooked pasta was a serving??  Actually, that's just enough to make me mad!!  In the old days I ate a heaping plateful of cooked pasta in one sitting and had no clue what the serving size was supposed to be, and I usually went back for seconds.

Well, I hope this will help any of you still struggling, looking for the key to being successful!

Until tomorrow...have a wonderful today!