Time, Patience, Persistence, and Honesty... Sigh!

Oct 07, 2012

I will be the first to admit that surgery doesn't make everything perfect or completely better.  So much of this process is in your head -- mine seems to lead me astray from time to time.  Being honest about my portion control, eating choices, and whether I am doing all that I can do, is what will see me through this last third of my excess weight.

Facing the two year mark, I get frustrated just like everyone else.  I get it in my head I have failed.  Sometimes I feel "Why do I try, it isn't really working... Haven't I lost enough, yet?"  DON'T fall victim to the voice in your head that will lead you astray.

Having lost 2/3 of my excess weight equates to over two hundred pounds -- yes, I have lost over two hundred pounds, and still have another 1/3 to go.  Is this frustrating to me?  Sure, it is.  Do I have weak moments?  YES.  Am I proud of myself? Sometimes, well most times, but I still have to keep pushing myself.  Being stubborn is probably going to make me finally succeed!  I get made when I feel like I am not "winning" at a certain task, so that is when my stubborn or persistent nature steps in.

This is not a race - remember this!  You (and I) did not gain all this weight in a short amount of time, so consider what I did -- I will give myself 5 years to lose the weight I gained, as that is how long it took to gain it.  If I beat the 5 year goal - kudos to me!  If I do not, then I will have to re-evaluate why I haven't succeeded.

Being honest with yourself is really hard sometimes.  Sure, I can make excuses & try to believe them, but at the end of the day, I still have ME to face.  You can lie on your food journal, you can lie about your exercise, but who is that hurting? Think about that for a second.  When I want to end my laps early, I usually swim an extra 10, just to make up for my negative thoughts.  It isn't really a punishment, it is showing that I CAN DO WHAT I SET OUT TO DO, if I PERSIST.  When I do more than I set out to do in any given day, it makes me feel a little better about myself.  I like me enough to work harder to be better.

If you are getting surgery (or have gotten surgery) and expect to not have to work for your health, you probably will not succeed -- long term, that is.  Sure, the first - second year is amazing, but... Eventually, bad habits come back into play, your metabolism is too comfortable with your diet/exercise routine, and the weight starts creeping back on.  Do not let negativity cloud your journey.

On that note, Stay Positive!!!

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