Normally this is a good thing for people. In my case, I was fat in high school. In 2010, My freshman year of college I lost at least 75 pounds. I never realized how much of an effect alcohol had on my weight gain until this very moment; I mean, AFTER I wrote this title, and the first couple of sentences. I just looked at pictures of me from facebook. I maintained my low weight for about four months. I probably could have kept it off too. But I started drinking at 19. Like COLLEGE style drinking. I'm one to over eat when I drink too. That led to old eating habits even in my sobriety, and by 2014 I was back up ABOVE my high school weight by 10 pounds. Thank god it at least took me 4 years to gain it back. I still was certainly exercising and experiencing occasions of dietary self control for the first couple of years.
Early 2015 was good for me. I managed to lose 40 pounds. I wasn't where I wanted to be, but I was healthier, so to speak. But for whatever reason I stopped losing weight, and alcohol was still a thing. CICO only got me so far. I didn't change my mindset. But I actually maintained my weight of 195 for about a year. I fluctuated maybe 10 pounds or so in that time. Down to 189, up to 200-205.
I'm not exactly sure what happened this summer, but man my self control was gone. Lots of drinks, lots of food. I was an absolute slave to food. I ate when I wasn't hungry, and I ate way beyond fullness. I could eat a very filling portion of food from a restaurant, box the leftovers, bring them home, then eat them all after they had sat in the refrigerator for only a half an hour.
So here I am tonight, looking through old clothes in my closet. (I have a wonderful array from sizes Small to Extra Large. Size 32 jeans to 38.) I pulled out an old shirt from high school that I kept as a trophy originally to show how much weight I had lost. The darn thing fit me just like it did in high school. Well, I have a bit more of a muscular/ masculine frame than it did at my high school 225, but close enough.
BUT I AM NOT DISCOURAGED! I am so much more of a confident person than I used to be back then which is a wonderful thing. More important, and relevant is that I am so certain that I am going to lose the weight again! My mind is so much more healthy than it has maybe ever been. I have chosen to love myself. I have chosen to accept myself entirely, good and bad parts. I have chosen to forgive myself! I have been at it eating healthily again for 10 days or so, and I have already messed up a bit here and there. But I'm ok with that! In the past I would often have discipline for about two weeks. Then I would mess up and give up. I'd have to wait for the next round of motivation, which often took about six months and a bunch more weight to show up. Now I just forgive myself and show up willing to go at it again the next day.
And the alcohol? Well I'm still going to drink. Just not every day, and not 8 calorie dense and high alcohol IPA's a night on the weekends. Thank god I actually enjoy Miller Lite quite a bit. My friends have all cut back too quite a bit which helps on the social aspect. There's just no need at 25 to drink like we did at 21.
I finally looked into how to lift weights on a deficit, so now I can finally progress at two of my goals at the same time. I also found out that I can get my results (for now) at 1700 a day instead of my old 1200-1400 calories a day. This feels so much more sustainable.
And here's how I freed myself from the slavery of food. I actually wait until I am physically hungry to eat. I stay away from processed sugars for the most part, and I eat until I am content, and not stuffed. (Hint, this is how naturally thin people eat without even trying to count calories or anything like that.) When I didn't wait until I was hungry to eat, I ironically was always "hungry." I think there's an aspect of mindfulness when you acknowledge your actual hunger. And mindfulness is another tool I've just added. Look it up if you haven't heard of it. Basically I am thinking instead of reacting. If I'm "hungry" but not truly, I bring myself to the current moment and take a look at what I've been thinking about, and what stress is causing me to want to eat. I also try to eliminate distractions like my phone or the TV when I eat, and really take in and savor my meal.
Loooong post I know, but I just want to say how excited I am for the next year. I really am going to lose the weight. Man, i'm pumped. Reading some success stories on this subreddit have been so inspirational too. I'll just take this moment to invite anyone to join me now to start losing weight. I'm going to have a before and after post this fall, and I was thinking about how some people will look at that post and be motivated but jealous that they still have all that work ahead of them. Look at this one now for inspiration and achieve your goals at the same time as me you losers! ;)
Here's to a WONDERFUL 2017!!!
Submitted February 10, 2017 at 11:49AM by YamahaHenchman http://ift.tt/2lvHGOr loseit
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