New attitude

I am changing my attitude.

For the past couple of years, I've had the attitude that in order to lose weight, I must NEVER put into place habits that I'm not willing to keep forever.

This philosophy came about for very good reason. Many years ago, I lost over 100 pounds by killing myself working out everyday and being extremely active and eating VERY healthy 90 percent of the time.

Once I reached my goal weight, I began to slack off on the working out and I gradually started eating more and more crap again. I never completely went back to the terrible diet I had before I lost all the weight, but just slacking off and not being as strict caused me to pack the pounds back on QUICKLY---plus about 50 EXTRA pounds.

Therefore, I created the new philosophy that to lose weight again, I would never do anything that I wasn't willing to do for the rest of my life because I never wanted to gain the weight back again (plus more), once it was lost.

That has really hurt me.

For example, when I think, "Man, I should really try to work out a couple of times a day to get this weight off." I immediately think, "Wait a minute. I don't want to work out twice a day for the rest of my life, so I shouldn't get my body used to that now. I'll just gain it all back."

Another example: I think, "I should really stop eating fast food while I'm trying to lose weight." I immediately think, "Wait a minute. I don't want to not ever eat fast food for the rest of my life. So I shouldn't start that now. I'll just gain it all back."

Therefore, it's always "okay" in my mind to eat fast food or eat junk food because I never want to completely give that up. It's never a "bad thing" in my mind, when in reality, it is a bad thing because it's too much a part of my regular eating habits right now.

I feel like I'm rambling and not making sense.

Point is--I'm changing my attitude. Watching the Biggest Loser and hearing Biggest Loser winner Danny Cahill talk---he talks about two different modes. There is "losing weight mode" and there is "maintaining mode".

It wasn't the "losing weight" mode that failed me before. I had GREAT success there!! It was the "MAINTAINING MODE" that failed me. That's what I didn't do right. I slacked off too much, too soon.

And why am I so worried about the "maintaining mode" when I am still 150 pounds overweight!!?? I need to be focused on the "losing weight mode"!

So my new attitude---do what it takes to get this freakin' weight OFF now. I'm not talking about taking pills or doing anything extreme. I'm talking about healthy eating and exercise. I'm giving myself permission to totally cut out fast food for now. I'm giving myself permission to work out several times a day for now. Do what it takes to get the weight off now.

Worry about maintaining when the time comes. Focus on losing weight.