Can you believe it, it's 2009! As a little history to this thread, we started it back on the old website many, many years ago and we used it as a monthly tool to post our monthly goals and report in with our success and challenges. The original thread was monitored by Jackal, who I refer to as our Queen due to her vast knowledge and experience. She's an awesome lady with lots to share, especially her own experience losing 150 pounds and becoming a certified personal trainer.

Once the website changed, we lost a lot of the group. We even lost Jackal for a while, but she returned to this site and has been reporting in periodically with her progress. Since it's no longer 2008, I thought we deserved a new thread, hence the Looking Fine in 2009. Isn't that what we all want this year, to look fine! I know I do.

Back in the day, we started a new thread monthly. We started each month with a mini-intro and then a goals list. So much has changed since the website changed and so many of those that contributed to the success of that thread are no longer here. I don't know if I can monitor the site enough to start a new thread each month, but perhaps we can make due with this one and see how far we get.

As far as the intro, I've been around these parts for many years, I think 2003 is when I signed up and I've maintained a presence for 5 years. I found it extremely beneficial to link up with others while I struggled to lose weight. I'm happy to report that I've maintained my weight for almost 4 years so far (within 10 pounds). I lost a total of 110 pounds. It was a life changer, that's for sure. I knew while on the path to weight loss it would never end once I reached my goal, and I'm here to tell you, it surely doesn't. It's a never-ending journey, filled with lots of challenges, mountains, valleys, straight paths and curves! The mind set is so different when on a maintenance program, it really tests your willpower and drive. I've found the pressure to maintain is actually harder then it was when I was losing weight. If you only lose 10 pounds, most people don't remember and don't really see the 10 pound gain. But when you lose over 100 pounds, it's like I became a walking billboard for weight loss. Oh, and it doesn't help that I've done a few magazines and newspaper articles about losing weight! Talk about pressure. Although not in the league of Oprah, I completely understand the added pressure she endures when it comes to weight loss. She has to be in front of America everyday! And all we keep asking is, has Oprah gained weight? I feel for her, the pressure must be intense. Maintenance is just that, intense. It's a new mental game.

In the process of losing weight, I found that exercise was a huge key and lucky for me, I found an activity that I enjoyed. I started running 1/2 marathons 3 1/2 years ago and currently run a 1/2 marathon a month, sometimes 2 half-marathons in the same month. When it comes to exercise, I've been very diligent. When it comes to food, well, that's a different story. I fall off every so often, pick myself back up, lose what I've gained and try and do the best I can. Above all, I've hardly missed a workout in 4 years.

Currently I am doing a weight workout routine, some yoga, a few step classes, a dance class and of course, running. I'm working on a new diet plan, which is more or less the diet plan I used to lose my weight, but it's tweaked to allow me the energy I need to do the activities I now do each day. When it comes to exercise, I have a no-bull policy. If I miss a workout, I have to make it up either later that day, double up that week or whatever it takes. I've been known to run at midnight many times just because I can't stand to miss a workout.

Well, enough of me. Tell me about you! What are your goals and challenges? I know we have lots of sub-groups that engage in specific challenges, which is great. For me personally, I always feel pressure to reach a goal by a specific date. I don't like the disappointment if I don't do it. For others, it's a huge motivator in keeping on track and staying focused. All I can tell you is, the journey and challenge does not end on the date the specific challenges ends. This thread is just a way to communicate with others walking along the same path, the path to good health. It doesn't matter if you reach it by Christmas, Valentines Day, summer or winter. All that matters is you do the best you can. You are tested everyday, not just the 6 weeks of a challenge. The old timers on this thread all had the same idea, it doesn't end, it's a journey that continues long after you've reached your goal.

I'd love to meet a few new people, learn more about you and witness your success.

So, let's share, what are your current goals?

Sherie

Hi Sherie & all to follow!

I will post my goals tomorrow when I'm not on my way to sleepy-ville. I just wanted to say how happy I am that you took the initiative to start us off in 2009. I'll be back tomorrow in full force!!

WOW Sherie,

what a wonderful post! My specific challenge is the day to day. Like you mentioned I don't do well with goals that involve losing a certain amount of weight by a certain date. For me a daily focus with the challenges of THAT day are as far as I can go. I have started a thread called JATTNE(Jenny All The Time No Excuses) where my challenge is to use all THREE components of this program(food-body-mind). When I first searched different groups I didn't find one that was intentional about using all 3 components and not just making this about getting to a certain weight. I want to dig into the manuals, TOUCHSTONES, 28 to Motivate, activity(like you I have become addicted to working out), 4 stepping, surfing the urge, etc. So on JATTNE that's where I get to do that.

I want to reach 165lbs. I haven't been there in over 20 years but I believe it's possible and very realistic for me BUT I cannot focus on that number. I want to change my LIFE and that includes my MIND, BODY, and the FOOD I choose to eat and it involves a new skill set for coping with stree and happiness without excess food.

So I guess if I had to summarize my goals:

1) Have a 'daily' focus to use all 3 components of this program and all the resources
2) by doing #1 reach 165lbs at the pace my body sees fit
3) create new ways of socializing that DONT include food(would love to get into a running club, start a book club or join a writers circle/group---problem is I travel 80% of the time so this is a tough goal but a long term one)
4) write my own book and become a life coach for others

Thanks for sharing your journey. Stories like yours really give me hope on those days when it seems really challenging. I especially like your healthy perspective that this never ends and your DE-emphasis on reaching a certain weight by a certain date. Those goals put me in 'diet' mode and not in the mindset to dig into why my behaviors aren't lining up with my stated health goals more often.


Hope

Nice to hear from you Hope. Sounds like you're doing really well and getting close to your first goal. Congrat's! You are so right in keeping the focus not on just a number on a scale or a date in the future, but to building a lifelong plan and keep yourself in check as often as possible. Using all those key elements you mentioned will keep you motivated and in the present. So often we throw this line out there that come this day, I want to be such-and-such. When stalls happen (and they do happen), that's when people give up. You have to keep the faith! I think the hardest part for most people is when the fall off the wagon, they feel so defeated they throw in the towel and later find themselves more miserable then ever. It's such a vicious cycle and I'm sure everyone here has found themselves in that cycle. There is a difference between falling and slipping. I say, you slipped off the wagon - get yourself back up asap! But when you fall off the wagon, that's a lot tougher. Don't let a slip turn into a fall!! Get right back up.

Although I've maintained my weight-loss for almost 4 years now, trust me - I've had to work at it! The hardest part is mentally! If you gain 5 pounds, you can almost let that slide. It turns into 10 pounds and it's time to figure it out! The hardest part is trying to lose those last 10 pounds so having to struggle with always working on those same 10 pounds is tough! It's a mental game.

So what you're doing will prepare you for the future. Take time to learn as much as you can now, it won't end after you reach your goal. You have to realize that for people like us, it's going to be harder to maintain. We aren't getting any younger and we have a history of being over-weight. So get all the tools you can now because you will need them for a long time to come.

Glad to hear from you, keep up on your success!

Sherie

Just wanted to say thanks again for your comments. I have struggled with this for so long but I'm determined to make this the LAST program I join. I will not rejoin Jenny Craig again because I finally realize the 'finish' line doesn't exist. You are right, with a history of weight issues that means I have a present that will always include watching this but I feel like once I get this off I will never go to a weigh in in 7 days or 14 and be up 80lbs. I think I've realized with all my slips off the wagon that I can handle fluctuations if I face them quickly and not let them build up into this 'horrible' thing in my mind. THAT's when I get into trouble when I become ashamed of a gain. I'm learning a gain is nothing to be ashamed of but more shame comes when you quit. Thanks again!

Great words all. I especially needed to hear them. Though I thought I was fine during the holidays, I weighed in Tuesday 2.8 lbs. above my goal. Sigh. I wish I had enjoyed myself more! I thought I was being really careful.

So, I'm back in the losing game again. It's harder mentally, Sherie. You're right!

Workouts are going well & journaling my food is going well too. Keep the faith & we'll all get to our goals.