FINISHING STRONG

kirstykay · **Posted:** Fri May 18, 2012 7:19 am

HI everyone! Thanks for checking in on me! I am doing just fine! I have been adjusting to my kids being home for the summer, plus the busy end-of-year activities for my youngest who is graduating from 8th grade this spring.

SO, one thing I've had to let go of is the large amounts of time I normally spend on these boards. :crybaby:

I miss checking in here everyday, but it looks like at least for now, that is going to have to be the way it is. My plan is to check in every Friday.

My week was great. I made it to they gym for my workouts each day, and I got several walks in on top of that. I was able to follow my food plan and stick to eating the way I should. I told myself that I was not going to fall into the trap of allowing everyone else's priorities become more important than mine! Kelly, thank you for pointing out that if I neglect my health and don't live to be 50, my kids, husband and mother will all have to learn to live without me!!!! That REALLY put everything into perspective for me! And, I realized that it's more me than them putting the pressure on myself of taking care of everyone! I am learning how to take care of myself and allow the people I love to have a proper place in my life.

I lost 2 pounds this week, and am motivated to keep on going! I have less than 20 pounds to lose to get to my first goal of 135! So, once I get there, I am going to see if I can lose another 10 because I think 125 would be a better weight for my 5'3" frame...But I'm sticking to my first goal for now, and I'm getting there, slowly but surely.

Hope everyone has a good week!

kkrichar · **Posted:** Fri May 18, 2012 8:07 am

Hi Kirsty!! So good to "see" you. I'm glad you're getting in your important stuff plus being a big part of your family. That sounds like this thing I've read about called, "balance." I don't really understand how it works but you seem to be getting it.

Congrats on the 2lbs!!!! Look how close you are to the 140s!!!! I haven't see 14x in my weight since, hmmm, I'm pretty sure it was winter of 1991. I was at the gym, Body Dimensions, and I weighed myself on one of those scales where you have to move the weight thingy after 150. I just made under the 150 mark and I was SO excited. Never saw that again. I've been in the 150s a couple times since then.

Anyhoo, you are awesome!

mtns · **Joined:** Mon Jun 09, 2008 12:36 pm **Posts:** 1589

Good for you for llosing the 2 lbs. !!! And good for you for sticking to the plan!!! Your heading in the right direction and I know you can do it.
Kahy

kirstykay · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 1:10 pm

Thanks Kathy! It does feel good to be losing consistently.

I wanted to copy the post from Boots journal here just to have it handy for reference. She offers a great description of how to succeed at this WOE. It's such a great post!

sksamboots wrote:

I'm reading people's journals and hearing how people are struggling

. It is so hard to watch people struggle and to know that a couple of months ago, I was right there with you. It's hard sometimes to analyze one's own behavior to see what baby steps were taken to get to almost 3 1/2 months of compliance with the program. Compliance wasn't something that happened over night, it was a succession of steps I took that all added up until one day, I looked back and realized I was finally on plan and where I needed to be. Here are some of the baby steps I took..My hope is someone may gain some insight and help them in their journey, to take that one step that may lead to longterm success...
#1) I got on program. I had been playing with fire and having high fat vegan food off and on. So I decided to follow the regular Mcdougall program and allow myself to eat anything thing and everything on program
2) I went to hear 5 speakers (look back in my journal) talk about the importance of eating this way. It was so important for me to hear from Dr. Lisle that me craving calorie dense food is normal. It helps me every time I reach for high calorie dense food. Yes it is normal, but it doesn't mean I have to have it. Wouldn't I rather have a huge salad, steamed greens, and a plate of starch instead of that one Larabara. The answer is always yes. How much bang can I get for my buck? If you are not able to hear the speakers in person, I have come to the conclusion that a person must flood their mind with this knowledge even if you think you know it and have heard it all. Something about hearing on it on a daily basis, is very powerful. There is no way I could ignore the message any longer.
3) I allowed myself to let dried fruits and nuts provide me with sweets, whenever I had a sweet tooth or needed something a little extra. I also had tofu.
4) I slowly transitioned into eating MWL. I make sure I follow the principles that Dr. Mcdougall has laid out. I eat raw veggies first, then steamed greens and my starch last. I crave this every day. I look forward to it. I can't believe I know eat vegetables for breakfast. I never thought I would see the day and used to laugh at people on this board and shake my head when I read this but it has helped calm my cravings like no other.
5) I eat the same meals Monday-Friday, same spices same everything and my taste buds crave it--I love what I eat everyday and don't tire of it. I really believe the simpler I keep it the longer I stay successfully on plan. I think so many choices can set certain people up for failure and I could be in that category myself.
5) I realize that each meal is a chance to eat something different, so just because I had something that wasn't the best for lunch, doesn't mean I have to let dinner and snack go down hill from there.
6) I'm human, I've been on this journey since 2008. I learned that each time I go off plan and come back on, the better I get. The more I learn. The healthier I am--I mean I'm eating vegetables for breakfast!!!
7) I exercised first thing in the morning. Something about exercising makes me want to make sure I use my body correctly and fuel it properly during the day.

I avoided restaurants for the most part. If I did or do go out to restaurants I call ahead or I order something I know I can have. I have ordered fruit bowls and salads while others around me have high fat SAD food. It works for me. I no longer eat for others and I can take the comments about what I'm eating, I'm used to it. It's part of my life now.

I'm sure there are many other things that can be added here. I hope someone finds these helpful. I know we are all different and these may not help at all but just maybe so. I've lost a good bit of weight since these steps have added up. My clothes are super loose on my body. I'm smaller than I have ever been. I stay away from the scale for now because we haven't had a good history together but I know things have aligned.

Keep on keepin on :nod:

Anna Green · **Posted:** Sun May 20, 2012 7:43 pm

Hey! Just stopping in to tell you how pleased I am to see you doing so well and thanks for the inspiration!

proverbs31woman · **Joined:** Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:02 pm **Posts:** 1140

Congrats on the 2-lb lose, and thanks for reposting Boots' post. Both of you are so inspiring!

kirstykay · **Posted:** Wed Jun 20, 2012 11:45 am

Hi everyone!
It's been about a month since I last posted. I miss being around here more, but that's just life right now. I sometimes have a few minutes to pop in and read journals, but haven't really had time to post much.

I'm doing well. I feel like I'm really nearing the finish line now. I decided to take a month off from weighing in just to keep myself from becomming too tied to the scale. I'll weigh in July and post what I know will be a weight loss then. I know I'm still going because I'm wearing size 10 shorts this summer and they are starting to feel loose. We'll see what the scale says later, but for now, that's enough for me.

I am still making my way through the book "THE LAST ADDICTION" and wanted to post some of the more interesting points that have been leading me on my "healing path" as the author calls it. I hope some of you can resonate with these thoughts.

"The path from addiction to healing is like a marathon in many ways. I have discovered that markers of progress on the healing path from addicition are means of encouragement at well. They have kept me going, reminding me that healing is not often instantaneous. Unlike the marrathon, the healing path from addiction is not always linear. It often includes coming back for help and hope, as much a part of the miracle as any one moment of release."

Those "markers of progress" according to Hersch are:

1. Suffering: "We have to accept suffering, but that is not the whole story. In facing the darkness that is a part of addiction, we need to believe in the Light more than we believe in darkness. We must believe in redemption as much as we believe in the pain and heartache. We know that we are on the healing path, not when suffering stops, but when in the midst of suffering, we seek those things that cannot be seen."

2. Humility: "Humility allows us to hear that every relapse or struggle is an opportunity to learn something, and then humility leads us to what we need to learn. You are on the healing path when humility does not demand that God or others fix you. Instead, humility nudges you to invite the Divine Presence or the presence of others into the midst of your struggles.

3. Other-Centeredness: "people who have been healed of a particular ailment seem to have a special gift from that point on in ministering to people with the same problem. Perhaps it is because they now have a greater faith in the area in which they themselves have directly experienced God's power. I think a further explanation is that the more we have suffered, the deeper our compassion runs for others who suffer. That compassion is felt, is active in our presence with them."

4. Self-Care: "We won't stay on the path, or be able to tell that we are on it, unless we take care of ourselves. Anthony De Mello wrote that repentance reaches fullness when we are brought to gratitude for our failures. Gratitude for an addiction that stopped me, overwhelmed me, and humbled me becomes the means by which I can truly care for myself."

5. Hope: "Hope starts walking without being sure of where we're going. Hope keeps walking when others, or our circumstances, tell us to give up. Hope prays, 'Give us this day-just today-our daily bread.' Hope simply says, 'I need help'. Hope doesn't hide from others when struggles resurface and doubts plague us, because now we take joy in knowing we don't have it all toghether and we never will!"

Anna Green · **Posted:** Thu Jun 21, 2012 11:29 am

Glad to hear how well you are doing. That gives us much hope. And thanks for sharing the book!

proverbs31woman · **Joined:** Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:02 pm **Posts:** 1140

I was missing seeing you on here. Good to know that you are doing well.

kkrichar · **Posted:** Tue Jul 31, 2012 11:40 am

I just printed the signs of progress. I plan to carry it with me. It really resonated with me today.

Can't wait to get an update from you Kirsty!

kirstykay · **Posted:** Sat Aug 04, 2012 4:50 pm

Kelly,
Great to hear from you! Congratulations on the sale of your home and purchase of a new one! Wow! I thought I was busy this summer...I've got nothing on you!!!

Well, I thought I would take a moment for a quick update here. I haven't been around the boards much at all this summer, but I have been faithfully following my McDougall eating and it has been paying off!

I am less than 10 pounds away from my goal weight, and thrilled with my progress. I'm implementing the calorie density principles and exercising 5 days/week. I'm also doing regular fun activities with my family like lots of hiking and bike riding...

Glad to see so many others doing so well here too! Kids are all home for 3 more weeks, and then I'm hoping to have more time to post more regularly.

Peace

dlee · **Posted:** Sat Aug 04, 2012 5:56 pm

kirstykay wrote:

Kelly,
Great to hear from you! Congratulations on the sale of your home and purchase of a new one! Wow! I thought I was busy this summer...I've got nothing on you!!!

Well, I thought I would take a moment for a quick update here. I haven't been around the boards much at all this summer, but I have been faithfully following my McDougall eating and it has been paying off!

I am less than 10 pounds away from my goal weight, and thrilled with my progress. I'm implementing the calorie density principles and exercising 5 days/week. I'm also doing regular fun activities with my family like lots of hiking and bike riding...

Wow that's exciting kirstykay ...you're really getting there!!!!
I need to lose about 5 more and I keep getting stuck. I'll root for both of us! take care dlee
Peace

StarchBeet · **Posted:** Sat Aug 04, 2012 6:03 pm

KirstyKay.... thank you so much for showing me the way. I've lost my focus and I'm happy to see and read that you are doing it!! You're fantastic and must feel super.

kkrichar · **Posted:** Sat Aug 04, 2012 7:09 pm

Oh mylanta, Kirsty. You look *bleeping* fantastic!! I am inspired as usual!!!! I'm with Starchbeat, thanks for showing us how it's done!!

proverbs31woman · **Joined:** Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:02 pm **Posts:** 1140

You look GOOD! Thanks for the update!

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