How do you define success?

Well since I have never ever ever lost this much weight and kept it off for this long ..while eating amazing food and feeling satisfied I have to keep redefining it for myself ..because becoming complacent and putting weight back on is just a hairs breath away ....

My latest definition for success is silly and simple..I jsut took all my summer clothing out and tried it on and the same stuff that I wore last year ..fits exactly the same as it did this year....

Here my friends is a scenario that a lot of you may be familiar with ...

around April/May ..bring out the summer clothing....then panic because NOTHING FITS from allt he hearty fattening crap I ate all winter but could hid under bulky sweaters and loose jeans ....so here it is warm and sunny and I am putting on sweat shirts instead of snug Tshirts trying to pretend I am still cold...

NOT TRUE THIS YEAR ...I followed this plan to loose weight but the one thing I did this time that I have never done before ..is I continued to follow it to keep the weight off ...I read the entire book ..not just the induction phase and have really ..through trial and still making errors figured out how to eat to keep my weight level or with in 5lbs of being level...and I have done this for over a year

...OMG I still can not believe I am saying this you know!
I still had that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when I brought stuff out ..but then when it slid right on and buttoned with out a problem ...well all is right with the world ..

the reason I want you all to know this is because I am not different than anyone else here...nothing special about my food addictions ..I am sugar junky pure and simple.....I am so far from perfect it is not even funny!..however..if I can do this ..EVERYONE ELSE HERE CAN TOOOOO!!!....

I have been fat and thin so many times in my life I can not count ...but this does work I am telling you as I slide my asss into these size 4 shorts ..if you do it right and the best part of this is ..if you can commit to giving up crapfood for the rest of you life I can tell you ..it will continue to work ...

the secret for me ..was ..is ..and ever shall be ..too...(and I know some of you are so sick of hearing me preach this you could spit!!!)

eat lots of low carb, fresh wonderful foods that I mostly cook for myself.. (I do go out to eat a lot but never eat at fast food joints only where people cook for me that moment) ..I eat a HUGE variety of these fresh foods as close to where they are grown or produced as possible (but do enjoy imported food as well ...like CHEESE ) ...eating the same thing day after day is not good for you and increases your exposure to toxins ..if you eat a larger variety you also get more vits and minerals and lots of those phytos everyone wants you to have!

I eat only when I am hungry and only to the point of being content ..if I overeat it is because I was not paying attention and I do gain weight..

I count nothing but carbs and only if I feel I am slipping do I even do that anymore ...
avoiding processed foods with the exceptions of locally cured meats and fish ..those are wonderful additions!!!

I do not buy or eat anything labeled "low carb" ..no frankenfood ..no crap food .and try to avoid all prepackaged food...the cost alone when you can buy fresh foods makes no sense to me ..plus they taste awful...

I do not snack ..if I want to eat I prepare something and sit and eat ...period...if not ..no snacking
drink tons of water ..it is free ...and good for your body...no soda, no ice tea no nothing else ...except coffee but we all have our faults....then there is wine ..I love that! but it has phytos in it!

and I move my ***..I hate repetitive excessive as many of you already know but I do move ..constantly ...I never sit still for long ..even when I am on this board I am standing up running around doing stuff ...

so sorry to keep replaying this over and over again ..but damnn it you guys I am so glad to be able to be boring in that I have finally figured out how to keep my body looking and feeling so good ....and it is so wonderful to be able to share it ..in hopes you will do the same thing!!!

I love you all..you know!!!...so be confident, stick with it and thank you because this could not be done with out you

I like to reward myself well ..so today ..an new fragrance and my tattoo is going to be finished


your turn ..how do you define success and what are your tricks for keeping yourself successful?

[Jacksuncle]

You are a total inspiration, thank you for being so awesome.

[qbu]

I haven't reached my goal...yet, but I had some recent successes.

I took my son to the local dairy farm for ice cream...haven't been there all winter because it's closed. He sat down and I went to order for him. Got the order and then sat down with him. The owner looked at me and with shock said, "OH MY GOD....I didn't recognize you until just now! You look great!" Now understand, prior to Atkins, we would go to this dairy farm at least 3 times a week. The owner KNOWS us by name and she didn't recognize me! To me, that's a success.

Same thing happened yesterday. An instructional assistant that I worked with was visiting our school. Said hello to her and went to fax something. Heard her say to the secretary, "I know I know her voice, but I can't recognize her face." The secretary told her who I was and she was floored. Had to show her my old ID pic to prove who I was. Again, a success.

I'm still loosing weight, so the clothes I had last summer don't fit...they're TOO BIG! Another success!

Heidi, thank you for being such an inspiration. This board is a big part of what helps me see the success!

Thank you Tommy what a sweetie pie you are

GBU that is amazing to have someone recognize your voice and not you..that is a HUGE transformation and from what I can see in your avatar you have done an insanely remarkable job..you are a success that is for sure...

and all those baggy clothes from last summer are evidence you have done this right and succeeded!!! that is sooo awesome !!!
congratulations OOOXXX

[ValidRouge]

Well, I'm not a total success in the weight loss area....YET! However, this thread came at an opportune time because I hit my first mini-goal this morning. 218 lbs and I'm wearing size 16's comfortably now. I've officially lost 50 POUNDS!! Hooray!

I'm going today to get my hair cut and my eyebrow's waxed and feel pretty all day long. This afternoon I'm going to a truck show with my husband and stepson and I'm going to be proud of myself because I know my husband and stepson are proud to be with me and not embarassed of the fat slob I was a mere 4 months ago.

I'm going to continue to eat on this WOL because I'm enjoying my food choices and I don't miss a damn thing!

Heidi and Qbu, you guys are so inspirational and I have to thank you once again for being so supportive!

[dotsamantha]

Now you have to fix your progress in your sig Joy! Congrats on the mini goal.

Success for me so far has been the way I feel. I want to exercise and eat right, and I don't want to screw it up. When I wake up i want to do crunches... most of the time. Used to be never. Jeans that had barely fit or not at all are actually comfortable, or at least i can get them all the way up. I'm not embarassed to wear a t-shirt that might be too snug around the middle. I'm not yearning for unhealthy foods and beverages that will only set me back.
That's success for me.

Joy you look so hot from the last pic I saw of you ..you will be stopping trucks at the truck show!!! try not to cause any accidents!!!!

you are a tremendous success never doubt it ..you too Dot I a tshirt is a huge deal I work baggy crap for so long that when I finally put a T on and realized I still had a shape I was stunned...

Sometimes I go off on these tangents and I know I am very long winded!!!...this is not about me to be honest ..I usually do this it is after I read several posts where people are struggling, calling themselves "failures" or lamenting over a "cheat"....and only in the first few days of this!!! Everything takes time!!! and it takes fortitude and a good attitude about you.. if you see yourself as a failure you will fail..if you see yourself as a success they you will succeed pure and simple!

Your attitude is what drives you ..it is not vein to have the mindset that you are "hot" or "looking good" or that "you have the formula for success" strut your stuff and let folks know you are doing great in life no matter what your size
Do not wait to buy clothing until your thin..that is self defeating ..adorn yourself with things that make you feel good....buy it now and enjoy where you are today!!! Life goes buy quickly so embrace every moment!!!

if you do not have confidence in yourself and a good plan to beat an unhealthy lifestyle you will not succeed...but if you stand up straight full of love and self confidence you will find that the right attitude and a good plan equals a good out come!

it is as simple as that...being arrogant or self centered is not what this is about..feeling wonderful about the person you are and how you look and feel is very very healthy and your recipe for being successful ...

cockey and self assured ..yup ...arrogant and self centered ..never

[ValidRouge]

Sam, I sort of forgot about those types of successes! Thanks for reminding me. Those are in my opinion larger successes than reaching goal. In the beginning, those so-called "small things" aren't really so small...they are HUGE because they are such a HUGE step forward from where you started. As we get farther along in the plan, it gets sooooooooo much easier so they tend to get overlooked!!!

Heidi, I still can't rep you...and Sam I can't rep you either right now, but you BOTH deserve one from me today!

I also totally agree with not waiting until goal to make yourself feel good. I went today (in newish clothes) and I felt totally beautiful. I got some really good compliments from some of my husband's friends!!

[lawyerchick]

Success for me is remembering how far I've come and not being too hard on myself when I slip up a little. I used to eat chips and icecream DAILY. I used to NEVER work out. Now, if I miss a day working out and feel guilty, I have to remind myself how different it used to be. If I have a bit of something I shouldn't, I try to keep it to one thing, on one day, rather than triggering an "oh, I've blown it, now I can eat anything I want." It's tough, but it's about making the MENTAL change, as much as the physical, if not more.

And, success is about continuing to work toward the goal. Last week, I ran three miles for the first time EVER. Since then, I've done it two more times. I'm still reducing my body fat. I'm learning to trust myself enough in maintenance to let some carbs back into my day. Small steps forward, small steps backwards, but progress nevertheless.

Great thread, Heidi, and great posts, Everyone!

[Tired of Chub]

Originally Posted by Heidi3

Do not wait to buy clothing until your thin..that is self defeating ..adorn yourself with things that make you feel good....buy it now and enjoy where you are today!!!

Heidi, Ive had a rough few days and I needed this more then you know. Thank you my dear.