I think sometimes it's very easy for someone to look at what I do and how I'm maintaining my plan and get the impression that it's somehow easy for me. It isn't. I think it's also easy for someone to forget the nearly two decades of struggle near, at, or above 500 pounds... it's certainly not easy for me to forget. The failed attempts, time and time again--sabotaging myself over and over--lose, gain, lose, gain--on plan, off plan--and so on...for nearly two decades. When I started writing this blog over eight years ago, I started turning those nearly two decades into my own personal study of what worked and mostly what didn't. Suddenly, what I perceived to be a collection of worthless past failures became very valuable lessons.
The things I do each day are not for show. The logging, the accountability picture tweets, the strong connections to giving and receiving support, the writing of this blog, the production of my podcast, the planning, preparing, cooking, weighing and measuring everything, the daily prayer and meditation--these things and more are my rails of support. And without them, I can't promise you the same steady maintenance mode.
Is it all solid? Not by a long shot. The only thing that's solid is my food plan and a willingness to do the work necessary to maintain its integrity. I eat what I like and nothing I don't within the boundaries of a generous maintenance budget. And I feel like, in a way, I've earned that calorie budget--like a reward of sorts from my metabolism for getting this far and giving it what I do. The food plan has evolved, of course, but it's still been "what I like and nothing I don't" from Day 1. That's it--I have a solid food plan.
I'm lacking in every other area. Rest, exercise, spiritual--every other area needs increased attention. And I know--if I continue lacking in these other areas, it'll eventually infect the strongest areas of my personal plan.
This here thing isn't easy. It might come off that way with day after day of "hey--today was great!" But trust, I work at it each day. I focus. I learn. I take extraordinary care. I understand that this is never a given. It's never automatic. And it's never guaranteed. I start fresh each day and try to add one more to the streak.
The latest episode of Transformation Planet released tonight. Hope Williams Church is my special guest! I first met Hope and her husband Jeremy at the Today Show in New York City.
Hope Williams Church shares how she made it to almost 300 pounds, tried to lose weight in different ways, many times, plus how and why this time was different. She's lost over 150 pounds. Now, in maintenance mode, her plan requires extraordinary care each and every day--and it's a plan she loves! She's a proud member of the Today Show's JoyFit Club. Stay up to date with Hope when you follow her Facebook blog Healthy Happy Hope.
Hope has a wonderful story. I know she would totally get the first part of tonight's blog post because she also applies the same level of extraordinary care to her maintenance mode as she did while she was in weight loss mode.
Today: I maintained the integrity of my maintenance calorie budget. I remained refined sugar-free. I met my daily water goal. And I stayed well connected with great support.
I finally watched the movie I've attempted to watch twice! Sully starring Tom Hanks and directed by Clint Eastwood, was fabulous. I stayed awake through the whole thing! In honor of Hope, I enjoyed some air-popped popcorn and apple slices as my #lastfoodofday.
Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean
Food for me became a non-issue as the other areas of my life improved. I got tired of talking about food all the time, and began to get a life, a real, caring and interesting life. After twenty-three years of maintaining a healthy weight (I was well over 250 when I started my weight-loss journey), I get up in the morning, plan my food for the day and then it becomes a non-issue, giving me time to really focus on other things that are important to me. I hope that for you too, Sean.
ReplyDeleteGetting adequate rest, creating a spiritual discipline and balance in life are part of the big picture.
I do understand, Sean. Losing the weight was easier in some ways than maintenance because at least you got to weigh in and see the scale going down. But at goal weight your motivation has to come from a much deeper place and a lot of the support that was there while losing, sort of goes away when you arrive at the long awaited number. And people tend to think it is easy for you at that point. I am so aware every day that I am a bite away from a binge if I don't do certain things each day at keeps me focused. I keep everything in one day increments and keep it as simple as possible and that helps. This blog is and has been a source of great encouragement for me for years now, and I feel sure it is a lifeline for so many others. Grateful you are still keeping on, keeping on. shirley from TN
ReplyDeleteHere's to getting good sleep. Make that a priority, Make it EQUAL with food. Because lack of sleep is very connected to obesity, other diseases and health.
ReplyDeleteIt's one thing to lose a lot of weight, but it takes a discipline approach to keep well. As you know. I hope you can prioritize quickly. Karen P
Another great post Sean. I don't think this will ever get easy for me. I think food will always be a focus, because we have to spend time weighing, measuring, preparing and counting it, but that's ok too, because hopefully it will lead to other disciplines in my life. A psychologist wrote a book a few years ago titled Healthy Obsession, where he says it's a GOOD thing! Then there's Judy Collins book coming out this month, Cravings, where she writes about her addictions and how she's been weighing and measuring her food for years. Heck, I read in an interview she's been known to travel with a food scale. Sean, we're in good company!
ReplyDeletep.s. Sean, I just read that first comment. No offense to the poster, but I've been going back reading a lot of Sean's older as well as current posts. Sean, you do have a "real, caring and interesting life." Nobody needs to hope that for you. Just because we have to take extra measures regarding food doesn't mean we don't. We may not be perfect, and some days may just be awful (non-food wise), but we carry on as best we can and are not diminished by it. The days that are awful for me, like today, are still triumphs because I'm sticking to my calorie (points) intake allowed me. The rest of my life may suck today, but tomorrow will be better. That is just the way it is for ALL of us, whether we admit or not. I so respect and admire those brave and naked enough to admit it. Whew...rant over.
ReplyDelete