Making deliberate choices at nearly 6 months post-op!

[VSGKirk 855]

[clk 3,519]

I greatly appreciate this post. I do not typically follow anyone's YouTube journey, so I doubly appreciate that you took the time to post this here.

I am a SAHM to three kids. When I structure the day (and my food) at the start of the day, I find it very easy to stay on track and eat mindfully without having stray food thoughts or temptations. When I'm unstructured and "wing it" I find that I'm more likely to make poor choices or find myself with my nose in the fridge several times a day.

When I'm flustered or bored and winding my way through the market with three fussy kids in tow, it's easier to pick up a bag of chips or a treat that I know is going to slide.

While this journey is not easy for anyone, it's especially challenging when the refrigerator and cabinets are mere steps away the entire day. I have no doubt that if I could shut myself away in my office again I'd avoid many of these hurdles! When I'm busy, I forget to eat. When it rains for days on end and I'm trapped indoors with the kids, it's a different story.

The way I stay on track maintenance is by staying accountable. This does not end with goal - it's a forever thing. I have to track my food, even if I'm sick of it after three years. I have to plan my meals at the start of the day, not once I'm already suffering from low blood sugar and craving chocolate. I have to remember that when I'm bored, I cannot eat mindlessly just because food is there.

You've had great success in a very short time. I'm sure you've also worked very hard to achieve those goals. Congrats. Thank you for a realistic post. The most important thing for anyone to remember is that none of us are perfect and many of us have a lifetime of poor habits that led to obesity. Each day we get to start anew and make better choices than we did the day before, and each day we make those healthier choices is a victory.

~Cheri

[ashelaine 383]

Cheri- thank you for writing that. I too am a SAHM with 3 kids. And we are hoping to have another next year (we have yours and mine and are hoping for an ours- gotta love blended families). It is crazy being steps away from temptation all day! This summer I made the kids a meal plan Breakfast and lunch and then we will all eat the same dinner. I also made myself a meal plan breakfast and lunch. Hope fully it will keep me in check. Thanks for writing what you wrote- it hit me square between the eyes this morning and I needed it.

[lynndtt 21]

Thanks for this video. I have not had surgery but should sometime in July or August. Have my nut appointment Wednesday then paperwork will be submitted to insurance. I have been real excited and nervous about this surgery. I was nervous just because of complications but now I'm nervous for another reason. I have just started reading the vets forums and some others and I'm so scared about maintenance now. It sounds like the beginning is pretty easy but it gets really hard when your towards goal. Even people who are eating under a 1000 calories a day. I guess your body just adjusts to whatever amount you eat. I hear people are going to try the 5:2 diet or some other diet and I think man I don't want to go down that road again. Also, so many people eat barely any carbs. I know how important the Protein is but I don't want to worry about eating a piece of fruit. I don't know I'm just worried about all the people who are struggling even though they seem to be doing everything right. I live in the northwest also and thank god we decided to put air conditioning in when we bought the house, its been sooo hot!