I loved the look of the other theme but it was lacking a couple of features that make writing more of a pleasure – specifically an edit button. This one also has a nifty thing for finding previous posts at the bottom of the page.

So welcome to the new-look site!

It’s fantastic to have everyone posting again.  Mardee, Gracie, Donna and I (Millie) have been online friends for a many years but only stepped out on this Remedial Weight Loss journey in the summer of last year.  Here’s how it started:

(OP= On Program or Plan)

Back in July 08 Mardee wrote:

Life Needs Work – a commitment to myself

You know, guys, I finally feel like I “got it!” Like sticking to a program is really, finally, unilaterally becoming an everyday part of my life. I’m sure many of you are thinking, “Well, yeah – duh!” Unfortunately, that has not been the case for me. Over the past 6 1/2 years here, most of the time I have NOT been OP every day (head down in shame). I’d be OP on Tuesday, OP on Wednesday morning and then slide, slack off on Thursday, binge on Friday, then recommit on Saturday – WEEK AFTER MONTH AFTER YEAR. It’s only been the last few months, while I’ve been struggling to maintain the weight I’ve lost, that I realized that this really IS not only a lifetime commitment, but a DAILY commitment! (Again, duh!).

It sucks to be us and to have to constantly deal with counting points, calories or whatever and always being aware of what you put in your mouth, but there it is – that’s our lot in life. And I could think of a few thousand things that are worse…

So I guess what I’m trying to say is – I’m done putzing around. This is it – this is a re-commitment TO ME that I will stay OP every minute, every hour, every day, every week. That I CAN have a wonderful life eating healthy foods that are within my daily caloric limit. That I WILL write down every BLT that goes into my mouth. That I WON’T allow myself to lapse “just for today” but will always be aware that I owe my body the very best care I can give it. In the words of Elliot Garfield in “The Goodbye Girl,” my body is a temple, and I am worshiping it.

So there it is – my commitment to myself. And it’s about damned time.

And here are some of our replies:

Donna

Is it possible to be glad for you and jealous at the same time? I cling to this group with all my might hoping that the principals behind it will sink in and become part of my own reality. I talk like I want to be disciplined and consistent in my eating, yet my actions all too often belie my words. However, I can’t leave because I hope that someday I will have the ‘aha’ moment.

Gracie

Donna, this is what is in my head & heart. I try repeatedly, but fail. I want to make this work, or so I think, but the struggle is sometimes more than I can handle. I feel like I can’t do it, but I can’t leave either. I’ve had the “aha” moment before, but it doesn’t generate enough heat to keep burning. What next?…

Millie

Thanks for this ! Talk about a wake-up call.

Mardee – You’ve said it so well. You know, while I’ve been pfaffing around, you’ve got down to very close to my current weight. Mind if I join you for the rest of the ride?

Donna – Once again you said it for me. How about giving this one more push, together?

In my professional life, I ask young people to get over a fear of failure and try with all their heart to concentrate on the task of learning to read. I know that the keys to success are:

• relationship – they have to want to come and spend intense time with me and they need to be around someone who encourages and praises for every step forward.

• accountability – they have to be reminded time and again to apply what they’ve learned rather than rely on old strategies that fail them.

• doing it despite the rest of life – I’m asking them to think about reading when their family lives are a mess, they might be in prison, they might be children with their own babies, they might live in constant fear of violence or struggle with all sorts of substance misuse. Life sucks in ways that we can hardly imagine but I still expect them to show up and work hard. (and they do – usually)

So that’s what I’m going to ask of myself:

• Come here for relationship and accountability.

• Apply what I know even though old failing ways are more comfortable.

• Work hard at it even though life isn’t always straight-forward.

• Do this for 6 weeks then I can consider my progress and think about what I want to do next.

I say this with no excitement whatsoever…….grim determination tinged with a little bit of hope.

And then we started talking and talking and doing and doing……..and now we’re here.

Welcome to Talking It Off!

I’m all right talking to myself but community is always better.  Feel free to comment on any post.  If you just want a place to keep track of how you’re doing, post your news on the Daily for that date.  Consistency not required – say something when you feel like it and when it helps you get to where you’re going.

Here are the guidelines for the site.

Please join in if:

• If you are exhausted from the process of “dieting” and would like to talk your way to a healthy, balanced and sane life with food and your body.

• If you are following a sensible program that puts value on health and doesn’t forbid any food group.

• If you are beyond the rush of dieting adrenaline and just need help putting one foot in front of the other.

• If you’re feeling like you just have to knuckle down without any “click”.

• If you’re looking for a place where slip-ups lead to plans and encouragement – absolutely no whining or excuses.

• If you can deal with NOT describing your food slip-ups in detail.  Please don’t be angry if “I ate 60 Twinkies” type comments don’t get posted.  We all know what it means to fall into a vat of calories – details aren’t necessary.

Please stay away:

• If you are sure you have the answer – the diet, the single food or the “challenge” that will motivate us to permanent weight-loss.

• If you’re feeling super fired up and ready to take on the world.  All the best, but this probably isn’t the place for you. Yet.  We’ll be here for you when the euphoria wears off.