Maintenance Success!!! (so far so good!)

This last week was the 4 month maintenance anniversary of my 100lb weight loss. I have learned so much about myself / my eating habits / my mentality regarding weight loss over the last few months it makes my head spin. But, to celebrate and reward myself for 4 months successful maintenance, I finally did something I've been wanting to do for a long time. I CUT MY HAIR!!!! Not only that, but colored and highlighted too! Check out the new doo y'all -

Here it is straightened (btw, I'm w/ one of my best friends in the whole world here.. I've known this girl since I was 4 years old!!!):



Here it is curled! (taken this AM):



I am finding this to be an adventure that only parallels my weight loss journey. I am so excited to share what have learned every day with others knowing that they too can achieve permanent weight loss success just like I did. One of the other main questions that is repeatedly asked of me is about maintenance. So I wanted to share with you some things that I am learning.

Keeping the weight off is the mark of true accomplishment. By setting a structure around your personalized diet program and incorporating healthy eating habits, you can make your new slim self a permanent way of life. There will always be things around us that are tempting and desirous. When you learn how to deal with those issues before they arise you can succeed at permanent weight control. Honor your history and where you came from. Respect the fact that there will be those things that may need to be permanently omitted from your diet. For me, that includes all white breads/flours, white rice, white pasta, and refined sugars (for the staples on my diet, and now diet = WAY OF LIFE!). At the same time, THOROUGHLY ENJOY your new life and the things that you can partake in.

When you recognize that while you may not be able to have your favorite cake once a week anymore, you may find that if you set a specific occasion in which to enjoy 1 piece, and contain yourself to that 1 piece, you can find contentment and enjoyment in that moment. Learn to look forward to and anticipate those special occasions. Then, after the moment has passed, look back with delight and complete satisfaction that you DO NOT have to have more, but you can look forward to the next occasion with joy. When you approach food situations with a plan of attack already in place, you can with confidence and clarity enable yourself for success.

Know your triggers! Learn what foods are difficult for you to resist over-using and create healthier substitutes. While it may be difficult for you to resist containing yourself to just 1 cookie, you may be able to be completely satisfied with 1 small cup of Low Fat Low Carb yogurt with a sprinkle of cocoa added for a chocolate flavor or some fresh fruit. By substituting lower carb healthy alternatives you will not only feel better about yourself, but you will be content knowing that you are finally living the healthy lifestyle that you strive for.

So what am I eating now?? Well... my day consists of around 1400-1500 calories and on average 60-70g cbs which is what I am primarily watching still. I have 1-2 servings of a high fiber lower carb grain product (Ezekiel Bread, GG Scandinavian Crisp Bread, LC tortillas, Fiber One cereal, etc...) 1-2 servings of fruit (most of the time it's berries or melons because they have higher antioxidants and lower carb) or nuts, and the majority of my diet is made up though of as much of the LC green veggies I like and normal portions of lean proteins still. I still prefer egg substitute or egg whites to whole eggs. I still trim all the fat off of my meat before eating it (for the most part). I also enjoy normal portions of LC LF dairy products too; LF sour cream, LF cream cheese, LF cottage cheese, LF shredded cheeses, LC yogurts, and even the occasional LC Ice Cream (!!*gasp*!!).

You mean you can actually eat good and maintain that loss??? YEP!!! The key that I have learned is being VERY attentive to what my body is telling me. Learning that and to eat in moderation is one of the greatest things that I think I learned from my journey. The lesson that I have now been working on for the last month has been to eat "normal" without measuring and weighing everything and going by what I KNOW to be a correct portion size. As you can see from my pics.... doing good so far!!! :)

That about wraps it up for me for now! I am working on few projects that I hope to share with you all very soon... but for now... wish me luck in my endeavors! :)