I have finally reached the 300 pound mark. Sounds like a lot of weight for one person to carry... after all that is 2 people right? Well, I just lost a person, because I used to be at least 3 people and part of 4th person. In 2001 I tipped the scales at 400 pounds... and when I went in to have my gastric bypass I was up to 412 pounds.

Today, August 8, 2009 I now tip the scales at 300 pounds. My next long term goal is to loose 100 more pounds. I have a system that works for me. I learned it at Weight Watchers. We have short term goals of 5% and 10% weight loss goals. You get a big star for the 5% weight loss and a key ring for the 10% goal being met. It used to be a big deal to me to get those little rewards, but not anymore. Now the actual reward I want is the weight loss. Feeling good and looking better is reward enough for me.

My next goal is to lose 5% which is 15 pounds. My personal goal is to lose those 15 pounds in 6 weeks, which is a reasonable goal. I can reach every small goal, because when I accomplish these goals they will ultimately bring me to my long term goal which is to lose the next 100 pounds.

I would like to encourage everyone who has lots of weight to lose to make small reachable goals. When you reach your small goals, they bring you closer to your long term goals. 15 pounds sounds reachable. 100 pounds sounds like a difficult goal to achieve because it takes a lot of time. I can reach 15 pounds in about a month and a half. It might take longer, but so what if it does? Tongue out

I'm still working on losing the previously gained weight from the original 140 pound loss. In the last 18 months I have lost 40 pounds. I wasn't as diligent as I am now, so I hope to not take so long to lose the next 40 to get where I was before I started gaining. Before, I was dieting, but now I am just living my life, because I made changes in my eating lifestyle. Making goals is also part of my lifestyle. I no longer pop some food item into my mouth because it tastes good. I no longer keep unhealthy food in the house. I no longer keep sugar in the house either. My family is a big iced tea drinker, so we make it with Splenda.

I have changed so much in my everyday life. When I go shopping I don't go down all the isles. I go around the perimeter of the store and pick out the things I need, and if I need something on an isle, I go down that isle and get what I need. My eyes do not fall on this, that, and the other thing to put in my cart.

Another of my changes is that I no longer just sit at the computer all day without getting up. I still do my work to get paid, but I get up and do things. I take breaks. My daughter and I like to dance around to her Boy George CDs. As a result of getting off our butts and on our feet we can see each other melting away. I don't see it so much on me, but I see it on her. My daughter says she sees me changing too. Our clothes are getting looser too.

Finally the last change is I changed how I think, which is the most important change of all. I used to think of myself as having to diet, which was self-defeating because to go on a diet implies you will go off the diet at some point to eat 'normally' again. I no longer think in those terms. I have a new 'normal' that will be with me for the rest of my life. I'm not having to starve myself. It's true, I rarely get hungry anymore, but I eat what I want.

I rarely eat bread anymore, because I have gastric problems when I eat it. Though if I want bread at one meal I can take a couple of slices out of the freezer. I just don't keep it out, because we rarely eat it anymore. When I do eat bread it is 100% whole grain. I also keep Fiber One fiber bars in the house. Those are our 'candy bars.' They are sweet, but only 140 calories. They serve two purposes. Fiber One fiber bars satisfy an occasional sweet tooth, and they also add extra fiber to the gut, which is a good thing.

I'll write again when I have something meaningful to say about my weight loss journey. It might be something I have learned from Weight Watchers, or it might be about a new milestone that has been reached. Writing about my progress, my successes and my failures is what helps to keep me focused. I would encourage everyone who has a significant amount of weight to lose to record their journey. At some time when you get discouraged you can look back to see from where you have come.

Source: My life