Last week I shared with all of you my derailment - how I let life intervene, old habits slip back into my life, and found myself dealing with a weight gain.  I shared how I made the choice to get BACK ON TRACK and pulled some very useful tools from my weight loss surgery toolbox.  What I didn’t talk about was what maintenance is really all about.  I am going back a few years (7) to get to my first experiences

I had been losing weight every week for over 2 years.  Every time I jumped on the scale I could jump off with a smile.  I was working my tool, attending support group meetings, mentoring other patients, speaking at my doc’s introductory seminars and looking into plastic surgery to remove the horrible apron that hung down the front of me.  I was terrified of both the surgery and the recuperation period.  I just knew I would not be able to keep from gaining weight while recovering from my lower body lift.  It would be a couple of months before I could start swimming again and swimming laps was my “formal” exercise.  I did it though.  Once I found the right surgeon for me I pushed forward until I found myself in pre-op, already pre-sedated by the valium I had taken the night before and ready to do this reconstruction.  Had my lower body lift, went on to have arms and breasts done a year later, and with these surgeries the doc literally cut off 22 pounds and then added 2 (my implants).  Here I was, healed from plastic surgery, back in my regular routine and obviously at that place in my weight loss surgery journey called maintenance.

My size in clothes had stabilized, most folks had already seen me post plastics with my new and improved body, I was working out daily in my effort to not only retain the muscle I had built, but to add new muscle because I knew this would keep my metabolism running well and would require minimum efforts on my part to keep my weight stable.  So now what?

There were no more doctor visits every four weeks, people had stopped asking me plastic surgery questions at support group meetings, I was still speaking at seminars and mentoring other patients, but where was that outside motivation going to come from?  How would I get the JUICE I needed to continue making good choices and keeping my new healthy habits in place for the long term, that long term being the rest of my life.  I had not a single clue.  It was scary to say the least, but still I approached it with the confidence that if I got this far I certainly could keep it going.  Or did I?  I said that on the outside, but the formerly 424 pound fat girl was still feeing somewhat rejected by not being able to shop at the Big Girl’s store anymore, not feeling confident shopping in the “regular” section, but yet being ecstatic at picking clothes from the junior’s department.  Head, please catch up with body -- FAST! 

Then I decided my JUICE could come from shopping.  Uh, oh, do you see where this could go?  Fortunately I had grandkids who kept growing and needing new things so I was able to steer clear of becoming addicted to compulsive shopping - everything in moderation.  What I was doing was reaching for something new, something different, something that would keep me moving forward as I had been moving forward with my journey to health for the past few years.  What was it?  I did NOT have a clue.  If I allowed my mind to wander I remembered all of those other times I had reached a goal weight and then blew it.  That frightened me.  I was not prepared to blow it this time.  This was it!  I knew I had a tool in my surgery, and resources in my doctor’s office, my support group, and the new friends I had made who also “got it”.  There was definitely more to my life than my weight loss surgery.  It seemed such a delicate balance -- staying on course with food, water and exercise, living my life as I wanted to.  I had so much already set in routine, as habits, that I didn’t need to think about it, or did I?

What would happen if I stopped planning my meals, weighing myself regularly, having a second glass of wine, skipping the gym for a few days?  Would “it” (meaning I) all fall apart?

Over the past 7 years there have been occasions where I allowed life to intervene and made some not so great choices.  There have also been times when my choices have been right on and, in addition to weight loss and health goals I set new goals for myself in all areas of my life.  Some were short term, others long term.  Some I successfully achieved, others I am still working towards.  I reached a point where I accepted ME, who I was, who I wanted to be, and identified what it would take to get there and then asked the Universe to help me as I set new and loftier goals and planned to achieve them.  So far, I have not been disappointed.  I know, if I get in my own way, I always have my bag of tricks to fall back on.  I have developed my maintenance mentality and I am happy to share my new life and reach out for support and into my bag of tricks as I need to.  I still plan my days and my life based on goals and the journey to get to them and live each day to the fullest, grateful in the knowledge that not only Can I and Will I, but I Am!  As you approach or reach your goal, develop your MAINTENANCE MENTALITY to insure you continued success in all areas of your life.