Obesity Free Forever Blog™

Hi Everyone,

It has been many years since I was first diagnosed with GERD and Gastritis.  I’ve been off medications since I lost over 140 pounds, with the exception of an occasional dose of Maalox. 

To add routine to my healthy eating plan, I decided to try one new food a week.  Yesterday, I tried Weight Watchers mint cookie frozen dessert.  Even though I know that mint is one food us folks with GERD and Gastritis should avoid, I did it anyway. 

Not smart!!!  My symptoms of GERD and Gastritis came back within one hour of eating the delicious dessert! 

Well, we live and learn and here is my lesson.  Medical professionals tell us that mint, caffeine, fatty foods and large meals all contribute to symptoms of GERD and Gastritis.  Even if you have not experienced symptoms for sometime, like I have, these factors can still affect us.

Take care,

Georgene

Hi Everyone,

It’s been a while since I’ve written and I apologize.  A lot has happened in the past few weeks and I needed to make some important decisions.  I feel like I am back on track now.

Major decisions used to flip me upside down when I weighed 280 pounds.  In fact, I always felt a sense of hope and optimism when the new year approached.  Sure, I felt some guilt from overeating during the holidays but as the new year approached, I felt as though I had an opportunity to be successful at weight loss.

The truth is that I was practicing denial!  You know, when you tell yourself you’ll start your diet tomorrow and tomorrow never comes.  That happened to me for over 25 years.   

When I made the life changing decision to become obese free forever, I started sometime in August of 2004, the exact date escapes me.  The difference between that August day and the other thousands of days of the 25 years before it was that I had had enough!  Many refer to this as the “aha” moment.

We’ve all had an ”aha” moment when we know we are ready to abandon our old ways and try something new.  In 2004, I made my new years resolution that August and I never looked back!

Now in my 4th year of maintenance of losing over 140 pounds, my advice to others is to drop your new years diet resolution and weight loss plans and commit to taking care of yourself today.  My experience is that a diet and willpower have nothing to do with permanent weight loss. 

Rather, becoming obese free forever begins with a commitment to yourself that you will become your best friend no matter what your current weight.  This may seem counterintuitive to you as it was to me at 280 pounds.  But to commit to becoming your own best friend and to accept yourself no matter how much you weigh is the most important first step you can take on your weight loss adventure.  After all, if you cannot accept yourself “as is”, how can you expect others to?

You can read more about my weight loss adventure in http://www.amazon.com/Obesity-Free-Forever-Losing-Weight/dp/0595486843/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230687453&sr=8-7.

Take care,

Georgene