For Al1kou with love...

[PhotoNut]

A little bird told me that Ali is feeling rather down and discouraged about her weight. Seems she had a skinny friend in town for a couple of weeks who had a liking for junk food and didn't even comment on Ali's weight loss. This little bird also told me that Ali is cleaning out her house of the left over junk food, but she's feeling rather bad about all she ate during the two weeks. So I thought we could take a few minutes to share with our sister and cheer her up. Ali has been such an inspiration to so many and she's always there encouraging and supporting others. She needs us now. Come on folks. Surround our sister with hugs and words of wisdom and encouragement! :grouphug:

Now, Ali, let me tell you something honey. I went on a three week backslide to end all backslides! I gained 7 pounds and felt like such a screwup! I got so down on myself because I wasted so much time and did things I swore I'd never do.. I ate bread!!! OMG!! :eek:

But listen girlfriend, this is life. Noone should expect to never again splurge and eat crap foods. The good thing is, we have that little tool inside of us that we can put to use in these kinds of times. Go get a tiny fill. I did. It's made all the difference in what I can and cant eat. Take control and stop sweating the two weeks of goofing off. You know what to do now. Drink that water. Get out there and walk. Journal your eating. Before you know it, this will just be a bump in the road. Its a long journey. One we will most likely be on for the rest of our lives. But the great news is.. your success has been AMAZING and the success has not stopped.. its just going to keep getting better and better! Three months from now, you probably wont even think this past couple of weeks was a big deal at all.

Go look at your pics. Realize how far you've come. Give yourself the credit for all that hard work. Give yourself a good pep talk and lets keep on moving on together, ok?

We love ya Ali. You're doing great!!

*big hugs*
Susan

[Tricia K.]

:hug: for A1i!! Cheer up girl...you've come a long way and should be proud of what you've accomplished. Please don't ever compare yourself to someone else. This is your journey, and you're doing a fantastic job.

[Momotrips]

Aww Ali, I'm sorry your friend was insensitive. WE know you're doing a great job and it really, really shows. Get back on track - as Scarlet O'Hara said, tomorrow is another day...

[tattooedsuess]

You've always been so sweet to me and I wanted to return the favor.

You have come a long way and you have done fantastic! Keep your chin up and no worries. You will be well on your way again, especially since you've removed the leftover junk.

Keep up the great work girl and don't sweat it!!! Here's a hug for you!

[Kat817]

I'm sorry your friend was so insensitive to your weight loss. I too have a friend who refuses to acknowledge I have lost any, ironically she too is a really skinny gal. We are not in Junior High anymore, this is not a competition, we are trying to make ourselves healthy, and look good in the process...and you ARE doing just that!!!
I kinda like that if we have a reason we can have a blow out week or so, and then get back on track without a problem, thanks to these bands!!!
Don't get down...smile, remember the fun you had while y'all were together, and get back to work!!! Nothing to worry about!!!
Big hugs----all is well!!!
Kat

[Goannabanda]

Hugs to you - Ahh-liiike-yooou! (I really like you too!)

You are an inspiration to many of us band babies around here. You are doing so well, and you are so kind and caring for all of us at the same time. Now it's you turn to put your feet up and enjoy a pampering "virtual" head / foot rub and pep talk from your b2g family. Enjoy!

...Now enough pampering, as Telly would say, GET BACK TO WORK!!! (hahaha!)

[diva girl]

Hi Ali....

You never know who you touch. And although you don't know it, you've encouraged me so many times and done a lot to help everyone around here. You are just great.

And we've all been where you are. You were probably waiting for her to say something and she didn't (anyone with a sibling knows how that feels). And then you compensated by eating inappropriately. Who hasn't?

Love yourself. Be kind to yourself. You deserve the best that life has to offer.

Hugs,
Lyn

[A1ikou]

Wow, wasn't expecting all this! Thank you all so much for your comments, they mean more than you'll probably realise.
To be fair to my friend, she wasn't exactly insensitive, that implies some understanding and conscious ignoring of a situation. She just didn't see the change. I saw her last October, about 5mths before my op and so around my highest weight. I dressed up and went to the airport all expectant and apart from saying I looked 'well', nothing. When she saw my pics and knew what I'd done she was all supportive and sad she hadn't noticed.
I have 4mths until I go to the UK for my 40th birthday and so I'll just keep doing the best I can and at the same time I'll try and be a little more realisitic about -other people- and not expect too much from them. Hopefully that way I can avoid getting myself into these downs.
I got back on my treadmill today and drank my water and ate reasonably well. Need to up the protein more and find time to go back for a little fill ( had an unfill because was too tight and now am wide open). I still feel like crawling into my corner and hiding from the world right now but it'll pass and once again thanks to all of you for just being the best!

[Kathy]

No crawling in corners. Nope. Not allowed. Not for longer than it takes to take a good ole nap, anyway. Crawl out! Let the light shine!

[paula]

Alison, excuse this interuption please - but have you lost 102 pounds?
Thats what it says on your ticker. Is that right?

IF this is right, then you need to realize that your friend is a ding-dong! She must've fallen off the turnip truck, because.... duhhh - losing 102 pounds IS... -I repeat- is extremely noticable!! :nod:

[PhotoNut]

*laughs and applauds Paula's post*

*grins at Ali*

[MoOrLess]

Ali girl - hang in there -- I totally agree with the general consensus --- your weight loss journey is about YOU, not your family or friends....THEY don't matter - what you do on a daily basis to be successful with the band is all that matters - well and J of course lol --- HUGS! Tomorrow IS another day!

[A1ikou]

Hi all,
I am 'slowly' getting things back together but still slip up if things don't go my way <sigh>. Anyway, today was all in all a good day and I am amazed at something I did...
I walked!
This morning I went out on the search for some Christmas gifts and wanted something 'Greeky'. Not as easy as it sounds since the Greeks like their Christmassy things to be in English or French!?!?!?!
I walked to the shops, all along the main street and then up and down the parallel streets. By the time I decided I need a coffee, I realised I'd been walking for two hours straight. Might not be treadmill pace but I just kept going. Not looking for somewhere to sit down, not needing to stretch my back cos it was killing me and wearing new trendy boots 'cos my feet have shrunk enough to get in some!!! Then...
this afternoon I had a lesson. It finished at 6pm and so then I immediately got on my coat and headed out again. (Shops here open 8-2 and the 5-8pm). I hadn't found what I wanted in the morning so went a different route. Found what I was looking for (eventually) and then walked to husbands pharmacy and all this took me two and a half hours and I just made it in time. He was finishing off prescriptions and just about to head home. Had I been 5mins more I would have had to walk home too and think that might just have been the straw that broke the camels back :nod: . But I did it...me...who wrote not so many months ago that a 10min walk was almost beyond her abilities. Who thought things would never get better. But they do- when we try.
God knows what state my legs will be in tomorrow but for today I'm dead chuffed and just hope hubby has enough money for all the shopping I'm going to want to do from now on...

[tattooedsuess]

You go girl!!! How exciting for you!

[Kathy]

Very cool. I notice what a difference 65 makes on me, and here you are at 100 pound loss and walking ALL OVER! That's the good stuff, keep at it! Yay You!!!

[Jachut]

That IS awesome! Those are the things that really matter, the proof that you have already made a positive difference to your health and quality of life. You dont have to be anywhere near your goal weight for these kinds of victories to kick in.

102lb, wow, that DOES make a very big difference and only blind freddy wouldnt notice it. That's crazy. Keep up the hard work and your 40th is going to be triumphant.

[MoOrLess]

Way to go Ali girl! is that something Greek for me? lol........

I'm so thrilled for you - I DO remember those conversations about not being able to walk a long distance....wow! Congrats girl - I'm grinning over here!

[Kat817]

I am jealous of the thought of you walking/wandering all over there. How cool that would be, to walk through all the shops--I have always avoided travel, partly due to my size...I am getting the bug to do so now!!! The lure of foreign lands is calling!!!
Congrats to you. I'm with the others, I cannot see how anyone in their right mind could NOT notice over 100 pounds. YOU look through the before and afters, and see if you can see anyone down 100 pouns, and it not make an amazing difference. I think you will shock the hell outta them at your 40th!
Hope your legs are ready to do it again!!!
Way To Go!!! Be Proud of yourself!!!
Kat

[Stitchy]

I'm glad you are feeling better, now. You know, some folks are just clueless. Or think that your weight loss might be in their imagination and don't want to hurt your feelings if you haven't lost any. I used to get pretty pissed off when one of my friends always said I looked like I lost weight when I had actually gain 7 lbs! Come on!

Contats on all that walking. I'm finding I don't mind it so much now either. My feet don't hurt and that makes all the difference. You go girl!