AJs Maintenance Journey Part 1

[AmandaJayne]

Welcome to a new thread.

To anyone who does not know me, a quick update.

I started LL back in August and completed Foundation, a few weeks of Development, and 12 weeks of Management as of today.

It has been an amazing, life changing and challenging time of my life and I have been sharing it with Minis on another thread.

I started LL weighing 17.13 and now weigh 10.5.

My BMI was over 40 and is now less than 24.

My body fat percentage was 49% and is now 25%.

I wore size 24's and now wear size 12's.

But an awful lot more has happened than those figures, impressive though they are.

I have started to live again, rather than merely struggle to exist.

I look forward to the future, rather than dreading the next day.

I have learned a lot about myself and why things became the way they did... and how powerful our unconscious mind is at manipulating us to do what it wants, rather than what we want.

I have learned how to fight back against the crooked thoughts which will always want me to return to the 'comfort' of food again.

I have begun to find the real me, for years hidden away and constantly suffocated by fears of rejection, failure, self-loathing. I have at last started to move on and develop self-belief, confidence, and reduce the power of the frightened child.

It's early days yet. So, to help me continue with my previous success, I will write down anything which may help to keep me on the straight and narrow. I hope that some of my posts will be encouraging for you too. I have certainly found comfort from reading other threads.

So, this thread is the start of a new journey - the journey of maintenance of the weight I have achieved. The most difficult journey of all!

I face this challenge with confidence, and this confidence is partly through the LL programme, encompassing as it does the VLCD and CBT/TA counselling, plus the structured Management programme. But a big plus goes to Minimins, of whose support and advice has been a very important factor in my continued (and continuing success). So, thank you again Mini for starting and developing and maintaining and policing (so beautifully) this very special site.

[sonkie]

Wow you are so positive and have your head in the right place, and over 7 stone gone forever.....wow how brilliant are you. Do you know how many inches you have lost ?

[slinkytobe]

AJ I bow down in front of you. We really are not worthy! LOL
I think it is FANTASTIC what you have done not only for yourself but also for this sight. Thank you so much for posting on this sight as I draw great inspiration from you!!

Well done and please keep posting!

[AmandaJayne]

Quote: "Do you know how many inches you have lost ?"

D'you know what Sonkie, I never thought of measuring myself at the beginning. It was hard enough finding out how much I weighed!

Of course, I now wish I had. If anyone is starting a diet, LL or whatever, measure yourself first!

Slinky - thanks for your comments, I couldn't have achieved it without LL and Minis!

[Wicked Witch]

Ohhh great idea for a new thread AJ. Your last one was one of my inspirations for starting LL. One week in and I already know I can loos my excess weight. It is now the prospect of maintaining my new future weight that concerns me. I shall be an avid reader.

THANKS AJ!

[Happe]

AJ you have done amazingly well. You are so positive and give us all hope for the future. Totally inspirational.

[Johnny]

Thanks AJ for not leaving us 'newbies' in the lurch! I can see that so many others have gained from your experience. I look forward to reading about your life after LL! Johnny

[AmandaJayne]

Quote: "I look forward to reading about your life after LL! Johnny "

Ah, but Johnny, I haven't left LL! I can still attend Management meetings for support at any time. I intend to still go weekly at the moment and lesson this over time to monthly, but I will still need the support for the foreseeable future, I think.

Management meetings usually consist of members who are at different stages of the M'ment programme, plus others who are maintaining long term. Often these members attend monthly or occasionally for support or advice.

[Johnny]

That's a great idea. It's the whole package that has attracted me to LL - like you I have lost weight on loads of diets but lost momentum at some stage. This does feel different and being able to get in touch with other people doing the same thing is invaluable.

I guess I should say good luck with life after foodpacks!
Johnny

[sonkie]

Have you kept a top and trousers from your bigger days, maybe if you put them on and take pics of how huge they are. Then we can all see.

[AmandaJayne]

Sadly no, Sonkie.

I think I'll have to go to a shop with a camera and 'try on' a couple of size 24's and take a picture! Or get something from a charity shop to photograph.

[gaijingirl]

Wow - well done for getting through management so successfully! I got back from Japan a couple of days ago. I think I did ok in Japan - I'm convinced I put on weight but my clothes all still fit the same so maybe I didn't. I made sure I did a lot of exercise whilst I was there which probably helped. Either way I am now back on packs to lose the last little bit of blubber.

I had a pretty major blip yesterday and the day before - having told myself I would get straight back on packs I did the absolute opposite and had a binge! Weird really as I didn't binge whilst in Japan at all! Anyway - hopefully another few days and I'll be back in ketosis so I can catch up with you at 10stone 5!!

Like you I will not be leaving LL but continuing to go to classes - I really enjoy them and they keep me real (iykwim) - my counsellor is excellent and the girls in the group have a LOT of experience. It's now really when I feel the benefit of paying all that extra money is really showing for me.

Anyway, thanks for starting another great thread!!

[AmandaJayne]

Hey Pussygirl!

Welcome Back!

I'm looking forward to hearing how you got on in Japan!

You'll soon get back on track Puss, that I'm sure of.

AJ

[gaijingirl]

Thanks AJ! I think I will get back on track too - which just goes to show how well LL works! Pre-LL I would have just assumed I'd fail! Now I know that a few blips doesn't make me a failure - nor mean that I have to go on a prolonged bender!

Your posts help enormously too though (as does this site in general!)

[Fuzzys Angel]

AJ you have done so well & been an inspiration to us all...

xxxx