Comments on: What have you gained?

By: Cintia

Cintia — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:41:13 +0000

I have gained a more abundant life. I thought I enjoyed life and living before taking a healthy approach to it. Life is much better and beautiful now, thank God!

By: Christie

Christie — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:40:11 +0000

I’ve gained so much knowledge — I know know that my hunger is not an emergency. I’ve learned how to have a healthy relationship with food. I’ve learned that there are more important things in life than going with the crowd and eating bad stuff all the time.

By: Brianne

Brianne — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:38:37 +0000

I’ve only been doing WW for 4 days, but already, I see my husband and myself drawing closer as we reach our weight-loss goals. We are each other’s cheerleaders. It’s wonderful. I love him so.

By: reb

reb — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:04:20 +0000

Hi, I’m new to this website, but this question is intriguing. I was on WW about a year ago and still work to maintain a healthy lifestyle and loose the last five pounds.

I don’t mean to go back to the discussion of “do we love ourselves because we diet”, but what I’ve gained relates to that discussion. I recently found out my mom has had an eating disorder her entire life (she’s 75 now and very sick). We catch her all the time with her finger down her throat, using suppositories, etc. I received very negative messages about food and weight so what I’ve gained is just learning how to eat like a “normal person” as much as possible. I think something that was assumed by Carrie in the previous discussion is that we all have a naturally good relationship with food and then “fell” into the trap of eating healthy/dieting. I am here to tell you that is not the case for me. Learning to eat in a more healthful way pulled me out of the rut I was in. I fight to stay out of the black hole of an eating disorder. I believe society as a whole (e.g., think supersize me, children’s obesity, etc.) and possibly the example set by our mother, father or other relative conspire to set individual’s up for an eating disorder. I hope I have gained the ability NOT to have an eating disorder when I’m 75 and at the end of my life.

On a lighter note, I’ve learned to experiment with herbs and spices in a more creative way then I ever would have if I was cooking full fat.

Thanks Roni for the site.

By: gottahavefaith

gottahavefaith — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:51:07 +0000

I’ve gained an appreciation for all the wonderful things that food can do for my body.

I have gained self-acceptance.

I have gained strong shoulders that my husband finds sexy.

I have gained the knowledge that there is no such thing as failure unless I give up.

I have gained a community that has helped me stick with this in a way that I never thought possible.

I have gained faith. Faith in myself, faith in God, and faith that making tiny good choices every day gradually adds up to more than I could have dreamed of.

By: deanna

deanna — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:22:54 +0000

To love myself for who I am and not how much I weigh, to accept the love of others instead of pushing them back, confidence, physical strength, the thoughts in my head “should I run 3 miles or do the precor?”, the ability to run after my son, feeling comfortable intimately with my hubby, energy especially for the last two, eat to live not live to eat, a solid relationship with food.

By: alex

alex — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:10:54 +0000

I’m on the start of my weight loss journey and have lost around 10 lbs. What does that mean I’ve gained?

Fear that I will fall off the wagon, yes!
But also knowledge that I can do something about it…
in short, that I, me-weak-and-lazy, can change for the better!

By: Ali

Ali — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:39:28 +0000

Hey Roni,
Another new poster here as well. I have followed you for over a year and love to read about your life. I feel like we are in the same boat. I started at 216, I have a 3 year old son, school, all kinds of stuff. You inspire me to keep going on this crazy life change.
What have I gained? This question actually made me cry and I read the responses.
I have gained an entirely new self, I am nothing like the sad girl I was 1 year ago, I have gained more then I can even imagine. The biggest thing I have gained is being a better Mom to my 3 sons.
Thanks again Roni,
Ali from Ca.

By: Tawnya

Tawnya — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:29:04 +0000

OMG! This question really made me think about my life and how far I have come. I actually have teary eyes just reading everyone’s responses.

It is a struggle, but it is so worth it. I knew that I was fat, but it took me a long time to actually (excuse my language) get my head out of my butt and do somthing about it instead of feeling sorry for myself and eating more junk. I have gained back my life and I feel like a new person, literally my whole life has changed, i finished college, i got out of an unhappy marriage, i found the love of my life, i found a good job, i got the courage to go to a gym and I do so much more with my kids now. I even took them to a water park!

Life is good! Thanks Roni, for helping me to realize how very happy I am and how much I have gained in my life.

By: Kat

Kat — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:44:39 +0000

I have gained:
–The ability to complete a 10 mile race
–The confidence to attempt running a half marathon
–A new appreciation of food
–A new, and better relationship with food
–Friends who support me, no matter what