Weight Loss - Celebrate Your Success Say Hello to the New You

Winning After Losing: Keep Off the Weight You've Lost - Forever
by Stacey Halprin

Struggling with her weight for decades, Stacey Halprin eventually won the battle and lost over 350 pounds. But after gastric bypass surgery and one diet after another, she realized that the most difficult part isn't losing the weight - it's keeping it off. Now, for the 90% of dieters who have lost weight only to gain it back, Stacey presents her unique program that will keep the pounds off permanently - whether you've lost 15, 25, or 50 pounds.

Complete with expert advice from medical doctors, psychologists, nutritionists, and fitness gurus, Winning After Losing reveals the secrets that will finally put an end to self-sabotaging habits and yo-yo dieting. This is an inspirational, motivational guide that shows readers how to maintain and truly enjoy a healthier lifestyle.

Chapter 1

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.

- Marcel Proust

I adjusted my red sweater so that it rested just off my shoulders and my thoughts drifted back to my old fantasy of being a size 6 that used to replay in my mind every time I was about to start a new diet. Cherished as the fantasy was, I am very happy being who I am today. No way a size 6-not even my feet are a 6-but I've lost enough weight that I can rest a small object in the little nook in my collarbone. Now as I check out my reflection in the mirror I can't help thinking about how much my life has changed.

When I slimmed down to a svelte 190 my world turned upside down. (Yes, I said slim. Let's face it, when you were 500-plus pounds for most of your life, 190 is bikini weight.) Whether you've lost fifteen pounds, fifty, or a hundred, now that you have lost weight, you are probably seeing yourself, other people, and the world in a different light. This stranger in a strange land sensation can totally take you by surprise and trigger a wide range of emotions. Any time you make a big change, you need time to adjust to the new you. For example, for the first year or so after I lost weight, whenever people offered to pick me up and give me a ride somewhere, I'd ask them if I could fit in their car. I wish I had photos of the looks on their faces! It was hilarious when I asked that question to people who never knew me when I was heavy because they were so bewildered by the question that they had no idea what to say. After a pregnant pause, they gave me answers that had nothing to do with my size. They'd say things like, "I have a sedan," or "There's only four of us going. There will plenty of room." Every now and again, I still catch myself having those kinds of concerns because I don't always remember what size I am now.

Even though I've kept my excess weight off for more than five years, I'm still afraid that I could gain it all back. When I look in the mirror, I can still see the woman who couldn't fit in an airplane seat. I can still feel her enormous shadow looming over me. She is a force to be reckoned with and she's always right behind me. If you have a fat shadow chasing you, you'll be glad to know that this chapter is the first step toward a brighter future. As I've said, the secret to winning is to work from the inside out, which is difficult for a "beauty maven"! But it's impossible to do it in reverse, and have it last.

Step 1 is about letting go of the old you and celebrating the new you. In this chapter you will look at the way your life is changing now that you've shed your weight, and begin learning how to set better boundaries and speak your truth, instead of swallowing it. You will also learn how to deal with stress and how to expand your focus from your body to a much bigger picture so you can have a love affair with the world.

The Old You and the New You

Ready? Okay, let's go. The first step in winning after losing is appreciating and celebrating the new you. Easier said than done, no? But you have to know who you were when you were heavier and who you are now. Are your hopes, dreams, and goals the same as they were the day you started to lose weight? Or have they changed? You need to go over this in your mind and really be clear about it. Life has a way of changing things when you least expect it. Having this awareness will give you a chance to set some new goals and applaud yourself for those you have already achieved.

Just about everyone who's lost weight knows that the number of pounds they've shed isn't as important or impressive as how long they've kept them off. So whether you've been maintaining for one day, ten years, or more, every day of success is worth celebrating! Every new thing you get to experience as a result of having a healthy, fit body is also worth celebrating, and so are the things you couldn't do when you were heavier that you're able to do again now. Whether that means being able to zip up your favorite jeans, walk up a flight of stairs without losing your breath, or fit more comfortably into an airplane seat, it's important to give yourself credit and appreciate your success. Members of the Winners' Circle shared the following list of things that they feel most proud of. See how many of these examples you can celebrate and make your own list in your Winners' Circle Workbook!

Winners' Circle Accomplishments

Petra - Self-control.

Paul - Attractive women smile at me instead of looking right through me.

Sherry - My health. I just had an excellent health report from my doctor.

Margaret - I look in the mirror and love the person I see there.

Joey - I felt sorry for the old me, but I didn't like him that much. I love who I am today.

Emily - I feel comfortable in my own skin. I am able to walk without losing my breath.

Stephanie - I'm proud that at the age of fifty-seven, I still get mistaken for being my daughter's sister rather than her mother. And unlike many of my friends who are my age, I have no serious health problems.

Jande - I realized I used to have no integrity with myself. Now I'm accountable to myself, and that feels really good.

Mark - I used to think that if I lost weight my life would have too many restrictions. It's unbelievable to me that I actually have so much more freedom. I'm proud that I made myself lose weight, even though I didn't know then how much fun being healthy and in shape would be.

Vicki - I feel proud that my body is healthy and that I am more fit and toned than ever before. From a purely cosmetic perspective, I also love the way I look in my clothes.

Yvonne - I like having a closet of size 4s and 6s. Best of all, I feel very confident in any social setting. I'm not embarrassed about taking pictures anymore and I feel confident in a bathing suit-in public!

Larry - I'm proud that all my friends are continually amazed by my ability to take it off and keep it off. I am healthier and feel better. My endurance and stamina are fabulous, and I don't need to keep buying larger clothes!

Karen - Even when everything else in my life spins out of control (as it is now!) I am able to maintain control over my body.

Dawn - I have been able to complete three half marathons, and I have so much more self-confidence than I used to.

Patrick - I look at exercise and maintaining my weight as a personal challenge and a constant process for me to keep striving and improving myself.

Florence - I love the way I look and feel, and even though life always presents challenges, I feel strong enough to face them and do what I need to do.

About the Author

Stacey Halprin lives in New York City.