Is ever hard for you to maintain anymore? You just make it look so easy. I’m so impressed by you. I know this might sound weird, but more than any other weight-loss tumblr, it’s hard to imagine you every not being in shape. You rarely obsess about food, and you seem consistent in working out. Just curious if that’s what it’s really like or just perception? Either way, you’re a hero to me

This may be one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. I got this wonderful message yesterday and have been trying to come up with a worthy reply since then.

Thank you anon! I appreciate the kind words. To answer your questions:

Maintaining will always be something that I have to work at. That said. I’ve been doing it for so long: I’ve been this weight (150 lbs lost) since Oct. 2011 and I’ve been down 90 pounds since 2008 so its become my way of life. Thank you for thinking I make it look easy! It’s not, but somewhere along they way I realized that food isn’t the enemy. People can tell you that processed food is bad, sugar is bad, flour, etc. But I don’t follow a diet, I think the key to weight-loss and maintaining it is everything in moderation. I try to eat well 80% of the time. If I do that, then I’m good. No gimmicks, I eat healthy food, restaurant food, desserts, sugar, etc. But I try to eat mindfully. I know I don’t feel well when I eat greasy fast food so I limit that. I try to listen to my body. It has taken me years to get here, and I’ve had to find my way. But it works for me.

I try not to obsess about food-I used to, and it drove everyone around me NUTS! I don’t comment on what others eat, or constantly talk about my foods. (I do talk about how hungry I am all the time though!:) ) I don’t cut out certain foods from my diet-I just eat and try to behave myself most of the time.

Wanna know why I’m pretty consisent in working out? Pure fear. I am absolutely terrified to ever get fat again. I never want to weigh nearly 300 pounds again. I like the person I am today, and I like how I look. I am scared to regain the weight, so I run and exercise. I also just feel better when I workout. I need those endorphines. Since I’ve been running for about 5 years now the habit has become pretty firmly ingrained in me. I also feel stressed out if I take more than 2 days in a row off. The panic starts to set in.

So thank you for the compliments! I needed those this week! You made my day. I hope what I’ve said helps.

If your perception is that I have a healthy attitude towards food and working out, then I’d like to think that’s true.