Today is Mother's Day.
46 years ago, on Mother's Day, I gave birth to my first child.
This changed my life forever.
Motherhood does that for us all.

Each of us goes through Life Events that change us,
and that process continues all throughout each of our lives.

So whatever your life is at this moment...
...there will be changes.

Our Attitude about those changes is what will determine
how positive or negative any change is.

We can't stop Change,
but we CAN learn to develop a positive attitude about it.

Being in Denial means:
“refusing to admit the truth or reality of something unpleasant”.

To succeed at weight-loss and maintenance of weight-loss
one must face and accept some essential unpleasant Truths.

One of these unpleasant Truths is: 

without some form of portion control,
an obese person cannot become normal size.

  Another of these unpleasant Truths is: 

 facing failures is necessary to achieve success.

Which is actually better, a Rule or a Suggestion?

A Rule is –

a prescribed guide for conduct or action;
an order or direction;
a regulating principle;
a usually valid generalization;
a standard of judgment.

To Suggest is -

Suggest stresses putting into the mind by association of ideas,
awakening of a desire, or initiating a train of thought

to seek to influence;
to mention or imply as a possibility;
to propose as desirable or fitting;
to offer for consideration;
to serve as a motive or inspiration for.

A Suggestion is –

The process by which a physical or mental state
is influenced by a thought or idea.

The process by which one thought leads to another
especially through association of ideas.

Even though the general scientific rule is "3500 calories = 1 fat lb",
that doesn't mean this loss (or gain) immediately shows on the scale.

Although, with effort, we can control what food goes into our body,
we cannot control what our body does with that food...
and the timing of how fat is lost is a very large part that we cannot control.

Our bodies are always shifting water about,
and the majority of our lean body weight is actually water.

Also, our bodies don't always react the same ways,
and just because we achieved the same result a few times,
doesn't mean the same behavior will always result in the same outcome.

I've found my predictions can be accurate IN GENERAL,
 but frequently are not SPECIFICALLY accurate.

Furthermore, even with careful weighing and measuring of food,
carefully reading all labels, along with the careful daily recording of our food,
all calorie counting is STILL only an ESTIMATE.

 We do the best we can.
But labels can have a 20% (or more) error,
the sugar count of fruits etc. can vary from season to season,
and there are often individual differences in the way we measure,
and the way the food company measures.

For example, I measure 1/4 cup of oatmeal as a level 1/4 cup,
but when that is compared to the gram weight on the label,
I see that the listed gram weight is the same to an amount that is below the rim of 1/4 cup.

Therefore, we do the best we can to measure and record the calories in what we eat,
but we must be aware that this is NOT an exact science, 
and most of our errors tend to be underestimates.

Regarding graphing data.
I have a great deal of personal data about my own calorie intake,
and my body weights etc.

I enjoy making graphs of that various data,
and am always looking for new ways to look at the data,
hoping that this will help me to spot something new.

 But the key words here are "I enjoy".
I find it an enjoyable pastime, but it isn't necessary,
and it really isn't all that helpful except to keep me focused on the issue.

Although I am responsible for my Behavior with food,
I am not responsible...and have no control...over the Results that my body gives me,
including the timing of the weights I see on the Scale.

Perseverance = Steadfastness

Steadfastness =

firmly fixed in place;
not subject to change;
firm in belief, determination or adherence;
loyal;
faithful