I glanced back down at this morning's number.....205.1....which means I'm almost to 32 pounds lost since January of 2012, but almost 62 pounds lost since I was at my heaviest. And then I glanced in the mirror (you really have to do that when on the scale in our basement, because we have a rockin' 80's-style bathroom with mirrored closet doors there)....and..........I smiled. I smiled at the beautiful woman God created me to be....the one who still has so far to go....but the one who has also worked at it, and come a long way already. I'll be doin' a major happy dance the first day I get back under that 200 mark! My goal weight is somewhere around 150....so I'm still looking to kiss 50 pounds goodbye and send them on their way.
This is me today:
Okay, technically that was me on October 6th, but close enough. :) It makes me really happy to look at that picture.
So....why share all of this with anyone? I have lots of reasons, but mostly, I share because I have been inspired and encouraged by SO many people along my path, and I want my life to do the same - even if for only one other person in one small way. I think life should be all about encouraging everyone that you cross paths with, building people up, setting good examples, and using your time like the valuable commodity that it is. Taking that a step further, I believe these things because I believe it is what Jesus did, and would have each of us do - we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:11: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." I want to be an encouragement, and I think the way to do that with regard to my weight struggle, is to be transparent about everything that I've been through, and what has worked to help me through the tougher parts of the journey.
Looking back to December of 2009.....it's hard to believe I was ever that big. I certainly didn't feel that big....and I've never really felt "ugly". In some ways I almost wish that I had felt more ugly, because it maybe would have spurred me on to healthier habits earlier than I was. Mostly though, I have identified my beauty and worth far more with the ideas that I was created in God's image, and that your true beauty is more about who you are than what you look like. As it says in 1 Peter 3:3-4 "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." Eventually though, it became glaringly apparent that I could not continue down the path I was on, no matter how much worth I still felt God placed in me. :)
The weight gain was a gradual process, kick-started by my pregnancy with Gabriel. But it was actually after giving birth that it really began. Life was hectic, I was a new mom, also working outside of the home. I ate out too often. And there's a double-whammy there because most of the time restaurant food is not as good for you, and they serve it in portions that are too large. I exercised too little. I didn't notice it happening at first, but by Gabe's first birthday.......I noticed.....and I had decided to do something about it. Let me say this....when you're 266 pounds, exercise is not easy. I could do very little to exercise. So, I started a food diary at myfooddiary.com, and I monitored what I ate. I went from 266 down to about 236 with ONLY monitoring my food intake and not doing too much more than occasional walks and things like gardening, etc. as my exercise. The food diary is great because it tracks more than calories, and you really get a clear picture of just how much fat, salt, etc. that you are eating as well. I was happy with my progress. My goal at that time was to lose more weight, a significant amount, before trying to become pregnant again.....but in late summer of 2010, I became pregnant with our little Lo! I remember feeling devastated at the news because of what I thought it meant for my weightloss and health goals. When you're on a roll though.....it's easy to stay on it if you can make up your mind to, and that's what I did. I was determined to gain as little weight as possible during the pregnancy - and I DID it! I weighed myself the day that I came home from the hospital after giving birth to Lo, and what did I see, but 236 pounds. I managed to end up right where I had begun the pregnancy. This was SO encouraging to me and last fall I vowed to try and keep the weightloss momentum going. I maintained my weight all last fall, but was not really losing much, so I made a decision in January of 2012 that I was going to get serious about it. And since January, I've now gone from 236 to 205 (almost 204!). :)
Here comes the encouragement part. ;) These are all things that I've learned, and that have worked for me. If you're trying to lose weight I hope you will read these thoughts and take them and adapt them for what will work for you, because that's what I did....I took what I saw others doing and applied it to me, and my available time, and my food desires and diet needs, etc. Also, probably none of these ideas are "new", some of them are even in the "well duh of course" category......but I know that you can hear something 5 times, or 20 times, and for some reason on that last time is when it hits you in the way that it needs to hit you to give you the jump start that you need. So I'm sharing them now:
1. Set small goals, and meeting these will get you closer to your large goal step-by-step. Sometimes my goals are VERY small....like this morning, I told myself I was eating the food I had here at the office and not going out to lunch. Small goal...and I accomplished it. Last night my goal was to run 4 miles, and I did it. But within that run, I had even smaller goals, such as: "I'm going to keep running until I reach that next white mailbox." My small goals a year ago were to even make it out the door to exercise....or to make it even half of my exercise time with actual running. Make a goal each day, and accomplish it!! This small goal mentality is one of the biggest reasons I continue to make strides toward my overall weight and health goals.
2. Pray. My prayers keep me focused on the things I'm thankful for, and the things I need to work on. Both of those ideas are huge throughout this weightloss journey, so focusing on them in this way keeps me driven and motivated....and thankful for progress!
3. Allow freedom. There is no way that one can adhere to strict diet and exercise goals 24/7 - at least I sure can't! This weightloss process has maybe been slower for me than it could have been. But, for me, slow and steady is better than completely derailing and abandoning my goals because I can't stick to them 24/7. I know I have gone weeks at a time where I maintained weight or only lost a pound over several weeks because I allowed myself more freedom for a vacation, etc. Totally worth the motivation to stick to overall goals!
4. Eat at home when you can/bring food from home when you can. You will most likely eat things that are better for you, and you will eat less than if you go out.
5. If you eat out, go to the restaurant's website ahead of time and try and make your decision based on nutritional value. Almost all restaurants have this information readily available on their websites, and a lot of times the information is mind-blowing - you would not believe how many calories are in some of your favorite restaurant dishes.
6. Shop as much as you can from the perimeter of the grocery store. The foods there are the less processed ones, and are better for you.
7. Exercise. Try and do at least a little activity every day - even if it's just raking leaves for 20 minutes or going for a 20 minute walk. I find that doing a little activity helps me to want to eat better/less (because I don't want to ruin the effort I put in to whatever activity I've done). And then when I make good decisions about exercise on one day, it tends to snowball into many days' worth of good activity decisions. :)
8. Bulk up your meals with vegetables. This is decidedly easier for those of us that enjoy vegetables, but worth a try for anyone. :) Frequently for lunch at work, I eat a bowl of soup, or a frozen dinner, or leftover casserole from home, etc. And to bulk up the amount of food I'm eating without bulking up too much on the calories, I add frozen veggies. I keep bags of frozen veggies handy, and add a half cup to a cup to almost all of my meals - sometimes on the side, or sometimes mixed in (peas mixed in with lasagna....mixed veggies in my soup, etc.) It really helps fill me up, while adding maybe 50 or less calores.
That's all I can think of right now for my little list. All of these thoughts have become really ingrained, and just a part of the normal way I process decisions about grocery shopping, making meals, what foods I'm trying to have my kids eat, choices I make when dining out, and the how/when/where/why of my exercise routines. Succinctly stated.....I've accomplished a shift in my lifestyle. If I had a number nine, that's what it'd be: 9. It's a change in lifestyle (not a diet)!
Finally, I hear and learn more each week about the direct correlations between diet, exercise, and obesity and a range of health issues. This range of issues includes everything from diabetes to cancer. The healthcare industry has turned into such a HUGE industry....I know there are at least millions of dollars being spent producing and paying for all kinds of medications for all kinds of things that could be controlled with our diet. With the healthcare crisis that is going on in our country, I can't help but want to plead the case for good eating, and good amounts of exercise to each and every person. So much can be taken care of, avoided, or made better with proper diet and exercise. I feel so strongly about that, and I'm doing my best to keep myself and my family in better health for the future. I'm slowly working my way there, keeping myself on track by focusing on one decision at a time, and letting the positive progress that I see and feel keep me motivated!! We can all do the same. :)
Oh, and if you want to get together for a run/walk/jog....shoot me a message. I love company for these sorts of things. :)
