Can't Believe it's been 8 months!

On the February 1, 2011, I was pushing up on an all time high benchmark for weight gain. I hadn't weighed that much since my mother's death, when my despair led to inactivity and excessive comfort eating. I wrote the draft of a post about starting a weight loss journey but never posted it.

FORTY pounds later with 20 more to go, I can hardly believe the pain and hopelessness in this note...it's a bit long but there are some valuable lessons that I should NEVER forget...

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2/1/11
A Weight loss Journey... 

Source: creolepaperie.blogspot.com via glorious on Pinterest

So, one of my resolutions is to lose some weight in 2011. I've had many failed attempts at this. Whenever I make an attempt I seem to actually gain weight.

My wake up call has come in many small ways:

• The way my hips grind when I get up in the morning because of my arthritis
• Most days, I just plain feel like crap.
• Finishing a 5 year long milestone
• Promising myself to skydive when I finished my M.F.A. but feeling too heavy to do it
• My college reunion is just around the corner and I missed the last one because I was embarrassed about my weight.
• Being only 15 years from the age my mom died and a few years from being middle aged.
• Realizing that the destructive relationships in my life have caused me to disguise myself with fat
• Realizing that as much as I try to eat healthy, I need to get moving too
• Saw some tv show where a lady who was my height and weight was being diagnosed as 10 years older and at health risk for diabetes and other health risks
• Three close friends were just diagnosed with Diabetes (they seemed mostly healthy, just overweight)
• My fears of personal injury without health insurance make me much more cautious about what I do
• Realizing that the negative messages my family has given me are Not motivational (Don't EVER criticize, ostracize, or mistreat someone because of their weight issues! Criticism is NEVER motivational) If anything, it's kept me paralyzed for at least 2 years.

There was a time in my life when a heartbreak fueled my motivation for weight loss. The physical activity matched my beating heart and the sweat masked my tears. It was the only way I could process my thoughts and take the stress off. Oddly enough, I was SEVENTY pounds lighter than I am now. A lifetime of heartbreaks later, instead of hiding, I should let it motivate me.

Who can watch The Biggest Loser and not be encouraged by the stories? After the show's premiere this month, I went to my local gym to sign up: the fee had doubled since the last time I joined but still too cheap to pass up. Like a dork in my mis-matched shoes (I couldn't find two that matched), I went, looked around and saw a neighbor who's an avid runner. She showed me around and encouraged me to join. I'm so grateful she didn't judge my dorky-ness or my list of hesitations!

So, there it is...I'm trying to tear down the walls of isolation and the layers of fat that I thought were protecting me from being hurt. The 65-70 lbs that I've been carrying for the last 2 decades is heavy with low self esteem.

This weeks' Action Items: 

• gym membership                          DONE
• go 3 times this week                     DOING
• drink 3/4 of a gallon of water/day DOING
• start a journal                                DOING
• join Spark People dot com            DONE
• clean off my bed so that I can go to bed by Midnight   DONE
• Stay focused and avoid discouragement   THIS IS GONNA BE A CHALLENGE!

In january, I was eating an all vegan diet. And with combination of arthritis and bursitis, I didn't think I could move without hurting. But by the end of January I had actually gained weight I decided to try something different and drastic. I joined the local gym and eliminated all sugars and white flour from my diet. I ate as much green vegetables as I could and added in steamed or baked fish and lean chicken. I made my breakfast and lunch every day so I wouldn't stray and carried chocolate protein powder and a water bottle with me everywhere. The diligence at the gym was the result of a couple of friends that encouraged me and showed me things that might not aggravate my arthritis so much. I started to see it come off but was in disbelief.

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2/2/11
Message to Myself 5 months from now: 

Yeah, this blog isn't about my weight loss journey. However, I have a pile of weight and worries to get rid of.

If it's May 1st

and You've not lost a pound:
You have only your self to blame. But it's not about blame, it's about breaking down what could have happened: You were too tired, you had to work too much, your hip hurt, you didn't have the money, your family hurt your feelings, you were afraid of people looking at you at the gym, you wanted wine and carbs, you weren't seeing a difference so you decided to give up, you couldn't find anyone to help you, your ex-boyfriend sabotaged you, it was just too hard....Seriously?
You had the opportunity and you made a decision not to act on it. You gave up on yourself and no one is fighting for you. Do you really want to stay where I am now: slow, achy, tired all the time, depressed, feeling hopeless and full of regrets?
Well, I'm not going to insult you or tear you down. Go to reunion anyway and let your personality show through. Pray that God will afford you a second chance.


and You're not quite where you want to be but have made some progress:
You can still be proud of yourself. You just need to push yourself as if your life depends on it. PUSH YOURSELF AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.

and You've reached your half way point goal:

That means you've lost 30-40 lbs! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU! God is restoring the years the locust have eaten! You've started to melt away the hurt and the pain of your past and Live on Purpose. I'm sure it was hard, just like re-writing your thesis 9 times! Like pushing a bolder up hill, Like working 2 jobs and trying to keep your home, Like showing your face in public after hiding from everyone for months.

In the next 4-5 months you want to work on those additional 30-35 lbs. Stay Focused, Challenge yourself More, Take it up a notch! Break that cycle of reward through food, Go get your white dress and throw out the fat clothes! Homecoming is in October and you want to look even better than you do today. Let the rejection of your family and ex-boyfriends burn you up and motivate you...Seek the love you deserve my friend! God's Unconditional love...

what I want to wear for Homecoming in October 2011