Reflections of my journey to weight loss and better health!
I have spent a lot of time reflecting on my weight loss journey the past few days! When I first joined Buddyslim, I was at my wits end! I had been overweight most of my adult life. I knew I was overweight, but I was still shocked when I saw the pictures from my oldest son’s wedding. When I looked at those pictures of me, I was like who is that fat woman? I was like is that me? That woman was not the person I wanted to be. The next process for me was to figure out how I was going to lose weight. I had tried so many diets over the years. With most of them I had lost weight, but then gained it all back plus! I was horrified when I stepped on the scales and saw my weight was 310 pounds. I knew in order for me to lose weight I needed some support. I knew that I was not going to get the support I needed from my family. I Googled, weight loss and support, and I found many weight loss sites, but I decided to join Buddyslim. At first I decided to just cut back and see how that would work. Then I found a book called the Carb Addicts Diet. I lost weight very well with that for a long time. With the knowledge I was obtaining, as I was on this journey, I realized in order to obtain good health, I needed to eat more nutritionally. I counted calories for a while trying to stay within 1200-1500 calories a day. I then realized I needed to actually measure my food. My perception of a serving was not right. Then I found out that journaling my food was the only way I actually could stick to my plan. I have always been an emotional eater, and I could use anything for an excuse to over eat! I would eat if I were happy, sad or mad! You name it was an excuse! Although I am no longer the Queen of excuses, I still do it more than I would like. Lately I have found although I am under a lot of stress, I have been managing my emotional eating better. I think it is because while a lot of the things causing me stress are beyond my control eating right is something I can control! Right now I am using the Zig Zag Diet (one of my buddies gave me the information for this one). I journal my food, and most days I journal my thoughts too, this helps me to understand if I slip up why I did it. When I began this journey 2 ½ years ago, I thought I would have reached my goal by now. I am not disappointed that I didn’t. It has been a learning experience for me. I think if I had lost the weight faster I would have just gained it all back, like my past diet days! I have learned this is not a quick fix! This is a lifestyle change. I think I can realistically lose the rest of my weight and reach my goal this year. It is baby steps! Slow and steady wins the race! I am not saying I won’t slip and fall, what I am saying is, if I do I will forgive myself and get up dust myself off and begin again!It is because of the love, support, motivation and inspiration of my buddies that I am still here! It is because I have friends who understand me, and what I am trying to accomplish! We are in this together, and we will succeed! Big HUGS!
Awesome blog!!! So glad that we are in this one together! Big HUGS!!
Great blog! Yep, it’s quite a journey alright. I think you have an EXCELLENT outlook and perspective on weight loss. Reading this helps me not be so inpatient. Thank you!
Huggggggggggggggs,
Shan
nana, H5 for all that you have accomplish so far….like you said this is not a quick fix is a life change…we will have many falls but every day is a new day and a new begining…as long as you are aware… that the reason you are doing this is for you because you matter your worth fighthing for you deserve that Big smile when you win…when your body is molding to a new you….and that most of all that you are able to keep it off because of every effort, sweat and tears you shed during this process….is all worth for…and to realize that this is for ever…a nonstop change….H5 you can do this!
I’m pretty sure I wrote this blog and you stole it from me! LOL, at least it seems that way. I could relate to this…word for word.
What a great blog. You are so right that it is a journey and long and slow journey that WILL have slip ups and falls. I think we forget to expect that and get so frustrated.
I don’t know why, but everyone I talk to seems so geared up for 2009. From everyone I know, 2008 was not the best year, and people seem to have a new energy this year.
This can be your year to make those small steps. Even if you don’t get 100% to your goal weight (which you can), you are going to make amazing chances and achievements this year. And you are learning every day.
Thanks for sharing.
Yup, it’s a slow, slow process..I should have lost way more than 40 lbs in 3 years (no, wait I put almost 20 back on in the last year YIKES). I still research, read and learn on all of this. You’re doing wonderfully and I am so glad to have made some friends on here that I can share this journey with.
Ann marie
ok, I will wait….you are right. I don’t want to gain it back….
Wow, it looks like what you wrote struck a chord with a lot of people. I feel the same way you do. I am inspired that you’ve persevered even though it’s taking longer than you expected. When I look back on all the diets I started and stopped and wonder what would have happened if I’d just stuck with them… I am going to try very hard to stick to a healthy lifestyle by tapping into the wisdom of people like you. Maybe someday I’ll be able to inspire people, too. You’re doing a great job.
I so know what you mean, as I sometimes feel a frustration in the fact that I had wanted to be at my end goal by now. But, this has been a very enlightening journet, and I’ve not put the weight back on. So what if it’s coming off slower these days? At least it’s coming off, right?
Great blog! Thanks for sharing your journey so far. You are and have done AMAZING! It is a slow process…a lot of learning along the way and thisis a gretaplace to do that because of people like YOU! Big hugs!!
Love your blog. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us! ((HUGS))
I find myself actually thinking of my buddies here when I don’t want to work out, or when I want to cave in to a calorie-fest, and it’s great to feel the support network here. You have done such a great job.