Heidi: I'm still about 9 pounds away from my personal goal but I am in a healthy range at this point. Like Jay I wasn't always overweight. My gain began my senior year in college and snowballed through my thirties. With each gain, measured by the scale or by increased clothing size I lost pieces of myself: my personality, my self-confidence, energy level, and just enthusiasm for interacting with others. After the majority of the loss all of these things that defined me as a younger adult slowly began to return. I remember having lunch with my mother last winter and explaining to her that it's like I've been in a coma for the last fifteen years and just finally woke up.
Like Ennay explains, "Exercise just makes me happy." Oh yeah. Endorphines are real and need to be experienced! I get a healthy shot of those during every workout and I feel so mellow and controlled for hours following my workouts.
I'm so grateful every day that I had the opportunity to just focus upon losing this weight. Now that I have finally emerged as myself once again I am ready for new opportunities and the challenges they present. Previous to this loss I would not have been able to say this. I would have remained in my safe place perfecting all that I was comfortable in doing but never attempting a real risk. A few weeks ago DH and I were talking about this very thing, how my weightloss has affected our relationship. In the end he said to me, I've waited for you for a long time Lydia. I knew you were
in there and it was worth every minute.
that guy.
So Yes!
I am a happier person since my loss and a better person to be around too!
okay, I'm still a little cynical but in a fun way.