I haven't been on here in a few weeks, and I also haven't been on plan in about a month. Somewhere along the line, weighing myself in the morning slipped out of my routine, and counting calories went along with it :/ It's not like I meant to stop, I just kind of lost my mojo.
So anyway, there's this girl I work with who is very, very large — the kind of large where there are no discernible shapes or facial features — and I always considered her to be on another "level" of fat than me. But then we had an open house Friday, and someone I've never met came up to me and asked a question that made it clear that she thought I was this other girl. It was definitely a wake-up call.
Now that I'm back at school with my best friends and my boyfriend, I started to get too comfortable because I'm around people who don't judge me for the way I look. But I CANNOT let this be the end of my big weight-loss thing. I have to keep going, otherwise I'll hate myself. I almost feel like this is my last chance to prove I can have some discipline and do something for myself. I don't ever want to be confused with another fat person.
Oh ouch - that would have made me cringe too. It's funny, nobody ever thought I was quite as heavy as I am - I've always weighed more than I appeared to. My hubby was shocked when I started this diet and weighed in at 295 - he had no idea I weighed that much... and neither did I. I didn't think I looked that big. I guess I should count my blessings that my fat is evenly distributed and firm? Bah - it just enabled my denial. Isn't it strange how our mind plays tricks on us?
My wake-up call was a slightly elevated blood sugar level and creeping blood pressure, and escalating joint aches. Gulp. However, your experience would have torn the rose-colored glasses off of me, too. I'm now grateful for my wake up call - how long would I have kept on fooling myself that I was essentially healthy while stuffing my face?
As hard as I'm sure that was for you, I'm glad it happened because you are now here.
And on top of it... I'm assuming that you're on the youngish side... what about later on in the years when it starts becoming a health risk? And it gets harder and harder to lose the weight and keep at bay all those bad obesity related health problems?
The thought of diabetes or high blood pressure or bad legs or hips (and so on and so forth)... or even a shortened life span (heck its dangerous enough living normally as it is, right?)... is a BIG spur for me. Living a good quality life is too. I mean honestly... I didn't realize how crappy I felt at 256 until I got to where I am now. It amazes me that I could even live that way for the 6 years that I did so..... that alone makes me want to keep going and keep it off.
I know you can do it..... and I know you want to! Keep it up girl and don't let go of that dream!
Any wake-up call is a good call when it comes to losing weight. I think mine was going outside one day and really wanting to chase after my daughter and play...but I got too winded and had to sit down and let her play by herself. That broke my heart I don't want to be this big and so big that I can't even play with my daughter. She will be 2 next month, I hope to be running and playing right along beside of her next year on her 3rd birthday.
You can't imagine how worth it is. Really, you can't possibly realize it. Living life in a slim, trim, fit body ROCKS.
The added energy, stamina, self confidence, self respect.
So many less worries - Will I fit in that restaurant booth? Will I fit in that chair? If I do fit in the chair, might I break it? Will I fit in the amusement park ride, the plane seat. Will the seat belt get around me? Will I get winded walking up those steps and will I have to cover it up so no one realizes it? Am I the biggest girl in the room? Will I be able to shop anywhere and everywhere? Will I be able to find clothing that I love and feel sexy and beautiful in? Will it reflect my true style? The list of added worries are endless. Endless.
Grab control. It's yours for the taking. Make yourself a plan and stick to it like glue. Work past the initial, temporary discomfort of losing the old bad habits and establishing the healthy ones.
Eating well is nothing to dread or fear. Remaining overweight IS. It's no punishment adhering to a healthy lifestyle. It's no prison sentence. It's a key to freedom that will open up more doors to you than you can possibly fathom, ones you didn't even realize were closed.
Eating well is nothing to dread or fear. Remaining overweight IS. It's no punishment adhering to a healthy lifestyle. It's no prison sentence. It's a key to freedom that will open up more doors to you than you can possibly fathom, ones you didn't even realize were closed.
Wow, Robin - I just made this into a sign and put copies on my fridge and here at my desk. Thank so SOOOOOOO much!!!
Wake up calls can be a HUGE fire under your feet. Mine this was my miscarriage. I am SICK and TIRED of PCOS ruling my life, and the only way to get the symptoms under control is to lose weight. After I lost my baby, I decided I wasn't going to let this disease determine my future anymore. Its hard. The ONLY answer for me has been to cut sugars and carbs 80 percent of the time.
Anyways, sorry I went off on my own soap box there, but you can use this experience to fall back. It can really make you push through in moments of weakness if you let it.
I know you can do it!!
Yikes! That exact same thing has happened to me at work, and 2 different people have said it, so I KNOW it's the truth. I do look like this person who I have the nerve to feel sorry for, always thinking that somehow I MUST be smaller than she is. Guess if I am, it's not by much! I feel very bad that it is an insult to me that we are mistaken for each other -- I truly wonder if she would feel the same way??! Like, OMG, someone mistook me for SHANNON -- as IF!
What starfishkitty said really resonates with me, too. I'm almost 40 now, and all this weight all these years is was starting to take a toll on my health. I was always a "fairly healthy" obese person, that is, I didn't have high blood pressure, didn't have any blood sugar problems, joint problems, mobility problems, etc. I tricked myself into somehow thinking I was immune to that stuff, that it wouldn't happen to ME. Imagine my surprise when at my last dr appt my blood pressure was up and she told me if I didn't make some changes we were going to need to start looking at some meds. I have joint pain now, and I'm sure the diabetes thing was just waiting in the wings to do its thing.
I am very pleased to report that I am turning this around. My BP is now back into the normal range, my knees feel better, and I just know my cholesterol, etc, are in much better shape than even 4 months ago when I started this healthier lifestyle. So it CAN be turned around!!!! Thank GOODNESS!!! Paradise, why not do yourself a favor and get this under control before you really have to start worrying about this stuff? It SUX, it is not fun, it is downright SCARY, and crappy food is just not worth it!
Major wake-up call :(
