WOW!!!! I woke up on Friday, May 18th and my scale read 197.2 – for those of you who know me and followed my other blog This Is Me Now – you know that those numbers meant that I have lost 100 pounds. I have literally been working toward this goal for almost 3 years (I think that it’s been 2 years, 11 months and 2 weeks).
I haven’t been blogging about my weight/weight loss efforts for almost a year now and I think that it was simply because I was afraid to really share how I was doing – it can be a bit overwhelming to let people into something so personal. But I’m ready to start “sharing” again because I honestly believe that if I can do it anyone can. I struggled with my weight for many years, but I now know that I struggled with my weight because I struggled with not valuing myself – freeing my body of 100 pounds has been liberating to say the least….but loving myself has honestly been like lifting 500 pounds off of my shoulders. I struggled with my self-worth long before I started gaining weight. I was just super active in college with volleyball. I didn’t start getting heavy until the end of 2000/beginning of 2001 while we were living in Albuquerque Albuquerque to South Jordan I was 220 pounds – I was 185 when we moved there in January 2000. Ironically, I had gained my “dieters mentality” while we were living in Albuquerque – it was the first time I had tried to diet and when I failed at it I gained back the weight I’d lost and added another 35 pounds. I have tried many, many different diets…and I would have success and then “mess up” and then I’d give up and start the cycle all over again. It was an absolute disaster.
I will share specifics of some of my dieting adventures in future blogs. I can already tell this is getting a bit long. So let me cut to the chase of what finally clicked for me……..
At the end of May 2009 we moved from St. Anthony , ID (still miss that place) to Prescott Valley , AZ.
- I joined the YMCA. They provided childcare for my 3 girls and I was able to go and spend some time clearing my head and taking care of a body that I had mistreated and neglected for many, many years.
- I made some quick changes to my eating. It wasn’t drastic or “dietee”. I stopped drinking regular soda and stuck with diet. I joined Livestrong.com for free, set up my profile and figured out how many calories I would get to eat each day to lose 2 pounds a day. From there I just started making small, manageable changes to how and what I was eating every couple of weeks. Just by doing these things I lost my first 55 pounds.
- MOST IMPORTANT: I acknowledged that there wasn’t going to be a quick fix or magic pill that would make me change. Instead of hating my body and being at odds with it, I listed all of things it had done for me – no matter how much I weighed – with my body I had carried twins full term and they were beautiful, healthy and sweet (I weighed 270 at the end of that pregnancy) I hadn’t had any complications with my delivery; I had also carried my beautiful Olivia full term AND been able to work as a waitress during that pregnancy (I weighed 295 at the end of that pregnancy). Looking at my body it a loving, compassionate way changed my perspective. It changed the way I saw myself. Once I started seeing ME (and being honest with myself about my eating, etc) it was like I was finally seeing myself through the eyes of the people who loved me the most and my Creator. I was telling Jeremy the other day that I felt just as happy in this picture:
When I had only lost my first 10 pounds and we took the kids to Slide Rock in Sedona, as I did in this picture:
When I was getting ready for date night with the hubs 100 pounds lighter.
Losing weight has been a physical manifestation of my inner change. Start small – make changes you can see yourself doing for a really long time – and love yourself in the process.
I can only share what has worked for me – I am not a trainer or a nutritionist – just a girl who found a way to change her body and change her life.
Until next time.
6 comments:
whoo hoo skinny lady! You're amazing.
I love this line "make changes you can see yourself doing for a really long time -- and love yourself in the process." Thanks for the encouraging words and good job!
I love this and I needed to hear it! I am having my own struggle and it is making me crazy. Thanks for the inspiration!
I love this & have been praying 4 some much needed hope & guidance. Who knew it would come from someone I've admired, loved & lost contact with. Mostly, on my part due 2a traumatic brain injury I suffered a yr b4 becoming a dr. myself, calling off my temple wedding cuz I learned my fiancee' wasn't really worthy 2b married there & although none of my family are active it's still my # 1 dream/goal. My traumatic brain injury has taken my active sports lifestyle from me. I competitively danced & swam 4 more than 20 yrs & then was confined 2 a hospital bed for 7 wks w/meningitis & 18 months of rehab 2 relearn ALOT OF EVERYDAY TASKS. I've since then gained 150 pounds & lots of meds 2 help stimulate my brain & cause a multitude of side effects but mostly weight gain which is hard cuz I'm not happy @ this size. I'm also stumped cuz I have NO SHORT TERM MEMORY, TASTE BUDS, SMELL, TACT, ENERGY, IMMUNE SYSTEM, ETC W/O the meds. I've experimented both ways w/ a dr. no pills & lost 50 pounds but struggle w/the above & being happy thinner/no meds. Put back on all the pills & gained it ALL BACK while working out the old fashioned way & struggled badly even with a trainer cuz the pills kill my thyroid. I'm close 2 my heaviest, in my last year of the singles ward & just need hope that it's possible. Hope that someone will see that I just need some guidance & stiff kick or idk. I know ur a wife, mother, sister, daughter etc but if u wouldn't mind writing me 4 motivation just so I've got someone 2 report 2 I'd really appreciate it. I know I've known you & your family since Ash & I were in 1st grade & an old ward member(child), then later an old stake member(teen) & permanent family friend. I actually asked ur dad 2 baptize me since I didn't have a dad but our ward was splitting & the stake pres made me choose men in our "new" ward. He stayed our home teacher 4 many yrs & made a HUGE impression on me as I'm the only active member & your family & a few others really showed me what a marriage is supposed 2 look like, took me 2 church when my family didn't go & never made me feel like I didn't belong. I thank you & your whole family 4 this love. Sorry bout the novel but congrats & will b following ur journey & hopefully having my own too.
So proud of you! You look amazing! Keep up the great work! Hard work, dedication, and willpower! Don't look back!
Super inspiring Emily! I'm going to start blog stalking you and can't wait to hear more about your weight loss journey. Amazing!!
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