I have been an overweight woman my entire life. When I was 12 I had already reached over 145 pounds. My weight has been a struggle for a long time it has fluctuated between 170 and 220 since I was 17. I wanted to share my story with everyone so that you know that anyone can do it. I did not use drugs or crash dieting in any way.
My Life’s Weight Problems in a Nutshell:
When I was 10 my parents got divorced. This affected me more than most people know. Within a couple of years I had been pushed back and forth then my father moved another woman in. I did not like this woman at all, she was very mentally abusive.
My dad’s girlfriend started calling me fat, and abused me mentally and occasionally physically. After a while I began eating a lot and regretting it, so I turned to purging. I actually began to lose weight, but it was not in a healthy way.
I did eventually get to move in with my mom, and this helped. I was more active in her home so I didn’t turn to food quite as often. When I turned 18 I decided to get engaged. This apparently was a bad idea because I got to comfortable with the man I was with and I actually think he wanted me to gain weight; I did. By the time I got married, 11 months after the engagement, I had gained over 50 pounds. I was at my highest weight of 220.
I did get a divorce within a couple of years, and turned to ephedrine pills to stay awake at work and lose weight. I lost 20-30 pounds within a couple of months. I decided to quit taking the pills, and was actually able to keep the weight off for a while.
In the last 7 years I had gradually put the weight back on. I knew I had, but did not want to accept the fact that I had. I stepped on a scale one day, it said 210+. I was ok with my weight until I realized how much it was.
In March I discovered that my husband had been seeing someone else. I became very depressed, but I looked at life differently. I realized that I was not happy. I wasn’t happy with myself or what I had let my life become. I actually blame myself in ways for the divorce. My realization is “You will never be able to make someone else happy unless you are happy with yourself”.
I decided that I needed to make changes in my life, physically and mentally of course. My first step was to start walking. I began with one mile a day for about a week or so. I decided to weight myself; I had lost five pounds.
The five pounds was a big motivation, so I made more changes in my diet and exercise. It has only been five months and I am down to 160. I have not been below 170 since I was 15 or so. I see this as my motivation. I have 30 more pounds to go, and then I will be at my personal weight loss goal. I have never been happier with myself.
What I have done:
-I began walking 1 mile a day, and then gradually increased it. I am now at five or more miles a day.
-I cut out all regular sodas. I still drink more diet sodas than I should, but I believe it helped.
-Increased my water intake. I have never been much of a water drinker, but I do drink at least 5 cups a day.
-Cut out all condiments. Ketchup, mayo, mustard, and ranch were my downfall, but I cut them out. I actually enjoy most of my food more without all of the extras.
-Reduce my fast food intake. I have cut out almost all of my fast food but when I do eat fast food it is usually a chicken sandwich dry. Yes I still enjoy a tot or fry occasionally, but only a couple of times a month.
-Reduced my portions a little at a time. I did not make a big cut in my portion sizes all at once because I knew I would go back for seconds or thirds.
-I always remember that everything we do burns calories, so I try to move all the time. I do little exercises at my desk, after using the bathroom, while I am watching TV, and any other place that I can. It may not be anything more than moving my leg around, but I keep moving.
-Make goals for weight loss and exercise every week. I did this a lot in the beginning, but I have not focused on the weight loss goals as much recently. Now I focus on the workout. The workout has become more of a habit, and I choose every day to keep doing it.
-Avoid the late night snacks, but if I have to snack it is always something around 100 calories.
I did all of the above steps to lose weight and I lost 50 pounds already. I did not take any drugs, and did not have to pay for gym membership or expensive equipment. I decided that I was good enough to deserve it. I put the focus on me for a change.
I still eat what I want, I have just reduced it. Yes I still eat fried food, sweets, and other things that I really shouldn’t, but I have reduced it. I actually make a conscience decision about everything I eat. I do not get mad at myself if I go to CICI’s and eat a few more pieces of pizza than I should, I just do not do it often.
I am now more focused than ever on getting rid of the 30 pounds that I have and keeping it off. I went shopping for work clothes the other day and picked up my usual size 12, and then I picked up a size six for kicks. Well the size six actually fit quite nice. I cried in the fitting room, it was the best feeling that I have ever had.
I wanted to share my story with everyone who has struggled with weight in there lives. I never believed I would wear a size six, but I do. Yes I still have weight to lose, but I am so happy with myself. Honestly, if I can do it anyone can. Just make gradual changes and do not get discouraged. You can see above that I did not make any big lifestyle changes that I could not live with. Push yourself and do it for you. It never works if you are doing it for others.
