There's so much that changes when you experience a tremendous weight loss, that I think I'd be selling myself short by just saying, "I lost 75 pounds!". I did more than lose weight: I gained a life. I found my voice, my confidence, and learned that losing weight isn't just about appearances. It's about feeling better, making smarter choices, and being better to myself - taking time for myself. I went from dreading "the mile" at school every year, or any physical activity for that matter, to completing my first Tough Mudder this past July. I've found that I enjoy pushing my own limits, and it's truly amazing what the body can do.
I started to seriously think about what I was doing to myself both physically and emotionally.
By age 20 I had ballooned to 216 pounds and I wasn't feeling very well. I had developed an ulcer from poor food (and beverage) choices and was feeling sluggish all the time. Unfortunately, it wasn't the ulcer that made me change my life. I was getting ready to take a shower one morning, and as I was getting in I caught a glimpse of a purple line on my stomach. A stretch mark. Don't get me wrong, I have tons of stretch marks on my hips and thighs, but they're not purple and they don't look like someone stabbed me. At 20 I really didn't think it belonged there, and I started to seriously think about what I was doing to myself both physically and emotionally.
My friends were great, but, I had to make the commitment first and foremost to myself.
My friends were great, but honestly I wouldn't say it was their influence that helped me succeed. I had to make the commitment first and foremost to myself. After that, my biggest motivator was definitely my clients. I started working at Jenny Craig after I lost about 50 pounds, and I found that being an inspiration to them and helping them achieve their goals was the best support I could've found.
My biggest challenge is a busy schedule. It's difficult to make time to workout, to pack your lunches, or plan your day when you have a lot going on. I was working full-time and going to school full-time with an hour commute each way. It was rough, but I did it!
You have to be realistic about your expectations, and know yourself. Just take one step at a time. If you know you like to eat cookies at night, save some calories and find a healthier alternative for your snack. There's so many creative things you can do with food that there's no reason to feel unsatisfied. Let's be honest, the desire for the cookies isn't going to magically disappear because you started a diet today. Set yourself up for success. And having a tool helps. I have been using MyPlate for years, and I LOVE IT! I would always encourage my clients to journal their food, and this is the best resource I've found to do that. It's so easy to underestimate what you're eating, but this really makes you see what you're putting in your body. It's a great educational resource and tracking system that continues to help me in the maintenance stage.
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