3/19/2011

Today I weighed in and I gained three lbs and I'm trying not to be hard on myself but I need to work on getting enough calories in and when I do eat off of the Jenny Craig program to log what I ate. Also I need to make sure that I'm getting enough water in throughout the day. So I know that I have to get back on track and I need to start wearing my special bracelet that my sister started for me. Every 10lbs that I lose I get a new charm but I haven't been wearing it because it's to big on me now and one of the charms is messed up a bit. So tomorrow I'll have my dad remeasure my wrist and then I'll order a new bracelet and then I'll transfer the charms. I have to keep finding new things to keep me going on this journey because I feel that I'll never lose over 100lbs and I guess I need to stop looking at the big picture and take it in smaller doses. I talked to this woman today at Jenny that lost over 100lbs and she's still working towards her goal so we're going to motivate one another this week. It's just great to have someone to look to who's been down this journey and to ask questions. For me it's more just being able to ask how she's been able to keep going on her journey. The other issue that I'm having is that my mind still needs to catch up with my body and even tho I've lost 45lbs and everyone who hasn't seen me in awhile tells me I look great but I still feel like that fat girl and that I still have those 45lbs on me. I know that this is a journey and some day I'll see the end of it but its just rough at times. I prefer the ups to the downs and the other thing that I've noticed is that I've become more vulnerable and that I'm talking about issues instead of eating through them. My mom and I were talking about an issue that was still bugging both of us but it was nice to sit down with her this morning and talk about it. I know that this week will be better!!!

3/14/2011

I had a friend ask me today about her friend who wants to lose weight. It's great that I have UK friends reading my blog on Facebook. So here's some more information about the beginning of my journey. When I started August 25, 2010 I weighed in at 315lbs and now I've lost 45lbs. The way the program works is every week I weigh in and there have been weeks where my weight has gone up or I've plateaued. So the next week I work harder at my journey and the best way to look at it for me is that it's not a DIET but a lifestyle change. If you're starting your journey you should know that you will have to exercise and work at it. The other thing that my consultant and I have done is have me sign the board when I've lost a certain amount of weight. The fun one for me to sign was the 40lb loss and then I say goodbye to it. So I've said by to the 300's, 290's, 280's and very soon I'll be saying bye to the 270's. The best place to start is in the pool and then I worked my way to cardio. You'll also want to add strength training which I hate but I need to start working on. The other part is what you eat and it's easy for me because Jenny Craig has prepackaged meals. For me it works out great because I don't like to cook and portions are a challenge for me still but Jenny takes care of the cooking and portions. Another thing that has been very important is having as much support around you as possible. I hope this has helped or inpired someone to get off the couch and start. So good luck and just know that this won't be easy but it's so worth all of the hard work.

Another topic that I wanted to talk about is I was watching Too Fat For Fifteen yesterday that I had recorded. If you haven't seen the show it's a school and program for children who need to lose weight. There is a 15 year old on there who weighed in at 511lbs and I was amazed to see these children so obese and it makes me realize the we as a nation need to make changes. I remember growing up as an obese child. When I was an obese kid I was teased and bullied in school and this show brings up some of those memories from when I was younger. I really feel for these kids because I know what its like. I'm just happy to see that there are schools out there for obese children and they're able to learn healthy eating habits. I look back now and wish I had taken advantage of an opportunity in middle school that I passed up. My middle school P.E. teacher offered to take me with her every morning to the gym. She could see that I wanted to lose weight. She saw that I lacked confidence but that I wanted to try but wouldn't because I was scared to think of what others would say or think. So I'm very proud of these teenagers for changing their lives and making the change.

My story

I have decided to start a blog about my weight loss journey and to inspire others to lose weight and become healthy. I have Ehlers Danlos syndrome and fibromyalgia which have put some limitations on me but I fight both syndromes with diet and exercise. On 8/25/2010 I decided to join Jenny Craig as a last ditch effort to lose weight or I was going to look into having the lap band surgery. I have struggled with my weight since I can remember and have been on and off diets since I was 10 years old. At 10 years old my mom and I joined Weight Watchers and I remember being the youngest one there and being so embarrassed. From then on I've been on and off fad diets for years but when I was a senior in high school I hit my heaviest at 350lbs. I then lost some weight that summer because I was uncomfortable in my own skin. So when I started college I decided to join a gym and I met a very special person who I spent 5 years with and we had good and bad times but it ended this past Jun for good. When we were dating we would eat out or he'd cook fattening meals and I'd gain weight and then lose it back and forth. But June 25th I had to have my gallbladder taken out. I figured that I could still eat the same after having my gallbladder taken out but I soon realized that I couldn't go back to my old eating habits. I found that I couldn't eat dairy and anything with fat in it sent me to the bathroom. So I was sent to meet with a gastroenterologist and he took a look at me and asked what I had been eating and what upset my stomach the most and little did I know he'd put me on a very low fat and nondairy diet for two weeks. He also talked to me about my weight and that I needed to lose weight. Well I had seen a commercial  for Jenny Craig earlier that day so I decided that after my appointment I would go over to Jenny Craig and just talk to someone and get information. Well little did I know that my life was about to change and that I'd lose 45lbs in six months. I have had moments where I just want to quit and it's not easy but I know that I'm changing my life for the better. I have also had another surgery to remove my tonsils and that was a rough surgery and recovery. Then a few weeks after I had my tonsils out I had a kidney infection and was in the worst pain of my life. I just wanted to quit and be done with the program but my consultant of course wouldn't let me quit. I really can't go through this journey without my Jenny Craig consultant and having the support. So my advise to someone who is about to start their journey is find what works for you, stick to it through the ups and downs and that it's a lifestyle change. I still have a long journey ahead of me but I'm so proud of myself and for sticking with this journey instead of going with the lap band.