I had one of these "kits" when I was 10. My best friend Cathy had a baton.
She had I would get together on my front lawn and pretend we were Olympic 'ribbonists' and 'twirlers'. Then one day, she made me mad, so I shoved her baton between the grills of the sewer grate in front of my house and watched it fall into the storm water below.
She didn't talk to me for three days after that. I honestly can't remember what she did that made me so angry. I see her next month for a lunch date. I should ask.
Monday, I stood on the scale and 277.2 flashed back at me. Now hang on, don't gasp. I used to weigh 318. Okay, now you can gasp.
Go on. It's okay.
Oh, and the trolls can make all the fat jokes they want, I pay it no mind.
It takes a lot of courage to tell a bunch of strangers about your diet journey. For many people, it's a personal matter. I'm more open. Although it's not easy to tell people how much you used to weigh.
The last recorded weight for me at the doctor's office was 318 on August 18, 2011.
But I don't focus on numbers. I've been on this journey way too many times and have travelled up and down the scale that I've learned to not let the scale be my Lord and Saviour.
So, that's where I am at right now. Still car-less (which is why the weight is dropping off), still sugar-less (my husband was diagnosed with diabetes, a condition he inherited in December 2010) and walking 25 kilometres a week (not by choice, the kid has to get to the sitter's and I need to catch a bus). I eat between 1200 and 1800 calories a day, try to maintain a 40-50% carb to 25-35% protein to 20-30% fat ratio and consume less than 25 grams of sugar daily ( <- br="" challenging="" everything="" in="" is="" it="" seems="" sugar="" this="">
I'm not an emotional eater. I don't blame genetics, or my parents, or stress, or television, or fast food, or my sedentary career (even though these are factors, they're not excuses). I'm an impulsive eater. I get something in my head and I need to eat it. Before my husband was forced to make the lifestyle changes he's made, we were each other's own worst enemies. We were food buddies. We ate our way across Canada together, I like to say. But all good things come to an end.
I'm always afraid I'm going to jinx myself if I write about my weight loss and it's a fear I need to overcome. The only person who can jinx this success is myself.
One of the tools I've been finding helpful, coupled with forced exercise, is this app I downloaded called MyNetDiary. My husband finds it sucks on the iPhone but it works great on my Samsung.
What I really want to get my hands on is a FitBit. A woman I know via Facebook credits her 150+ weight loss to using the program (along with a rigorous exercise regime that puts my walking to shame). I find there's value in feeling in control of what you put in your mouth.
I'll update again in a few months.
15 comments:
It's good you've made the changes you did. Sounds like you were on a very dangerous path to an early death or diabetes yourself.
Weighing 318 pounds is dangerous. Even this weight loss, you're still at a BMI of 50+
I think it's great you're doing this but you really should consider something with more steadfast results.
My mom had a lapband done in 2009. She weighs 140 today, down from 362. She was a miserable person. Now she's amazing. The weight loss is faster and the band helps much more with control than an app.
I'm not trying to be negative but if it's taken you almost two years to lose 40 pounds, it will take you the same to lose another 40. You could develop diabetes or heart disease by then.
Love my fit bit - just google on line - can also get a scale to go with it. I use it to make sure I get my 10,000 steps a day.
Hi!
I'm sorry your mom was miserable. I'm glad she's happier with herself.
Weight has never affected my self-esteem, so I'm okay in that department.
Of course I worry about all the potentially bad things. I already battle a life-long disease - asthma - so I'm no stranger to life-threatening conditions.
Right now, aside from a high BMI, a recent visit with my doctor has determined I don't need weight loss surgery. My life is not in danger. He doesn't consider me a candidate as there's nothing about me psychologically or medically that shows I'd benefit from surgery.
I feel better than I ever have in the last 10 years. I'm not ruling out surgery. I just don't think I need it at this time but thank you for sharing your concerns. I appreciate it.
Lap band, gastric by-pass are risky procedures that ARE NOT fool proof. They are tools. In the end, it's gonna come down to your relationship with food.
If you don't fix your relationship with food, those procedures can eventually lead to patients developing depression or becoming alcoholics. This is fact.
I'm no expert but obesity can also lead to depression and alcoholism.
My mom had great success with lap band. Don't shit on me for sharing.
I don't feel that's the case here, anon.
Again, thank you everyone for the surgery/lap band discussion. Let's leave it as a personal choice. M'kay?
Thanks
Good job, CJ. I haven't been on a scale in about four years. I have noticed that my pants are fitting better so I figure I'm down a few pounds. I cut out potato chips. That's my downfall.
Keep up the great work!
Thanks Bicky!
Congrats CJ!
As an FYI: I looked into the fitbit and I know people who swear by it, so it does work. If you have the discipline to actually use it. Which is something I am not too certain I have.
Also, there are 2 different ones on the market. One at Amazon for 60 (not too certain what it is at the Apple Store) and one for 100. The more expensive one does everything the $60 does as well as track sleep patterns. But I know people who have it and if you do not move around when you are awake, it doesn't register.
Something to consider. Myself, when I make the plunge (and it will happen by end of summer I think) I am getting the pink ($60) one.
I love my Fitbit! I recommend the One, not the band or the Zip. The band is inaccurate (based on friends claims) and the Zip is too bulky for me. I clip my One to my bra everyday and it auto syncs to my phone via Bluetooth. Beware of buying it from the Fitbit website, you'll get hit with duties when it arrives.
And I find the MyFitnessPal App/Website to be the best.
Should I buy from Amazon?
Bravo CJ for being so transparent. As a guy, I'm never ashamed to announce what I weigh (or what I think I weigh, as I only get on a scale about twice/year)...currently I think it's about 215 lbs.
My vice is beer...I enjoy them more than I should, I suspect. I know the calories are bad, but it tastes so good!!!
Have you seen this movie?
http://www.hungryforchange.tv/
Changed the way I think about food and that has helped me huge. I just don't eat anything processed and buy meat and veggies from local shops. After the first 2 weeks I didn't crave the foods I had craved for 35 years that were packed with sugar, high fructose corn syrup and carbs. The weight started falling off and I feel better now then I did in my 20's.
I've cut out so much junk it's amazing how different I feel.
Matt, mmmmm....beeeeeeeeerr...aghghghghghghhghg!
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