Hello good friends! Happy Friday to you!
I have to work all day tomorrow so it doesn’t feel like much of a Friday to me! Sorry for the lack of posting this week. Things at my full-time job have been crazy busy!
Last week, for some reason, I had the urge to go through an old box of photos I had in my basement, you know, real photos, not digital on the computer? Fortunately, at some point I had organized most of these photos by date and occasion so I knew what I was looking at. I could not believe how many different sizes I was in these pictures. I really have road the ups and downs of weight loss over the years, and I’m only almost 30! It really got me thinking about this roller coaster ride of weight loss that I’ve been on and I thought I’d share it with you. So sit back and relax, it’s a long and bumpy ride.
Where it all began: Age 8
You know how some people say, “I’ve been heavy all my life” I guess that could have been me. My mom claims that when I was in 2nd grade I went through a huge “growth spurt.” She was concerned because it affected my weight. She asked my pediatrician about it and he said not to worry about it. I don’t really know what I weighed then. I do remember that it was really hard to find clothes that fit me. I hated shopping, it was painful and sad. I also remember that I could REALLY eat! My dad LOVED (and still does) to eat. I learned a lot of my eating habits from him. On Sunday’s we would go out to breakfast after church. I would order the Peddler’s Special which was 2 eggs, toast or pancakes, hash browns, and choice of meat and eat it ALL! I got teased a lot in school for being over weight. Despite not being able to wear the latest 80′s fashion and some teasing I was a pretty happy girl. I loved to read and to play with Barbie’s. I could sit in my room for hours doing either. We lived in the country on a gravel road. If we wanted to ride our bikes (which I didn’t) we could go left to a dead-end or right to a scary, curvy, hilly, county highway which I still don’t like riding my bike on to this day. So there you have it, I was your classic overweight, sedentary child. But I was a happy one and didn’t feel the need to change.
The Straw that Broke the Camel’s Back! Age 14
At the beginning of 8th grade a friend of our family’s asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. We went to visit them and get measured for my dress. My mom and I were shocked and aghast when the seamstress said we would have to pay extra because we needed to order the “extended size” I don’t remember what exactly went through my mind but that was definitely a changing point. I’m sure that tears were shed and my mother (God bless her!) said we have to do something. I remember thinking on the way home that this was it, was going to change. We stopped at a fast food place on the way home my mom encouraged me to order something “healthy” my response was, “Can’t I just have FUN this one last time?” That was a huge part of my problem. I saw food and eating as “fun.”
When we got home my mom checked out Weight Watchers and signed me up, I weighed in at 180lbs, I was only 14 years old. I don’t remember too much about the program at the time. I do remember that they had a “Jump Start” program where you followed exact menus for 2 weeks. The first week I followed the program I lost 5lbs! I think my mom and I both cried and I was hooked! Like I said I don’t remember exactly what they taught us about eating, I fairly certain it included eating more fruit and veggies. I HATED veggies! I never ate salad up until this point. I know I started exercising by doing step-aerobics in our kitchen. Every day after school I’d come home, roll the kitchen table away, and turn on a little Jane Fonda (I’m totally serious here!). I also remember that here is where the feelings of guilt crept in. If I didn’t exercise I felt so terrible. If I didn’t feel like exercising I did it any way. If my mom needed the kitchen for something after school I got really mad! Whatever it was I did it worked. By the time my bridesmaid dress came in it was WAY too big! My mom had to pay someone to take it in. Clearly I was becoming successful at losing weight. Little did I know that this was only the beginning of my journey!
Stay tuned for part 2!
Well, I’ve got a wild night planned for myself! The husband is away having a boys weekend. My night includes, tofu, red wine, and Ti-Vo!
