"85% of people who go on a diet without behavioral support gain the weight back within 2 years." Dr. Wayne Scott Andersen from his book, Dr. A's Habits of Health (2008).
I cringe at this photo
Have you ever thought about who you are...what your purpose is in this world? I think as we get older, we all do. Yesterday began my 64th trip around the sun. I found myself thinking...or overthinking, as the case may be. I found myself feeling a sense of peace. While my parents used to dread another birthday, I am embracing getting older; especially, since we are never guaranteed a day on this planet.
I have been a teacher for the last 15 years for special needs children. And while, I do believe that is part of my purpose, I am finding another one...to help others become healthy. In 2022, I found myself in the position of getting a 2nd divorce. I did not want it but financially, I had to do it. While it mitigated a lot of damage, it didn't mitigate it all. I'm okay with that. I got out as quickly as I could once I saw the handwriting on the wall. But here's the thing; something inside of me knew I had to make a change; a change in my health. I was now alone, and no one was going to rescue me.
On Thanksgiving of 2022, I decided that I would lose the weight I had longed to lose for so long. I have struggled with my weight for over 20 years. I could no longer refer to this as "baby weight" since my baby was 26 years old! And so, I read up on plans. There are so many out there, it is confusing. I did see someone on a television news show, and her plan was touted a phenomenal. She was also in the healthcare profession. I spoke to her and paid close to $700. I promised myself I would do it. Then she sent me the program. While I stuck with it for 2 weeks, it was a bariatric diet without the benefit of the surgery. It truly was not sustainable for me. While I had paid a large sum of money, I chalked it up to one more failed program. But I wasn't ready to quit.
I went to a friend's Christmas party where several women had lost a lot of weight. They were on a program that I had used with success in the past. However, my former husband always managed to sabotage my weight loss efforts, and this was no different. This time, I was on my own. I was calling the shots. And I signed on with a weight loss coach and purchased the fuelings.
While not cheap, I determined that losing the weight was worth budgeting my money differently. I did not need a manicure and pedicure every two weeks. I did not have to go out to dinner weekly. And I certainly didn't need to buy anymore plus-sized clothing. No, I was ready for this change.
I will be honest; the first two weeks were hard. It was the holiday season and yes, I did indulge in a cocktail here or there. But when I "confessed" to my weight loss coach, she asked me quite bluntly, "Do you really want to lose the weight?" Yes! Of course I did. But I did hesitate for a second. Losing weight meant, at least temporarily, giving up cocktails. Could I do that? Yes! It meant meal prepping...could I do that? Well, I didn't know about for a whole week, but I could definitely cook enough for 2 or 3 days and then cook again. I can eat salads and veggies. Could I eat their fuelings every 2 1/2 hours? Yes, I could do this.
And so, I did. Not perfectly but I did it. If I stumbled, I picked myself right up and did it again. The thing is, with this program, if you stumble, it is that much harder to get back up. Realizing that, I spent several months without eating anything off program. And it paid off! I lost 65 pounds in a year! While not at my goal (I have another 30-40 pounds until I am finished), I know it is attainable.
While in the past, I always wanted the weight off quickly, I never thought about that during this program. You do lose roughly 10 pounds a month but more importantly, taking a year to lose weight really did change my eating habits. Whereas, in the past I didn't know where to start, I now had a beginning. And I have an end in sight. for the weight loss but, not my health journey.
I have also discovered that I want to help people reach their health goals. This journey is not about looking better, though I suppose you could say that is a side-effect. This is about living your life the best way that you can. I have 16 steps in my house, and I don't know how I even walked them with the 65 extra pounds. I do know, I limited going up and down to once per day; going to work and home. And if I needed to go to the grocery store, I bought my food on the way home from work. Now, I go up and down those stairs several times a day without a thought. And my knees do not feel like they are bone on bone. That discomfort and fear of knee replacements is gone.
While many people are content with their weight, there are some that are not. You are the ones that I am addressing today. If you would like help reaching your health and wellness goals, send me an e-mail at amazinggrace490@gmail.com
