About me
I feel like I should start by saying that I'm very new to this. Please be patient with me. Also, If you have any suggestions please let me know. I am starting this blog to try to help other people in the struggle with weight loss.
What my posts are going to be about are my struggles and triumphs, what works for me and what doesn't, and anything else I feel like telling you. :) Basically my day to day. I hope I help someone :)
I lost my mom a year ago in May. (5-2-12) The loss of my mother was devastating to me. I seriously felt that I didn't care if my life continued. I didn't do anything. Sitting on the couch and eating was all I did. Getting off of the couch to go to the kitchen to get something to eat would wind me to the point where I would have to stop to catch my breath. Needless to say, I packed on the pounds. I was up to 348 pounds. While sitting on the couch one day, I started having trouble breathing. I came to the realization that I wasn't going to live much longer. That is when my boys and my husband popped into my head. Realizing that if I passed away, I would be doing to them what I was going through. I couldn't bare the fact of hurting them the way I was hurting. I immediately got off the couch and put on some loose fitting clothes. (I could no longer fit it most of my clothes) The largest pair of pants I had was a 26 and I couldn't close them anymore. Well back to where I was lol.... I got off the couch, got dressed and walked over to the cemetery across the street from where I live. I downloaded a fitness tracker and walked around the inside of the cemetery. It was only 0.07 miles, but I thought I was going to die. It was such a struggle to walk that far. I felt that it was such a huge accomplishment.... It was a huge accomplishment! That was the beginning of my life change. I will never say that I am dieting, because I'm not. I have changed my life in all aspects of it. Diets don't work!
I also want to tell you that I DO NOT take any weight loss aids. I refuse to take them. I have been told that you need to loose the weight the way you want to keep it off. I don't want to have to continue throwing my money away on weight loss products and depending on them for the rest of my life. I use good old fashioned portion control and exercise. Portion control is very very important. Read those labels!!
My husband and my boys are my biggest supporters and they are so proud of me. I couldn't have done it without them. (Thank you Brandon, Troy and Gene. I love you with all of my heart)
My journey started eight months ago. I joined TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) a month after that. Having to be accountable to the scale at TOPS every week keeps me going. The support I receive from the other members is truly irreplaceable as well. As I said before my starting weight was 348 pounds. Today I weigh 230.5 pounds. That is a weigh loss of 117.5 pounds. My goal weight is 160 pounds which means I have 70.5 pounds to lose to reach my goal. There is no doubt in my mind that I will do it. Nothing will stop me. I am one determined SOB. lol
When I started, I walked 0.07 miles. I am now walking 2-3 miles more than 4 times a week. Walking is still hard for me because of my back and leg problems, but I no longer use that as an excuse. ( I broke my back twice and now have nerve problems and several other conditions that hinder me. I push through it now. As the Marines say.... Pain is weakness leaving the body.) I can and will do anything I set my mind to. Having a positive attitude, not making excuses and never giving up will get you where you want to be.
Many people have said that I am starving myself or making myself "getting rid of" things I eat. I promise you that none of that is true. I eat whatever I want. Moderation is the key. I even eat chocolate! I actually enjoy food so much more now than I did before. I don't refuse myself anything. I eat chips, chocolate, candy, cupcakes........ I just don't eat a lot of them. For example, If I want a cupcake, I will cut it in half and only eat half of it.
Thank you for listening to me. If you want to talk to me, please feel free to do so. My email address is sparks4166@gmail.com. :)
