Workin' At It

When you've been heavy your whole adult life, it becomes very challenging to try to lose weight to avoid obesity related health issues. I had some digestive problems in May and June of this year, and I was tired of looking and feeling heavy like I was, so I decided to make a few changes to see where they took me. I became a vegetarian and have followed a low-fat, low-sugar plan. I dropped 12 lbs very quickly and it felt great! Then the next week I only lost a pound. I was just relieved I didn't gain! I have slowly taken-off 58 lbs since June. I look and feel much better.

People are so kind when they comment! They make sincere remarks about what a great job I am doing, and smile and nod when I say how difficult it is. But they have no idea! Skinny people can't begin to fathom how hard it is for a big person to lose weight. To think about every morsel of food I put in my mouth is mentally exhausting. The exercise is physically exhausting. This has been the biggest personal challenge I've undertaken thus far in my life.

I still have a long way to go to my goal weight. Just like addicts every where I take it "one day at a time." I have this fear that I won't have the strength to keep it going, but then someone will say, "Wow! You look great!" Or I look at my children and think about what kind of example I want to set for them. Then I smile and think to myself, "You can do it!"