Confession...
As those close to me know, weight is a
struggle for me. I was not heavy as a teen or in my 20s, in fact I
could eat almost anything and not gain! but I slowly gained through
my 30s and beyond. In my early 50s I weighed over 200 lbs. I am
barely 5'3”...so yes I was quite overweight, obese.
That was the end of 2007. in 2008 I
lost between 25-30 lbs. Some crept back over the next couple years,
but I kept off a total of 15 lbs. At the end of 2012, I was back up
over 200 and not happy about it! Not all the way back up to 'morbid
obesity” but definitely in bad shape. I reviewed what I had done in
the past, mistakes & successes, did a lot of reading and research. My budget did not allow
for joining a paid program. But online there is a TON of information,
and some is even reliable! (a lot isn't! One MUST use common sense
and do research. And ignore the TV doctors, who shill for their
advertisers.) I didn't want to “diet.” I wanted to be healthy, to
enjoy my family and to be able to serve God and serve my church for a
long time to come. There is a site called Spark People that I had
used before. It is all free to use. Tracked what I ate, tracked
exercise. There is community support, good recipes. Lots of articles
about motivation, nutrition info. They are ALL about helping people
make good choices to live a healthy lifestyle, which is exactly what I wanted! They have recommended
diets to follow, but with my allergies and general pickyness I worked
out my own plan. Drink plenty of water. Have fruit and veggies at
every meal, whole grains, lower fat, but use olive oil for the
healthy Omega fats it provides. Lots of salads and fresh foods. Savor
what I eat..enjoying the colors and textures, aroma and tastes. And a
bit of chocolate...good quality dark chocolate is OK! That way one
does not feel deprived :)
SO in 2013 I lost 48 lbs ::big smile!::
I felt great, following a healthy lifestyle, for maybe the first time
in my whole life!
This year, 2014 I had hoped/planned to
maintain over the winter and lose the last 15 before my 60th
birthday in October.
Oops.... I didn't quite make it. I
maintained over the winter, but...I have a thing for ice cream. And
after a rough winter I celebrated spring. Some of those 'small
servings, savored' gradually became larger, frequent servings.. and I
wasn't as diligent about exercise. So about 10 lbs crept back. I am
not blaming myself, but learned from the experience! I geared up
in November and even through Thanksgiving stuck to my healthy eating,
and have ramped up the exercise . I am back on the losing track. I am
ready to make 2015 my best year ever. I know that after
years-indeed decades-of failing to care for myself, it's something to
commit to every day! Just as I read Bible passages and a devotion
every single morning, I have to commit to care for myself
in order to help serve God well. I am making 2015 new, as God makes all
things new! Will you join me?
