Let me give you some background. I was skinny my whole childhood. I was one of the lucky ones who didnt watch what they ate. Although I always preferred veggies over sweets, calorie counting and exercising never crossed my mind. I was active. I played basketball and marched in the marching band. Anyone who has been in the marching band knows its alot of walking and long days on hot asphalt parking lots practicing. Anyway, long story short, at my high school graduation I was 105 lbs and wore a size 4/5. That was the norm for me. Then my whole life changed.
Right out of high school I got pregant with my oldest son. Don't regret that for a minute. I love being young while my kids are growing up. But with the pregnancy came complications and bed rest for quite some time. I was sick constantly and held nothing down. All of a sudden i was no longer active, sometimes no longer movign much. And by the time I had my son, I weighed 130 lbs. Not bad right. I can handle this. Put on 25 lbs during pregnancy. But guess what, it never went away. Then it built from there. By the time I decided it as time to do something I was 160 lbs. (Thats after another child and 12 years).
About 4 years ago went on a 1000 calorie diet and walked all the time. I was able to drop 30 of those lbs. That took me to 130lbs. But then in the next 3 years I put 15 of those lbs back on. Last Year around the end of November while everyone was talking about pigging out over the holdiays and then starting fresh for the new year I decided I wasn't waiting. So the last week of November, the week of Thanksgiving, I started my journey. And I didnt do it alone. I took my whole family, husband and kids along for the ride. I believe they would all thank me today if they thought about it. But I know they are thankful they all look good! :)
I've told my story how it started, riding a stationary bike, jumping jacks, boxing, push ups, sit ups, walking. Then it evolved to fit club in march and their workouts and P90X. i'm not here to tell you how I got to where I am. I'm here to tell you how I feel now.
Okay, background complete. Now for today.
I am small than I have ever been and I did it the healthy way. People do not realize how much time has gone b y since I started my journey and they ask me, Wow, Size 14 to a size 2. Thats awesome. How long did that take? And when I say almost a year, they frown. It didn't seem that long to them and hey, they expect instant results. I know better. I've worked my butt literally off in the last year and plan on continuing it to stay in shape! I love the way I look and feel that is enough to keep me on the right track.
However, I don't always remember I'm fit now. You may wonder how that is possible. Expecially if you've been smaller your whole life. I still have days I wont put on that form fitting shirt because I feel my fat rolls are hanging out. I still go for the baggy pants over the slimming and skinny jeans. I still feel big in those too. Just because my body has made the adjustment doesnt mean my mind has. I have many moments of insecurity about my figure. Yes my whole childhood i was skinny but my whole adult life, (13 years) I was overweight!
I have not bought any new clothes this last year until recently. I would wear my size 14 pants and tighten a belt around them. most of my shirts are too big. I've recently started collecting some new tee shirts and that was my extent of new clothes. A few weeks ago I decided I was tired of wearing pants that were too big. I went to buy me a new pair. I automatically went for the bigger sizes. I tried on a 5/6 first. Too big. Wow, i was happy. then i tried on a 4. Still too big. What?!?!?! I tried on a size 2. They were even a little loose in the waist but that was as low as I could go. The size zero didnt around my hips. :) So I was shocked. I could wear a size 2. Are you kidding! Even in high school I didnt wear a size two. I rode that thrill for a while.
Then Monday night at fit club a friend took my body fat measurements. She then texted me later the results. 15.4% body fat! I was considered lean! My second suprise thrill for the month. Wow! I was actually lean! Even though there are some days I look in the mirror and still see a size 14. I'm not. And eventually I will make myself understand that. But it takes time.
Point of the story, when someone who has recently or maybe even not so recently acts suprised or thrilled or shocked over how little they are, realize that maybe they aren't seeing what you are seeing. Don't be so quick to judge them and think oh they just want attention or they are showing off. Because most of the time we are oblivious to how they really look. The mind is a funny thing.
I've posted a picture of myself in Jan 2011 (that was after we worked out 3 months) next to myself last month. It really shows how far I've come just this year. I wish I still had my picture from when i started in Nov. But I have lost it somehow.
I hope that my story and my success will motivate everyone who reads this. Its pretty simple. Decide. Committ. Suceed.
It is true what they say though, it starts in the kitchen. Don't just eat low calories. Eat the calories that are good for your body.
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