It was one year ago TODAY that I took a stand and decided to do something about my weight.
Going to the gym a couple of times a week while eating my body weight in California Burritos wasn't working anymore. Well, let's be honest... it never worked. I had never dieted. Ever. I had tried to be "more conscious" of what I was eating at one point when I was 21 but that lasted for about a week... MAYBE a week. I just never cared enough to really do something to change.
Being completely honest, I was comfortable in my role as the "funny fat friend". I used every excuse in the book. I said, on MANY occasions that I will "never be a size 2, it isn't how my body is made". I made countless comments about how it is "unhealthy looking to be that skinny" when referring to girls who were simply healthy. I didn't understand why there were so many "skinny" girls at the gym. I had SO MANY mental blocks about my weight and how a healthy lifestyle could work for me.
So, last in December of 2010, I saw a picture of myself that shocked me. I didn't realize just how big I had gotten. Now, don't get me wrong, I am well aware that I wasn't this morbidly obese person but I was big, too big for my body. I decided that I needed to do something, and fast if I wanted any chance at being healthy.
For the first few weeks of January I kept a journal of everything I ate and how many calories I consumed. I didn't have a goal in mind. I didn't really change any of my eating habits. I simply wanted to be aware of what I was eating. To say that I was appalled would be a gross understatement. On any given day, I could consume 3,000 calories or more. I would eat things without blinking an eye. Like I said, I loves me some California Burritos.
I have some very dear friends that have been incredible successful with the Weight Watchers program so I knew enough about it to know that it was something that I could do. I didn't have to buy a certain food. I didn't have to say goodbye to bread (which let's be honest, I am Portuguese, that ain't happening any time soon). I could eat what I want, I just needed to be more mindful of what it was that I was eating.
So, on January 26, 2011, I took the first step toward a healthier (and a much happier) me. I walked into my very first Weight Watchers meeting and I haven't missed a single meeting! Yes, you read that right! EVERY WEDNESDAY, for the past YEAR... I have gone and weighed in at Weight Watchers.
The leader at the meeting that I attend is unbelievable. She is this little spit-fire of a lady with crazy curly hair and more energy than any one person should have. (To be a leader in WW, you have to have been successful with the program yourself.) She shares stories that have helped her to be successful and stories about when it was really hard for her. She helps you to remember that this is a JOURNEY. It takes time but it is SO worth it.
Since joining Weight Watchers I have also become much more intentional with my work out regime. In the beginning it was because I wanted to earn as many activity points as possible and not use them. It was a game for me. :) The game has become a way of life. I work out 5-7 days a week and feel like an absolute sloth if I go more than a day without being active in some way. In August, I got a trainer and I couldn't be more thankful that I have made that investment. Don't get me wrong, it ain't cheap but I can't think of a better way to spend the little disposable income that I do have. I am smaller, stronger, and healthier than I have ever been in my whole life.
So, here I am, a year later... 34.4 pounds lighter and continuing on the journey. There are days when it isa piece of cake a cake walk easy as pie pretty easy and then there are days that are really tough. BUT... everyday is a NEW day. EVERY DAY I get to make the choices necessary to continue on this journey. Again, I will be honest, some days it is really hard to choose well with my eating... Doughnuts and California Burritos are just too good to resist. BUT, that is the beautiful thing about WW... I CAN have those things... but I just have them about once every 6 months, not 4 times a week. :)
Going to the gym a couple of times a week while eating my body weight in California Burritos wasn't working anymore. Well, let's be honest... it never worked. I had never dieted. Ever. I had tried to be "more conscious" of what I was eating at one point when I was 21 but that lasted for about a week... MAYBE a week. I just never cared enough to really do something to change.
Being completely honest, I was comfortable in my role as the "funny fat friend". I used every excuse in the book. I said, on MANY occasions that I will "never be a size 2, it isn't how my body is made". I made countless comments about how it is "unhealthy looking to be that skinny" when referring to girls who were simply healthy. I didn't understand why there were so many "skinny" girls at the gym. I had SO MANY mental blocks about my weight and how a healthy lifestyle could work for me.
So, last in December of 2010, I saw a picture of myself that shocked me. I didn't realize just how big I had gotten. Now, don't get me wrong, I am well aware that I wasn't this morbidly obese person but I was big, too big for my body. I decided that I needed to do something, and fast if I wanted any chance at being healthy.
For the first few weeks of January I kept a journal of everything I ate and how many calories I consumed. I didn't have a goal in mind. I didn't really change any of my eating habits. I simply wanted to be aware of what I was eating. To say that I was appalled would be a gross understatement. On any given day, I could consume 3,000 calories or more. I would eat things without blinking an eye. Like I said, I loves me some California Burritos.
I have some very dear friends that have been incredible successful with the Weight Watchers program so I knew enough about it to know that it was something that I could do. I didn't have to buy a certain food. I didn't have to say goodbye to bread (which let's be honest, I am Portuguese, that ain't happening any time soon). I could eat what I want, I just needed to be more mindful of what it was that I was eating.
So, on January 26, 2011, I took the first step toward a healthier (and a much happier) me. I walked into my very first Weight Watchers meeting and I haven't missed a single meeting! Yes, you read that right! EVERY WEDNESDAY, for the past YEAR... I have gone and weighed in at Weight Watchers.
The leader at the meeting that I attend is unbelievable. She is this little spit-fire of a lady with crazy curly hair and more energy than any one person should have. (To be a leader in WW, you have to have been successful with the program yourself.) She shares stories that have helped her to be successful and stories about when it was really hard for her. She helps you to remember that this is a JOURNEY. It takes time but it is SO worth it.
Since joining Weight Watchers I have also become much more intentional with my work out regime. In the beginning it was because I wanted to earn as many activity points as possible and not use them. It was a game for me. :) The game has become a way of life. I work out 5-7 days a week and feel like an absolute sloth if I go more than a day without being active in some way. In August, I got a trainer and I couldn't be more thankful that I have made that investment. Don't get me wrong, it ain't cheap but I can't think of a better way to spend the little disposable income that I do have. I am smaller, stronger, and healthier than I have ever been in my whole life.
So, here I am, a year later... 34.4 pounds lighter and continuing on the journey. There are days when it is
