Friday, February 10, 2012

The Anniversary of Weighing in My Life



I tend to not blog much. This is still a diary of a Mad Fat Woman and I'm still mad and fat. Today, I visit on a special day, February 11th. Every year, I celebrate the official day of my Weight Watcher's anniversary which was the foundation for my weight loss and healthy lifestyle.

Originally gifted by my mother in 2004 at Christmas, I was supposed to join Weight Watchers like the other resolutioners in January. Instead, I sat for over a month and dreaded the member registration. I tried not to look but the all-business like elderly lady informed me my weight was 199 and here is my booklet. Just like that I left and couldn't wait to get home to wallow in self pity. I wonder how many women across American leave Weight Watcher's only to go home in tears. I would have probably paid for a therapist that day but like many occasions in my life disappointment was nothing new and I dealt with it on my own. I should have been proud as I had lost 25lbs during the following two years on my own but at the time I felt like my entire life closed in on me.





(Highest weight 224lbs in 2003 TOP
Weight Watcher's weight 199lbs in 2005 BOTTOM)

Fast forward to 2012, I lost almost 50lbs since then, plateau'd (stayed about this on average see pic below in raspberry dress)


and then regained almost 30lbs back. Way to go right? So I learned a very difficult lesson, basically it sucks to lose weight and then gain any of it back. Like IT REALLY SUCKS TO LOSE WEIGHT AND GAIN IT BACK. After many episodes of gym and running burn out and not losing like I should I knew I needed a different approach.

(No this is not an old before pic this was last year in 2011. Look I can't even look at the camera so humiliated)



I needed to get my diet in check. I've always been extremely committed to my workouts so I knew I should focus on my diet and figure that out. Once I contributed 100 percent of me to my diet I succeeded in losing my "regained weight" within the last year. I felt normal and relieved but also highly disappointed in myself. I feared I could fail again. In fact the fear has increased intensely. But before I visit fear I will state the positives. I did quit drinking tremendously and cut down drastically on fast food. This is good for my wallet and my waist. I pay attention to the ingredients in food and more selective attempting to reduce as many additives and preservatives as possible. I'm not scared to lift heavy and hard. My skin has cleared up and my energy levels have increased.

Now back to fear. Fear is a funny word that can make us or break us but we have to know the right amount of fear. Fear can keep us in check. For instance I fear the scale. The scale has caused meltdowns. I am currently working on breaking my fear and negative association with the scale. Ultimately, where I am today is trying to balance fear. I have realized the fear associated with gaining weight has made me manic and compulsive, especially over the last year. I fear eating in front of others based on opinions for instance if someone were going to say, "I thought you are on a diet" and the same goes for facebook. I have decided not to post some pictures for the simple fact I feel like someone is going to criticize my food and tell me I should not be eating that if I want to be skinny. In a sense I have created a monster. Food has affected my relationships. I don't like hanging out with friends because I know it will tempt me into cheating and break me away from my diet protocol. My relationship has suffered with my boyfriend. He doesn't know when to help and when to back off. Ultimately, my relationship with myself and food has declined to the point of obsessive compulsive. I am constantly depressed worrying about being Fat. In fact I wake up some days feeling like that 200lb girl and have to look in the mirror. At times I look in the mirror and wonder if its playing tricks on me. I even ask my boyfriend if he is seeing what I am seeing. Some may read and think what I'm saying is absurd but it's true. I drive myself crazy counting calories, weighing food, planning meals, grocery shopping, deciding how and what to eat out, trying to control hunger and temptations that now it is to the point of insanity. Yes, I have cried in restaurants.
(This is when I feel like She-Ra. I feel sexy, fit and proud.)

(Feb 11, 2012 . No I didn't gain any weight just not exactly happy...exhausted been under the weather not much gym time, not feeling sexy or fit. I'm not in the mood to flex or suck it in. )

I fear I will never get to goal and I'm exhausted. I spend hours late at night reading on diet and nutrition, figuring out protein counts, calorie cycling/zig-zagging, workouts, temporary diets that somehow end with a meltdown here and there sometimes followed by a binge. Seven years later I'm still at war with my body. I mean no one should have to live in an emotional battlefield with food and their head. I analyze every body part. I will spare you the physical description (over critical analysis) of every body part I hate. The only positive that helps me see over the horizon is that I have come a long way. Losing weight is a journey and an emotional roller coaster. I have to save those dread old pictures and remind myself every day is progress whether it is a step forward or backward. I just have to remember to keep moving and try to stay on course as much as possible. There is no easy fix and I know I will just have to take it step by step. Thanks for reading and I'm hoping for a successful healthy happy year!

"We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated."
~ Maya Angelou



5 comments:

Kristen Marie (Kryss) Shane, MSW, LSW, LMSW said...

Oh honey... I am so proud of you for your journey not because of what size is on your labels but because of the inner strength you've built and continue to build.

Know that I will never judge what you eat, how you eat, or whether you eat.

Someday I know you'll conquer these inner demons who whisper lies about your body that you're not yet ready to beat into silence and I can't wait for you to finally see the gorgeous woman the rest of us do.

Alicia C. said...

You are beautiful, you always have been. Inside and out. Your honesty is one of the most beautiful things about you. I too have always struggled with my weight. I am the heaviest now I have ever been in my life at 201 lbs. I still think I am beautiful but I don't feel so great. You are one of my inspirations and continue to motivate me to be better. I told you years ago to write a book. I still think you should write a book, you are such a great writer. You are very candid and have a great sense of humor, and so many people would be inspired. Keep smiling and live your life sis. With Love ~

Malicia or "lee" said...

Ohh my. These are both huge compliments coming from two strong women I admire. Thank you both for your words as they mean the world to me. Most of the time when I type out to the world I am just thinking out loud trying to figure things out myself. We cannot and will not be defeated.

Unknown said...

honestly you should be proud of yourself!!! you have obviously come a long way. I on the other hand have struggled with my weight since I met my ex husband 25 years ago. I WAS a size 9/10 and I gained massive amounts of weight starting with 100 lbs with my first pregnancy, 60 with my 2nd and another 60 with my 3rd!! I gained even more weight when I was in the hospital after i had brain surgery and I have sleep apnea and now I have chronic pain making it impossible to exercise so the best I have done is cut out all sugar and fat, don't eat a lot of starchy foods, weigh my food and log it online on myfitnesspal every day and I really do not stray or cheat. I have cheated twice since starting 3 months ago but I have only lost about 10 lbs and maybe 1 pants size? The noticeable thing is when i went to the doctor, my blood pressure was down (not that it was ever that high) and my cholesterol and blood sugar is really good, so I suppose this is having a positive impact. I DO get discouraged though because I have about 250 lbs to lose to be what doctors say a healthy weight for my height and frame is. I know you don't know me and sorry for hi jacking your comments but I was inspired by your blog and wanted to tell you that you should be proud of what you have accomplished :)

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