Saturday, September 17, 2011

I ate WHAT?!

When I first started this whole losing weight journey in May of 2009, it was about wanting to look good again. Maybe even an attempt at regaining my youth that was fast disappearing. Oh, I went about it the right way. I changed my daily diet from unhealthy to healthy and added exercise but my motivation was wrong.

And, without the proper motivation, the effort was successful at first. But a huge failure once all was said and done.

It took me nearly one complete year to put all that weight back on. Nearly one full year. Of eating all the wrong (but delicious) foods. ONE. YEAR. You have got to be kidding me.

Somewhere around March of this year, I decided that I simply did not want to be overweight anymore. I didn't want to be unhealthy. I was screaming (inside) that this had to stop! And it did need to stop. The amounts of sugar I was ingesting was probably what 100 people should take in ANNUALLY.

And I'm pretty sure that if that is an exaggeration, it's not much of one.

So I stopped. I decided to go back to healthy. And I thought I'd kickstart the whole thing with my own diet. I called it AssOff and it was, basically, a combination of Suzanne Somers plan and the Atkins plan. Guess what? Fail. Again.

Ok, maybe not a complete fail. But what I did wrong was substitute the sugar (I would buy one of those lovely Carrot Cakes from the grocery store and eat the whole thing by the next day) habit for every food under the sun that didn't have sugar in it. Stupid.

Then my friend Julie, at Healthy, Wealth, and Wise...NOT but learning, mentioned a weight loss challenge-Slimmer this Summer. I thought about it long and hard and thought maybe I shouldn't because I was scared of letting the group down. Debbi (at Debbi Does Dieting), one of the hosts for the challenge (and please check out her recipe blog- nearly all are healthy, low calorie and delicious) said that was the very attitude that would make the challenge work for me. So I signed up. I committed.

And I lost 44 pounds! Woot!

But, I have come to realize that it's more than the weight loss now. It's more than the desire to look better or regain some youth.


Now it's about health. It's about wanting to do more. Be more. Laugh more. Enjoy life more. And live longer. It's also become about the quality of the food itself.

And today, I realized that not only has my outlook changed but I, myself, have changed also. And it's all for the better.

Hubs and I took Mother home today. She's well enough to be at her house and her sister (Aunt Betty) is going to stay with her just for a few days. We had to get something for breakfast from a fast food place so I looked at CalorieKing (there's an app for that) for something with acceptable calories.

When Hubs brought the 'food' back from Bojangles and I held my biscuit in my hand all I felt was grease. THROUGH THE WRAPPER. Are you kidding me?!

I carefully unwrapped the biscuit. I picked off a little piece. I gingerly placed the tiny bite in my mouth. I tasted grease and white flour. I may have thrown up in my mouth a little. D.I.S.G.U.S.T.I.N.G. How in the world had I ever in all my life evereverever eaten anything like this?! I must have been out of my mind.

All that white flour, processed sugar, animal fat, etc. is in the past. And so are any and all cravings for it.

I'm on a new path now. A path to a longer, healthier, more enjoyable life.

And I might be enjoying the fact that my behind is no longer big enough to serve as a table for a tea party.

18 comments:

  1. I know exactly what you mean - I used to regularly eat Burger King's bacon cheese croisant sandwich, with tots and a regular pop nearly every day - and I had to wonder how I got to 210 pounds?!

    I am so proud of how you've done this summer!

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  2. As I've just eaten a small Cadbury Caramel bar (cough, cough) I've not been eating as much as usual and I've noticed a few changes in my stomach. I'm not tracking it right now but I'm just trying to be more aware of portions and staying away from junk. That candy bar was a gift. Good for you. I'm going to get smaller. Just need life to settle for me. Hugs!!!!!

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  3. You are so right about tasting/feeling grease after eating right for a few months. I have no idea how to eat fried foods and if I tried my body tells me afterwards that it was a very stupid idea.

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  4. Biz- Thank you so much! It's been quite a time- that's for sure. I used to love the Burger King chicken sandwiches. And the Whoppers. And the...LOL

    Barb- Staying away from junk was hard to do. But I think I've finally done it. I hope so anyway. Life will settle- all will be fine! I just know it!

    Tracy-My body would do the very same thing and I'm finally at the point where it just isn't worth it!

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  5. Wow, that is so cool. It is funny about how we change and it isn't about how good we look but about how much better we feel.
    I have to say after 3 weeks, I am feeling like my head is clear and I feel so much better. So I know that food does make or break us.
    I am so happy for you.
    It is nice when we get to the place where feeling alive is so much better than eating a cake.
    Good job!

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  6. FG- Well said! Thank you so much! Hope the skunk smell has left!

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  7. It really is amazing what the body gets used to and starts, or stops, craving. 44 pounds!!! That is fantastic. A big congratulations!!

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  8. VV- Thank you so much! I really enjoyed visiting your blog!

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  9. 44 pounds, that's an amazing achievement and that's such a motivating post.

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  10. See I told you, you could do this. I knew that all my faith in you would make you turn into a health nut. This is awesome and I am so proud of you.I am so glad that my journey has helped yours. You have done so well and come so far and have done so great. I love stopping by and seeing what you've done, what you've been up to and what you've change to become the better, healthier, more wonderful you. I am so happy that we found each other. You're amazing.
    Take care and have a blessed weekend.

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  11. Congratulations! You are an inspiration and I am so happy this plan has worked for you. I have the exercise down but my eating habits are awful, that is the next thing I will tackle.

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  12. Wow, 44 lbs, that is great, I always knew you could do it. Fast food is about the worst thing anybody could ever eat when on a diet. COme to think of it, it's pretty yucky all the time. Keep up the good work!

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  13. I think you've really made it when you can look at something you once ate (without thinking) and wonder 'how on earth did I ever enjoy that??' Major accomplishment. Good for you!!

    I look at a box of DOTS, my favorite, and know that they will taste good going down, but then I will feel horrid, have a headache for hours, and be sent into a downward spiral of sugar consumption. Totally not worth it.

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  14. You really should be so proud of yourself after losing all that weight. Well done you! Onwards and upwards, and how wonderful that you don't actually crave for all that sugary bad stuff any more! As you say, it's just as much about eating healthily now. I think you've done so well :D

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  15. You are a STAR! Thank you for sharing this with us. I have been there and am there right now...no, sadly not where you are now, where you were. The before part, not the after part! You are such an inspiration, Pam and you have taken this challenge head on and come out a winner all the way. Well done! I need to get there in my own mind and take those first steps. I know I need to. I know I should. I know I'd be a whole lot healthier for it. I just need to convince myself!

    Again, you have such a wonderful way of expressing yourself. You're able to reach out and touch us all. Just, in my case, you need to clout me around the head a bit!!!

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  16. You have really come a long way and have grown so much in the process. I agree with you, I want to regain some of my youth too!
    So glad your mom is doing well.

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  17. Julie- I know you did! And you are a huge part of my inspiration! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you! Thank you!

    Shawn-Thanks! I should say you do have the exercise down! Running a marathon? Hells yes!

    Alessandra- Yep, and it was hard work. But worth it! Thanks!

    Betty- Thank you! No, it wasn’t always easy. It’s still hard sometimes, but it has gotten so much better! I have to remember that overeating is not a good thing even if I’m overeating healthy food. You are doing great! Woot!

    Judy-I agree! And it only took me 53 years to get here. LOL Thanks!

    Diane- I am proud of myself. But there are quite a lot of pounds yet to get off. I don’t miss the cravings at all! They were terrible! Thanks!

    Desiree- You are too sweet! Thank you! I know exactly where you are. I was there and it took me getting to the point where I was determined. Once you make up your mind, you will be successful.

    Debby- I want to find the fountain of youth! I’ll share if I ever do! LOL Thanks!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! It makes me feel connected to everyone even though we may live far apart! Have a wonderful day!

 
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