I made some new friends recently and when they found me on facebook, they found my weight loss pics. (I went from about 230lbs to about 130 before my third child) I'm always asked "HOW?!?!"
My heart aches for those who's shoes I have been in. Overweight, unhappy, uncomfortable in their own skin. (I know not everyone feels that terrible at a heavier weight, but so many do.)
I used to feel really embarrassed and just trapped. Like I was stuck in this body that was weighing me down! (no pun intended)
So, here's the truth. You are loved. Your Heavenly Father created you and ADORES you. He did not intend for you to live an unhealthy life. It is something you CAN change.... must change. Don't waste time, DON'T.
It was eye-opening to me that I got a call from a producer of The Biggest Loser. He had seen my audition tape and wanted me to come to a final audition! I was over the moon excited!... and Horrified that I was big enough to be chosen. The kicker here is that I had just found out that I was pregnant with my first child so I could not participate. Let's fast forward, two kids and a lot of funfetti cupcakes later, I was miserable about my appearance. I had a talk with my dad and he said some things that really "clicked" for me. Here's one of them, "You've got to look at your food intake as a fuel. Your body NEEDS a certain amount of calories, too much and you've flooded the system (or packed on fat), too little and you can not function properly." So simple. I was "flooding my engine" all day every day. No wonder I felt like poo.
I read one day about how terrible pop is for you (we've all heard it a hundred times). Regular pop is full of calories and so much other crap! Diet is horrible for you! Artificial everything, tries to fool your body, it's just bad. B-A-D!! So, stop drinking it. NOW. This was the first change I made. This was my bottom line, I would not drink pop. None. No matter what else I failed on, this was my one "NO WAY". And you know what, it does something to you. You think more about your choices knowing that you're making one great choice.
So, at over 200lbs I began to get serious. I bought a heart monitor (BEST MONEY I HAVE EVER SPENT). I did the math! Calories in, vs Calories out! Do the math people! You will be stunned by the calories you're intaking. I was one of those people who SWORE that I did not sit around eating junk all day! We have fooled ourselves. We're consuming too much of the WRONG food. Portions are not optional, you have to figure them out. (which is not hard, just kind of annoying)
I went on a 1200 calorie diet and went to the gym everyday for awhile. It's so important to establish a HABIT. You don't have to kill yourself at the gym (or doing a workout at home). I said to myself, "Self, you WILL burn 500 calories before you leave this gym!" And I did. In less than an hour. (I got even more efficient and burned about 600 calories in an hour)
Don't waste your gym time, kick some booty. Get in, worked it hard and get out.
I know I have so much more information to give, but I did want to tell you all that it IS possible, It IS necessary. Don't waste any more time. And please let me just say that motivation is so so so over-rated! It's commitment. You go. Don't feel motivated? Too bad, go anyway. That's how this works.
My Best Friend and I, we've been a good support and enco
uragement for each other!
that really is incredible Heidi!! Have you found any home workout videos that you like, or do you just always go to the gym?
ReplyDeleteheidi, you are such an inspiration! what have you been doing lately, are you still running? you look great!
ReplyDeleteTracy, I did borrow the "Insanity" series from Niki and LOVE it but it is VERY hard! LOL I usually go to the gym, but if I can't make it there I will run around or dance with the kids and I love the Winsor Pilates for at home too.
ReplyDeleteCatie, Thanks so much! I do not run much these days, I love the elliptical and the Arc at the gym. I will usually hop on one of those and bust out 400-500 calories and then hit the weights.
I have done a class at the Y called Y-Box and I LOVE it, then I stay for one called core fusion. It's so nice to switch it up here and there!
Heidi, Thank you for sharing this with me. As you know I am very unhappy with my weight and health right now and I am ready for a change. I started the change when I quit smoking. Now my battle with my weight has just gotten harder. I have my goal and I am bound and determined to reach it. Reading your story gives me so much inspiration.
ReplyDelete