Transformation Tuesday

I was the type of girl who had a great personality, was funny, liked by everyone (except myself), and was a great friend. I was the girl that no guy seriously wanted to date (until I met my hubby who loved me fat and thinner.. thank you baby!) and I was a disposable friend to the girls. I was fine with all of this during high school, during the beginning of college, and until I met my husband. When I met my husband, I had realized how unhealthy I really was. I looked at those wedding pictures, honeymoon pictures, and realized how much I had gained. I realized how fat I really was. I was 293 pounds and per my doctors (and family history) I was on the road to having diabetes, hypertension, heart problems, etc. Thankfully, none of these problems had hit yet.

I had tried every fad diet known to man and even succeeded at some of them. After I succeeded, I would gain the weight back, plus a few friends. It was a vicious cycle I was entering in. My body was beginning to feel the weight (literally), my knees were hurting, and I sounded like a TRex while breathing at night! I scared myself and my husband.
December 28, 2010 I had the Route En Y Gastric Bypass surgery. My life was forever changed from that day forward. This wasn’t a fad diet that I could gain weight back from (even though you really can gain the weight back but it wasn’t an option for me), this was a permanent life change. From then on I worked out consistently, found a great gym that I took boot camp classes at regularly, and hired a personal trainer. I lost 110# and found out I was pregnant.

So to answer your question, that is why I started my weight loss process. I did it for myself so that I could be a better person, I could not suffer from one of the many diseases that weight helps with, so I could be a better person and not let my weight hold me back from living my life. I also did it for my husband and that we could have a successful life together. Lastly (and really first) was for my future family. I was terrified I wasn’t going to be able to have children and if I did, what kind of example would I be? Certainly not a healthy one.

There are so many reasons to start a weight loss anything, the point is to just start it!

Don’t quit. Take each day at a time and do the best you can each day. It took us however long to gain the weight and it def. won’t come off overnight (especially with those fad diets!). Enjoy the journey because it is a journey. Enjoy the new exercises you can do, the way your body will change, the new you! Start with small changes that can be included in your life for the long haul.

I tell everyone to also make a bucket list when you start your journey. Include everything you want to do and everything you never thought you could do with being heavier. My list included everything from loosing 5,10,15+#, shop in normal stores, be able to run, and even ride a horse. Then watch and enjoy as you start to cross off each thing off the list.

My biggest challenge was actually going to the gym and making conscious decision to do better. None of it is easy. Of course eating that double cheeseburger from McDonald’s is faster, easier, and sometimes tastier than having a salad. If I didn’t find something fun at the gym, like my boot camp classes, then I am not sure I would have stuck with it for so long. I had to learn to incorporate the changes into my routine slowly. I had to learn to do simple things like have a gym bag packed in my car before work so I could head to the gym after work, without stopping at home.