I always knew it was possible. My favorite word in the English language is BELIEVE. I always believed there was a way. For almost 30 years I have wanted to lose the weight I gained in my early twenties. Every single year for a New's Years Resolution, I would say." I am going to take off the weight." I meant it. I made plans. I would try so hard to work the plans or programs I joined. I have always been active. I love the outdoors! However, I did find it a struggle 15 years ago when we moved to Florida due to the climate change of long never ending summers and unbearable humidity. I tried to go the gym but the smell, the sweating ( other people's :) was a turn off for me. I find gym's intimidating and uninspiring. Give me a dog to walk and the great outdoors and I am a happy girl. However, I still couldn't take off this excess weight because we all know you can't out exercise the damage you do in the kitchen!
Anyone who has struggled with a lot of excess pounds understands the daunting overwhelming task of taking off a lot of weight. While, I consider myself successful in career, marriage and many other things, the path to a permanent healthy lifestyle change and weight loss eluded me. It wasn't like I didn't work on it. I did! I tried it all. I MEAN all. I won't go into it here but it will be on another post on another day. The one thing I did consistently over the past 10 years was work on MY BRAIN and belief system. I figured out that my over eating was bad habits and not food addiction. I also knew that the brain could be re programmed out of bad habits but I couldn't for the life of me figure how to put that knowledge and belief into action.
September 4th 2019 is a day that I will never forget. A friend called and told me she had joined WW ( formerly Weight Watchers) she said she could give me a link for a free month. Here is what I said to her. " I will join because I am at the end of my rope. I am considering going to Mexico for weight loss surgery. I don't think I will actually do it but I will join." I joined, I downloaded the APP and I started scanning my usual foods. I was SHOCKED. Keep in mind, I am a Registered Nurse and I understand nutrition. I have read dozens and dozens of books on weight loss, yet I still failed miserably for 30 years. There was something about scanning before I ate that forced me to stop and make a decision that wasn't emotionally based. It was math, it was business. It became a project. After 30 years, I finally found a system and a program that works for me! I had gone to WW years and years before the digital age but the APP, the structured program and community support along with the brain work I have been doing for years was the trifecta that I needed to make a real lifestyle change.
It's been four months since I started WW. In just over 100 days, I am a new person. I am down 55 pounds and now walking 5-7 miles a day. I could list 100 ways that my life has changed for the better. I no longer white knuckle the weight loss process, I embrace it. I don't sit around and wish that I could eat all the junk I used to eat. I enjoy every step of this journey. I am happier than I have ever been, I love everyday. I find it easy to focus on other things than food. Food is no longer the love of my life. My health is the love of my life. My journey has really just started really. I have many more pounds to lose but I am so excited for 2020 and I can't wait to see what the year brings. I wish for you a great 2020 and victory over anything that has eluded you in years past! Much Love LA