QuinTesSenTialLyME
What would you do in pursuit of your goals?
Mar 02, 2010
With Lent starting yesterday, I began the process of thinking about what I am willing to do without for the next 46 days. I was thinking about what foods I could give up, and what treats I could do without and brainstorming with a co-worker when she said something interesting "shouldn't you give up something that would really kill you to have to do without?" Somehow that comment got me thinking about what I have sacrificed (or given up) because of my weight over the years and what I have recently been willing to do to reach my weightless goals.
It could be said, for years, I have set aside my personal life goals because I had little self confidence (or assurance rather) that someone else could find me attractive. Let's tell a story to explain. I have always had this idea that I was going to get married and have kids in my late twenties. I had the notion that I would meet someone special around 25 and get married by like 28 and have kids soon after. I had always seen myself as being a young fun mom. Through the years I had come to realize that I used by weight as a shield against rejection. I came to believe that no one would want to date me because I was fat, and I just settled on that notion sometime in college. Along with those thoughts came the revamping of my plans for family and a meaningful relationship. I began to wonder whether or not it was something that I would ever have and I began to except the possibility of not achieving that major personal goal. I let go of a dream because I was not willing to put myself out there and I was not willing to put myself out there because of my physical appearance.
Since I started this weightless journey, I have defiantly regained the notion of having a family someday and defiantly began to embracing my new found confidence. I am much more comfortable in my own skin and a willing to do almost anything to reach my weightless goals. In pursuit of my goals I have taken up running. I run over 20 miles a week and I actually enjoy it (when I am done). Exercise is a daily part of my life now. I can no longer spend an evening watching television, I have to do something! I have adopted a healthier diet. With my tool (surgery) I am able to control my portions, but I have to continue to make good food choices everyday. I drink my 8 glasses of water (plus some) even though I am in the bathroom 20 times a day. I am running a ½ marathon in May. I will reach my goal weight by July! I go out and have fun and I am willing to try new things every day. I am lucky in that I did not have to sacrifice much in the pursuit of my goals, I just had to change my mindset and embrace the changes that came my way. As for the relationship, it is still a work in progress, but I am a firm believer in the notion that you have to love yourself before you can love someone else. (BTW I LOVE ME!)
To bring this all back around, for lent I am going to give up using my credit cards and go back to paying for everything in cash. It has nothing to do with losing weight, but weightless is my focus 24/7. Every choice I make in pursuit of my goal can be considered a sacrifice and I want to make them beyond the 46 days of lent.
So my fellow readers….what are your willing to sacrifice (or not) in pursuit of your goals?
Update on Life
Jan 20, 2010
6 Month Update
Nov 19, 2009
I have been at a plateau for a while. It seems like i have been gaining and losing the same 2 lbs for the last 2 months. I got a fill on Sept. 29th of 1 cc, ans since then I have lost 3.5 lbs, which i lost as of Tuesday. So here it the dirty, I have been really against tracking my food the last two months. I felt like i was getting obsessive about it so took a break and focused on my running. So I ran the 5k in September and ran 2 more times and stopped for two weeks. Then I started training for a half marathon, and stopped tracking my food, and stopped losing. After much gripping and complaining to my friends and family and saying that I will not do I hate it, it is horrible, I bitched one more day and started tracking The second week on November. Oh my goodness, i was eating a lot of slider/sweets and the calories add up like crazy. i thought because i was having protein shakes every day, and eating yogurt in the morning I was doing well. Not the case. I had a really eye opening look at the crap i was choosing to eat and decided to cut it out all together. I have recommitted myself to tracking and clean eating. Incorporating fresh fruits and veggies has been a new and daily challenge. Do to the amount I work out, I am on a 1200 calorie diet. it is not too much food and I am eating the right things again. The scale moved for the first time in 3 weeks. i am in the 180s, 188.5 to be exact. It is great that I can finally find the correlation between eating right, tracking and exercise. I think I am finally putting it all together.
So I have not gotten up the nerve to try LA boxing yet. I am going to take a trial week a Bikram yoga. In all this I have continued to lose inches. I have lost a total of 30 inches since surgery and can fit a size 12 pants. Crazy! Running is awesome, but i need to mix it up a bit and have been going back and forth between getting a trainer, yoga, or kickboxing. I think boxing will do awesome things for me, but I need to really see if i want to commit the money to that. Yoga is to reshape my body. My frame is muscular, so I want to try and achieve a leaner look with yoga.
I think I cannot really complain because last year at this time I was think about having surgery, in two week, it will be the anniversary of my consultation, where i took the steps to be more healthier. Today i can say I am ten times more healthier than i was at this time last year. This is my measure of success.
5 Month Post-op Update
Oct 12, 2009
On the personal, I am trying the whole on line dating thing. It is so-so. Not impressed but not disappointed either. I totally have pictures up of me 20 lbs heavier, as i would want somebody to except me as I was and get the added bonus of the the hotness I am becoming. HEHE. We shall see. i will keep you posted. All in all it is slow and steady weight loss. Now if only i can fugue out how to stop myself form buying so many new clothes!
THE 5K
Sep 25, 2009
So here is my dilemma. Now that I do not have a goal that I am working towards, I have completely stopped running. I know I want to train for a 10K in May, so I am all about continuing, but I don't have to start yet. Hmmmmmm....what to do in the meantime?
BTW- Surgery Update: Since I was sick< i lost like 10 LBS since the last time I saw my doctor, now he doesn't want to give me a fill. He is all about the numbers. If even the realize band website says that my weight loss has plateaued and I need a fill, shouldn't that be a sign! Urgh!
sO i AM GoING tO PoST foF MoNth 3 (late) mOntH 4 (early)
Sep 03, 2009
I feel better about myself image, but still have a lot to work on. The goal for this month is fruits and veggies and iron tablets oh my! My nutritionist has commented on my unique ability to stay within my calorie range while eating cookies and chips. I have such a sweets addiction I am coming to realize and I am trying to work on it. For some reason my day is not complete without a desert....although i did not have one today. Can i get a WHAT WHAT! I notice if I eat right i do not feel like i have to work out but if i have sweets or chips or something i will make myself go tot he gym (mind you I go to the gym/work out at least 5 days a week). Anyway, what started out as a I will post soon got changed into my update. Oh well. off to bed.
XOXO - Elizabeth
Weight as of 4 months is 194.5 LBS! Yippeee!
2 Months Out and Not sure How I am doing
Jul 16, 2009
1st Fill
Jun 24, 2009
Thoughts
Jun 11, 2009
On another note i started couch to 5K last week and it is great. I am going to totally disregard common sense and do it two days in a row. i have to go out of town and it was too late on last night. Excuses excuses, i just need to get to the gym!
I'm Banded---Yippee
May 13, 2009