If you remember from earlier entries I've had a weight problem my whole life. I've tried many diets and many gimmicks over the years trying to lose it but it always seemed that whatever weight I managed to lose...I gained back quickly...and I always managed to gain a few extra along with it. I was as wide as I was tall I would say.
Through out my life I've heard some pretty nasty things and the questions "don't you think you should lose a little weight?" or "when are you going to lose some weight?" or the comment "if only you would lose some weight you could be pretty" still rings through my head. There were other comments too and each as equally painful.
When I got hurt...I gained even more. I was inactive and I soothed my pain with food. We had a love hate relationship food and I...and it wasn't pretty. My body was struggling to move and the extra weight didn't help me...the pain of lugging my body around was more than I could cope with.
And then a wake up call hit me...or I hit myself...whichever way you want to look at it...I got a wake up call. Now please understand I'm not sharing this with you as a way to shame you into losing weight...I did this myself while in the grocery store one day and when I saw how much extra weight I was carrying, it was an eye opener in many ways. It was emotional for me too.
Through out my life I've heard some pretty nasty things and the questions "don't you think you should lose a little weight?" or "when are you going to lose some weight?" or the comment "if only you would lose some weight you could be pretty" still rings through my head. There were other comments too and each as equally painful.
When I got hurt...I gained even more. I was inactive and I soothed my pain with food. We had a love hate relationship food and I...and it wasn't pretty. My body was struggling to move and the extra weight didn't help me...the pain of lugging my body around was more than I could cope with.
And then a wake up call hit me...or I hit myself...whichever way you want to look at it...I got a wake up call. Now please understand I'm not sharing this with you as a way to shame you into losing weight...I did this myself while in the grocery store one day and when I saw how much extra weight I was carrying, it was an eye opener in many ways. It was emotional for me too.
How much extra weight are you carrying on your body right now? Be honest with yourself okay?
The next time you're in the grocery store, here is a visual exercise I dare you to try....now please keep in mind I've already done it and I know how it feels and what it looks like...are you brave enough to try it?
For every extra ten pounds you are carrying, take a ten pound bag of potatoes and put it on the floor around you....if you need, use the five pound bags too....now when you're done, take a good look at the bags surrounding you...how many are there? if you were to attempt to pick up those bags and walk with them...could you?
When I put my bags on the floor there was a whopping 12 of them. There was no way I could pick up and carry 120 lbs of potatoes....it made me realize how much my body was struggling to carry this extra weight as well.
I will say too that once I lost the weight...I went back to the same grocery store and did the exercise again...only this time it was to see how much I had lost...I got the strange looks again too...but it was rewarding this time.
It has taken me a long time to lose the weight and it will take you time as well. Be patient with yourself but know that every little step you take, every change you make, will get you to where you want to be. You just have to keep taking them. Reward yourself along the way too...and take good care of you.
The next time you're in the grocery store, here is a visual exercise I dare you to try....now please keep in mind I've already done it and I know how it feels and what it looks like...are you brave enough to try it?
For every extra ten pounds you are carrying, take a ten pound bag of potatoes and put it on the floor around you....if you need, use the five pound bags too....now when you're done, take a good look at the bags surrounding you...how many are there? if you were to attempt to pick up those bags and walk with them...could you?
When I put my bags on the floor there was a whopping 12 of them. There was no way I could pick up and carry 120 lbs of potatoes....it made me realize how much my body was struggling to carry this extra weight as well.
I will say too that once I lost the weight...I went back to the same grocery store and did the exercise again...only this time it was to see how much I had lost...I got the strange looks again too...but it was rewarding this time.
It has taken me a long time to lose the weight and it will take you time as well. Be patient with yourself but know that every little step you take, every change you make, will get you to where you want to be. You just have to keep taking them. Reward yourself along the way too...and take good care of you.
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