Hi Everyone.... long time no posts...
We missed you!!!
I had another Odyssey of the Mind Competition yesterday so I was pretty wiped out from that and spent most of today napping and catching up on some chores... I did order a sweet new pair of shoes though as a reward for my upcoming 40 pound loss mark.... go to the nine west site and look for the black and ivory giraffe print nuncio pumps.... they are pretty sweet and will be here in about two weeks... I know I am not at the 40 pound mark yet (I have about six pounds to go - I should be close by the time they arrive...), but I needed new pumps since I am off to conference in two weeks and need to wear business attire for it as opposed to my usual jeans, a tee and a jean jacket along with Clark loafers. I am excited because I have to buy new clothes for this since the stuff in my closet is getting too big for me to look professional in...
Those ARE sweet shoes! Nice! And Congrats on the upcoming 40lbs!
Plus - I found out that I am receiving an award in May because I was named one of the 40 under forty by the local business review newspaper as someone to watch. It is pretty cool, but I need to have photos and videos done and eek... I have about a month to find the right suit...
I'll be on the shopping trip from hell until I find it.... The shoes were the first step.... (I love the shoes...)
That is SO awesome! Go you!
And you get to buy a smaller suit!
September Girl - I so need to take updated photos because your transformation is so inspiring... Congrats on the 40's. It certainly shows and you look amazing...
Thank you.
To everyone else - hope you enjoy your Sunday night.... I'll be spending the rest of my night working on a project for work... Things are still up in the air there and I have a had decision to make. Not sure what is going to happen yet, but I'll keep you posted. Thanks for your words of encouragement...
Yes, please keep us posted!
Goof
DisneyWorld Delight, I am not going to quote you because I'm a Virgo and man, do I follow instructions! But, I had to chime in.
I know what you mean, now, about the skinny shoes. I think Keds totally fall into this category. But, to me, boots and heels balance out us pears - the boots are just kicka$$ and the heels make us look longer and taller and those boot cut jeans look wider. Believe it or not, I am wearing boot cut in both pictures, but what did I expect those jeans to do? Hid me?
Imagine peg legs on me!
So now that we both know we are 5'7" pears, let me tell you, I feel your pain. I get it! I'm 33, but I hope that still is considered "your age".
(I swear, I think I'm 27 - anyone find that? I'm not aging!)
As you know, I am 196.8 right now. I dream about being 192 and in a size 16 before we leave for FL on the 18th. Silly, right, that all I want to be is your exact size? So, like Dawn, says, it's all perspective. On the other hand, I don't want to invalidate what you are feeling. I have felt it.
Last year two of my friends went to WW and lost, and I kept gaining. It sucked, but I wasn't ready to see it or deal with it. Instead I ate the extra slice of pizza while they slimmed down.
What changed for me was facing up to what I looked like and felt like. That trip when those before pictures were taken, I felt like cr*p. I didn't want to explore the city with my friends, I didn't like how I looked, I felt tired and yucky. And then I saw what that looked like. I love my friend and she loves me and I know she wouldn't have kept those pictures if she knew how they made me feel, but that wasn't her fault. It was mine. So the week before Halloween I walked into WW and weighed in at 237. I literally didn't know how I got this weight on, but I knew I needed help. So I joined.
As I started to lose weight, I started to lose the junk, too. You may have heard the phrase "It's not what you're eating, it's what's eating you." That has been true for me. In the midst of this journey, my mom got really bad news on the cancer front. But for once, that didn't deter me. I went to my meetings and I
cried. In
public. In front of
strangers. I'm the strong one, the one who handles everything, the one who doesn't need help...what a lie. That embarrassing public cry let me feel my sadness and fear and not eat it. Better to cry in public than stuff my face in private. That's another phrase I learned - "Don't stuff your face, face your stuff."
So for me this has been more than psychical weight, it's been emotional weight, too. This could have been a really awful four months, but it's been a really good four months. I took care of myself first. I made myself my top priority - not my kid or my husband or my mom or anyone else.
Me. And that really and truly allowed me to be there in a better and more positive way for my family. I could say to my mom, "We are going on hope and not fear" and
mean it. My relationship with my husband improved, I parent with less stress, I wasn't Crazy Girl at Christmas time. For once! Who knew it was that easy??? Why didn't someone tell me, hey, being self-sacrificing for no reason doesn't get you anywhere but on the floor in tears! I knew how to be on the floor in tears. I didn't know that caring about myself enough to make myself breakfast would be so powerful. Or that it would make me lose weight, and set a good example for my daughter.
I don't know what your key moment is, but I do know that when you put yourself first, everything in your life gets better.
And, yes, some of my friends noticed. One is jealous, and acting it. Two are facing body issues and don't know what to say to me. But two, two are amazing. My cousin and my photographer friend - they have celebrated me. It's been good.
I know that you can achieve what you set your mind to. I know you can lose 50lbs by August - we can do it together! You don't have to do it alone.
Happy Birthday, Liz. Make this year about you.
. I think that you are doing the right thing. You have tried everything you can, and it is a toxic relationship to you, so the best thing for your own well-being is to just walk away.
The running is transforming you... You go girl!!!!
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