My story...because it is kinda important......
Before we start to talk about the 'now'....I find it important to just review a little bit of where I came from.
In November, 2006, I was 5'1 and just shy of 250lbs. At my regular physical (as regular as a fat girl wants to go if you know what I mean), my physician looked at me with 'that look' and informed me that with my BMI as it were I was a candidate for gastric bypass surgery. Me? I was fat? How dare you? I left the office and cried to my husband on the way home. It was at that point that I realized that I had to make a change - no I needed to make a change.
...let's go back a few years.....
I had been heavy my whole life. I was a chubby kid and grew into a chubby young woman. I had a lot of male 'friends' but not a lot of boyfriends. The boy friends I did have I was grateful that they would go out with me....so you can image the pick of the litter I had there.
As an adult though, tragedy had struck me too many times and I found comfort in food. My first husband, Rick, was diagnosed with colon cancer within three months of our being married. He died 2 days after we celebrated our 3-year wedding anniversary. I was five (5) months pregnant with our daughter Abbey when he died. Going through a sickness alone is stressful, as if going through a pregnancy.....combine them and I was a mess when all was said and done. Food was my comfort - it never asked anything of me and never challenged me when I made a decision. It was there for me when everyone else went home and back to their lives. Food was my unconditional bff. It was killing me though.
After my daughter was born I immediately was transformed into the single mother. I did it all - got myself to work and made a living for her and I and was dam proud of it. I hit the gym only in 'ceremony' not with any real intent. Twenty minutes on an elliptical was all I had in me and then it was home to chicken nuggets or pizza. Yep - I was a ticking bomb.
....now back to my post-evil-doctor visit.
After leaving the doctor and speaking to my second husband Earl on the phone, I did know that I needed to make a change. I called a professional colleague of mine who was a personal trainer and told him (begged him) to work with me......I can say that at that point the rest was easy.
But it wasn't.
We worked out hard - twice a week and cardio in between. The days were grueling and he worked me as hard as I could work. The weight wasn't really coming off and the old demons started to come back. It was then that I also came to work with the Weight Watchers Program.
Seventy pounds fell off of me....I found the fighter inside of me....and to this day the fight continues....however, the fight now is not to survive...but to live every day to the most and challenge myself to do anything.
....and YES it was awesome to prove to the doc that I could do this on my own with no surgery. He loves the work I have done, he doesn't really know the influence he had on me...how many times I had to relive the conversation he and I had when I was ready to give up.....he helped save my life.
In November, 2006, I was 5'1 and just shy of 250lbs. At my regular physical (as regular as a fat girl wants to go if you know what I mean), my physician looked at me with 'that look' and informed me that with my BMI as it were I was a candidate for gastric bypass surgery. Me? I was fat? How dare you? I left the office and cried to my husband on the way home. It was at that point that I realized that I had to make a change - no I needed to make a change.
...let's go back a few years.....
I had been heavy my whole life. I was a chubby kid and grew into a chubby young woman. I had a lot of male 'friends' but not a lot of boyfriends. The boy friends I did have I was grateful that they would go out with me....so you can image the pick of the litter I had there.
As an adult though, tragedy had struck me too many times and I found comfort in food. My first husband, Rick, was diagnosed with colon cancer within three months of our being married. He died 2 days after we celebrated our 3-year wedding anniversary. I was five (5) months pregnant with our daughter Abbey when he died. Going through a sickness alone is stressful, as if going through a pregnancy.....combine them and I was a mess when all was said and done. Food was my comfort - it never asked anything of me and never challenged me when I made a decision. It was there for me when everyone else went home and back to their lives. Food was my unconditional bff. It was killing me though.
After my daughter was born I immediately was transformed into the single mother. I did it all - got myself to work and made a living for her and I and was dam proud of it. I hit the gym only in 'ceremony' not with any real intent. Twenty minutes on an elliptical was all I had in me and then it was home to chicken nuggets or pizza. Yep - I was a ticking bomb.
....now back to my post-evil-doctor visit.
After leaving the doctor and speaking to my second husband Earl on the phone, I did know that I needed to make a change. I called a professional colleague of mine who was a personal trainer and told him (begged him) to work with me......I can say that at that point the rest was easy.
But it wasn't.
We worked out hard - twice a week and cardio in between. The days were grueling and he worked me as hard as I could work. The weight wasn't really coming off and the old demons started to come back. It was then that I also came to work with the Weight Watchers Program.
Seventy pounds fell off of me....I found the fighter inside of me....and to this day the fight continues....however, the fight now is not to survive...but to live every day to the most and challenge myself to do anything.
....and YES it was awesome to prove to the doc that I could do this on my own with no surgery. He loves the work I have done, he doesn't really know the influence he had on me...how many times I had to relive the conversation he and I had when I was ready to give up.....he helped save my life.
Heather, I have to say that I have just read this and WOW. You are an inspiration to not only myself (being "chubby") but to a lot of other woman out there. For myself I have a hard time "sticking" with it but after reading this I know I can do it. You look FANTASTIC btw and you rasied a beautfiul daughter who has you too look up too. Keep up the great work and the great inspiration you give to others. I hope to be able to lose the weight myself and be an inspirations to others as well. Best of luck in everything you do!
ReplyDeleteJenn
What a powerful story Heather! It just shouts your sheer will and determination to overcome adversity and tragedy and turn it around and encourage others. Congratulations on all that you have achieved and please know that it totally inspires a big-girl-wanna-be runner like me!
ReplyDeleteWow Heather, I am speechless. Isn't it crazy how just a few words can change the rest of our lives. Every time I get the "slacker" feeling I see my daughter with the tears in her eyes and I hear her telling me that I was just as big as those people on the show. I will NEVER forget that look on her face or her trembling voice saying those words. I got upset at her and sent her to bed. After a few days of her words scrambling in my head I decided to step on a scale.......The dial just kept spinning. A few days later I had a physical. I stepped on the scale and seeing that number scared the HELL out of me. The number was "318". That was late December of 2009. I quit smoking just a few weeks later on January 8, 2010 and started the gym on January 11, 2010. I have since lost over 140lbs. I to have found the love of running. I ran 2 races last year and 1 so far this year. I am running about 4 days a week. Saturday is my "long" run day, I am up to 9 miles and hope to make my first 10 mile run on Saturday the 18th. I have already registered for my first half marathon on September 4th in Swanzey, NH. My goal is the Boston Marathon!! Thank you for sharing your story with me and I look forward to following your progress.
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