For several months I did try on my own using the app MyFitnessPal, which I highly recommend, but I was using it to log food and exercise and then if I was still hungry quickly exercising to get more calories so I could eat more. What a crazy cycle. It did work though to the tune of 20 lbs, so I was ok with it. That was the year when all the stations and magazines were advertising the quick weight loss pill that would attack the fat cells and strip them away. You don't even need to exercise they all claimed. Sounded too good to be true, but I wanted to kick start my weight loss in a big way so I talked to my friend who's a nutritionist to get her take. She told me they weren't FDA approved, big surprise, and so I decided not to go that route.
Instead, she invited me to come see her. She told me she had a program that she was using with clients to really get them going and while it was hard maybe I should consider it. I figured I'd tried so many other things why not. This program has to be monitored by a nutritionist and doctor, so I'm not going to share many details here, but basically it's a carb free diet. I started September 1, 2014 a year later I was down 110 lbs! The crazy thing was it was the easiest thing I had ever done...when I remembered to stay focused! Over this fall I'd lost my focus a little and let myself splurge a little too often. In the process I gained back 15 lbs. Ugh!
I knew what I needed to do so January of this year I decided to get back into a healthier lifestyle, by eating better and working out more. I really wanted to focus on toning so I joined the Mofit classes up at the Rec center with Maureen Hausler. In a month I can already tell a difference in my strength level. I went from 5 lb weights in January to 10 lb weights as of today. I've met some really encouraging people, and various exercises that I couldn't possibly do before, I am starting to be able to do. In fact, you can ask my husband, I'm even bowling better as I can now really throw a 11 lb ball. Not that I'm great at it, but still it's better!
But that's not what I never thought would happen....
I'm not sure what it is about running into people you knew back when that makes us self conscious, but there's just something about it. I've always struggled with feeling inadequate when I've run into people from the past. Like I was being judged for how I looked or what I did. In truth I don't think the people probably even cared, but I felt that way just the same. Since starting to lose weight and be healthier I've been a bit less self conscious, but still when walking into a gym/rec center I'd still shy away from people I knew.
Today, I crossed over the bridge of worrying about it because I realized I'm at a place I never dreamt I'd be.
I was running late to my class this morning and when I walked in there was someone I knew from High School. We had some classes together, but over all ran in different crowds. Of course to make matters worse it was a guy. (No offense to him, but just a disclaimer I never had a crush on him. Thought I'd better make that clear!) Everyone got started working out and half way through class it hit me. I'm not sure what Maureen even said now, but I remember saying "I'm in better shape then I was in High School"
Seriously!!! I've been out of High School for almost 25 years, and I'm in better shape now!? Life takes us on many adventures, but finding the focus to become healthier was an adventure I wish I had taken sooner. Yet, instead of dwelling on the past I know I am determined to keep moving forward.
God works in mysterious ways. Yesterday I received a package in the mail that was supposed to have a small treat in it, mine came without the treat helping me to maintain my focus and not eat those empty calories and carbs. Today He put someone from my past in my path and helped me to see that I am healthier now then I was ever then. Something I truly never thought would happen!
The journey isn't over, but I can't wait to take the next step!
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