heavy

As I promised, here is my weight-loss post. I must say that it grinds on my nerves when non-medical people give medical advice, and I'm sure (actually, I know, because I live with one) that most medical professionals won't agree with everything I say or do. Read at your own risk!

When we got married over three years ago, I guess I started getting lazy. Not lazy, I worked 45+ hours a week, went to school at night, and commuted two hours each day. I ate what I could, when I could. During the spring of 2007, I tried the Slim Fast diet for over two months. I was ALWAYS hungry (and ill, because I was so hungry) and I walked and ran, but I didn't lose any weight. I gave up. That fall, I hit the gym hard core and lost about ten pounds. The spring 2008 semester was much busier, and I didn't go to the gym that much, and when I did, I didn't push myself. I was also staying in Jasper, taking care of my mom during the week and my husband on the weekends. This went on for several months. I ate a lot of comfort foods, which caused weight gain. When mom went into the hospital in January 2009, we ate out three meals a day. We didn't have time or energy to cook. The stress and grief in the following months didn't help my weight, either. I blew up, quick. I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, without thought. I would justify my poor habits by saying it was just temporary, while I was grieving. Even the clothes I had recently bought weren't fitting. This summer, I was shopping and trying on clothes and I had bulges in places that I shouldn't. Nothing looked good on me. I didn't feel good. I was unhealthy. I looked unhealthy. I felt unhealthy.

I decided that day it was time for a lifestyle change. I haven't shared much, because I didn't want my failure to be public if it didn't go as planned. I am not a self-disciplined person. I want what I want. This type of personality leads to failure from the start when forced to diet. I knew that depriving myself of foods that I love was just going to make me more miserable and feel worse, but I knew I had to do something. I went and bought some vitamins. I take one Centrum Women's Health every day, along with two fiber capsules. I know that nutritional value is important. I also take my vitamins with food, so I don't vomit. I swapped to skim milk. I measure out my cereal according to the package directions. A portion of food is about the size of your palm. Yep. And I don't clean my plate. That is just ridiculous. Some things to think about...A SMALL order of french fries has 230 calories. Twelve ounces of juice has more sugar than a can of soda, and no nutritional value. I eat more fruit, either fresh or dried. I still eat dessert, just in much, much smaller portions. Chris and I split a lot of meals. I do cook a lot, so I plate our food, then store the rest to avoid the temptation to eat more. TheShubertFam doesn't really buy into the organic thing. I did A LOT of research when my mom was first diagnosed with cancer. "Organic" just doesn't make sense (and Chris agrees with me on this one). There is so much information on that I need to type a different post. However, I don't like preservatives. YUCK. If I can make it, I don't buy it. Salad dressings, sauces, anything. I try to not open packets. No Hamburger Helper, frozen dinners, or canned soups in my kitchen. I don't make my own chicken stock, but I use low-sodium so I can control the amount of salt. Before I eat something, I ask myself, "Does this have any nutritional value for my body?" I don't count my calories, because I think that can lead to obsession. I only weigh myself every few weeks. We don't even own a scale!!! I think that takes a lot of pressure off of me. Thursday night, Chris and I each ate a double cheeseburger (from The Oasis in Cottondale) that made my arteries clog up just from looking at it. But that's okay, because I don't eat like that every day, or even every week. It's all about balance, my friends. I have lost ten pounds since August. I am happy with my weight, but I still have to become healthier with some of my lifestyle habits! I still struggle with exercising consistently. I walk the dog regularly, which I know has helped. Now that I've lost weight, I jiggle in places that just shouldn't jiggle. I have also started spending more time reading the Bible. I have to contribute my weight loss to God. I have been prayerful and thoughtful about my body and taking care of it.

With all that being said, it has not been easy. I want to grow old with my husband (if that is God's will) and being overweight was interfering with that possibility. Being overweigh increases risks of diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, high cholesterol, and those things lead to things like kidney and heart failure and strokes. No thank you, I don't want any of that. I also know that Dr. Hubby will trick, er, I mean talk me into having some kids in a few years. I want to be as healthy as possible when that time comes. My weight loss is NOT about looking a certain way (although I am pleased with my flatter tummy) or becoming a tri-athlete, it's about being healthier. God created me, and I need to take care of my body.

I know weight is a very sensitive topic for most people. I have struggled with body image issues for many years. I am not an expert. I am a (somewhat) normal person losing weight and keeping it off and getting healthier, and these are some things that have worked for me. I would appreciate your prayers as I continue on this journey!