What a Difference 10 Years Makes!

I’ve been waiting for the right time to tell my story…I guess it’s now!  I’m hoping it will touch at least one person out there who wants to make a change in their life.  It can happen.  It took me a while to figure out who I wanted to be and where I wanted to go.  Once I got to the bottom of the barrel, there was no place to go but up.  So, up I went…and I’m still rising!

My “Before” picture is about 10 years old.  I was retiring from my job as a preschool teacher assistant.  I weighed 250 pounds.  I had many physical aches & pains, but the most important reason for leaving was that I felt I could no longer do my job with confidence and competence.  I could no longer get down on the floor with the children; I had to sit in a chair.  Even bending over to help them with projects or playing with them on the playground was very difficult for me. The kids at the preschool were my primary concern, and I felt that I was letting them down, as well as the school, by not being 100% there for them.  Leaving the preschool was a tremendous tug at my heart.  I loved my job and I loved all of my co-workers. 

I took a secretarial job a few months later with a middle school close to home.  Being sedentary didn’t help me too much with my aches and pains, but I no longer was expected to be as physically involved as I was at the preschool.  I enjoyed my job, and most of the people with whom I worked, but there was still something missing.  I was miserable with my weight and the fact that I was unable to do anything about it. I had been on a plethora of diets throughout my life with either short-lived or no results.  I hated myself and felt like a failure!  I remembered a support group that that I belonged to years earlier that gave me results and hope for the future. I realized that hope was still deep inside of me.    

Two years ago I joined a similar group in my area and began a journey of healthy eating and self-discovery.  I gave up refined sugar and white flour; ate only three meals a day with nothing between the meals; increased fruits, vegetables and water consumption; and started reading…really reading…labels of everything that wasn’t a direct product of nature.   I already walked about a mile a day with my job, but I added extra walks with the dog.  Exercising at the gym wasn’t going to work for me, so I would put on exercise tapes that had been buried in dust in the basement.  Slowly, the pounds started to fall off.  

My support group has been instrumental in solidifying my self-esteem, my desire to become healthy, and teaching me very fundamental principles of life.  I’ve learned to NEVER give up hope, to have patience, and to give back at every possible opportunity.  I’ve lost 120 pounds (a little person) and have maintained this weight for eight months.  I have discontinued half of the medications I used to take.  My aches and pains have almost completely disappeared.  

I like myself…no, wait…I love myself! 

Thanks to Mama Kat's Pretty Much World Famous Writer's Workshop for today's prompt.  Please stop by and see some really, really talented writers who have joined in this week!  Just click on the logo below!





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Wednesday Wickedness - Kim Kardashian

Welcome to this always fascinating meme sponsored by Wednesday Wickedness. Each week, Janera posts quotes from a well-known celebrity, and then poses questions to the reader following the quotes. This week's meme posts quotes from mega celebrity, reality show diva and entrepreneur, Kim Kardashian. I hope you enjoy her quotes and my sometimes silly responses!

Onward!



1. "White is actually one of my favorite colors. I have a white car. I love white." Tell us about your first car.

My first car was a beige 1956 Ford Falcon. It was so old that I needed a choke to get it started. If you know what I’m talking about, then you are very old like me! The year was 1971, and I didn’t have to pay for it, so I was very happy. Beige is not my favorite color, although it is sort of close to white. Give your life a few years with kids, Kim. I don’t think your favorite color will be white any more.


2. "I've just had enough of people misrepresenting me. Get to know me and see who I am." Have you ever been paranoid?

I have been paranoid for most of my life. I grew up in Southern California. I think paranoid is a very normal survival tactic. Get to know you, Kim? Well, I’m not sure that would be a good idea at this point. I don’t want to add schizo to my paranoia!


3. "I opened the store myself. Even Paris and Nicky Hilton -- they`re completely independent too." How old were you and what were you doing when you became independent of your parents?

I became independent of my parents at age 19. It would have been later, but they were moving to some Poe-dunk town up the coast. I had just landed my first “real” job and was making just enough to pay my way! I loved staying up until dawn watching movies, eating cereal for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and sleeping 75 percent of the weekend. By the way, Kim, Paris still needs her mommy and daddy when she gets busted…


4. "I want to be a Bond girl!" Have you ever wanted to be in the movies?


I have wanted to be in the movies since I was seven years old, but I refused to have my breasts augmented, eyebrows plucked, and I wouldn’t sleep around until I was 15. I also wanted to be a rock star, astronaut, and professional football cheerleader. Instead, I did things that were not as demanding, didn't need 20 years of education, and didn't require sit-ups.


5. "I would never snub Hugh Hefner. I love him and his whole team." How much money would it take for you to pose nude?

How much money would it take for me to pose nude? Are you crazy? When I think of all the lawsuits that would be filed for vision assault, it would have to be in the billions! I’m cute, but every body part I own has gone South, even the leftover baby fat!


6. "I think my sense of style is evolving. I'm figuring out ways to be sexy without having to flaunt it." Who are the top 3 sexy celebrities in your opinion?

Now, Kim, can you even spell the word “flaunt?” Paleeze!!! Your sense of style is that of “I want to jump your bones…do you think I’m sexy?” By sexy, does your question mean, “who do I want to do it to….or who or whom is easy on the eyes?” What do you think, Kim? The top of my list includes, George, Brad and Clive.



7. "I'm the girl who's too shy to dance in a nightclub — maybe for one song, and then that's it." Tell us about the last time that you danced in a nightclub?

I was 22 the last time I danced in a nightclub. It was the Whiskey in Hollywood. My date was approached in the men’s room by someone asking him, “how much for my company?” He and I both laughed about that for a long time!

8. "I want to be pregnant by the time I'm 30, hopefully." Since normal people don’t decide on having kids depending on their age, what factors do you think are important when making that decision?

What? I became pregnant when I was 30! I think it is a life changing event that requires much thought. One sacrifices their figure, gets stretch marks everywhere, and, for about six months, has to put up with everyone rubbing her stomach as though it is public property! Important factors to consider: 1) finish college; 2) sleep around; 3) travel and sleep around; 4) babysit someone’s infant; 5) marry someone who is either filthy rich or drop-dead gorgeous!


9. "My balance is really bad. I just hope my clumsiness doesn't show through". Is there anything about you that you hope doesn’t show through?

Clumsy can be good sometimes. Doors get opened for you, people let you cut in line because they want you away from them as soon as possible, the waiter will bring you a fresh drink, even though you already finished three-fourths of it before you spilled it. There are lots of things about me that I don’t want to show through, so why would I show them now?

10. "I eat less junk food, hardly any soda, and just try to eat more protein. I definitely can’t give up sweets all together, so I just toned them down!" How does one “tone down” their diet?

Milk is protein. Cookies are sweet. You can’t tone these down any further. However, if there are other proteins and/or sweets to be consumed, moderation is the word I like to use. Common sense is, perhaps, something that both Kim and I may share...NOT!


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The Gestapo is Back

It's that time a year again...when we are bombarded with commercials about reducing weight, gimmicks and health club specials. Bah Humbug! Oh, wait, that was last month! I'm not one for New Years Resolutions other than to be the best that I can be... at any given time.

One year ago, I wrote about the Health Winter Challenge in which several members of the staff were participating. I joined in and did my best, but it was a slow go for me. The facilitator (or Health Gestapo) spent much time researching and putting together nutrition and conditioning/aerobic plans. Bob is not really a Gestapo, but quite the opposite. He is a really nice guy full of encouragement and understanding. I just call him the "G" because I think his rules are very strict. Those who followed his plans lost anywhere from 10 to 25 pounds in a five month period. I lost two pounds. Like I said, I had a bit of a struggle. I bombed the program!

Well, the 2010 Winter Health Challenge started today! I'm pumped... and I'm starving! I have had five 8oz glasses of water, so all is not lost. We have several new exercises which are geared to the "more mature" adult (like me) even though I have no idea when I'm going to have time to work out. It is 16 degrees outside right now. The most aerobic activity I get is walking the dog to the parking strip to go pee. I do, however, walk close to a mile a day delivering messages for kids who forgot stuff that a parent brought up to the school. Lifting the laundry basket is my bicep/tricep conditioning. Being able to get out of a chair without first dropping to the floor can, I believe, suffice for ab work. Hauling the laundry basket up and down the stairs works my glutes (sp?)(lol)!

Now that we have all that covered... I won't go into the nutrition requirements because I'm still steaming mad that I can't have all the sugar and fat that I have been consuming for the last two weeks! This sucks!

Oh well, One Day at a Time!