I was asked to do a guest blog on a friend's site that will be posted in the coming weeks. I thought this one was good to put here too because it tells you more about me and my decision to begin my weight loss journey. I felt it was a good reflection of the past 3 months and considering I have not been able to blog until now, it's somewhat of a refresher. Consider it DLC (downloadable content) to the initial post. The back story to your FAVORITE character (tee hee).
And so it begins...
I was the person that found every excuse about changing my health. “It’s too expensive to eat healthy or join a gym..” or “I will make an idiot of myself.” I was constantly worried about what others would think of me. Like many times in my life, I decided to ‘take charge’ and ‘do something about it’ (Notice the quotes? Yeah..said it before..many times). Now mind you, I had joined a gym in August before my 30th birthday. I had promised myself then that I was..blah blah blah yeah you get it. I went off and on and then fell out of the gym ‘routine’. Eventually, I went to California for vacation in November to Blizzcon (every Blizzard gamer nerd’s dream!!). I had my first ‘fat realization’ while we were in California. We went to an amusement park in Buena Vista and I was too big for the rides! Being embarrassed is an understatement! I ran and cried like big ol’ baby. Blubbering on and feeling horrible about myself.
Fast forward to December-ish time. I have been long time friends with Zach and his wife, Kathryn. Curiosity peaked when I saw them transform their health, their bodies and their lives. Seeing their transformation was the proof that I needed to show myself that even I could do this. No shakes. No special diets. Just good food, exercise and lifestyle change. I had even said, well if I were to hire a trainer, I would want Zach. He knows what it’s like to actually be overweight. (Cue the light bulb) So…what was stopping me?
ME.
No one else. I hid behind the excuses. Eventually, I just threw up my hands and said to myself “Screw it! Let’s do this!” I made a commitment to myself that I would put MY HEALTH first. I would work around that and let other things fall into place. I am in a better mindset now than I was even just a year ago.
Summer of 2013 before my 30th birthday I weighed 330lbs. I had ‘girl problems’ and things weren’t working right (I won’t go into detail on that to spare you men that might read this ;) ). I had high blood sugars and if I kept up the way I was going, I was going to fall into that old family tradition of diabetes. Who wants that?! After a month of these changes in my habits, I noticed changes in me. I craved healthier foods. I LOVE to juice (which surprises me still). In February, I went to the doctor and she took my Metformin (a medicine I take to help control the blood sugar) down to 500mg (I used to take 1500mg per day when I started the meds in 2009) and my AC1 level went from 7.2 to 6.4 within a year.
Now, I weigh 309. Yes, I still have a long way to go. But my biggest successes these past
3 months have been turning my eating habits around and dropping 2 pant sizes! I think
that’s a pretty big deal. I am an avid gamer and love spending time in front of the console or computer but I have not let it rule my free time. I now work out 4 + days a week consistently. I broke free of the treadmill’s grasp and actually DO something at the gym. I don’t worry about other people, just me. I feel accomplished when I can successfully lift heavier weights, add another mile on the exercise bike. Eating more holistic foods, leaving out the empty calories and processed crap, have helped me become the new me. I have many small battles to fight to win the war, but I will destroy them one by one until I get the healthy me I so very much deserve.
I am doing this for change..not for diet. I am doing this for a new lifestyle..not for a few pounds. It's like playing a video game. Like old school Mario for instance. You try and try and each level..a new obstacle. Each level you face the same ol' boss. When you think you've defeated him and won the princess...BAM!!!! Just kidding!!! Your princess is in another castle...(Srsly..how many castles do you have in Mushroom Kingdom..just sayin').
Anyway, my point is I have created obstacles and I have gotten past them to face my own epic boss...weight loss. At some point, I get to the point to where I've been to so many "castles" I get tired of searching. Searching for that right path to take to down the boss and get epic lootz. So, this time.. I am telling myself to...
Just start over.
Starting over. New game. 5 "mans" left. I am taking a new route in my epic journey. Making it my personal quest to lose the pounds and become a healthier version of me. The same (try to be) funny, geeky, gamer nerd that I am. Just make it to where I can own someone in DDR or Just Dance hehehe. Kidding. I have made my own blog and I casually throw up my own little advancements in my journey. I correlate my weight loss and health goals with my own achievement lists. Anywhere from bike 15 miles in one cardio session to completing a juice fast.
It helps me to create small goals to tackle along the way. If I sit here and say, I have to lose over 120lbs to be in healthy-ish weight range….that is a horrible daunting number to even remotely think of hitting. At first, I wanted to throw my hands up but I wouldn't let myself. So, I decided to make a long list of smaller attainable goals to work toward. These goals help me grow stronger, lose weight in increments. Focus more on making smaller changes and seeing the bigger picture as opposed worrying about how long it takes to get there. Change takes time. I already see it.
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| Shhh! Don't mind the messy hairz... |
