Thanks, you all. I appreciate the
! Most of the following remarks are not directed to anyone needing to lose 5 or ten pounds, but those with more serious weight issues.
I really like the GI (glycemic index) diet. I am a believer in blood sugar levels being the key to weight loss. When I started out trying to lose weight I had tried and failed sooooo many times to lose weight I had pretty much figured I was hopeless, and just destined to be overweight.
WRONG WRONG WRONG ! I just didn't have enough information, and was eating things that acted like poison for me--causing me to store fat, get SO hungry I thought I was going to die, and have irresistible cravings. I used to be addicted to bread, cookies, sweets. I used to joke I could hear Oreo cookies calling my name. French fries were a food group for me, and of course I washed it all down with diet soda!
I was tired ALL the time, felt terrible, my self esteem was nil, and I had puffy eyes, complete with dark circles. Then my lovely mother was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Then my dad was diagnosed with the same terrible thing....and I saw the writing on the wall. Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle disease, and it is
deadly. My parents were dead within 5 years of being diagnosed, and my poor dad had both his legs removed before he passed away. Such an indignity for such a once strong, vibrant man. And they were relatively young...too young!
So, if I am a little zealous on the topic, please forgive me--but being overweight is not a joke--and it has serious health implications.
I initially read and followed the eating plan in "Sugar Busters", and I was strict. I needed to be, so that I could break the cycle of fatigue/craving/binging. Within a month my energy had gone up, I dropped ten pounds, and was walking a half hour on the treadmill. And finally I began to feel like I COULD do this!
I have gone from a size 22/24W to a 10/12 misses. My waist went from 42 to 28 inches. I can bench press 85 pounds (still working on improving my upper body strength) do 45 minutes of serious cardio 4 times a week, walk my dogs for an hour every day, and can leg press 800 pounds! Yes, I am in the gym a lot, but my fiance was a gym rat when I met him, and he and I work out together.
I would love to post before and after pics, but here is the thing: I never let anyone take my picture. I hated the way I looked so much that if a camera came out I ran the other way, and if someone did manage to take my picture I would tear it up.
So sadly pathetic. One of the biggest WOW-EEE moments was when I realized people treated me differently because of the weight loss. It's not right that people do that, but it is the absolute truth. People treated me like I was stupid, and men treated me like I was invisible.
...And then last night we my DF and I went out to dinner, and he actually got a little jealous because of the looks I was getting when I had to walk through their bar to use the ladies room. HA! Him! Jealous of *me*!!
I am telling you all this not to brag, but just really to honestly say that if I can do it--
you can do it! There is no greater gift we can give ourselves and those we love than our health--it is a precious thing we need to appreciate, nurture, and protect.
Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now. But if I can help even one person not live like I did for so many years then it will be worth risking you all wanting to
just to shut me up!
Don't give up! You all deserve to be happy, healthy, and fit...and all this talk of Prince Charming and happily ever after is fun, but the truth is we shape our own destiny, and we make our own happily ever after--one good decision at a time!