What we're doing here

The last time my doctor and I talked about weight loss, she asked me to list - fast - off the top of my head - three things I had given up because of my weight issue. Mine were:

Hiking
My friends
Rock climbing

I am serious. I used to hike and rock climb.

I took this picture at the top of Breakneck Ridge three years ago. I have a whole squad of friends that I am too ashamed to see because what on earth will they think of what I have let happen to myself? Then there are other friends, online ones, who simply don't know because I haven't had a reason to tell them.

What we are doing here - all of us who are on our weight loss journey - is ending this madness. I want my life back and I want my people back. I have been on plan (Take Shape For Life) all day and I will be every day until I am back down to my pre-madness weight.

What things have you given up because of your weight? Tell me what you can't wait to get back.

Thinspiration

Folks, you've seen the after. You might as well see the before.

This is what I looked like when I thought I was UGLY.

No joke....

If only I knew... blah blah blah.

Help me get back there, peoples. AND let me help you, too.

More Results

I just heard from another client who weighs in on Saturdays: 4 pounds this week!

I haven't weighed myself but I put on my smallest jeans and although they are tight, they are on my body. So it can't be that bad... I hope.

All this reminds me that I should tell you all outright that this blog is a personal weight loss website for me. Yes, you can use the link to order Take Shape For Life products, and YES, I would love to welcome you to my client roster and wage the war on extra pounds together... but mostly, I want to share the experience with readers and offer support to those who are fighting the same battle.

This blog is about getting healthy. This blog is about ME getting healthy, and if you like, about US getting healthy together. Whether you participate as a reader, a commenter, a lurker, or as a TSFL warrior with me is up to you. :)

Results Are In!

My Take Shape For Life client DeliaL lost 5.5 pounds on her first week on program! Congratulations D, and keep up the good work.

I am expecting first weigh in results from two more folks next week, and I will certainly pass them on.

... Which reminds me: I have a confession to make. I haven't weighed in since Christmas, ie, right before I went off plan - you know - just for a day or two. I have been apprehensive about weighing in since I am not one to live by the numbers anyway.

However, in the name of accountability, I will have my first reported weigh in on Friday, January 14th.

Anyone else have results to report?

A Funny Story about Being Fat

Six months ago, I had to fly to Columbus, OH, for a conference. A weird thing happened as I settled into the airline seat.

...

You know what's coming, right?

...

I could't fit the seatbelt on. I was literally about a half centimeter from getting it to catch. What to do? I was freaking out. I had never heard of such a thing. And yet as I looked around the aircraft, there were larger people than I comfortably seated. What how?

I flagged down a stewardess and she immediately sense the issue. She handed me a seat belt expander thingy - which, duh, was hard to operate, but effective.

That left me a three hour flight to discern what exactly was meant by the fact that I couldn't fit into an airline seat. Conclusion: I was fat.

Two months after starting Take Shape For Life, I am comfortably in an airline seat with a weight loss of 37 pounds. Take Shape For Life is saving my life.

The Solution - Take Shape For Life

Let's return to that moment when the scale tipped 289.

I was in the office my new PCP.  You might remember that my old PCP was the sort of woman who just wanted to put her arms around me (so far as they would go) and tell me everything was going to be ok.  This was just great in terms of enabling me to get prescription drugs and ignore my weight problem.  In terms of my actual health, her approach was not so effective.

Luckily, I lost my job.   Which meant I lost my insurance.  Which meant I had to sign up for health insurance through my second job (and yes, I do thank God every day that such insurance exists.)  The new insurance meant I needed a new PCP -- so we both shed a few tears and off I went to find a new doctor, one I hoped with prescribe me drugs and ignore what I then referred to as my "chubbiness."  I hoped she'd be compassionate and motherly, like my old doctor.

...

Well.  She isn't old enough to be my mother.  She doesn't give me drugs.  And while she is technically compassionate, she sure as hell doesn't think it's ok for me to weigh 289 pounds.  She asked me to think for a few moments about all that things I had given up because of my weight.  Within moments, I realized the list was long and staggering.  Running, hiking, rock climbing, bike riding.  Relationships.  Friendships.  Romance.  Sex.  Did eating food really outrank these things?  Really?

After listening to her talk about all the complications I risked being so overweight, I began to realize she was absolutely correct to take the attitude that my weight problem was a crisis, not merely an issue.

She recommended Take Shape For Life, and after I read through the information on the website, I was ready to try the program.  I clicked on the link and bought a month's supply of Medifast meals.  I was on my way.

In two and a half months, I have lost 37 pounds.  And do you know what the best part is?  I haven't been hungry or fantasizing about food - or even thinking about eating.  The program is literally goof proof, and it really works.

Though I am not at goal weight yet (obviously) I have enrolled with Take Shape For Life to be a Health Coach - ie, to help others learn about Take Shape For Life and conquer their own struggles with weight. I could have waited until I was at goal weight, but why keep such a great thing a secret.  Meanwhile, the people I coach and I are literally in it together - same eating plan, same lifestyle, same great results.

I hope you'll consider Take Shape For Life for what it is - a great opportunity to get healthy and fit for life.  Contact me if you are interested in giving the program a try.