Hi, everybody. Welcome to my new diary! I'm pretty psyched to have found this site; hopefully I can contribute and reap the benefits as well.
Okay. Here is my history... I'm from Newfoundland, Canada, where every big event revolves around food. As a child, food was a reward, the centre of family events, comfort, something to do... you name it. I'm fairly tall and have always been. In grades 5 and 6, I was buying women's clothes while the other girls in my class still wore children's sizes. As a result, I was given the nickname "hippo", which had no small effect on my self-esteem.
As I grew older, through high school and my late teens, it became a self-fulfilling prophecy. I gained weight until I actually was what I'd been teased for being when I was younger. When I turned 20, I joined weight watchers and went from 235 to about 180. The difference in how I looked and felt was staggering. I couldn't leave my house without receiving some sort of positive attention about my appearance. It felt wonderful. Then, I moved home for a few months and managed to undo all my healthy habits and pick up my bad ones again. Soon after, I moved to China for 2 years. Contrary to what many people believe about the Chinese diet, it is far from healthy. Lots of white rice and veggie dishes that are LADEN with sooo much oil!
Well, I'm 26 now and I've been gradually gaining weight for 5 years. I now weigh 240, which is five pounds heavier than I was when I joined weight watchers. I know what I have to do and how to do it; it's just hard to put my plans into action, as I'm sure some of you know.
Here are my biggest challenges:
1) I love Coca-Cola! While I've given it up for long periods of time before, I go through phases where it is all I want to drink. I know I won't even miss it if I can just break the habit. I'm thinking about allowing myself to have one can of coke every week, just to get my "fix".
2) Getting my a$$ to the gym! I had a gym buddy and we were going fairly regularly, but she's stressed about exams and is taking a break until after Christmas break. I really, really WANT to go to the gym, but it's so much easier to just sit at home and relax. My goal is going to be four times a week (alternating upper and lower body for weights and 30 minutes on the eliptical); but ideally, I'd like to get at least five days in a week.
3) Groceries. I'm a poor student, and most of the time I buy a loaf of bread and eat toast all week. (Yes, I know that I'm getting almost none of the required nutrients.) It's unfortunate, but I really can't afford to eat the way I would like to. I'm going to try to be more careful with my grocery budget, but it's hard to eat well when you're a student.
4) My emotions. As I said, I learned that food was the answer to everything. If I'm bored, upset, happy, sad... I eat.
Anyway, that's my story up till now... I'm starting a new part of my life. One that has me feeling better, looking better and one that will carry me through the rest of my life. I don't see myself as on a diet; I am very aware that to be a success, this plan has to be a way of life.
Wish me luck!
Okay. Here is my history... I'm from Newfoundland, Canada, where every big event revolves around food. As a child, food was a reward, the centre of family events, comfort, something to do... you name it. I'm fairly tall and have always been. In grades 5 and 6, I was buying women's clothes while the other girls in my class still wore children's sizes. As a result, I was given the nickname "hippo", which had no small effect on my self-esteem.
As I grew older, through high school and my late teens, it became a self-fulfilling prophecy. I gained weight until I actually was what I'd been teased for being when I was younger. When I turned 20, I joined weight watchers and went from 235 to about 180. The difference in how I looked and felt was staggering. I couldn't leave my house without receiving some sort of positive attention about my appearance. It felt wonderful. Then, I moved home for a few months and managed to undo all my healthy habits and pick up my bad ones again. Soon after, I moved to China for 2 years. Contrary to what many people believe about the Chinese diet, it is far from healthy. Lots of white rice and veggie dishes that are LADEN with sooo much oil!
Well, I'm 26 now and I've been gradually gaining weight for 5 years. I now weigh 240, which is five pounds heavier than I was when I joined weight watchers. I know what I have to do and how to do it; it's just hard to put my plans into action, as I'm sure some of you know.
Here are my biggest challenges:
1) I love Coca-Cola! While I've given it up for long periods of time before, I go through phases where it is all I want to drink. I know I won't even miss it if I can just break the habit. I'm thinking about allowing myself to have one can of coke every week, just to get my "fix".
2) Getting my a$$ to the gym! I had a gym buddy and we were going fairly regularly, but she's stressed about exams and is taking a break until after Christmas break. I really, really WANT to go to the gym, but it's so much easier to just sit at home and relax. My goal is going to be four times a week (alternating upper and lower body for weights and 30 minutes on the eliptical); but ideally, I'd like to get at least five days in a week.
3) Groceries. I'm a poor student, and most of the time I buy a loaf of bread and eat toast all week. (Yes, I know that I'm getting almost none of the required nutrients.) It's unfortunate, but I really can't afford to eat the way I would like to. I'm going to try to be more careful with my grocery budget, but it's hard to eat well when you're a student.
4) My emotions. As I said, I learned that food was the answer to everything. If I'm bored, upset, happy, sad... I eat.
Anyway, that's my story up till now... I'm starting a new part of my life. One that has me feeling better, looking better and one that will carry me through the rest of my life. I don't see myself as on a diet; I am very aware that to be a success, this plan has to be a way of life.
Wish me luck!
