Hello from Tampa Bay

N

neonlady

0
You know... I'm sitting here trying to figure out what to say to introduce myself to this community and I'm struggling.

It seems we're all here for varying degrees of the same reason.... We want to improve ourselves and live better... right!?


So.. my story...

I turned 43 in March.

I am a mom - 2 offspring.

I'm a sales engineer by profession with the Evil Empire.

I have struggled with weight and with what John Q Public Media thinks women should look like since I understood that my build/body/life didn't fit the norm.

I used food to hide because hey... I wasn't "acceptable" so why bother..right!?
How many others have been down this road...& some are still on this journey :(

However, that mindset had to come to a screeching grinding halt for several reasons; mainly because my body was starting to shut down and FINALLY retaliate for me being such an idiot.

Due to poor eating habits, birth control drugs, and just being a lazy ass, I had ballooned up to 300 pounds and was on the verge of being the cause of a funeral my children really did not need.

So, at 38, I had the gastric bypass/rouen-y procedure done because I HAD good solid reasons to live.. kids, family.. bills (haha)... and in a year, dropped 150 lbs.

During that time, my entire mindset about food changed. It went from being a luxury item to hide behind to a tool; a necessity to sustain my body; and in fact, there are days/weeks when i really trulyly HATED to eat! - and I still go thru periods like that...
truly..

Skip to current.

So.. the weight loss.... YAY for the weight loss.. bad for the skin. It didn't have time to "shrink".. & now, 5 years post-op - and I'm back at not being happy with my looks (thanks again Mr John Q Public Media)... Imagine a cross between the Michelin Man & a sharpei dog..LOL and without the $30K for the surgeries to remove it all.

Plus, with a sedentary job, I've put back on 30-40lbs which just flat torqued my chain so I decided to change a few things:

Thing 1. I added running
Thing 2. I added weight training
Thing 3. I added WATER & MORE WATER
Thing 4. I modified my diet
Thing 5. I added supplements, & the vitamins & calcium my body needs
Thing 6. I added a COACH/TRAINER. Smartest move I've done yet! :)
Thing 7. I adopted the "SAVE YOURSELF FIRST" mindset - all else will follow

I am here now to continue this mind/body/soul journey, and who knows.. maybe one day our paths will cross and we can take part of this trip together :)

I'll eventually post before/after pics so you can see where I started to where I am now.

Thanks for letting me ramble...

neon
 
Great post and you have done awesome so far. You will succeed at the rest of your goals because you are determined! :) I look forward to following your journey.
 
OK-- I sent all your most recent pics to yoru e-mail.

suggestion...

in the "ounal Section" copy and paste the opening you have here, and use that new thread for you daily tracking. But- di it in the Jornal section verses the intro section.
 
Way to go!

Congradulations on the great turn around with your weight loss and fitness gains and welcome to the forum. I don't do a lot of posting here, but when I see somebody who has done such amazing things, I just have to say well done!

I didn't start working out until I was 64 years old, and after almost 8 years of weight training, I now know the great things that are possible with a little work.

I would like to see your photos too, and maybe publish your story on my website, with your approval. I'm always looking for stories to try and get the seniors to get going in improving their health. If they only knew what is possible.

Sometimes I think that the word exercise is a "magic" word. Just say the word exercise in a gathering of seniors, and they all disappear. (ha ha) Yes, I know you are not a senior yet, but it's still a great story.

Keep it up, it will pay off.
 
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pics

Here are a few
 

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Exercise

For a year following my surgery I was heavily into the BodyPump/BodyFlow classes offered at my local gym. I also did a LOT of walking. 2 miles at least every time I got on a treadmill.

Then insert a move to FL, a new job, trying to learn my way around, and not knowing anyone here... i fell back into a sedentary lifestyle. I maintained my weight through diet alone.

Skip to now.

I run. not very well and for not very long yet, but I'm DOING it.

MWF are my run days. I have a different type of run routine for each day.
Pacing/controlling my pace (increase/decrease)/steady or extended run
Saturday is a fun/play/sweat day. (bike/walk/swim/skate/whatever)
Sunday is a full body workout.
Wednesday I also do a full body workout on top of the run.

My goal (for now) is to do a 5K. I'll do more.. I know it.. but for now.. small is ok :)

Me
 
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