LifesTooShort
New member
The title of this diary is inspired by a recent trip to Europe. I spent five days exhaustively touring Prague, and attending a music festival until the wee hours every night. It inspired me to want to make the most out of life. Part of that is not wasting time being unhealthy.
My story:
I have a medium to large frame, so I was never teensy at any point in my life. During puberty my body went from short and chunky, to taller and scrawny, to curvier in an athletic way. I started high school at 5'5" and 130 lbs. I played soccer and was active and healthy.
Then family problems led to a severe bout of depression. After a long struggle I was finally put on medication. This helped resolve my emotional problems, but led to slow and steady weight gain. Despite being active through soccer, I put on 20 lbs. the first year I took Paxil, then 25 more the next year, and then I quit playing soccer and decided to manage the team instead. I put on almost 40 lbs., graduating high school at a record 213 lbs. That's over 80 lbs. gained over 3-4 years. But, going off the medication would have been a far worse option, and at the time I did not realize the meds were related to the weight gain.
Either way, the summer before college I worked at a summer camp, and chasing after kids combined with a sensible diet helped me drop down to 195 lbs. Starting college meant a steady diet of Coke and candy bars, which meant 10 lbs. weight gain and three cavities. But taking up smoking after freshman year helped me maintain a weight of 205 despite pizza binges and more candy bars.
All through college, I was 205 lbs., a size 14, and happy and confident. I have been told that I wear my weight well because I am well proportioned and have a small waist. Despite being very overweight (technically obese), I was more often labeled "curvy" than "fat" both by myself and others.
Then I quit smoking last summer. All was well until I went home to my parent’s homes for winter break. Lots of dinners at restaurants and less than healthy home cooking meant that I piled on weight. When I came back, my clothes were tight on me. Shockingly, I had gone from 205 to 223 over the break (though I suspect I actually gained 5-7 lbs. of that beforehand from my metabolism slowing).
That weight gain freaked me out. Previously my "fat" weight was 213, and I was 10 lbs. over that! I immediately began researching nutrition, calorie counting, everything, and began watching my diet. I started in January, and by the time I graduated in May I was back down to 205. I wore a cute dress to graduation and felt good about myself.
Then I moved in with my boyfriend of 3 years and changed jobs all within a few months. I stopped keeping up with my good eating habits, and was no longer walking as much as when I lived in a big city without a car. Slowly, 10 lbs. of the weight has crept back on. I now fluctuate between 213 and 215. I wear a 16 more often than a 14, and have a substantial amount of clothing that I don’t feel comfortable wearing anymore. My friends and boyfriend say they can’t tell I’ve put on weight, but I can see it in my hips and how my clothing fits. I have begrudgingly realized that I have to make permanent lifestyle changes now that I am a non smoker.
Today, I called a wellness center affiliated with my work and signed up for a free program. I meet with a nutritionist and exercise physiologist next week. I also get a free gym membership and several meetings with a trainer, as well as weekly check-ins. I am hoping to find more structure and support this way. I have one friend who is a good model of a healthy, balanced lifestyle who is being very supportive, and my boyfriend is behind me as well (he’s trying to lose 10 lbs. himself).
So, my goals are as follows:
Goal 1: Lose weight! Any amount, even half a pound ! Just to prove to myself that it’s possible and to gain a little motivation.
Goal 2: Keep losing weight! My first real goal is to get below 200 lbs. I haven’t weighed that since starting college. I am hoping to achieve this through the 12 week health plan I just joined.
Goal 3: Get down to 185.
Final goal: 170. I look at pictures of me at this weight and like how I look – curvy but athletic. I do like being curvy, and I don’t want to replace all my clothes. I was a 12 or a 14 at this weight, and was able to easily fit into a standard women’s Large. I was also still playing soccer, running between 3-8 miles five days a week, so I know I can be in shape at that weight.
Steps I’ve taken so far:
1. Signed up for wellness program
2. Replaced soda with green tea
3. Began cooking meals more rather than eating out
4. Replacing unhealthy snacks with healthier ones (cereal, fruit, veggies)
Changes I hope to make over time:
1. Cut down on late night snacking (my #1 worst eating habit)
2. Exercise regularly
3. Find strategies to stop binge eating
4. Have more energy
5. Learn more healthy recipes and prepare most of my own food (this was a main reason I lost weight and felt healthier the last time around).
So, expect regular, obsessive compulsive updates (being a tad bit OCD is what keeps me on track!).
My story:
I have a medium to large frame, so I was never teensy at any point in my life. During puberty my body went from short and chunky, to taller and scrawny, to curvier in an athletic way. I started high school at 5'5" and 130 lbs. I played soccer and was active and healthy.
Then family problems led to a severe bout of depression. After a long struggle I was finally put on medication. This helped resolve my emotional problems, but led to slow and steady weight gain. Despite being active through soccer, I put on 20 lbs. the first year I took Paxil, then 25 more the next year, and then I quit playing soccer and decided to manage the team instead. I put on almost 40 lbs., graduating high school at a record 213 lbs. That's over 80 lbs. gained over 3-4 years. But, going off the medication would have been a far worse option, and at the time I did not realize the meds were related to the weight gain.
Either way, the summer before college I worked at a summer camp, and chasing after kids combined with a sensible diet helped me drop down to 195 lbs. Starting college meant a steady diet of Coke and candy bars, which meant 10 lbs. weight gain and three cavities. But taking up smoking after freshman year helped me maintain a weight of 205 despite pizza binges and more candy bars.
All through college, I was 205 lbs., a size 14, and happy and confident. I have been told that I wear my weight well because I am well proportioned and have a small waist. Despite being very overweight (technically obese), I was more often labeled "curvy" than "fat" both by myself and others.
Then I quit smoking last summer. All was well until I went home to my parent’s homes for winter break. Lots of dinners at restaurants and less than healthy home cooking meant that I piled on weight. When I came back, my clothes were tight on me. Shockingly, I had gone from 205 to 223 over the break (though I suspect I actually gained 5-7 lbs. of that beforehand from my metabolism slowing).
That weight gain freaked me out. Previously my "fat" weight was 213, and I was 10 lbs. over that! I immediately began researching nutrition, calorie counting, everything, and began watching my diet. I started in January, and by the time I graduated in May I was back down to 205. I wore a cute dress to graduation and felt good about myself.
Then I moved in with my boyfriend of 3 years and changed jobs all within a few months. I stopped keeping up with my good eating habits, and was no longer walking as much as when I lived in a big city without a car. Slowly, 10 lbs. of the weight has crept back on. I now fluctuate between 213 and 215. I wear a 16 more often than a 14, and have a substantial amount of clothing that I don’t feel comfortable wearing anymore. My friends and boyfriend say they can’t tell I’ve put on weight, but I can see it in my hips and how my clothing fits. I have begrudgingly realized that I have to make permanent lifestyle changes now that I am a non smoker.
Today, I called a wellness center affiliated with my work and signed up for a free program. I meet with a nutritionist and exercise physiologist next week. I also get a free gym membership and several meetings with a trainer, as well as weekly check-ins. I am hoping to find more structure and support this way. I have one friend who is a good model of a healthy, balanced lifestyle who is being very supportive, and my boyfriend is behind me as well (he’s trying to lose 10 lbs. himself).
So, my goals are as follows:
Goal 1: Lose weight! Any amount, even half a pound ! Just to prove to myself that it’s possible and to gain a little motivation.
Goal 2: Keep losing weight! My first real goal is to get below 200 lbs. I haven’t weighed that since starting college. I am hoping to achieve this through the 12 week health plan I just joined.
Goal 3: Get down to 185.
Final goal: 170. I look at pictures of me at this weight and like how I look – curvy but athletic. I do like being curvy, and I don’t want to replace all my clothes. I was a 12 or a 14 at this weight, and was able to easily fit into a standard women’s Large. I was also still playing soccer, running between 3-8 miles five days a week, so I know I can be in shape at that weight.
Steps I’ve taken so far:
1. Signed up for wellness program
2. Replaced soda with green tea
3. Began cooking meals more rather than eating out
4. Replacing unhealthy snacks with healthier ones (cereal, fruit, veggies)
Changes I hope to make over time:
1. Cut down on late night snacking (my #1 worst eating habit)
2. Exercise regularly
3. Find strategies to stop binge eating
4. Have more energy
5. Learn more healthy recipes and prepare most of my own food (this was a main reason I lost weight and felt healthier the last time around).
So, expect regular, obsessive compulsive updates (being a tad bit OCD is what keeps me on track!).
just don't let the obsession drive you too crazy so that you're not enjoying yourself... welcome to your diary and much success on your journey
Hi from Canada!