During my High School and college days I was "that girl". I simply felt and looked great. As I transitioned into adulthood I became more curvy and I secretly enjoyed the stares from the men and the jealous snares from the women folk. During that period in my life I like to think the world was at my feet. Fast forward four years, after getting in the corporate world as a paralegal, I fell in love and got married naturally kids followed, both through Cesarean section. I quit my job as our work schedules did not allow for my husband and I to be both working and feel present in our children's lives.
Two months after quitting my job and giving birth to my youngest, depression set in. I was home most of the time with two children who were a year apart and depressed. My husband would work and travel a lot and I felt very lonely. I started to eat junk to mask the pain I was feeling. And eat I did, the word moderation did not exist in my vocabulary.
I remember our anniversary was coming up in a few months and as is tradition my husband had suggested we go visit beach resort in Hawaii where we got married. You would think I would be happy right? I was not. I ran into the bathroom in my sweats which were my go to outfits and stared into the mirror. I slowly removed my clothes and stared into the full size mirror, wondering where the "it girl" had gone. My stripes of honor aka stretch marks in full view, my stomach flab, my sagging breasts and thighs that did not make me feel very good either were all looking back at me. I remember crying my eyes and making a vow to at least loose 20 pounds before the anniiversary. So my struggle with weight loss began then.
I recall wanting so badly to be thin. So the first thing I did as is with any loose weight fad was starving myself. I tried fasting and getting on that scale twice daily and that did not work at all and I ended up gaining weight and depressed even more. I lacked motivation. The motivation came when two days later when I bumped into an old college friend and YES she looked absolutely fabulous.
That night I went home and did all the research on weight loss I possibly could. I imagined that I would find most success on a low carbohydrate diet. I officially became the low carb guru in our house. I avoided anything that had any carbs. For sometime this seemed like the perfect solution for me but it did not last long. By that time I was spent emotionally and physically as I was eating really unhealthy.
I wanted a fast fix to my weight problem, I contemplated having surgery but I knew my husband would first take me to a mental institution. So I did the next best thing, I started taking slimming tablets and supplements the side effects I got from those is a story for another day.
What followed next was the Atkins diet (which was a struggle to stick to) and the weight watchers program (which I liked but struggled with energy). I started keeping a journal of what I ate. I started exercising. I would push the stroller for about an hour round my neighborhood. I got out more, started jogging in the mornings, skipped the rope a few times. I remember the first time I started skipping the rope, I used to joke that when I started skipping rope my tummy was so happy that it clapped (that is how bad I had gained weight) I downloaded a few videos that I would use to exercise at home for weight loss.
It was around this time that did some further research and read some reviews from bloggers on various diet programs. After all this, I started following the glowing lean system, and I started eating clean and healthy food, I made a list of fruits, vegetables and foods I love to eat that are healthy and stocked them. I threw away the scale (I bought another one after a month), I got involved in my children's play a lot more. Additionally I drank like a fish (water of course) I tripled my water intake! It made a really big difference actually even though it's something quite small.
I eat six small meals to ensure I don't get hungry and crave unhealthy foods. I ensure my meals are well balanced as I have developed an eating plan.
Looking back it is unbelievable to me at how quick it is to let go and gain weight. I still have the picture of me standing naked in front of the mirror wondering what had happened to me. It is now three years since I made my life style change and it is still surreal to me that I am able to maintain a healthy weight and for most part I am comfortable with my body. That was my struggle with weight loss.
Two months after quitting my job and giving birth to my youngest, depression set in. I was home most of the time with two children who were a year apart and depressed. My husband would work and travel a lot and I felt very lonely. I started to eat junk to mask the pain I was feeling. And eat I did, the word moderation did not exist in my vocabulary.
I remember our anniversary was coming up in a few months and as is tradition my husband had suggested we go visit beach resort in Hawaii where we got married. You would think I would be happy right? I was not. I ran into the bathroom in my sweats which were my go to outfits and stared into the mirror. I slowly removed my clothes and stared into the full size mirror, wondering where the "it girl" had gone. My stripes of honor aka stretch marks in full view, my stomach flab, my sagging breasts and thighs that did not make me feel very good either were all looking back at me. I remember crying my eyes and making a vow to at least loose 20 pounds before the anniiversary. So my struggle with weight loss began then.
I recall wanting so badly to be thin. So the first thing I did as is with any loose weight fad was starving myself. I tried fasting and getting on that scale twice daily and that did not work at all and I ended up gaining weight and depressed even more. I lacked motivation. The motivation came when two days later when I bumped into an old college friend and YES she looked absolutely fabulous.
That night I went home and did all the research on weight loss I possibly could. I imagined that I would find most success on a low carbohydrate diet. I officially became the low carb guru in our house. I avoided anything that had any carbs. For sometime this seemed like the perfect solution for me but it did not last long. By that time I was spent emotionally and physically as I was eating really unhealthy.
I wanted a fast fix to my weight problem, I contemplated having surgery but I knew my husband would first take me to a mental institution. So I did the next best thing, I started taking slimming tablets and supplements the side effects I got from those is a story for another day.
What followed next was the Atkins diet (which was a struggle to stick to) and the weight watchers program (which I liked but struggled with energy). I started keeping a journal of what I ate. I started exercising. I would push the stroller for about an hour round my neighborhood. I got out more, started jogging in the mornings, skipped the rope a few times. I remember the first time I started skipping the rope, I used to joke that when I started skipping rope my tummy was so happy that it clapped (that is how bad I had gained weight) I downloaded a few videos that I would use to exercise at home for weight loss.
It was around this time that did some further research and read some reviews from bloggers on various diet programs. After all this, I started following the glowing lean system, and I started eating clean and healthy food, I made a list of fruits, vegetables and foods I love to eat that are healthy and stocked them. I threw away the scale (I bought another one after a month), I got involved in my children's play a lot more. Additionally I drank like a fish (water of course) I tripled my water intake! It made a really big difference actually even though it's something quite small.
I eat six small meals to ensure I don't get hungry and crave unhealthy foods. I ensure my meals are well balanced as I have developed an eating plan.
Looking back it is unbelievable to me at how quick it is to let go and gain weight. I still have the picture of me standing naked in front of the mirror wondering what had happened to me. It is now three years since I made my life style change and it is still surreal to me that I am able to maintain a healthy weight and for most part I am comfortable with my body. That was my struggle with weight loss.