I started looking into eating low carb on July 5th, 2003. It wasn’t until the 7th that I actually started eating fewer carbs… and it wasn’t until mid July that I found this forum. I lurked for about a month and finally introduced myself to the general forum on August 15th and then the TDC on August 26th. It seems just like yesterday…
At that time I posted this in my TDC introduction thread: “One mini goal I have is to be able to fit my hiney in those small cheap plastic patio chairs people have”. Well, I’m pleased to say that I met that goal.
An interesting observation as I went back and looked at my TDC intro thread... Not one of the people responding post here any more. From everything I’ve read, having a support group is essential to losing weight and keeping it off. I wonder how those folks are doing now. For me, it is essential that I stay plugged into my support group here.
It’s been an interesting journey. I simply tracked my carbs for a couple of days and then decided to cut back. I cut back to 150, then 125, then 100 and so on. I’ve never actually done an induction, but I’m sure there are days when I’ve eaten induction level carbs.
I also got into exercise because of some TDC exercise challenges. And this, from a die hard… who never believed that you should have to exercise just for exercise sake. I always felt like you should get your exercise just through your normal living. Of course, I wasn’t getting any, but hey, that didn’t matter. It was the principle.
Needless to say, I really enjoyed the exercise... or maybe it was the results. I first started with Leslie Sansone’s Walk Away the Pounds videos. I still highly recommend them for TDC’ers just getting started with exercise.
I joined World Gym in 2005, about 5 months before we moved to the new house. I hired a personal trainer for a month or so to get me started. That was a good move for me and I would recommend it for anyone who wants to start lifting weights. He taught me the right way to use all of the equipment. I found out that I really love lifting weights. There is just something about seeing that progress that makes me feel like I am accomplishing something. And back then, I actually could see muscles started to show!
And yes, I fell off the wagon, too. When I moved to my new house, all of my routines were shot. My old house didn’t sell and I was financially strapped. I couldn’t go to the gym anymore and I was in serious jeopardy financially. I finally had to rent the old house out for less than what it cost me each month. And let me say that when you are juggling your bills each month, weight loss just takes a back seat. It wasn’t until the old house sold the following Spring that I was able to breath again. And it still took me another 6 months to finally get my head back into the weight loss game. Of course, that was after gaining 60 pounds.
I lost 104 lbs the first year. When I started working out, my weight loss slowed down, but it was definitely worth it. Just before I fell off the wagon, I was starting to wear size 16s – regular size 16s! And I was wearing size 28Ws when I started this journey. I regained back up to a size 22W and actually had to buy new clothes when I fell off the wagon. I had given away all my old stuff. Now that I am back on the wagon, I’ve given those new size 22s away! I’m wearing size 18Ws now and plan to fit into those size 16s soon.
My posted goal is to get back to where I was before I fell of the wagon, 210. At that time, I felt good about myself for the first time in a long time. Even though I still saw myself as fat, I really did look just like all the other middle aged women out there. My daughter and I would look at people and ask each other, do I look like her? It still surprises me when my daughter says I’m not as big as the other woman.
My self image is just not realistic… Sometimes I think I’ll always feel like I’m that woman who wore size 28Ws.
I’ll probably continue on to a lower weight. My original goal was 172, which is what I weighed in high school. I would at least like to get below 200… just because I hear Onederland is so great.
I know it’s just a number, though.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to just never quit trying. This truly is a lifelong journey and as long as we keep at it, we’ll make it. Sure, there will be good and bad days, things we try that don’t work and things we try that work better than we expected. As long as we are trying, we’re still in the game.
I’ve seen some folks here in the TDC actually make it to goal. There aren’t that many, though. It’s kind of scary when you think about it. What happens to the majority of folks? Do they quit trying and regain the fat? Or maybe they are like I was – just other things keeping them from focusing on weight loss. I have the utmost respect for the TDCers who have reached their goals and continue to share their wisdom with us. When they post, I read. If you want to do something, who better to learn from than those who have done it?
I read this many years ago, probably back in the 80s. It has stuck with me for years and it seems so appropriate for those of us who are on this weight loss journey.
Life is like a journey taken on a train
With a pair of travelers at each window pane.
I might sit beside you all the journey through
Or I might sit elsewhere, never knowing you.
But if fate should mark me to sit at your side,
Let's be pleasant travelers -- it's so short a ride!
-author unknown
I plan to be on this weight loss forum until I’m too old to type. I hope you will be here, too, riding along beside me.
And a special note for those who are lurking. If I had continued to lurk after that first month of finding this forum, I probably wouldn’t be here today. It’s the friendships and mutual support we get here that keep us coming back day after day... that keep us trying. Please come out of hiding and join us!
Musings on my 4th year anniversary…
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