My Weight Loss Journey- I Lost 100+ Pounds

Whether or not you reach your goals in life depends entirely on how well you prepare for them and how badly you want them. We are eagles! Lets Stretch our wings. ~ Ronald Mcnair

Before                      After

Let me just come out and scream it : "As of July 11, 2012, I have lost 101 pounds and I'm wearing a size 4!!!!!".  Yaaaahhhhh! for me. It is still so surreal!!!! It took me a year almost to the date.   The first question that everyone asks me is: "How did you do it?"  Well, be surprised,  I had no surgery (not that there is anything wrong with that, if that's what you and your doctor decide is the best possible way for you), I had no magic potion, I don't have a secret or have a special pill.  I did it by just plain hard work known as diet and exercise.  I'm not here to promote any particular program because in my opinion, all programs work.  You have to choose one of the many that will fit your lifestyle, stick to it and make it work for YOU.  Be Determine, Be Patience, Be Consistent and Focus.

My Before's

I'm not claiming by any means to be a nutritionist, fitness instructor, motivational speaker, or a life coach. I'm here to share my story of my hard work en route to my weight loss success and the dynamics that went on behind my journey. If this motivates you, then I am grateful to have touched something in you to make you start a journey that will be a new lifestyle for the rest of your life with endless benefits.

Most of us are more concerned on the mechanical part of the journey than the emotional part, which I think  plays a bigger factor on making this journey a success.  It is something we don't hear too much about, but emotions play with the psychic to the point that sometimes they makes us fail. 

My After's

Just to touch briefly on the mechanical part, it is an equation that I am sure you have heard over and over, just simple math, good calories in and calories out (not all calories are the same).  I was religious to a 1,500 calories intake based on 6 small meals a day and I cannot emphasize enough that exercising is a big key.

Now that I took all that out the way let me give you a small synopsis on how I got this heavy and what made me decide to make a U-turn.

Before the Journey

Since my late 20's, I have never been what we call "thin."  I had "curves" for lack of better words and I always struggled with my weight.  Yo-Yo diets were not unfamiliar to me. As most of you know I had to battle cervical cancer in 2008.  I'm one of the lucky one's and I was grateful God gave me a second shot at life.

Exercising with my workout buddy Robin

So you might think that I should have been capitalizing on that fact but far from it.   Even though, I was grateful and trying to pay it forward by advocating the prevention of cervical cancer to other women, I was licking my own wounds and drowning in my own self pity. I became a food addict.  Food gave me comfort, food was my comfort "blankie," it gave me short lived satisfactions, but never-the-less I liked the feeling. It was like filling a barrel without a bottom. 

As time went by, the pounds began to stay with me tipping the scale to 238 pounds and wearing a size 22 (wow! this is the first time I officially said it, but I own it now).  This was a very unhealthy weight on a  5'3" frame.  The consequences began to appear.  I developed diabetes type II, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.  What a mess!!!!!  I also felt like a hippocrate  because here I was advocating and writing on my other blog (The Voices of Two Mujeres) about health when I was an unhealthy individual myself not doing what I was preaching.

I had to be on several medications to be able to control my illnesses,  to be specific, I had to take up to (3) pills a day for my diabetes, (1) for my high cholesterol and (1) for my high blood pressure.  My doctor warned me on many occasions and I did what I have done many times before, I ignored it,  like if ignoring it will make everything go away.  I must confess that I started my journey many times and failed.  I wanted to do it, but somehow my willpower and determination would leave me. I guess I was NOT ready.  Often I asked myself, --I beat cancer why can't I beat this????

It was until the doctor told me that my medications were not quite controlling my diabetes and he said that our next step was to inject insulin.  OMG!!!!!! The light went on.  Fear took over.  I had to make a decision and was determined that I was not going there!!!!

The Weight Loss Group "My Girls"

The Journey
My journey began July 9, 2011 and the first thing I had to admit to myself was that I was an addict, I was using food as a crutch and I needed help.  It was obvious that I couldn't do it alone.  Support, knowledge, and a plan are important keys in any journey.

I needed a plan, some structure and people that will know how to guide me. I couldn't focus on the big number 100.  Just seeing the three digits can discourage anyone.   So I set small goals instead.  I had to dig very deep within me to make the determination that I will stay in the path to the end no matter how long it took, no matter what it took. By no means is this an easy journey.  There are no easy programs, no easy fixes. Ultimately, you are your own driver. 

My Two Amazing Women #KillerKetsy and Ronni

I knew I had my cheerleaders squad (my husband, my family and my friends) behind me, but I knew that it was up to me to carry the torch.

It was then when two of the most instrumental people in my journey came along.  Ronni and #KillerKetsy;   Ronni, I call her my "food police".  She  taught  me how to eat right, she was vigilant of my choices.  She made sure that I knew that there are better ways to still enjoy food and my secret indulgences.  #KillerKetsy, my trainer, the lady that lives up to the name she is known for. Don't let her petite size fool you.  She gives tough love, speak few words, shows no mercy while working out, but she is constantly reminding you that "you can do it."  At the end they both acted like proud mommas looking at their creation (ME).  These amazing ladies taught me the  knowledge of their tools which are priceless and timeless. I learned plenty and I'm still learning.  Just because I reached a number doesn't mean I reached the destination. 

As I said before support is a big key.  I had terrible days more than you can imagine. There were times that I just wanted to give up and throw in the towel.  There were many times that I cried on both #KilleKetsy and Ronni's shoulders.  Sometimes I was discouraged-- feeling that I was working hard and the scale was not talking to me.   I was lucky again to have joined a Weight Loss Challenge Group at the gym.  I can honestly say the support that we gave one another was amazing. I call them "my girls".  We were on the same mission working towards the same goal.  We shared the tears, the pain and we cheered our big and small milestones.

I was ready to attend my High School Reunion

As the pounds come off and your body changes so does your mind set.  The mind moves a little slower than the physical part so you have to give it time to catch up.  Sometimes I use to get a glimpse of myself in the mirror and it was like seeing someone else.  It didn't quite register in my mind.  The journey of a weight loss is kind of hard to explain.  It is not only dealing with the diet and exercise, but there are dynamics that goes with it. Your body gets accustomed to certain things after awhile and at times you have to change course to shock your body again.  I remember that at one point I had to increase my calories intake.  What???? Yes, I was burning more calories than the ones I was eating.

When you burn more calories than what you eat, you tend to get hungry and when you don't eat you kind of starve yourself and your metabolism shuts down and no matter how much exercise you do the scale is NOT going to move, which is very discouraging.  I had to convince myself that it was OK to eat a little more to lose weight even though my mind was saying you are going to gain weight if you eat more.  The concept is that sometimes you have to eat a little more to be able to lose weight especially when you are burning more.  WTH???? Yes, it is hard to grasp but it is a fact.

I'm still in the process of catching up.  There is another confession I have to make--- I haven't gotten rid of my XXL clothes.  I don't feel ready yet.  Crazy???? Perhaps, but I know when I'm ready I will do it.  It will be like saying good-bye to an old friend forever.

My #1 Fan and Supporter, my husband, Freddie

Unfortunately, in this journey I encountered negative people, and non-believers that would have love to see me fail. Not a good feeling when you feel you are going up hill all the time.  This was the time I had to dig deep, stay focus, and kind of ignore the unnecessary noise.  I stayed close to the positive vibes and the amazing energy that people that care provided me.

The majority of us want to reach our goal over night.  This will never happen, you have to remember that you did not get where you are over night.  Patience and consistency go together.  Be patient --be consistent-- and you will see the results.  You might not see it when you want to, but I promise you will get back what you put in.   


The End?
No!!! this is not the end.   As an addict, I have to be vigilant of a relapse, but I do it one day at a time. The benefits of this journey have been endless.  I'm healthier, stronger and happier than I can remember.  I don't take any more medications.  I reversed my diabetes, my cholesterol, and my high blood pressure.

I have accepted my new lifestyle. The lifestyle I will follow for all my days to come.   And ready to hear this?  I even like to exercise.  It has become part of my everyday routine like taking a shower or brushing my teeth.  I still have plenty of work to do and many things I want to accomplish like running my first 5K this coming October.   I really feel unstoppable!!

I still have my off days, but they are fewer than more. I have learned not to be hard on myself if I have a bad day as long as I pick up myself the very next day and continue my path.  Unfortunately, I still encounter non- believers and negative people, that are swearing that I will gain all my weight back tomorrow, but I ignore that kind of noise in my life and use it as motivation.

The end of one journey is the beginning of another...

With my new friend "The Scale"

Editor's Note:  Words seem to escape me  to express my gratitude to the many people that supported me and still support me on this journey.  My cheer-leading squad list is too long, but you know who you are and I thank you.  Without everyone of you,  I wouldn't have had the strength and energy to conquer what I did.  All my love goes to the man that held my hand through this whole journey, my husband, Freddie.  To my cheer leading squad captains, my brother Rudy, my good friend Maria,  my Mamy,  my Aunt and my daughter (in my mind) Elizabeth----- Thank you!!!!!!  Special thanks to the two awesome women that became my personal GPS' and were instrumental in guiding me to reach a better place.  Thank you Ronni and #KillerKetsy.  You will always have my most sincere admiration and gratitude.  All of my love. xo

**If you want to read more about my weight loss journey visit: Heavy Girl to Healthy Girl

Update: As of July 18th, 2012, I have lost 2 more pounds. This makes it a total of 103 pounds. The journey continues...

Update #2: As of August 1, 2012, I have lost an additional 1.2 pounds. This makes it a total of 104.2 pounds lost. The journey continues...

Update #3:  As of August 8th, 2012, I have lost an additional 1.2 pounds.  This makes it a total of 105.4 pounds lost.  The journey continues...

Update #4:  As of August 15th, 2012, I have lost an addition 2 pounds.  This makes it a total of 107.4 pounds lost.  The journey continues...
 
Related Links to My Weight Loss Journey:
I Won Ketsy and Lost Pounds - Part III 
I Won Ketsy and Lost Pounds - Part II 
I Won Ketsy and Lost Pounds - Part I
Zumba and Spinning for a Newbie
Running Like A Diva