Fat: Contemplating a Solution

I've been turning it over in my head for about a year now:::: getting the Lap Band surgery. I want a better quality of life and a smaller waist size. Honestly, if my stomach was in correct proportion to my body, I don't think I would mind as much. But it's not. If I keep on this way -- I'm looking at Diabetes, Heart Disease, Stroke and all the diseases that come with obesity. Many of you have read my blogs on here discussing my excess weight and committing to losing the extra pounds but here I am still the same size I was a couple years ago. What motivates me is that I was about 50 pounds lighter when husband and I got married. That's a big difference. I really need to shed this weight and get rid of it once and for all.

Some of the pro's of the LapBand surgery that I've read so far:

• No visible scar -- the incision is made in the navel. One incision. That rocks!

• Fully reversible -- if it's not working for you, you just get it "undone".

• No supplements for nutrition.

• Adjustable -- if it's too tight or too lose, you just get it adjusted.

The voice inside my head, along with the advice of my husband, says that I have all the know-how to lose weight without surgery. My husband, at his largest was about 290. He is now a slim and svelte 220. He did it all-natural, without the use of any drugs. He just committed to working out and eating right and if he didn't eat right then he worked out double hard. He is such an inspiration but he makes it look so easy and I know it's not! **shrugs**

About a month ago I went on youtube and searched for lap band surgery. They actually have videos of the procedure being done. It looks so painful to me so when I watched it, I vowed to myself that I would not get the surgery done. But here I am... contemplating the surgery. What gives me serious doubts about getting the surgery done is that what I've read about it reads like a science-fiction movie. In my mind, I'm thinking that I can totally do this on my own if I commit to losing the weight. COMMIT to being healthier. COMMIT to increasing my quality of life now and into old age. Fat people just don't live long so I have to change the habits NOW.

Staying Motivated to Lose....

A couple of posts ago I reported that I was sick of being large and totally ready to let go of this excess weight FOREVER. Well, I'm super serious. This picture is one of my motivations. I just posted it on Facebook as my profile picture also for the same reasons I'm posting it here -- motivation! This was me at my goal weight. The picture was taken back in 2004 right before the first wedding anniversary. **sigh**

Here I am 7 and a half years from that picture, about 50 pounds heavier, and just realllllly ready to let go of the weight -- fo realz!!!

Some of the observations I make as I look at this picture is that I actually have a neck in it. LOL. My face is well defined. Lipstick--flawless. **big frown face** because AVON discontinued that particular lip gloss. The color was TEDDY BEAR. In fact, I still carry that same lip gloss from that era just hoping that I will run into a matching shade. I've gone to Sephora, Mac Makeup, Bobbi Brown to try and match and have just run out of ideas on where to get it. I should have bought a dozen of that lip gloss. **sigh** I also see a hoop earring peeking out from behind my hair. I have not worn hoop earrings since that era. I've been doing dangly earrings.

I've employed several different approaches to my weight loss journey.

#1 : LOSE IT!
This has got to be my favorite tool. It is the Lose It! website with companion LoseIt! App on Android and Mac. There's a bunch of us using it. It logs exercise and food intake/calories consumed. It tracks your weight, gives you an amount of calories you can take in and tells you what your balance is on. For instance, today, based on what I ate and how much activity I was involved I had 500 calories left on the day. That is amazing to me! I had a super difficult time a couple years ago trying to calculate "points" on Weight Watchers. This app makes it super duper simple. I find myself strategically estimating what I'm going to eat for the next meal or snack. I just love it! It also tracks your weight. I just started this and it's at the tail end of my period so all the bloating and water weight is gone. So since my starting weight of 265, I'm down 6 pounds. I'm so encouraged!

#2 : MEDITATION
Most people are unconvinced that meditation is a useful tool but it is PRICELESS. I use Kelly Howell's guided meditations found on her website BrainSync. Things that I experienced as a child that I thought were long gone emotions are actually preventing me from progressing because I've held onto it for so long. Emotions like fear, helplessness, shame, etc. are explored in depth. It can get pretty intense but the exercises are PRICELESS and very "free-ing". I use several of her meditations. This time I have actually listened to the weight-loss one several times in month.

#3 : PLAIN OLD EXERCISE
I have changed up my exercise regime to include so many different types of calorie-burns. I have acquired BIGGEST LOSER YOGA. A friend of mine has the zumba dvd's, Biggest Loser dvd's, Jillian Michaels Ripped in thirty days. The family has just been mixing it up.

To each his own. I need to stay motivated so that I can increase the quality of life as I age. My father is turning 70 this year. He still looks sooooo YOUNG. Not a wrinkle on his face. His hair just turning gray here and there. He is as healthy as an ox. Anyway -- I want that for me! It starts with taking off this excess weight.

2012=HEALTH for Me

There's a funny thing that happens at the end of the year.... we feel the need to change and to make those resolutions. I like to think that I do it on a weekly basis. I am pretty good about decluttering. I do it often enough to be a regular on the donations pick-up route by the Kidney Foundation and the Boys & Girls Club.

I am dedicating 2012 to rethinking and redoing my approach to health. I know a lot about health. I need to be about it and improve the quality of my life now and in the future. I am letting this Jennifer Hudson/Weight Watchers ad be my inspiration!




Another inspiration for 2012 is this blog:
A Black Girl's Guide to Weight Loss

Keep me accountable.
Today, I start this journey at a whopping 265 pounds. I'm so comfortable in my own skin that, at first, weight loss wasn't for cosmetic reasons. It was for health. Since I seen the Jennifer Hudson commercial above... I'm inspired to look better and be healthier.

Linked Up: My Calorie Counter

I just completed day 4 of the Insanity workout. Cardio Recovery. Awesome!!

I found this website that is similar to Weight Watchers Online. The difference is... this site is FREE!!!

My Calorie Counter

The new year has begun and I really need to drop the pounds. As I age I am more and more aware of how my body is changing. I'm not young and spry like I used to be. My knees are beginning to ache so I know the extra pounds are taking a toll on my body and fat people just don't live very long. Also, there is history of stroke and diabetes on one side of the family so being obese will only lead to that. I want to live a long and healthy life and not repeat the cycle.

A distant cousin of mine had the Gastric Bypass surgery done in September. She has documented her journey on her youtube channel. I will not post her website to preserve her privacy but she is such an inspiration to me. Other friends have also done some type of surgery to assist in weight loss. Another cousin did the lap band. They all look really good but I am challenging myself to do it naturally so that it will truly become a healthy lifestyle. How can I teach the next generation if I don't know how to do it on my own?

Anyway, this blog is quickly turning into a Weight Loss blog. I promise to return to normal speech soon. LOL.... **raising my glass of water** Here's to achieving a healthy lifestyle!!

New Year, Same Resolution: Weight Loss

It's 2011. I'm sure all the blogs are talking about their personal resolutions. Why would mine be different? Weight Loss is the topic of choice. It seems to be my goal every month, every year... every day I resolve to make better eating choices and exercise more. How is it that I have such a battle with being fit?

I took some simple measurements today to mark the beginning of my progress. The numbers don't scare me like they used to and I'm not embarrassed to put it out into the universe because these numbers ARE NOT me! They are not a reflection of who I want to be. I thought I did a video but husband did not hit the RECORD button. Irritating! Nevertheless... here are my numbers... video to follow tomorrow.

Dress Size: 20W
Starting Weight: 263.6 pounds
Waist measurement at the navel: 45"
Neck: 19 1/2"
Thigh: 28 1/4"

Husband and I did the fitness test as part of the Insanity exercise system. (I bought a burned copy off craigslist.) I did pretty good.

My goal weight is 200 pounds and a size 10/12. I would like to reach this by the end of April 2011. Doable? Totally!!!