My Weight Loss Journey: Day 150

Hey all, I am back and I have good news that I would like to share with you all-I did it. I accomplished my 3rd personal goal and I am working on my 4th personal weight loss goal. I currently weigh 227lbs, which means that I have lost a total of 24lbs in 17 weeks of attending Weight Watchers. I am also very close to being back at my pre-baby weight, and I am so excited because I did not think that I would get back to my pre-baby weight before I started on this journey. My 4th weight loss is to lose 10% of my body weight (25lbs), so I have really been working hard this week to make sure I meet my 4th goal. So many people at my job have been telling me that my hard work is paying off and that I look good; but all I see when I look in the mirror is a body that can look better, a body that can be better, a body that needs more work. 

When I decided to join Weight Watchers and start my own personal journey (instead of watching others go on extraordinary journeys), I really did not believe that it would work because I had done every fad diet that came out. And I know what you guys are thinking, you are a doctor and you should know that there is no quick fix to anything, and I do. But I am still human and I wanted the easy way out, the quick way out; when in reality it took years for me to put the weight on so it is going to take time and hard work to get it off. What society does not realize or understand about gaining weight is that it is so not about the food, well not all about the food. The foods that I chose to eat in the past (sometimes in the present too) was comfort for me; when things got too hard, when I was not accepted by someone, or when I was not viewed as the best I would turn to food. And the reason that I did that was because food never let me down, so to speak. The food will fill you up and it taste sooooooo good (well the kind of food that I would eat). But after I ate the food I would feel bad because I knew that I should not be eating it and the cycle would start all over again. So, gaining weight is mostly mental and if you are not mentally tough life will take you down. I can honestly say that in some areas of my life I am not mentally tough, and for me to acknowledge that is an accomplishment all in it's self. I fall short in so many areas of my life but I put this wall up to the world and I act like I am so tough and together, when in reality I feel like a fake. But what I am learning from this process is that you don't give up, no matter how many times to fall short, you get up and continue to take 1 step at a time. The key to it is not to beat your self up for falling down, but just acknowledge that you have fallen, get back up and continue to move forward on the right path (the right path is the path that you will succeed on-you not the Joneses).

As you can see I am learning alot on this journey; what is even more important is that I am realizing that I must accept my faults (all of them) and continue to move forward no matter what. The bible tells me that I can do all things through God that strengthen me; it tells me that God will give me the strength to do all things. What it doesn't say is that I have to use my own strength, and that is what I have been trying to do for my entire life (but I call myself a Christian). See, falling short; but I do believe God's word but I must believe it with everything because that is what God means when he says to transform your mind. God has been here with me every step and in every situation, and I know that He will continue to be here, but He still wants me to be apart because He wants to use me to do amazing things in this world. God wants me to be a doer of His word and while on this journey I can truly say that I am learning how to be a doer of God's word one step, one situation, and one pray at a time.

Well, I just shared another personal part of my journey and I still have so many more layers to shed. Please share your journey or encouragement, because you never know who you will inspire to do and be great. Until next time........   

My Weight Loss Journey: Day 114

I did not reach my third personal weight loss goal as I hoped I would, I missed it by 1 lb. So, as you can imagine I was disappointed with myself because I felt that I worked really hard last week. Yesterday's Weight Watchers Meeting was all about encountering set backs on your weight loss journey and what you should do when it happens (because it will happen). Well, last week I encountered a set back which was caused by mother nature-my cycle.  The question that you may ask is how could you overcome mother nature, even if it was a set back? And I would say that is a very good question, and the answer would be you don't. You don't try to overcome mother nature you embrace it. Because when you try to cut something out of your diet that will make you want it more, and the minute you get it you will over indulge and then the weight will come back. The advise that was given to us in the meeting was to make sure that you have healthy treats on hand, drink plenty of water, and if you want to indulge in some not so healthy treats just make sure that you account for it, but don't feel bad about eating not so healthy treats just keep moving forward.

We were also asked to write down a motivational saying that will keep us on track when we fall down, and I chose winners never quit and quitters never win, so if I want to win I can't quit even if I fall down. This week I plan to workout on my workout days, count my points, and stick to the plan. I can't get discourage or dwell on what I did or did not do. I must continue to take 1 step and that step will turn into my weight loss goals met. So, I encourage you all to find some words of encouragement that will keep you encouraged when you fall. We all have to learn how to encourage ourselves when we go through hard times. I have lost a total of 19 lbs, and by this Saturday I will met my 3rd personal weight loss goal and I will be able to get my leather purse. Please share your story or share words of encouragement, until next time....

My Weight Loss Journey: Day 107

I have passed the 100 day mark on my weight loss journey, and I must say that the small changes that I have made in order to loose weight have now become a habit, and they are good habits. Since I have been on Weight Watchers I have become a little more aware of what I put in my mouth on an every day basis; which is really what I needed. I am so happy that I made the decision to join Weight Watchers, because I have learned, as well as seen, that I can enjoy all the foods I like to eat and still be at a healthy weight. I have also learned losing weight, or shall  say, working toward becoming healthy is really a mind set. And the reason that I say that is because there have been many days that I just did not want to workout or watch what I eat, but I can now hear the positive voice telling me do the work out you will feel better, or don't eat that piece of cake chose the fruit instead because you will feel better, and I always feel better. I also have learned that when you try to deprive yourself of something that makes you want it more, which would cause you to over indulge. The one thing that Weight Watchers tells you is to eat things that you like and don't feel bad if you eat something that is not on your plan (just pick your self up and move forward). And there have been many days that I have over indulged on a certain food (sweets), I felt bad for a minute but I got over it and continued to move forward. In the past I would have dwell on the fact that I over indulged and I would not have gotten back up from the mistake. But now I realized that it's okay to make a mistake, because making a mistake does not mean that I am a bad person it just means that I am still a work in progress.

So far I have lost 18 lbs, and I am 2 lbs away from my 3rd personal goal (20 lbs). I don't really see the weight loss but other people do, and I must say that I really like the positive attention. But that is not what keeps me motivated to continue because that type of attention comes and goes; what keeps me motivated to continue to move forward is my family-my husband and son. I know that they need me so it is up to me to make sure that I am around for a long time.   

If you are thinking about losing weight but you don't now how, my suggestion to you is to just do it; just get up and start moving and everything else will fall in place. Please share your own story. Until next time......

My Weight Loss Journy: Day 62

Last week I was given the task by Weight Watchers to reflect on my week. I was asked to go look at what I was eating during the week and reflect on how I felt when I followed the plan or when I fell short, and I what learned this week is that sleep is soooo important for weight loss. This pass week I really had to push myself to workout on the days that I was scheduled to workout, and it showed on the scale because I only lost .02lbs (which is not even a full pound). I also found myself not eating regularly because all I wanted to do was sleep. Even though I was not eating regularly I still made healthy choices, and I still made sure that I ate up all of my allotted points for the day. Many may ask why is sleep so important for weight loss, and the reason that it's important is because our bodies need time to refresh, and sleep is the time the body refreshes. So, when we push ourselves and don't get enough time to refresh our bodies slows down; which means that our metabolism slows down, and fat is stored. Think about it, when you are tried you can't function properly, your mind is not functioning properly, your energy levels are low, you just feel bad. So, if you are trying to lose weight but not getting enough sleep the process will be very frustrating because the pounds will come off very slowly. Even though I did manage to workout last week (which I am very proud of myself for doing), my workouts weren't as challenging as they should have been so the weight did not come off. Like I stated before, this is a journey, it's a process, and in order for the weight to come off and stay off I must learn from this process. And I must say that this time around I am being very honest with myself, and I am learning from the mistakes I am making, and I do believe that this will be the difference in my overall outcome. The last time when I attempted to lose weight I did it to gain attention from men, I wanted to be seen; but it was not a personal journey so I did not learn anything. This time I am doing it solely for me and my family, I really want to be healthy so that I will prosper and fulfill my God given purpose. I am not looking for attention from anyone, because I now know that that is not important, that is not want I was made for. So, because my mind set is so different this time, I am open to learn from the journey and gain wisdom that will allow me to make better choices and remain at a healthy weight.

Currently, I have lost 12.82 lbs (which means that I have lost 5% of my body weight) and I now weigh 238.6lbs. I met my 2nd personal weight lost goal on May 10, 2014 and I was so excited. The only thing that I really wanted at that time was a pedicure, so I got one and I felt alive and beautiful. I am now thinking about what my next personal goal will be and once I figure it out I will let you all know. But I am so motivated to continue on my journey because my purpose depends on it.

I am excited that I get to share my journey with you all, but I also want to hear from you guys. Please share your journeys because you never know who you will inspire.Until next......