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For many women losing weight is a lifelong battle. Dieting and exercising like crazy, followed by binge eating and complete inactivity. The weight comes off then the weight goes back on…plus a little more. And the cycle gets repeated several times.
How can you get off this cycle? For some women it’s easier than others…but for all of us it’s quite a journey.
In this post I’m going to go back and forth with Mary, who is on the path to losing weight and getting to a place where she’s more comfortable and content with herself. I have been on the diet roller coaster before with a 55 lb diet swing, but I’ve finally kicked the habit.
I wanted to go back and forth with Mary because her story is so inspiring and she’s working so hard to get to a great place in her life. I love women’s success stories and I thought this may be interesting to see two different perspectives, one from a woman who’s in the process, and one from a woman who’s won the weight war.
What’s your weight story?
Mary: In high school I was depressed and gained weight until I hit a high of around 255 or 260 pounds. On a 5′2″ frame, that is a lot of weight. When I first went to college I decided to finally do something about the weight and try and change my life. My freshman year of college I started working out and eating healthier foods and I dropped 60 pounds. It was a very good first year of college. After that I went on a continuous cycle of gaining weight, and losing, and then gaining it all back. With every major change in my life, such as going to university, or moving to Europe, or moving home again, came another cycle of weight gain and loss.
I’m making a huge effort to lose weight again and I’ve lost over 20 pounds since the decision to lose weight and am continuing my journey of weight loss. Hopefully now that I have freed myself from the destructive habits and environment I was in I will lose the extra weight and find a comfortable place for my body.
Ingrid: For me losing 45 pounds was almost accidental.
After my first year in university I tipped the scales at 165 pounds and size 10 pants. At 5’3 that’s quite a lot. I carried it all in my upper half; chubby cheeks, big boobs, thick arms and a full belly. I wouldn’t think twice about eating heaps of tater tots and a pile of cream cheese on a toasted bagel, followed by my two Mr. Big chocolate bars and a few cans of Coke. I never exercised.
Then I got a job as a gardener. I was outdoors all summer long digging holes, planting flowers, pushing heavy wheelbarrows and walking all over the university campus.
I also moved out of the college dorm and ate healthier and lighter foods, not on purpose but just because when I cooked for myself I didn’t eat much instant or packaged foods. I would have toast for breakfast, soup or a sandwich for lunch and pasta with tomato sauce for dinner.
I wore dirty gardening clothes every day, and since it was summer, and I had a bit of pocket money from my gardening job, I bought new summer clothes for after work.
When the fall came around I put my old clothes back on…and they fell off my hips. When I weighed myself at my friends house I couldn’t believe I weighed 120 lbs.
Without realizing it I’d lost 45 pounds!
What’s your goal weight?
Mary: To be honest I’m not sure what my goal weight is and to me it’s not very important. I’ve never weighed under 190 as an adult so I’m guessing it is somewhere around 175 is my goal, but I’m just shooting blindly and going to let my body figure it out once I get closer.
Ingrid: 120 lbs. I’m where I want to be weight wise, I just want to get more toned. I’m always checking to mix up my exercises so I can maintain my weight where it is.
healthy food choices equals healthy weight
What’s the secret to your weight loss?
Mary: Secret? Heheh. That is such a funny question. Their isn’t a secret, so hopefully you will never believe someone who tells you there is. For me it was all about making that decision that I wanted to lose weight and be healthier. Once I made the decision and it became part of my mindset I knew I could do all the work necessary to lose weight.
Ingrid: It’s not a secret, but a mind shift. It was a total change of lifestyle that had me exercising daily and eating better.
What’s the one thing that makes weight loss difficult for you?
Mary: I struggle with emotional and stress eating, so for me, weight loss has been difficult because I’ve so often fallen back into those traps and erased all the work I did previously. Not having a good handle on why I used food in the ways that I did made weight loss very, very hard.
Ingrid: I think so many corporate work environments are dreadful for our health. I’ve worked in several offices and the best office environment is one that’s close to home (i.e. I can walk there), and has lots of amenities and walkable areas nearby. That way you can run errands, step out for a walk or go to the park. A commuting lifestyle is soooo horrible for our health, and usually suburban offices are surrounded by fast food joints, they don’t have walkable areas, and you need to drive to get there so you can’t walk to work.
happiness and a healthy weight go hand in hand
How does weight loss affect your confidence?
Mary: Well, I’m not going to lie – I feel a lot more confident when I’ve lost weight. I’ve been slowly becoming more confident during the last few years regardless of my weight, but I still have always remained below my highest weight ever. And that has definitely helped me build confidence in other areas of my life.
Ingrid: It’s a chicken and egg story. I feel confident when I’m a good weight, but I watch my weight because I’m confident and don’t want to let myself fall into depressing patterns again. They work together very carefully, and one doesn’t come before the other.
Are you on a weight roller coaster?
Mary: I would have to say yes. I think I am at the end of the ride now and the weight is coming off for good, but I’m still on a ride that has taken me up and down weight wise for several years. I would lose weight during college then move back home and regain 30 pounds in a summer or in the year I spent there after graduation. That move out, move home weight fluctuation was a crazy roller coaster but I think now that I’m on my own and moving on I will finally be hopping off and settling at a healthy weight for me.
Ingrid: I was before. After the gardening job I kept on slowly losing weight, and at one point I was 110 pounds. I had big dark bags under my eyes, no energy and was pretty unhealthy. But I was skinny!
Two years later I’d graduated from university and was working in the corporate world. Sitting down all day, surrounded by unhealthy drinks and snacks all day a bit of weight crept back on.
I was about 125 lbs for a few years, but now I’m at 120lbs and that’s where I want to stay. I look fit, but not skinny and I feel great. I eat well, exercises regularly and course correct whenever I feel myself putting weight on again.
How does it feel to get more attention because you lost weight?
Mary: It is a strange feeling. I’ve always dealt with feeling self-conscious and insecure, so having people compliment me often is something I still don’t know how to deal with. I accept compliments and enjoy them because I’ve worked hard to feel and look better, but it feels strange to receive them and makes me wonder why we don’t compliment people all the time. I would have liked to have been noticed and appreciated before I lost the weight, but I feel like I was almost invisible then.
Ingrid: When everyone saw me they would always say “You look so good” or “Oh my god, you’re half the person you were before!”. After a while it started to bother me. Wasn’t I compliment worthy before? Did I have to be skinny to look good and have people notice me? After a few weeks I would cringe every time I’d hear someone say something about how much weight I’d lost.
I was never weight conscious before, but after I lost so much weight, and had internalized the idea that skinny equals pretty I started to watch what I ate more and more.
But now I’m totally comfortable with myself. I love the way I look and I’ll gladly accept compliments.
How’s your relationship with food now?
Mary: Much, much better. I won’t say it is perfect, because I still have times where I want to eat for comfort instead of nourishment, but those times are less often. I’ve learned how to eat mindfully and listen to what my body is telling me. If I’m full I can stop eating instead. I’m much more in tune with what my body wants and needs regarding food now.
Ingrid: I think about food totally differently. I eat to nourish my body, not to fill up. When I’m hungry I always ask myself “Is this a good food choice?” I eat pretty healthy, but it takes a big effort on my part.
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For all the ladies that are looking to make some positive changes in their lives – don’t delay! There is no better day than today to start living your dream life
Mary is a healthy living blogger at amerrylife.com. She has been up on the scale and down, but is confident that no matter what weight she is at she will be living a happy and healthy life. For more on her weight loss journey, visit her personal weight loss blog: amerrylife.com.
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In Canada everyone is freaking out over the outbreak of swine flu. It’s in the papers everyday, on the radio every hour, and on tv every minute. It’s everywhere!
The government has approved a vaccine for the swine flu and it’s now available at health clinics across the country – and everyone seems to want one.
I’m not really into vaccines or medical fads so I haven’t been paying much attention.
But last week I had my first visit with my newfound family doctor (you can read about it here).
I pulled up to the family medicine clinic to fill out the appropriate forms and get to know my new doctor. As I was waiting in the reception area I couldn’t help but notice all the children, and babies and toddlers and mothers that were waiting around. At first I thought I was in the wrong place – was I at the children’s doctors…where little kids sit on fire truck tables and get booster shots? Was I at a fertility clinic? Seriously, where was I?
I filled out my forms and waited patiently for my name to get called. After a few minutes I was summoned in. The doctor explained that I should have a basic health checkup…but I’d have to wait at least two weeks for my appointment because right now they are only doing H1N1 flu vaccines.
Oh…I get it. That’s why all the mothers and children were waiting – for their vaccinations. For me I wasn’t worried about that, with all the mothers and babies around the only thing I was worried about catching was a pregnancy!
Photo Credit: www.lilsugar.com
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A personal trainer is someone who motivates you, coaches you, challenges you and also gets very close to your hot and sweaty body while you are in some very compromising positions. Can you handle it?
Recently I started working out with a male personal trainer. It was very awkward in the beginning. I’d be in the sit-position and I would wonder where he was looking. Was he having a peak? Ewwwww! As soon as I would start to let my mind wander to a dark place I would get a super creepy feeling.
But then I would look over and notice my workout partner (female) who seemed very comfortable with him. She was laughing at his jokes, smiling, working hard… and looked totally at ease.
So after two sessions we were all great friends.
And then my friend fell ill one day and couldn’t come.
It was totally different. The workout was harder, there was no laughing and as it turns out a one on one session with a personal trainer isn’t for me.
But it’s not because I think he’s creepy. It’s just because I like to have social exercise sessions and one on one doesn’t allow that so much.
So with the things that you look for in a trainer, whether you are looking for a supportive and friendly workout buddy or a strong and hard coach, it doesn’t matter if it’s a woman or a man. It just matters what you’re comfortable with.
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I’ve been going to walk-in clinics for twelve years now, which is far too long and not that uncommon due to our doctor shortage in Ontario ( my province).
Recently I decided it was time to find a family doctor. It has been quite a journey, but here are the tricks I found to getting a decent doctor.
Find a recommended doctor and call them regularly
I asked friends, family, posted on facebook and asked the girls at my work. I called every single recommendation……..and none of them were accepting new patients. All of them said they would be accepting in a few months. When I called back a few months later they still said no. If you keep on calling back you’ll eventually find your lucky day.
Be very nice to the receptionist
Instead of calling and saying “Are you accepting new patients?” upfront I decided to take a softer approach. I told her that someone in my office highly recommended Dr. N and then I asked if they were accepting patients – to which she said no, of course.
This is your clue to politely ask when they will be accepting patients again, to which you’ll hear “in a few months”– this is the same answer I heard from every single doctor. Then ask when they last accepted patients. In Dr. N’s case they’d just stopped.
Be patient and persistent
After getting rejected again I decided that I would be a bit more persistent. Still sounding upbeat I mentioned how hard it is to find a doctor and how I’ve called four different times and I’d love it if she could put me on a waiting list, or maybe include me on the list of new patients they just closed (wink, wink).
To my complete surprise the receptionist asked me whom I was referred by. The receptionist said she was familiar with this patient and that she’d see if the Doctor would be able to squeeze me in.
Hopefully, after my 18 month saga I’ll have my very own doctor by this afternoon!
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Like most career girls, there comes a time in life when you step back and take inventory or your life, health and everything else.
For too many women when their career takes off their health and wellbeing suffers.
Does this routine sound familiar?
1. Go to work at around 9 am every day
2. Sit down all day
3. Buy something convenient, and unhealthy for lunch
4. Get home
5. Continue working
6. Eat a convenient dinner as fast as possible
7. Continue working while watching tv
8. Spend a few minutes around the house before going to bed
If that’s you it’s time to put some balance in your life and get healthy!
1. Find Balance Between Work and Life. Set aside work free times when you are enjoying your friends, family and relaxing.
2. Get Some Exercise Everyday. Instead of meeting up with your friends for dinner have exercise dates. Make sure you spend a minimum of 30 minutes being active everyday.
3. Avoid Regular Restaurant Meals. The amount of salt and fat in your food will creep up on you slowly. Restaurant meals should be treats, not daily occurences.
4. Think Before You Drink. Many beverages are hidden calorie bombs – read labels and make sure you know what you are drinking. If you are thirsty water is your best choice. If you want a treat proceed with caution before sabotaging your diet.
5. Enjoy Your Down Time. Reduce stress and remind yourself of the simple pleasures in life – relax and unwind in your favourite healthy way.
6. Prioritize Your Life. Too often we spend most of our time responding to the latest crisis instead of living consciously. Step back, remind yourself what’s most important, and plan accordingly. Make sure you are spending the majority of your time with things that matter to you most.
7. Enjoy The Fruits of Your Labour! You have worked hard to get to this point in your life, and there’s no point in continuing if you can’t enjoy it. Stop thinking about what you don’t have, and embrace all the great things you do have. Don’t sweat the small stuff…it really doesn’t matter. You’ve worked too hard to have a lost button or cancelled plan ruin your day. Start Enjoying!
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This year our summer in Ontario was not so perfect. Until mid August the temperatures were well below our seasonal average, and we had so much rain it felt like we were in Vancouver!
When the good weather finally hit the whole province seemed ready to celebrate. Here in Toronto people seem much happier, friendlier and positive.
To get the most of this good weather I try to take in every morsel of sun and nice weather possible. And then I found the secret.
Morning walks by the lake.
During the week I set my alarm a little bit before my usual time. I pull myself out of bed, grab a coffee and take a nice long walk along the lakeshore.
It’s so nice to see the city before everyone has woken up. The air is still, the sun is white, and the grass is dewey. Joggers pass by, people walk their dogs, and the boats gently cut through the waves.
I get half an hour extra of summer weather everyday.
It’s the perfect way to start the day.
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After dinner walks are the best.
After our lengthy winter up North I rejoice every time I’m able to step out after dinner for a long walk.
It’s one of my favourite ways to get some exercise and just let my mind wander. It’s almost like taking a mini mental break…my thoughts just weave in and out, thinking about things that upset me and how I’m going to figure things out, thinking about how beautiful the branches look against the red brick, just thinking about anything. love. money. sex. happiness. goals. problems. food. stress. weather. summertime plans.
When I get home I feel totally refreshed mentally, and when I go to sleep I drift into lovely thoughts having cleared all my stresses. It’s the perfect way to end a day.
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Like most people, I’m a pretty good sleeper, but whenever I’m stressed, it always affects my sleep. Over the last little while work has been quite intense and I’ve been putting in lots of time to make sure all my work is taken care of properly.
When the nighttime comes I do some exercise, spend time with friends or my boyfriend, and then relax before going to bed. Usually, I’m asleep by 11 o’clock or midnight…but then at 230 in the morning I wake up again and can’t fall back asleep! I’ve tried everything:
Counting sheep
Imagining myself sitting on the beach watching the waves come to the shore
Visualizing the even strokes of painting a cottage deck
Breathing in one side of my nose and out the other
But, what ends up happening is my little sheep wake up and start dancing around and kicking their legs up and having fun! The waves gain more energy and come crashing into the shore line. The even strokes of paint eventually become erratic patterns with multicoloured patches…and the funniest of all…..I discovered that I can’t breath out one side of my nose…literally one of my nostrils is broken, and no air comes in, or goes out!
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Earlier in the summer I felt like I wasn’t having a summer. The weather didn’t help, but mostly it was because I spent most of my time in my office, with air conditioning and cubicle dividers, and nothing summery!
Not one to rest on my laurels, I decided to seek outdoor activities that would be fun, and somehow convinced my friend to join me. I found an outdoor exercise class in this lovely local park in the evenings – it was just what I was looking for.
It’s been a few weeks since we’ve started and I can see some changes in my physique, but that’s only part of the fun.
There is the ride to class and all the chit chat along the way with my friend, the lovely clean smelling outdoor air, the joy of releasing work tension while doing push ups outside…and of course the laughs we give all the passer-byers who stop and watch twenty girls in tight outfits doing lunges and squats in a park. Sometimes they look confused, sometimes they smirk, and sometimes they stop, sit down and open a can of beer. Who said you need a tv for this kind of fun?
