I ate Taco Bell AND Taco John's today. Yes, I broke my six month long streak of not eating fast food and got two buffalo chicken burritos and a small order of super potato oles. There were two ways I thought it could go. One: I'd feel so satisfied and want to eat all of the world's worst foods inevitably ruining all that I've worked toward. Two: I'd feel like vomiting. I ended up being somewhere between the two options and was left to ponder cheat days. Are they really that bad for you?
For six months I was very strict about my eating. I wouldn't so much as glance at a piece of cake or bag of M&Ms. I didn't even eat puppy chow at Christmas! I stood right in the kitchen with my aunt while she made that and other various baked goods and never faltered. I'm no saint, obviously. I had slip ups from time to time but now I feel like those moments are less terrifying. I've learned that one bad day won't up the number on the scale by much if at all.
A few months back I had a baked potato with my dinner dressed with fat-free sour cream and the light I Can't Believe It's Not Butter. I sat on the sofa afterward freaking out that I had just gained five pounds. The reality of the situation was that baked potato (fixings included) were within my calorie limit for the day but somehow along the process of this dieting adventure I had lost my mind.
The truth is I'm not going to gain back all of that weight if I eat a slice of pizza or have a bowl of ice cream. I'm slowly learning that slip ups are necessary to the overall scheme of things. I haven't been as strict as I should be over the last month and I've actually still lost weight. It's amazing! After one diets and exercises for long enough it becomes a habit and therefore it is easy to jump back on the wagon to continue toward success. It's wonderful to enjoy all of those bad-for-you things and still be working toward my goal. Hallelujah!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Six Months In...
The photo on the left is from May 2011 at my cousin's bridal shower. The photo on the left is one my roommate took of me earlier today...don't mind the fact that my dress is static-clinging and stuck to my leggings! haha.
Lately, I have been feeling fatter than ever (even though I have still been hardcore about my dieting and exercise). I know this is a ridiculous thought but I still look at myself in the mirror and see the person on the left. However, after examining these before and after photos side by side, I can definitely see the difference. I have officially reached my initial goal of getting to 200 lbs but oh-my-goodness there is so much more to accomplish! This is just more motivation...just have to keep the faith and keep on keepin' on! Cheers to a new year and a new Sarah!
The Adventures of a Fat Girl
I've always been the fat kid. Always. In fact, for most of my life, the word "fat" was something I considered a curse word as if it were a racial slur. I could not handle someone using that word to describe myself or others. There-in lies the problem: I was not willing to accept the truth that I was, indeed, fat.
They always say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Yes, I had a problem. All 260 lbs worth of a problem. I am roughly (there have been discrepancies) 5' tall and when paired with 260 lbs that's a whole lot of woman. I would eat bowls of ice cream every night after dinner, snack on candy all through the day, get fast food on a regular basis, etc. It seemed as though my pant size increased as my age did...I was 22 and wearing a size 22.
The real kicker came shortly after turning 23. I had gone to the doctor for various reasons and found out that my thyroid levels were off balance and I was on the verge of being prediabetic. As a 23 year old woman, that is not something you expect or want to hear. The doctor gave me six weeks and told me it was do or die; I had to lose weight. So, being the smarty pants that I was, I thought I was eating better but really did not give it much effort. Six weeks later when I returned to the doctor feeling I had made progress, I weighed in 10 lbs heavier. I could not believe my eyes! The situation was worse than ever.
Not long after that disappointing doctor appointment, events in my life spurred an awakening that allowed me the mindset to control my health. I joined a gym and made a promise to myself that I would not be wearing a size 24 on my 24th birthday. In roughly six months and two months from said birthday, I have lost 60 lbs and now wear a size 16.
I hope to share my struggles (and believe me there are many...did someone say chili cheese fries?!) in hopes that it will inspire someone else to make positive changes in his/her life. It is not as hard as it looks. I used to think it was impossible and would tell myself I could never make it happen. Six months sounds like a long time ago, but it seems like yesterday that I was full of self pity and stuffing myself with a McChicken and large fries. Sometimes it takes a push, but once you start you have to keep going, and I have a long way to go.
They always say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Yes, I had a problem. All 260 lbs worth of a problem. I am roughly (there have been discrepancies) 5' tall and when paired with 260 lbs that's a whole lot of woman. I would eat bowls of ice cream every night after dinner, snack on candy all through the day, get fast food on a regular basis, etc. It seemed as though my pant size increased as my age did...I was 22 and wearing a size 22.
The real kicker came shortly after turning 23. I had gone to the doctor for various reasons and found out that my thyroid levels were off balance and I was on the verge of being prediabetic. As a 23 year old woman, that is not something you expect or want to hear. The doctor gave me six weeks and told me it was do or die; I had to lose weight. So, being the smarty pants that I was, I thought I was eating better but really did not give it much effort. Six weeks later when I returned to the doctor feeling I had made progress, I weighed in 10 lbs heavier. I could not believe my eyes! The situation was worse than ever.
Not long after that disappointing doctor appointment, events in my life spurred an awakening that allowed me the mindset to control my health. I joined a gym and made a promise to myself that I would not be wearing a size 24 on my 24th birthday. In roughly six months and two months from said birthday, I have lost 60 lbs and now wear a size 16.
I hope to share my struggles (and believe me there are many...did someone say chili cheese fries?!) in hopes that it will inspire someone else to make positive changes in his/her life. It is not as hard as it looks. I used to think it was impossible and would tell myself I could never make it happen. Six months sounds like a long time ago, but it seems like yesterday that I was full of self pity and stuffing myself with a McChicken and large fries. Sometimes it takes a push, but once you start you have to keep going, and I have a long way to go.
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