Manchester, NH
and here is the journal entry. it is my journey through my first year of finding me!!!
How do I put into words this incredible journey I started a year ago? How do I describe to you the changes, not only physically, but mentally and even emotionally? I guess the beginning would be a good place to start.
Hi. My name is Theresa. I am 39 although I have been told many times that I don't look
and here is the journal entry. it is my journey through my first year of finding me!!!
How do I put into words this incredible journey I started a year ago? How do I describe to you the changes, not only physically, but mentally and even emotionally? I guess the beginning would be a good place to start.
Hi. My name is Theresa. I am 39 although I have been told many times that I don't look like I am that old. I had never struggled with a weight issue until I reached college. Now call me naive but I didn't think about the fact that I could gain weight. I had always been thin (a size 5 and 97 lbs at my high school graduation). It never occured to me that now I was on my own, no longer walking to school, eating a bunch of fried foods. Slowly I gained weight. I tried at various times to lose the weight and I went up and down. After I graduated from college, I had gained about 30 -40 lbs. Then I fell in love with the wrong guy and I was very depressed and gained another 30 lbs. I was a mess and just wanted to die. Finally I moved to NH where I live today. I met some great friends who helped me with the emotional and mental abuse I had suffered from this loser. After that was all solved I began to try and work on my weight issue and I actually was doing pretty good. I managed to lose 40 lbs at one point but then started to develop some bad eating habits and gained all but 10 back.
So I began my first journey with Beachbody and Power 90. I made it through the first 90 days and a bit beyond with good results. I believe I had lost close to 20 lbs with Power 90 and then some after that . My husband and I were trying for another child though so I laid off the "hard" workouts and just stuck to walking for a while. When I found out I was pregnant I tried to stick with the walking but soon I gave in to the aches and pains of pregnancy and stopped all together. Of course like most pregnant women I felt I deserved and even needed to eat more and whatever I wanted - after all, I was eating for two now. By the end of my pregnancy I was 185. After having Landon I dropped 20 lbs. At 165, on August 27, 2005, I decided to give Power 90 another try. I stuck with it for the 90 days and lost 14 lbs and a total of about 10.5 inches all over. I did another round of P90 after that then started slim in 6 for a bit of a change. By day 210 I was down 26 lbs and about 12 inches all around. After doing one round of slim in 6 I was ready for another change so I decided to try Turbo Jam which I am still doing today mixed with some P90 from time to time (what can I say? I miss Tony every now and then).
Here I am today, a year later. Since everyone loves to hear the stats I'll give them to you first.
Day One Day 365
Chest: 43 inches 36 inches (-7 inches)
Waist: 39 inches 29 inches (-10 inches)
Hips: 43 inches 36 inches (-7 inches)
Legs: 22 inches 19 inches (-3 inches)
Arms: 12.5 inches 10.5 inches (-2 inches)
WEIGHT: 165 lbs 112 lbs (-53 lbs) WOO!!
I went from a size 18 to a size 7. Even my chest size went down from a size 38D bra to a size 34C. When ever I talk to someone about my weight loss, look at myself in the mirror and even just think about it, I can't believe I accomplished so much in a year. I can't believe I stuck to it. Of course I was very lucky and had LOTS of support but in the end, it was up to me. And I did it. I have never stuck to anything in my life with this type of fever and emotion. My husband once told me, if you want something bad enough, you can achieve it. I guess I had finally wanted it bad enough. But let me tell you the best part of all of this . . . its not that I lost 50+ lbs or that I lost 29 inches all over or even that I am now in the smallest size I've been in since I was in high school, although these are all wonderful things that I'm very proud of. The best part is . . . . I found ME!!! I found confidence that I can do anything I set my mind to. I found energy to do the things I've always wanted to do. I found the endurance to keep up with my boys and to be an active part of their lives. I found the person that I had lost so many years ago. I look in the mirror now and say, "Oh there you are!!! Where have you been?" I have an inner peace with myself that I've never known before. I like myself again. I like who I see in the mirror. My happiness and joy no longer comes from things I can see, words people say, or a quick feel good scheme. My happiness and joy now come from right inside of me. The choices I make are giving me my joy because I know that for the first time in my life, I am making the right choices. I am making choices that are good for me, choices that will help and not harm me. I'm no super person with a magic potion. I still have days where I don't feel like working out. Days where I just want to eat whatever I feel like eating that day. Days I just want to gorge on sweets and fatty things. But I know the results of doing that. I don't like the way I felt when I was living like that and I don't want to feel that way again. I don't want to be out of breath just climbing a flight of stairs. I don't want to be the mom who takes her kids to the park and then sits on the bench while they play. I want to get in there and play too.
I didn't just wake up one day and I was thinner. I worked hard, VERY hard, this year to achieve all I have. It wasn't some quick scheme. There was no diet pills or lose it fast. It takes good, wholesome, hard work. You have to want it. If you don't really want it, you won't stick to it. You have to find workouts that you enjoy. It may take trying a couple different ones until you find that one that you enjoy and love. If you don't enjoy doing it, then you're not going to. You have to be willing to eat well and drink your water. You have to be willing to give up all those sweet snacks and salty things to a degree. I still have all those things but in moderation. That's the key. Everything in moderation. Instead of going out and buying a candy bar then eating the whole thing, I might go out and buy a candy bar, take a bite and save the rest for another day. That's moderation. If you have a craving, feed it but in moderation. If you fall, don't kick yourself or think you are a failure, just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back to it. Anyone can do it.
I love my life now. I loved it before but I really love it now. I enjoy it more, I feel better every day when I get up. I look forward to facing the day. I don't mind looking in a mirror anymore. I enjoy working out. It gives me the boost I need each day and makes me feel wonderful. Even on the days I don't feel like working out I do it and when I'm finished I'm so glad I did because I feel 100% better. My life is my own now. I'm in control. My bad choices don't control me anymore. I control my choices. I'm who I was meant to be. I'm a stronger, more energized, more confident, happier, lighter, and leaner person. Thank you Beachbody for helping me to change my life in ways that I never thought possible. Thank you for helping me to find ME!!!!!
