You know it’s time for a break when you can’t think of a good line to start with for a blog post. Or maybe I’m just really, REALLY, ready for BlissDom this week. I personally think it’s the latter.
It’s been a not so bad week with another loss this week of 1.5 pounds. So far, almost 5 pounds off in the last 2 weeks! I have to say that really does excite me overall. And while this past weekend was spent not eating the right things, or tracking ANYTHING again, writing this out really does make me realize how important that is – and how much I want to keep reporting losses each week.
So I’m back to tracking. Which means at the end of the day, when I want some chocolate, I count out the exact number I can have…
…and using my Weight Watchers’ app on my phone to track as I go through the day. I like using apps on my phone. Just sayin’.
Also? I decided to change up my hair this week. Kind of a spur-of-the-moment decision…
But it’s a decision I’m really happy with.
If you’re going to BlissDom this week… I can’t wait to see/meet you! If you’re not… I hope I don’t annoy you with my tweets and FaceBook posts.
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I’m going to start off my post this week talking about something that I originally wasn’t going to talk about… but just now can’t seem to walk away from it.
The idea by the group “Strong4Life” in Georgia that shaming parents to change their kids weight issues will work in the fight against obesity.
I can attest to being a young person with a weight problem. I’m sure that my mom & dad tried a lot of things. I was stubborn. I didn’t want to eat my veggies. I didn’t want to exercise. And I also was ridiculed and had virtually no friends throughout the first 3 years of high school. It was in my senior year that a group of friends accepted me… and made me feel so good about myself that it really did give me hope that the future could be different.
On Thursday night, Gretchen Carlson was on Bill O’Reilly talking about the shame movement… (sorry this video is bad, it was taken from my phone while watching the program.)
Ms. Carlson made my blood boil when I watched this. Yes, personal responsibility is part of it. But that’s not everything. What about the parents that *ARE* trying to help their kids? What about the parents that don’t know any different way of life? What about the parents that have lost hope? How is this benefiting the kids that are already being bullied and harassed at school?
Shame will not help. Shame will keep these parents doing the same things that they already do. Shame will make these kids feel worse about themselves. Shame will bring tears. Shame will lower self-esteem. Shame will destroy lives.
This Thursday – February 16, 2012 – Leah will be hosting another #Ashamed twitter chat to talk about this once again… and maybe even help Strong4Life come up with positive solutions.
Speaking of positive solutions…
Right now, the First Lady is working to educate the nation about the new “Let’s Move” campaign – which I personally think is a GREAT initiative. Not only does it support a positive role model – and changes that are great for families and in our “real” lives (like starting with healthier school lunches and fun things for child care centers to do). COMPLETELY THE OPPOSITE OF THE SHAME MOVEMENT IN GEORGIA.
Last week I was watching highlights of Jimmy Fallon (because I need my beauty sleep way more than I need to see the late night shows when they air) and I totally LOVED this bit that he did with First Lady, Michelle Obama. Seriously, if you want a good laugh, you totally have to watch this.
If anyone wants to challenge me to a potato sack race for this blog, I’m there.
In other news on my weight loss journey… I’m back to being on the right track losing just over 2 pounds this week! I’m feeling good about the changes I’m making again and seem to be on the “right track” in my mindset. This is a first in more than a year.
And I just have to say (in a little personal note here…) to everyone that has stuck by me in the times over the last 18-24 months where I haven’t felt like me, lost my way, and given up hope… Thank you for giving me that hug when I needed it. Thank you for listening to me. Thank you for the encouraging words and prayers.
Simply put. Thank you for being there for me.
And thank you most of all for not making me feel less than who I truly am in God’s eyes.
Is it really Monday again? Why can’t the weekends be just… oh a wee-bit longer. Like a week. Or maybe it’s time to take a vacation. Good thing BlissDom is coming up for me. I am super super super excited to see many friends in just a couple of weeks.
Although in the same breath, I wish I was showing the best side of me – but rather I’m showing the real me. The me that lost control this past year. The me that doesn’t have it together all the time. The me that really just needs to find herself… for once and for all.
I can honestly say that after the last 3 weeks my emotions have wrecked me. I can’t post about most of what I’m going through publicly – but any prayers, good thoughts and vibes or whatever you can send my way are really appreciated. At this point, it only looks like it’s going to get worse… not better in the near term. But I’m trying to brace myself for that a little bit.
In the spirit of bracing myself for the worst – I walked into my Weight Watchers center on Saturday afternoon – and learned I had gained 6.6 pounds since being there the last time… which was about 3 weeks ago I think. Talk about a crazy wake-up call… and a depressing thing all at the same time. Today I start over (again) and am tracking (even though I had a horrible breakfast because I woke up super late).
It’s the only thing I can do to put my best “face” forward for the upcoming conference.
It’s what I need to do for me and my health.
Even if my head’s not completely in the game yet. (And I have to force it to be there.)
It’s what I’m going to do so I can be ready for BlogHer in August.
After the week I had last week, and knowing that I really had to start being honest with myself and others ALL the time (rather than when I wanted and/or chose to)… I decided last night that I was changing. I’m not exactly what prompted the “I’m changing thought in my head”… but it came and stayed.
It might have been around the time that I read this…
I haven’t been determined about much of anything in the past few months. Or the last couple years for that matter. It’s just tough when you believe something is going to happen and it just doesn’t. It’s tough when you believe that change is around the corner and then nothing seemingly looks any different day to day. Or you feel that rejection is still surrounding you.
But that all changes now.
I’ve been listening to the song “Gratitude” by Nichole Nordeman quite a bit lately. It’s been giving me a perspective that I really need to be grateful – even in the tough times, the times that things seem so desperate, and the times that feel the darkest. (If you want to listen to the song, click below.)
I’m going back to the list I created for myself more than a year ago – and really concentrating on those 101 things that make me happy. Really concentrating on being me and focusing on what I can do with determination.
So that I can go to bed each night satisfied with what I’ve done each day.
As far as things on the weight loss front… I chickened out of going to Weight Watchers again last week, and I’m pretty sure that it wouldn’t have been pretty. But today is a new day. Today I start over. And today I start to track the food again. I start to workout regularly again.
Also? Another thing that helps tremendously is having accountability partners. After last week’s post, Lena reached out to me and since then we’ve been checking in with each other about our water intake and how we’re feeling throughout the day. It really does help to have someone to go to when you are feeling down (or feeling awesome) about something. If you want to join us… just look us up on twitter (I’m @dutchbeingme and Lena is @elenka29).
BlissDom is 24 days away and I want to feel confident when walking into that hotel.
I want to feel like myself.
And I want to keep that feeling going for a long time to come.
