I didn't want to post about "my journey" until I felt like I was done. Weight Watchers makes you set a goal for yourself so I considered that number as my goal. I've never shared numbers on this blog though at first, for me, it was all about the numbers. but I think the number helped me keep going, push through stagnant times and open my eyes to all that I am learning these days.
well. I don't want to bring glory to myself... the Lord gets the credit for the work He did in my heart in convicting me of sin and it is all grace that He chose to give physical results and blessing. I don't deserve it. all that to say... He allowed me to reach my goal this week. But I've realized it so much more than just a number. so here is a concise version of "my journey"...
at the beginning this process, it was all about cutting calories. Eat less. Which, is just what I needed. JUST STOP EATING! I needed to hear that... I ate a lot of processed soups, meals, and quick snacks just to get by. Thankfully, the weight came off and helped me keep it up. I was hungry, starving, craving, and had the "how can I do this for the rest of my life?" thought. No bueno.
Fast forward 4 months to August 2011. I had worked up to running and I had lost 30 pounds. I was getting used to eating less, but didn't feel well. Fruits and veggies (except a few) count as ZERO points on the Weight watcher system, so I didn't really integrate them into my diet because I was blind to the health side of weight loss. Just eat less... move more... and hope it all works out in the end...
The Lord was very gracious to allow habits to build. What happened over the next 8 months was interesting. 30 pounds down but still 15 pounds from my goal. I began to get complacent but I kept running 4-6 times per week with the kids in tow. And... slowly, I began eating more (and junk) and I plateaued. I stayed the same weight for 8 months. In a way, I was glad, I mean... I didn't gain it back right?? But, I was engaging in what my friend Carole calls "exercise bulimia". Using exercise to cover up cruddy eating habits. I could eat whatever I wanted and then just run 5 miles and be covered.
This persisted... like I said... 8 months... fast forward to March 2012. I still had my goal looming over my head and knowing I didn't finish what I started... I'm good at that. So, I was determined to get to my goal. Just to be done with the losing. I actually joined the Weight Watchers Meetings and weekly weigh ins at the shop. It was exactly what I needed. The first meeting was on veggies and fiber and how processed foods have little nutritional value and are calorie nightmares. This kick started my research brain and change started to happen.
I started revamping all that I ate, which included incorporating raw fruits and veggies into my meals. This led to more research on the *quality* of all we were consuming. Its one of those things... you have to be prepared when you start to research a topic because you can't just "un-know" something you learned... This became the case when I started the research between organic v. conventionally grown produce, meat, and eggs... Food dyes, artificial sweeteners, chemical preservatives, all sorts of things that I began to be convinced were big enough problem issues, that I needed to adjust my lifestyle (and the lifestyle of my family)...
What is ironic... once I started cutting out as many processed foods, food dyes, white flour, refined sugar and chemical additives as possible, the weight began to drop again. Consuming whole grain (real whole grain and wheat), nuts, organic produce and smaller quantities of good organic beef and chicken and raw dairy was the solution. All of the things I began reading and watching and asking around about began making sense. The government doesn't care about my health. The far-gone FDA and USDA have chosen to favor the producer rather than the consumer and unfortunately, we need to research our food choices for ourselves.
So the journey I started in a quest to just get the fat off... began the opening of my eyes to the bigger picture of health and responsibility as a wife and mom to feed my family differently. The responsibility is humbling and I thank the Lord that He led me through a year of learning to where I am today. Oh golly I know I have so much more to learn, but I'm thankful for the timing of the Lord.
it's so much more than a diet. I feel like this is who I am now. someone I considered a friend asked me "do you really think you can keep this up the rest of your life?"... having to do something for the rest of your life isn't a bad thing. I will need to read my Bible, pray, and eat (something) for the rest of my life... might as well be the best thing for my body! so the Julie of yesteryear, the taco bell maniac is no longer livin' in this house... but its a good thing. For my own health, and the health of my family.
Thankful for the stewardship God has given to me in my body and the people he's put in my foodie-care. I'm also so thankful the Lord allowed me to build the habit of exercise early on... I feel like diet is 80% of the equation but the 20% of exercise is important for long term health and muscle building.
sorry if this is a long and boring post. It helps me write it out to journal whats been going on in my mind. :)
and because every journey deserves pictures...
BEFORE - 175 pounds. (11 months post baby delivery- done nursing)
**in these pics I had already lost 10 pounds so I wasn't as big as I really was... I gotta dig for some of those real Before pics.**
AFTER - 128 pounds
with my mommy obsessed girly
the journey is so not over. It's only just begun. Green smoothies, Ezekiel bread, and raw whole milk, are staples in our kitchen that I would have laughed at a year ago.
