What A Difference A Year Makes

I don’t recall if we were at my in-laws for Easter dinner last year on the Sunday or the Monday – the 12th or the 13th, respectively. For all I can remember, we may have visited with them on the Friday or the Saturday before that, since it would have been a long weekend, but I suspect that it was more likely one of the two formerly mentioned days that saw us breaking bread with my husband’s parents. For my purposes – and also because I starting this blog on August 12th, exactly eight months ago today – I will assume that it was precisely four months earlier that saw me at that supper. But why is all this important?

Today is April 12, 2010. That means that one year ago, I stepped up on the scale after gorging myself at a holiday feast and saw ‘266’ glaring up at me from the washroom floor. I was disgusted. I had no idea that I had let my weight climb so high. It had probably been a good fifteen pounds since I had weighed myself prior to that, so the number was definitely a shock. I did what any reasonable person would do in those circumstances: I went and ate dessert.

If there is anyone out there who needs to hear it, here it is: You can do this! I believe with all of my heart that it is possible for any person out there struggling with their weight to take back what they never thought they would have again, to reclaim all that they have dreamed about for so long!

There is no magical solution! It takes work and dedication and a lot of effort to change the habits that have formed over the years, to work through the mental and emotional battles, and to discover how to reshape your body into something that works with and for you rather than against you. But it is possible! And for all the difficulties that are there to face, there are so many more victories, milestones, and positives than you ever could have imagined! It is worth it! YOU are worth it!!!

I have lost over 115 pounds this year. I started out at 266 and now weigh under 150. I can’t even begin to express how much disbelief I still feel when I think about that! But, I do know without a single doubt that if I can do it, anyone can.

I went and had that dessert… I engaged in the patterns that got me to my biggest state within minutes of discovering how far gone I really was. It took me another four months to really get serious about this journey; before that I stumbled more times than I can count. I get how hard this is and I understand that we are all fighting lifetimes of habits and emotions and circumstances. But, I have to ask… Where could you be next year?