Hello 2011… Goodbye 2010

As 2010 comes to a close, I’d like to thank God for giving me the courage, strength, and love for myself to fight this battle against obesity. When I set out walking back late in December ’09 I never imagined exactly where my feet would carry me. And, oh where and how they have carried me. I started walking merely to clear my head, but eventually I really started to enjoy the walks. One day while walking I had an epiphany – it was this day that has forever changed my life. 

I won’t bore you with a recap of my triumphs and struggles in 2010. Those of you who have followed and supported me know the stories. I will say this -- this is the last year that I’ll be fat. This time next year you won’t even recognize me. There, I said it, it’s in writing. My word is my bond.

My personal goal for 2011 is to continue to lose weight, strengthen my body – especially my core, and build my physical endurance. I pray for the continued mental strength and toughness I need to defeat obesity. This is the HARDEST thing I’ve ever done in my life and now that I’m closing in on defeating it for good, it only gets HARDER.  

As we begin a new year, blessings and peace to you all. For any of you struggling with weight issues and longing for a better, healthier lifestyle I hope that my story will inspire and support the internal motivation necessary to make it happen. Remember, YOU can do anything you set your mind to.

For once and for all, Farewell Fatso!

                                

        Since January '10 I've lost 54 lbs... But, gained so much more.



12/10

 

8/10

10/09

                                                               
                                   150 lbs. ago ... MISERABLE

7/04

I Apologize

Dear Body,

If only I would have cherished you long ago, but instead I abused you and took advantage of you. For years, I ate all the wrong food. Not once did I think of how the food I ate affected you and your ability to perform. It was very typical of me to eat enormous servings of fat laden foods and then wash it all down with sugary drinks. I avoided physical activity like the plague. I never stopped to think about the damage I was causing you by my lack of exercise.

Oh, precious body. I’m so sorry for everything I’ve done to you. Thank you for hanging in there with me despite all the abuse. I realize how fortunate I am to not have developed any major conditions or diseases due to my neglectful ways. It has taken me the better part of my life to figure out what a truly intricate, amazing, and beautiful machine you are. You deserve the highest of respect. I vow from this day forward to never forsake you again. I promise to eat healthy foods that nourish you and to exercise regularly to keep you strong.



Love always,



Chrisetta

Me, Myself, and I

There I was all by myself, trembling, sweating, and about to give up on the  plank. No Megan. No Group X instructor. Just me, myself, and I. If I gave in and released the plank, who would know? It was in that moment I recalled being in Boot Camp fatigued and ready to collapse to the ground from plank position when the instructor, Jen said these words, “Don’t give up on yourself.” I held the plank that day because of those inspiring words and ever since have used them to help me get through tough workouts. After all, throughout all this there is only me. This isn’t a show for anyone else. I don’t show up at the gym just because I want to be seen there or have bragging rights about having gone there. I started this journey because of an internal desire to change myself. At 388 lbs. I was a miserable soul, so whenever I get discouraged or feel like giving up I remember the alternative. This battle is not being fought for Megan or anyone else. This battle is mine and mine alone. I push myself to the limit because I never, ever, ever want to return to that lonely, miserable place again. I push myself because I want to be healthy and fit. I push myself because I want to look good. Heck, one day I want to sashay around in a pair of 4” heels. So when I’m working out and at the brink of giving up from embarrassment, fatigue, or a combination thereof, I push through. This is a battle I’m determined to win. I will never give up on myself. 

Steel Good

I love a warm bowl of oatmeal on a cold winter’s morning. For months, I’ve been reading and hearing about the benefits of Steel Cut Oats, so recently I decided to give them a try. I was quite impressed. They have a denser, nuttier texture and you can really taste the goodness. With each bite, you just feel like what you’re eating is wholesome, and it is. Steel Cut Oats are rich in B-vitamins, calcium, protein and fiber but low in sodium and unsaturated fat. And, get this, just one cup of steel-cut oats contains 8g of fiber. These little oats pack a big nutrient punch which means you stay full longer.

So what’s the difference between instant oats, rolled oats, and steel cut oats? Basically, it’s the processing. Instant pre-packaged oats are pre-cooked and sugars and additives are included - by far they’re the worse possible choice. Rolled oats are steamed, rolled, re-steamed and toasted – so although they are processed they would make a much better choice than the instant crap in the pouches. The King of oats - Steel cut oats are unrefined, they are only cut two to three times using a steel blade. They are a little pricey, but not if you shop at a store that sells them in bulk. Winco sells them bulk for .67 a lb. While the leading brands, such as Bob’s Red Mill are more expensive.

I prepared about two cups of oats and added two diced apples and dried cranberries. Yum-o! The oats do take a little longer to cook, but are well worth it. Since they do take longer to cook, I made a few servings and put the remainder in the fridge - they re-heat well. As always it’s important to pair complex carbs with protein. I typically eat about a ½ c. of oats with two scrambled eggs. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so make it count!

Sources: Wikipedia

Here are a couple of related articles:

http://www.myyogaonline.com/healthy-living/nutrition/why-choose-steel-cut-oats

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1494650/the_skinny_on_steel_cut_oats.html?cat=5

Fit by 40

2010 has certainly had its ups and downs. Throughout this year I’ve made some HUGE changes in my life. As the year comes to an end I’m sorta in an emotional funk, but I’ve decided I’m going to fuel EVERY emotion I have into transforming my body. I still have a lot of work to do and the time is NOW. My motto is “Fit by 40” that gives me one year to get to goal weight and another year to tone and condition my body. It’s within reach and doable.  So when I’m sad, it’s gym time. If I’m ticked off, it’s gym time. If I get a sweet surprise that puts a smile on my face, it’s gym time. It’s gym time! No more playing around in this comfortable zone. It’s time to tighten up my game plan and execute.  I need someone to challenge, motivate, and hold me accountable. It's time someone helps me take this to the next level. I think I found just the person to do that. This afternoon, I have my first session ever with a personal trainer (Thanks for hooking me up Shannon - love ya!).

Check out the photos taken from my personal fitness assessment.

Scared and a little stupid

Yesterday, I really stupidly pushed my limits. I mean, I woke up faint and dizzy – but still proceeded to get dressed to go to the gym. Not only did I force myself to go the gym, but since I was running late I decided to skip breakfast too. Huh? Really? Is it that serious?

Yes, it is kind of that serious. Here’s why…I’m scared. I’m scared if I miss a day at the gym. One day missed may turn into two days and then who knows I may just not ever go back.

I’m scared that if I start making excuses about why I can’t make it to the gym. Everyday there’ll be a new excuse and eventually I’ll stop going.

I’m scared that one slice of pumpkin loaf will turn into two slices, or worse the whole loaf, and then I’ll be right back into my old gross eating habits.

I’m scared. And my fears are getting the best of me.

Throughout this journey to overcome obesity, I’ve endured a lot emotionally, physically, and mentally. Suffice it to say, battling obesity is the HARDEST thing I’ve ever done. This isn’t just about me loosing a few pounds after giving birth to a child. Nor is it about me loosing just a few pounds. To date, I’ve lost 148 lbs. and still would like to loose 70 more. So…this is about me breaking through a lifetime of barriers. This is about me saying goodbye to a ton of bad habits and replacing them with new ones. This is about me changing my ENTIRE lifestyle. This is all so new to me. I’m trying to figure out how to live a healthy, active lifestyle. And, not withstanding all my enthusiasm I need to learn to be more realistic. An old and dear friend of mine gave me some good advice. She told me I need to stop and listen to my body. She went on to say that, I’ve made some tremendous changes and I need to learn and embrace my new body. I need to learn the new Chrisetta. My new body has different needs and just because I’m more fit than I once was this new body still needs rest. She knows me really well and she feels that I’m going at it a little bit too hard. And, perhaps I’m becoming obsessed with this new lifestyle and maybe just, maybe I should back down a little and not to take it so serious. It is after all a lifestyle change. Hmm…

This is uncharted territory for me. I’m figuring this all out by trial and error. Here’s what I know for sure:

• I love myself and I will never ever return to that dark, miserable, lonely place where food is my only comfort.
• I have to learn to be patient with myself and listen to my body.
• I need to find a way to balance my life, diet, exercise, work, family, and friends.

Lastly, I’m scared and sometimes a little stupid, but no doubt I will figure this all out. For once and for all, Farewell Fatso!

The Great Outdoors

Serving an Ace - no doubt.

Lately, I’ve become extremely bored with the classes offered at the gym and the dreaded gym machines. So instead of me allowing that to be an excuse, reverting back to old habits, and becoming a couch potato. I’ve decided to take advantage of the mild, beautiful, fall weather and take my exercise routine outdoors.

Last week, I had a blast playing outdoors with my 17-year old daughter, Jasmyn. To get our bodies warmed up, we started our play session by jogging a few laps around the track. Aw…What a feeling – fresh air hitting me in the face, a light perspiration building on my forehead, and my baby girl sprinting ahead of me. After our warm-up we took to the tennis courts. I loved the sound of the ball leaving the racquet and our tennis shoes squeaking on the hard court. I’ll admit my game is pretty weak, so the rallies were almost non-existent, but you could feel the love in the air. Me and my girl on a perfect fall day hitting tennis balls – nothing sweeter than that. To cap off our day, we ended with a little one-on-one in basketball. She’ll admit Mama’s transition shot is wicked. Ha. What a fun-filled active day we had together. We weren’t sitting in the house watching TV, on the computer, or stuffing our faces with high caloric food. We were out getting our exercise on! Not only was it great fun, but it was great bonding time for us - mother and daughter. I’m leading by example. I’m showing my daughter how to live an active, healthy lifestyle. Long gone are the days of me sitting around making excuses – I’m firmly in charge. I make the decisions about my health and fitness, and my daughter’s too. Match point!

All smiles

Side note: Most people don’t know this about me, but when I grow up, I secretly want to be a tennis star. What a beautiful, competitive sport. It takes stamina, precision, and guts to win. It’s win or go home every time you step on the court and you're the only one out there on your side. Love it! Without a doubt, my love for the game rubbed off on Jasmyn and she’s played on the JV and Varsity team for her high school all four years now. She even lettered in JV, hopefully this year she’ll letter in Varsity too.

This thing MUST be broke!

For the last two and a half weeks the scale has not moved. I was sure the darn thing was broke until I tried the scale at the gym and the same numbers appeared. Apparently, my body has caught on to my exercise and diet regimen and is forcing me to re-evaluate. Instead, of becoming discouraged I’m just marveling at how amazing the human body is. I mean really, it won’t let me get away with the same old routine. I need to do something different. Keep challenging myself. So it’s time to re-evaluate my routine because backing down or giving up are NOT options.

I think it’s important I mention that although the scale is not moving my body is changing and I have slimmed down. I take photos to chronicle my progress and I can tell the difference in my upper body and in my face since my last official weigh in. I say this because I want to make sure I emphasis that the scale is not the only way to measure one’s success. Clearly, it’s a tool that is used to help measure progress but not solely relied on. I think I keep hopping on it only to make myself crazy or crazier.

**Ironically, about a week ago one of my FB followers asked me about breaking through a plateau and here’s what I told her. I guess it’s time I follow my own advice.

Plateaus are sooo frustrating. They can make the most determined people give up. So… First, don't give up. Secondly, re-evaluate your game plan. You can't keep doing the same thing and get different results. If you usually take cycling class four times a week and jog three days then switch it to kickboxing and weightlifting or… Main thing is to keep your body guessing. Our bodies are complex and they need to be challenged. If you were loosing weight with a certain workout routine it may help just to tweak the routine a little. Next, and MOST important is your diet. I’m not big on counting calories but I’ll say this, lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, lean meats, nuts, and water are your staples. Also, breakfast is very, very important because it gets your metabolism going. Try to eat six times a day no more than three hours a part. Apples and raw almonds are great portable snacks.  Lastly, did I mention not to give up? Okay, good. Stay at it!!! Just make some adjustments. Slow and steady wins the race there is no quick fix to change your lifestyle. I hope this helps. It brings me great pleasure to pass on advice/encouragement so please feel free to ask anytime. Ironically, I just came from the gym when I saw your post and a trainer there was telling me next year this time I’d be a trainer myself. Hmm… smile. 

The Best Is Yet To Come



Fighting childhood obesity has turned out to be an amazing, joyous, challenging journey. As I travel the road to better health and fitness at each turn I notice something new about my body. I can jump higher when I do a jumping jack. I’m not as fatigued when taking back-to-back exercise classes. I can jog. When I look in the mirror my looks are always changing too. At each phase I think wow! I look thinner. My legs are more muscular. My middle seems trimmer. So I can see my progress I chronicle my transformation by taking photos. It’s remarkable how at every phase I look at myself and I feel so proud and accomplished. I think geez I’m looking really good, but on the flip side when I look back at the photos I think whoa I still have a ways to go or gosh I thought I had arrived. While at the gym the other day one of my trainer friends said to me, “The best is yet to come,” and you know what he’s right. I haven’t even peaked yet.





November 2010



August 2010

False Alarm

Not quite a 12



Yesterday, as I was rummaging through some clothes my teenage daughter bagged up to donate to charity I found a couple skirts, sized 12 that I liked. So, out of curiosity I  decided to try the skirts on. To my surprise, I was able to fit the zippered waist band skirts. Yay me! Since I was overjoyed to tears I immediately shared my excitement with folks on Facebook (my typical venue for breaking good news). But, shortly after I posted the news I started to wonder if the sizing was wrong. I mean, when I look at myself I just don’t see a size 12. Sure, I guess, I’m my own worst critic. Aren’t we all?

Hmm…the more I thought about it, it occurred to me that just as Americans have super-sized beverages, food items, and cars maybe we’ve also skewed clothing sizes to compensate. Sure enough, after some research I found out the US standard clothing sizes were developed in the 1940s-1950s. However, today, as a result of various cultural pressures, US clothing sizes have drifted substantially away from this standard over time. It’s important to add that the average size 12 women’s waist is 30” though my waist is somewhat larger. So  that immediately made it clear that I couldn’t possibly really wear a size 12. I also read that the Gap sizes their clothing down to make the customer feel better. It’s referred to as vanity sizing. For example, while a shirt says it’s a size medium, it may actually be the same size as an “L” from a decade early – basically the shirt is getting bigger, but the size label remains the same and the customer (theoretically) isn’t devastated about wearing a bigger size.

 

I guess, I should’ve just gleefully zipped the skirts up and strutted around wearing them in pride. Self doubt, however, and the good old Jesuit education I received from Seattle University just would not allow me to do that.  So as it stands I guess I really don’t quite wear a size 12… yet. Reminder to self, if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.

You may want to check these related articles out:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/14802436

http://www.catalogs.com/info/clothing/clothing-size-for-women.html

What A Difference A Year Makes

A year ago (October 31, 2009) I had a major blowout with my fella that led to us eventually breaking up. Our break up was pretty traumatic, but also enlightening for me. I believe that out of every bad experience comes something good. Granted, sometimes it may take a while for the good to surface. And, in this case the good has surfaced!

The transition has not been easy, but I’ve made some HUGE strides to improve my life. It started with emotional and spiritual cleansing – soul searching, which eventually led me to become serious about my health and weight. Over the past year, I’ve broke through barriers that once seemed unbreakable. As 2010 comes to a close I have a few more goals I’d like to achieve. If I continue to stay focused there’s no doubt I can make my goals.  I’m proud of the person I’m evolving into…I’m a work in progress.



10/31/10



10/31/09

The Towel

Oh my, goodness! Last night, as I was drying off after my shower, I was thrilled to discover I could wrap the bath towel around my body. Yes, I was able to wrap and tuck the towel around me. After my shower I stood happily at the mirror with the towel securely wrapped around my body and completed my personal hygiene regimen without loosing the towel. Small successes like these keep me encouraged.

No Limits

Tenatively lacing 'em up!

Most of my childhood was spent on the sidelines shying away from physical activities because I was overweight. But, things have changed. Now that I’m shedding the pounds, I’ve decided to reclaim my childhood, and so I continue to try things that I was unable or unwilling to try when I was younger. This weekend, I found myself at Skateworld shuffling around in a pair of roller skates.

My friend who invited me skating, loves to skate and he's  really good at it. So he spent most of the time skating at speeds I would never dare and making moves that I only can dream of. Meanwhile, I mostly shuffled the perimeter of the lobby -- very cautiously, I might add. After about 45 minutes of shuffling around, joking with my folks, and receiving encouraging words from everyone (Even a group of young ladies I didn’t know) I finally made my way to the actual rink. Oh my, was it slippery. I just held onto the ledge and kinda propelled my feet forward. I’m not sure what I was doing was really considered skating, but…I was out there, trying and having some fun while doing so. I’m sure I only skated a few feet but as pertrified as I was it seemed like I took the whole rink. 

With every new adventure I embark on, I’ve been thinking about the Chrisetta of the past. And, what's changed about me is my spirit, my will, and my desire. I’m no longer in the passenger’s seat -- I drive and I’m willing to take a few risks along the way. Like Vince Lombardi said, “It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up.”

Kenny lending a hand

Mama keeping me encouraged

An Apple A Day

I love apples. Absolutely love them. My favorite variety is Gala. What a great, nutritious, portable snack. Not only are they wonderfully crunchy and sweet in the raw, but there are many ways you can prepare and enjoy them. For breakfast, I like to dice them and add to a warm bowl of oatmeal with Craisins or on top of plain Greek yogurt with Craisins and walnuts. At lunch and dinner they continue to impress; they’re great on salads. A friend, hipped me to another way to jazz up an apple: drizzle a little lime juice on it and sprinkle with Chili powder, yup Chili powder - delightful. It’s a hit with her kids and I love it, too.  Of course, I can’t forget to mention the not-so-healthy American favorite…Apple pie – yum.

One day recently while I was enjoying an apple, the adage, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” came to me. I started wondering how much truth there is to the statement, so I researched it. And, low and behold, I found my love for apples goes beyond a tasty snack but indeed I’m getting loads of nutrients too. Here’s what I found:

Five Reasons To Eat An Apple Every Day

1. Your Diet - Apples are the perfect, portable snack: great tasting, energy-boosting, and free of fat.
2. Your Heart - Research confirms it! The antioxidant phytonutrients found in apples help fight the damaging effects of LDL (bad) cholesterol.
3. Your Digestion - Just one apple provides as much dietary fiber as a serving of bran cereal. (That's about one-fifth of the recommended daily intake of fiber.)
4. Your Lungs - An apple a day strengthens lung function and can lower the incidence of lung cancer, as well.
5. Your Bones - Apples contain the essential trace element, boron, which has been shown to strengthen bones - a good defense against osteoporosis.

Source: VirginiaApples.com

The Will

For the first eight months of 2010 my life was going relatively smoothly, but in late August I hit some major bumps in the road, and well, I suffered some bruises. For about six weeks, my head was in a cloud and I was not working out as regularly, eating as well, or blogging. However, throughout this time I never, ever lost my will to fight this battle. I’ve vowed to lose weight and adapt a healthy lifestyle many times in my life, but this time I really, really mean it. My will is strong this time around -- it’s a profound feeling I have deep inside of me. I will never give up on myself, and I will meet my goals. So as 2010 comes to an end, although I’m filled with pride because of my accomplishments I realize the battle is not over. Therefore, I’ve re-evaluated my goals, and am refocusing my efforts.  For once and for all, Farewell Fatso!

P.S. Magically, it appears my writer’s block is gone, so I plan on blogging regularly again. Yay!

Writer’s Block

I’ve always loved to write. As a child I had a vivid imagination and could write some pretty elaborate stories. I also am a trained journalist so I’ve had to write under extreme deadlines and report the facts. But, for the last couple of weeks I can’t seem to formulate my thoughts. I have several half written blogs sitting on my desktop. If only I could put them all together and make one cohesive blog. Sigh.  Y’all will be the first to hear from me once I overcome writer’s block. Until then look for updates on Facebook.

September is...

...National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. My life has been topsy-turvy lately, so please forgive me for not acknowledging this HUGE event
sooner.                                         

The CDC recommends parents take the following actions to help children keep or reach a healthy weight:

Promote healthy eating habits by providing plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole-grain products. Limit intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, such as soda or juice. Also encourage your family to drink lots of water.

Look for ways to make your favorite dishes healthier. The recipes that you prepare regularly, with just a  few changes, can be healthier and just as satisfying.

Get rid of high-calorie food options. Although everything can be enjoyed in moderation, reducing the amount of high-fat, high-sugar or salty snacks in your home can help you and your children develop healthy eating habits.

Reduce sedentary time by helping kids stay active. Children and teens should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week. Some examples include playing tag, jumping rope, swimming, dancing, and walking.

Limit the time your children watch television, play video games or log onto the Internet to no more than two hours per day. Encourage your children to find fun activities to do with family members or on their own that simply involve more activity.

Parents it's important you lead by example. A few changes here and there can make a huge difference. It all starts with YOU! Let’s show our kids we love them by not pacifying them with sweets, treats, and food but with genuine love.

Pleased as Punch!

I’m feeling mighty good. Let me count the ways…

1. The blog has a small but steady readership – thanks!
2. Farewell Fatso’s Facebook page is just shy of 100 “likes”

3. To date, I’ve lost 141 lbs. and counting…

4. I can officially fit into a department store sized large shirt

5. My BIG wardrobe is gone forever

6. My outreach continues to work. Last week another friend decided to join the gym – citing my diligent FB posts as one of her reasons. I’ve recruited at least four people that I know of.                      

7. And, last but not least my success story now graces the walls of 24-Hour Fitness.

Yep, I’m kinda like a rock star. Seriously, what a great honor to have my story featured on 24-Hour’s Member Success Story wall. It feels good to know that my hard work is noticed and finally I didn’t even have to self-promote (smile).

I’m so thrilled to have you all to share my story with, it cleanses and motivates me. I hope I continue to inspire, and inform you all. Just a heads up, I’ll be taking about a week off from blogging to revamp the blog. I plan to add more childhood obesity related materials, recipes, and information about the highly controversial school lunch programs. Y’all ready to start a movement? Until then check out Farewell Fatso’s FB page for updates.

The Perfect Fit

Ladies: I’m sure y’all can appreciate what I’m ‘bout to say. Fellas: Consider yourselves warned – the subject matter may be more than you care to hear about it. Anyway, since I’ve lost a substantial amount of weight, my clothes aren’t the only items sagging. Oh my goodness, my undergarments. I should be ashamed of myself wearing raggedy underpants like the ones I have currently in rotation. In my defense, however, since I’m still working on loosing weight I don’t want to buy new undies quite yet. That’s a pretty lame excuse, isn’t it? Secretly, I really want to hold out on buying new ones until I can shop at Victoria's Secret.

As if my underwear weren’t already embarrassing, the bras I’ve been wearing are disgraceful. Bras are supposed to support and give a neat appearance – ha! Not the ones I owned, spillage, sagging, and more spillage -- until finally, I had enough! On Monday, I finally broke down and went to Lane Bryant for a bra fitting. Soon as the clerk, Dawn, started inching towards my bra she could tell it was way too big. Heck, even the untrained eye could tell it was too big. Dawn was astonished when she compared the measurements with the old bra size I was wearing. Needless to say, my bra size decreased tremendously. On a quest, to figure out which bra would work best for me, I tried on several different styles, different colors, and even different sizes. Yikes! What an overwhelming experience. An hour later I left the mall with the perfect fitting bra. Ahh, it feels good to have support and no spillage. Now, I need to buy new underpants. So, not to overwhelm myself, one thing at a time.

Large and in Charge

Yesterday, my daughter walks in my room with a blouse she had never worn. She asked, “Mom do you want this?” I’m looking at the crisp white wide collar blouse thinking umm… I can’t fit that. I grab the blouse from her to further examine it, the tag indicates size L. Yeah right, no way - I can fit it, it’s a large from a department store. For whatever reason, probably a tinge of hope it might work, I still decided to check the blouse out. So I’m pulling the fabric and tracing the outline of the blouse. All along she’s saying “I think you can fit it.” After a few more minutes of debating back and forth with her (really it was all the internal demons), I tried the blouse on… Low and behold the blouse fit. Yes, it fit!

Humph. Shake my head. I’m still in disbelief as I write - I can wear a large from a department store. Does size really matter? Yes and no. But, in this particular situation, size matters so much to me. It’s not just about the blouse being a  large, but more importantly it’s yet another barrier I’m breaking through. My entire adult life I’ve been confined to shopping exclusively at plus-sized stores, but it looks like that too is coming to an end. I’m large and in charge, and lovin’ it!

Stay tuned… she has a size 14 denim skirt I’m eyeing.

...In with the NEW!

I've been cleaning out my closets - literally. and reflecting on my lifelong battle with obesity. Now, since the clothes are cleared out, let's be clear -- I'm still on a mission. I’m bound and determined to live a healthy, active lifestyle. So no matter what obstacles I face throughout this journey, I will find a productive, healthy way to maneuver around them. Hate to toot my own horn, but so far I think I’m doing a superb job! Check out the photos. Tell me what y’all think. For once and for all, Farewell Fatso!

The Old

                            

JUMBO jeans are "OUT"!

The New

The "IN" thing - jeggings!

Farewell Fatso! Goes on Vacay

I’m so very pleased with the progress of Farewell Fatso! Sometimes, however, life simply gets in the way. And, this is one of those times. So that I am able to concentrate my efforts elsewhere I have to take a short hiatus from blogging. Best believe, I will definitely try to sneak in one every now and again, so don’t be surprised if you see a blog pop up a couple times a week.

Please, please, please make no mistake this project is near and dear to my heart and I’m not giving up on it. Together we are going to start a movement! I’ll be back soon, and for sure to keep you all engaged I’ll give random updates on FB. Until next time…

Happy Birthday, to me!

As I reflect on another year, I am truly blessed to have broken barriers that once seemed unimaginable. I'm proud of myself, and my accomplishments thus far. I realize road blocks along the way have helped define me. Today, I'm living life to the fullest and without regret. 

Eating Healthy Never Tasted So Good

Cool Shrimp Louis on a hot summer’s day! A bed of crisp romaine lettuce topped with hard boiled eggs, grape tomatoes, black olives, and jumbo shrimp. Served with a light version of the classic dressing. Mmm mmm, good.

I'm Worth It!

The other day after Yoga class I was chatting with the instructor about this and that, and of course, my weight loss journey came up. I recalled the day I signed up at
24-Hour Fitness. I initially went in with the intention of only signing up for a 7-day trial pass. The friendly membership guy gave me a tour of the facility and details about being a member. It all sounded pretty good until he started talking about the monthly fee. Hmm…I thought to myself…I’m receiving unemployment and money is really tight. How could I justify adding another bill? As he carried on highlighting the benefits of being a member, I blocked out his words because I was only concentrating on how I would stretch my already stretched dollar. In a split second, my inner voice whispered to me – I’m worth it – I’m worth, $36 a month. For goodness sakes, this is about my health, my livelihood.

Since that day back in March “I’m Worth It” has become my personal motto. A couple of weeks ago I went grocery shopping and I bought two lbs. of asparagus, at $3.99 a lb. I was telling my mom about it and she moaned and groaned about me paying almost $8.00 for asparagus. Like I told her, I could easily spend that much, probably more on a good steak, a pound of Peet's coffee, etc. So I wanted the asparagus and I bought the asparagus. I’m worth it.

Eating healthy and living healthy have a higher price tag, but I’m not going to let the price tag stop me from taking care of myself. I’m worth every cent.

Wardrobe Change

It’s a beautiful thing – I’m at my lowest weight in umpteen years. I feel lighter, movement is easier, and overall I just feel oh so good. But…visiting the closet and drawers lately to find something to wear - is a pain in the rear!
For most of my adult life I’ve wore the same size clothes or a range of sizes. It has taken me years to build my wardrobe, and fill the three closets in my bedroom with jackets, sweaters, skirts, dresses, shirts, blouses, jeans, slacks, and khakis. Ladies, you know how we do it.

So looking in my closet now-a-days is a bittersweet experience. On the one hand, heck yeah, I’m ecstatic I can’t fit those jumbo jeans anymore. Soon enough I’ll even be able to wear designer jeans, shoot designer clothes. My girlfriend promised me a pair of designer jeans once I reach my goal weight. That’s exciting. No more Lane Giant. I’ll be able to walk into any store and choose from the racks. Yet and still, I currently have nothing to wear and that bites. I like having a polished, coordinated look. Besides, my gym clothes, which also are way too big and really worn out, I’m down to a very limited number of pieces – about ten. So y’all please bear with me if you see me working the same few outfits.

Seems like an easy fix - just go shopping. Well, I’m still loosing weight so I don’t want to buy clothes in this size, which ironically is the size I had set as my goal -- I guess when I was almost 400 lbs. my standard was different, quite different. Anyway, I’m thinking soon I’ll visit thrift stores, clearance racks, or maybe even consignment shops to buy a few pieces. I have plenty of work to do before I’m at the size I want to build a wardrobe around. Enough already! I’ll stop my whining because really this is cause for celebration. Out with the old, and in with the new. Goodbye jumbo jeans. Goodbye Lane Giant. I’m glad to say I’m moving on and you won’t be missed.

Change is Good

In all aspects of our lives - every once in a while it’s good to mix things up - especially, when it comes to our workout routines. After several months of happily gyrating my hips in Zumba classes it finally became boring. Don’t get me wrong I still love the Latin rhythms, but as with most love affairs the honeymoon phase came to an end. So over the last couple of weeks, I replaced Zumba with an array of different cardio machines – you have to keep the body guessing.

To do just that, this week, I’m going to try something completely different. I’m not going to do any cardio. Yep, NO cardio. Instead, I'm going to take Yoga classes and weight lifting only this week – how’s that for a shocker body? I’ve heard so much about the benefits of Yoga. And, since this journey of mine is all about trying different things, I’ll give Yoga a try too -- Mind, Body, and Soul.

A Good Meal is Better Shared

Enjoying a healthy lunch together. Good times.

A healthy fresh meal is an allusive idea to some, but it doesn’t have to be. With a little planning and some simple preparation you can indulge in healthy.

Healthy Cooking 101 classes were conceived of based on feedback from many of my followers on my blog and Facebook. The common thread seemed to be many people are searching for quick, easy, healthy meal ideas. Some folks lack the know-how, and others may simply need a tune-up with kitchen techniques. With a little guidance you too can make delicious, healthy meals.

Fresh, healthy, flavorful Mediterranean cuisine was featured in yesterday’s Healthy Cooking 101 class. Coming together to prepare the food and enjoy it together made the experience more pleasurable. As we diced, chopped, talked, and laughed the meal came together almost effortlessly. In less than 45 minutes we were seated with a healthy, delicious, well-balanced meal. As we were eating, I noticed the food honestly tasted much better than we I made it alone and ate it alone. Here’s what the gals have to say about the experience:

“The food was amazing and the company even better! Thank you.”

“Thanks for a delicious lunch that I don't feel like I need to do "penance" at the gym for. You really do have a talent.”

“Wow! Amazing food and fun ambiance. I really enjoyed this. Thanks Mamacita.”

Cause for Celebration!

One month ago today, I launched Farewell Fatso! As I reflect on the last month I feel pretty darned pleased with the dialogue that’s been exchanged and information given. I hope you all feel the same.

My goal is to continue adding information to help parents with overweight children. Sometimes I feel by sharing my story I loose my way a little with updating about issues surrounding childhood obesity. Please, make no mistake about it though my greatest desire is to do my part to help combat childhood obesity. So, please bear with me while I work out the kinks. We’ll get there – we’re going to start a movement!

Coming soon: Per your requests, I’ll add recipes to the site and a section about Food/Nutrition.

More exciting news…Today is the debut of my cooking class, Healthy Cooking 101. I created this class after hearing feedback from many of you struggling with recipes, especially healthy ones. Initially, I was going to add recipes to the blog (which I will still do), but part of what I was hearing was a lot of you also struggle with cooking techniques and that’s when I thought about offering classes. Look for photos and possibly even a short video clip tomorrow (Friday) from the debut of Healthy Cooking 101 class.

Thank you all for supporting me. Please keep following the blog, and for you local folks come join me for a cooking class/demonstration.

For once and for all, Farewell Fatso!