Survival of the Fattest


by Geneve Bean - Date: 2007-01-19 - Word Count: 884 Share This!

"Survival of the Fattest" By: Geneve Bean

My journey began a year ago this March. My weight loss journey that is. I know everyone has a weight loss story or a weight loss tip they have experienced or learned over the years but my own journey was far more harrowing than most. Let me start at the beginning... I have been heavy my whole life...something I share in common with countless others around the globe. I endured years of ridicule and heartache from others because of my weight. This is also something that many have shared. I have been judged on my outer appearance and rejected in jobs and relationships because of this as well. Don't laugh....there is discrimination in the work place against fat people...I have experienced it many times. So...what made my journey so different than many others who have chosen to lost weight? I did it alone. I did not use some diet scheme, take diet pills, or go on some trendy weight loss here today and gone tomorrow fad. I did it all by myself using logic and sheer determination. I am living proof that it can be done, as I have done it and am still doing it. It all began with a choice. It seems funny I know, but if you do not desire to truly do something then you are setting yourself up for failure. I have chosen to pursue a career in Alternative Medicine and felt that if I truly wanted to be helpful to others I come in contact with, I needed to fix myself first. I needed to be honest with myself and admit that I had a serious problem with my life and I needed to fix it. It was a hard thing for me to do but I made the choice to change my life and there was no turning back. I started with paying attention to foods I consumed. How did they affect me? How did I feel after eating certain foods and what could I do to feel differently? I started keeping a daily log of what I ate and how often I ate and how much I ate. It was amazing the things I discovered about my own metabolism and how my own body functioned when the proper foods were introduced. I started to eliminate foods that I knew clogged my system or made me feel sluggish, I started juicing every morning and juice fasting twice a week so I could clean myself out. I also began an exercise regimen. I started walking every morning on the treadmill. At first it was really hard and I became tired very easily. Then over time I increased my exercise regimen to a few times a day on the treadmill (currently walk between 5-7 miles every day on an incline) plus doing a 15 minute aerobic workout at night and a 45 minute strength training routine twice weekly to tone and tighten my muscles. This all sounds easy, but it wasn't. I have struggled with my self-esteem most of my life and there were many times I felt I had lost my mind....why was I doing this and who for and what for? I cannot tell you the nights I cried and wanted to give up and throw it all out the window. I kept telling myself that I had come too far to turn back now and to keep going. I have had some wonderful supporters during my change that have saved me many times from giving in by their encouraging words and praise. I am far from family (about 3000 miles) and friends and encouragement was something I desparately needed to keep my focus. During one particularly harrowing 6 week period I did not lose one pound and they were there to pick me up and keep me going. My own determination kept me on the right track knowing eventually my body would adjust and I would start losing weight again but it was very hard getting through that time. I am sure many of you are curious to know how much weight I have lost so far....I have lost 116 pounds. I want to lose another 35-40 so I will keep plugging away at it. Losing weight is not something a fad diet can fix....losing weight is a lifestyle change. Diet is die with a t after all. They never really work. I learned a lot about myself during this whole process. I learned that there is nothing I can't do if I put my mind to it. I learned that I am just as important as everyone else and it does not matter what others think of me. I learned that healthy foods really do taste good without cheese and butter. I learned that I do have curves underneath all those rolls and they do look good in a nicely cut dress. I learned that I have a lot to offer the world and those I love or will love someday. Most of all, I learned that you really don't need all the diet hoopla out there on the market when you have knowledge, determination and the love of those around you who accept you no matter how you look. What else in life really matters anyway?


Related Tags: diets, work, dont, fad

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