I get that question a lot.
“I didn’t have time, I didn’t like the stuff they sent me, I certainly didn’t like being told what to eat, I hated shakes, exercise- not me. I love good food, I’m a great cook, I have a big career with lots of business meals & travel, not to mention working and commuting 60+ hours a week! These aren’t excuses, it’s just the truth. How could I possibly fit in going to a gym or being on a diet, it’s so time consuming.” These were the thoughts swirling in my brain. So I kept buying the next size up at Lane Bryant until I maxed out at their biggest size. And I still kept gaining weight, no matter what I did.
Then I stepped onto the doctor’s scale, it registered 315lbs. I immediately had brain freeze. “OMG, I have to lose 200 lbs.” kept spinning in my head for what seemed like eternity. I was stunned. How could this be? The last time I was on a scale I was 280, where did these extra 35 lbs. come from? Then came the cold sweat. How the heck am I going to lose 200 lbs??? My brain was firing like a pinball machine. I was overwhelmed at the thought. Then the doctor delivered the final blow….he said “a woman at your height and weight will not live to see her 60th birthday.” WHAT? Did he just tell me I had 5 years to live? He suggested I go for a bariatric surgery consultation since I obviously couldn’t lose this much weight “on my own”. Time stood still for me at that moment.
I went for the consult, but decided not to have the surgery. I knew in my heart that I had never really fully devoted myself to losing the weight in a sensible, realistic healthy way. I tried every quick method, diet plan and pill out there, none of them worked for very long and none ever taught me why I was overeating in the first place or how to change that habit. Another reason why I elected not to have the surgery was because I knew that when I did apply myself to a “project” no matter how big or seemingly impossible, I always delivered. That was my reputation at work and why I had such a big, high profile job in NY. I was the go-to girl who could get anything done. So why couldn’t I lose the weight??? This isn’t rocket science! What’s wrong with me? I asked myself these questions a thousand times a day.
A year later, I still couldn’t wrap my mind around the idea of losing 200 lbs. I knew that everything I had done up to that point was obviously not working so I decided to do things differently. Not all at once and nothing really big, just small changes that I could live with every day. These changes became part of me and my new routine.
“I wasn’t on a diet, this is just how I eat now”, is what I’d tell people. I had no clue what I was doing, but as long as it was different than before I figured it had to work. It took me 6 weeks to lose a pound. I kept testing, learning and refining. Failure was not an option.
That was my turning point. I stuck with it, lost 185 lbs. (in 18 months) and have maintained my weight loss for over 5 years. And best of all, I started a Weight Loss Coaching Practice to teach anyone who is truly motivated to be the healthiest version of themselves–how to do it realistically, naturally, permanently. It is such a joy to teach people how to do this.
In the coming weeks and months I will be sharing my knowledge and experience with you as you navigate this world in a new body. It can be intimidating and exhilarating at the same time, I know, I lived it. So please ask what’s on your mind about the path that lies ahead of you, I’m happy to share what wisdom I’ve gathered. And, if you’d like to share it with me, I’d love to know your turning point.