So it begins.....

Until recently, I had never utilized a blog before. I really didn't feel the need to tell everyone on the internet what I was doing or how I was feeling. Then, as a part of my Neues Deutsches Kino class (also known as New German Film), we were required to keep a blog about the films that we watched and the topics that we discussed. Though I am sure that no one other than Dr. Esa read it, espeically because it is in German, it got me thinking that maybe I should start a blog about something important in my life. Several of my friends have blogs about the books they read or their opinions on women's issues, so I figured that I could do one about my attempt to get healthy. And yes, I know that there are probably a million blogs about people trying to lose weight and whining about it. It is my hope and plan that this will not be one of them.

Yes, I am trying to lose weight. Yes, I have been known to whine a bit. (No one knows this better than my family) However, what I am really trying to do is get healthy so that I can live a good, long life. I won't say that looking better and being able to fit into clothes that don't come from Lane Bryant aren't part of the reason that I'm doing this, but they are neither the most important nor most prominent reasons. So while I am on this journey to get healthy (yes that is where the title of the blog came from), I have decided to document some of the highs and lows. So here goes...........


Just like millions of Americans, I am overweight. Well technically, if you use the BMI scale, at 250lbs on a 5' 6" body, I am considered obese. But we all know that the BMI scale is really only a good jumping off point and not the end-all, be-all when it comes to weight, right? Well, we should anyway. BMI only takes into account height and weight, not muscle mass, family history, activity level, or even the size of your breasts. Did you know that a 34D breast weighs about 2.5-3lbs each?! That's an extra 5-6 pounds on your chest that, unless it has very little breast tissue in it, is not going to go away from weight loss. Go up one cup size and your 34DDs weigh about 3-3.5lbs each. Now granted, some women do lose weight in their chest, but you will never be able to get rid of them completely and that does impact your weight.

And just like millions of Americans, I have tried just about everything to get rid of the weight. I have done Weight Watchers, Nutrisystems, had "fresh" prepared food delivered, and Eat Right for Your Type. The only thing that I refuse to do is weight loss pills. First of all, I don't really trust putting chemicals in my body. Second, I'm already taking enough pills. And thirdly, between the kidney transplant and the medications I take for it, there is just too much to worry about. I have had some success with each of these plans (though Eat Right wanted me to essentially become a vegitarian......not me), but each time, I either can't stick with it or once I'm off it, I gain back more weight.

So after I hit my heaviest of 250lbs, I decided that I really needed to lose weight. But this time, I took some time to think about what would work for me and I had a thought. My dad always said that the definition of a diet is the food that you eat in a day, not a restriction of food that you use to lose weight. So using this approach, I decided to not go on a "diet", but to improve my actual diet. I am on the Anna diet, which consists of trying to eat more fruits and vegetables (though vergetables are still a challenge for me), eating smaller portions, and drinking lots of water. I have one of those Starbucks reuseable venti cups and I just keep filling it up with water. This also helps keep me from bored eating. If I have eaten within 2-3 hours or I feel bored, I fill up my cup and drink a venti's worth of water instead of eating.

I realize that this sounds like a no-brainer and that every other person trying to lose weight not only knows this, but has done it. But here is where my method differs: I still eat ice cream and chocolate nearly every day. And before you go, "yeah but it's sugar-free, fat-free with no taste", let me say that it is usually low fat ice cream, but it is never sugar-free, nor flavorless. And when the mood hits me to eat Ben & Jerry's, I do.....I just try not to eat the whole thing in one setting. (which I have done in the past) The main thing is that while I try to eat healthy, I do not deny myself the foods that I love. I just try to eat them in smaller portions and less often. Not exactly a radical concept, but it was a big realization for me.

But eating right is only one half of the equation. Excersize is important, but like many people, I hate it. I hate getting sweaty and unlike some people out there, I do not feel better after I do it. It does not relieve my stress or make me feel energized. I just feel gross. So while eating better is difficult, willingly exercising is next to impossible. Thankfully, my therapist has been helping me to realize that I need to set realistic expectations and not do too much too soon. So I have started walking on the treadmill every other day. There are many days when I don't want to do it, but I have to push myself. And then there are days when I was supposed to exercise but I don't. It happens.

So this is the start of my journey. I began on May 16, 2011 at 250 lbs, wearing a size 14/16 tops and 18/20 bottoms, and with no stamina at all. As of today, I have lost 2.5lbs and am working towards being healthy.