At least that's what I always tell myself, "just one more step." That "one more step" mentality led me to run farther today than I have ever ran before. Sure I have ran 1/2 marathons before (13.1) but never stepped foot over that "13.1" mile marker to make it to "13.2" much less an even 14. Well today was that day....
Before I begin, let me give a little background about myself. I have always been an overweight/obese individual. Growing up my parents were constantly on diets and bringing me along for the ride. I can remember being on a diet when I was 6 years old. I believe it was called "The Rotation Diet." I don't remember much beside that. We spent our summers at Duke University's "Rice House" and sometimes even our winters. If there was a diet to be on and my parents were on it, I was on it too. When I was 10 we started Nutrisystem and when I was 14 we joined Jenny Craig. After that was the liquid diet and my parents fought with the doctors to put me on it but they refused as I was not 18. Do I blame my parents? Absolutely not. I made my own choices. I believe they were doing what they felt was best for me. I believe with all my heart they did not want me to feel the pain of being obese. Unfortunately I ended up there anyway.
Life went on. I moved to Indiana and met my husband. We adopted 3 beautiful children. All the while I continued to gain more weight. Before I knew it I was staring at a 275lb person that I didn't even recognize. I felt sorry for myself, pitied myself, and even "hated" myself. I may not have used those words but as I look back I certainly wasn't treating myself as Christ wanted (and I don't mean simply in a physical sense). In turn I also wasn't treating others as Christ would want. This included my family, immediate and extended. I was totally missing out on the blessings I had been given. Some I have repaired, some I have not, some may never be repaired.
One of these relationships is what started my weight loss. It came out of someones mouth where they actually called me fat....too my face....in the heat of anger. Ouch! I knew it was true but to hear it from someone I had so respected burned. Don't get me wrong, this didn't come out of the blue. This was definitely a heated conversation I was in (to say the least). It was also the beginning of me opening my eyes. This person was right. it was right then and there I decided no one and I mean NO ONE was going to be able to call me that again. I was a stay at home mom who homeschooled. We lived on one income. Paying for any type of weight loss program was totally out of the question. While on the internet I found a place called Sparkpeople . I immediately joined and found it similar to Weight Watchers online but yet FREE! I also signed up at our local gym, Fit for the King, to participate in a program that would be willing to exchange 2 hours of daycare work/week for membership.
I started at Fit For the King October 15, 2008. I watched every bit of food that came into my mouth and was at the gym TWICE a day. By the time Thanksgiving came around I had lost my 1st 30 lbs. What I Found is that with every pound lost I gained a portion of my spiritual focus back....
