Healthy Living Part 1: Confession
I've always heard the phrase 'confession is good for the soul'. If that statement is true then this blog should be great for my soul! Over the past few months I have been sharing my excitement over my weight loss. I have so many great friends and family that have been super supportive and I want to give a huge thank you to anyone who has 'liked' a status update or has commented and given me positive feedback. I know to some it's over-sharing but to me support is paramount to success. I am a people person and having such a great 'support group' in all the various social media arenas has really bolstered my resolve in maintaining my decision to live a healthier lifestyle.
I will admit that over the past 40 years food had become my addiction. Growing up in a very conservative Christian home meant that we didn't believe in smoking, drinking, dipping, cussing, listening to 'devil' music (honestly didn't know there were genres of music until I was a teenager), and a whole host of other 'don'ts ' but there was one thing we could do. We could eat! Gluttony was one of the deadly sins that was not preached about in the pulpit but was definitely participated in at the buffet at the local restaurants. This blog is not to dive into the ramifications of this type of 'stinking thinking' and that will be a whole different blog for a later time. I stated this fact as a starting point for my own food addiction.
Food was my comfort when stressed. It was my friend when lonely. It was there and never discouraged. It was great! Food itself is not inherently bad, but when it becomes a coping strategy and a crutch to lean on it can be detrimental.
It doesn't help that I love food! My wife and I love to find really neat restaurants and we both love to eat. Now I'm not talking about gorging ourselves but we love to try new things and to explore new places and the food of the area when traveling. Some of my fondest memories with my wife are the little local restaurants we have found on our travels.
These things coupled together led me to my unhealthy weight at nearly 340 lbs when I turned 40 two years ago. I also was diagnosed as Type 2 Diabetic. These were two very sobering events. Now this current effort at weight loss wasn't my first. As many of my friends who have struggled with their weight will attest it is difficult and discouraging. I envy those individuals who have never had a love of food coupled with weight loss issues.
Weight loss to many is an easy task. The health fanatics will say exercise and eat sensibly and the weight will come off. This is true but those two things are so hard to maintain. My own issues over the last few years have been time for the gym when I have a child and spouse who I haven't seen all day and when I have a commute to work I can't justify going to the gym in the afternoons and so the only option is getting up at 5:30 a.m. to get in a 30 minute workout, which is what I currently do at least 2-3 mornings a week. I have to constantly remind myself that no one is going to lose this weight for me and if I want to see results and weight loss I have to put forth an effort and if early mornings are the only time I have to exercise so be it!
Now here comes the confession. For years I would lament and judge those individuals who would take diet pills and I would debate the health issues related to them and their usage. Last year I began utilizing The Howard Diet Center here in Tifton. The main reason I turned to this option is that I can use my HSA account and pay the monthly fee from this account. This center utilizes three pills as well as shots and weekly check-ins to help you lose weight. I currently take Adipex in the mornings, a multi-vitamin around mid morning and a Chromium Picolinate pill around early afternoon. I also get a B-complex/Lipovite shot weekly. I needed a jumpstart for my metabolism and I got it. All of this has coupled in eliminating my cravings and my snacking. In fact I will say I rarely get hungry. They also give you a rudimentary diet plan and discuss options of how best to utilize their services. I can not tell you how great this has been for me. My only angst is the amount of grief I gave friends and family for utilizing these types of pills in the past. I apologize to anyone that I may have offended by comments I have made previously.
Now that you know my secret I would encourage anyone who is interested to please see this great group or one similar. What drew me to this place specifically is the history of the Diet Center. If you want more information you can Google 'The Howard Diet Center' Tifton, GA and you can read all the information. I advocate their usage for anyone struggling with weight loss.
My journey is far from over. I am currently down to 295 lbs which is a net loss of about 45 lbs over the past year and a half. I am honestly happy that I am losing weight slowly. I still eat what I want. I just eat less of it and I make better choices. I recognize the benefits of some foods over others and I try to make healthy decisions. I have incorporated smoothies into my daily regimen and they are great! I have posted several pictures on social media and my part 2 of this blog will encompass my smoothie journey.
I admit that I slip up and have off days where I don't make the best choices. I am ok with that. I had to find a plan that worked for me and fit into my lifestyle in a way that I will continue long after the weight is gone. I was almost size 44 pants and this past weekend I wore a size 38 to church. I want to encourage anyone who has struggled with their weight that there are options out there. The biggest obstacle to weight loss isn't food. It isn't exercise or support. The biggest obstacle is the mindset of defeat. If you can begin to believe you can lose weight - you will! You are the biggest obstacle you face. I tell myself often that no one is going to change me but me and I push myself out of bed at 5:30 a.m., turn on my wii ea Active game, put the wii board in front of me and do my workout. The best reward isn't the number on the scale. For me the best reward is knowing I have made a conscious choice to change myself for the better. No one did it for me. I had to make that choice.... and I did!
jamie
I will admit that over the past 40 years food had become my addiction. Growing up in a very conservative Christian home meant that we didn't believe in smoking, drinking, dipping, cussing, listening to 'devil' music (honestly didn't know there were genres of music until I was a teenager), and a whole host of other 'don'ts ' but there was one thing we could do. We could eat! Gluttony was one of the deadly sins that was not preached about in the pulpit but was definitely participated in at the buffet at the local restaurants. This blog is not to dive into the ramifications of this type of 'stinking thinking' and that will be a whole different blog for a later time. I stated this fact as a starting point for my own food addiction.
Food was my comfort when stressed. It was my friend when lonely. It was there and never discouraged. It was great! Food itself is not inherently bad, but when it becomes a coping strategy and a crutch to lean on it can be detrimental.
It doesn't help that I love food! My wife and I love to find really neat restaurants and we both love to eat. Now I'm not talking about gorging ourselves but we love to try new things and to explore new places and the food of the area when traveling. Some of my fondest memories with my wife are the little local restaurants we have found on our travels.
These things coupled together led me to my unhealthy weight at nearly 340 lbs when I turned 40 two years ago. I also was diagnosed as Type 2 Diabetic. These were two very sobering events. Now this current effort at weight loss wasn't my first. As many of my friends who have struggled with their weight will attest it is difficult and discouraging. I envy those individuals who have never had a love of food coupled with weight loss issues.
Weight loss to many is an easy task. The health fanatics will say exercise and eat sensibly and the weight will come off. This is true but those two things are so hard to maintain. My own issues over the last few years have been time for the gym when I have a child and spouse who I haven't seen all day and when I have a commute to work I can't justify going to the gym in the afternoons and so the only option is getting up at 5:30 a.m. to get in a 30 minute workout, which is what I currently do at least 2-3 mornings a week. I have to constantly remind myself that no one is going to lose this weight for me and if I want to see results and weight loss I have to put forth an effort and if early mornings are the only time I have to exercise so be it!
Now here comes the confession. For years I would lament and judge those individuals who would take diet pills and I would debate the health issues related to them and their usage. Last year I began utilizing The Howard Diet Center here in Tifton. The main reason I turned to this option is that I can use my HSA account and pay the monthly fee from this account. This center utilizes three pills as well as shots and weekly check-ins to help you lose weight. I currently take Adipex in the mornings, a multi-vitamin around mid morning and a Chromium Picolinate pill around early afternoon. I also get a B-complex/Lipovite shot weekly. I needed a jumpstart for my metabolism and I got it. All of this has coupled in eliminating my cravings and my snacking. In fact I will say I rarely get hungry. They also give you a rudimentary diet plan and discuss options of how best to utilize their services. I can not tell you how great this has been for me. My only angst is the amount of grief I gave friends and family for utilizing these types of pills in the past. I apologize to anyone that I may have offended by comments I have made previously.
Now that you know my secret I would encourage anyone who is interested to please see this great group or one similar. What drew me to this place specifically is the history of the Diet Center. If you want more information you can Google 'The Howard Diet Center' Tifton, GA and you can read all the information. I advocate their usage for anyone struggling with weight loss.
My journey is far from over. I am currently down to 295 lbs which is a net loss of about 45 lbs over the past year and a half. I am honestly happy that I am losing weight slowly. I still eat what I want. I just eat less of it and I make better choices. I recognize the benefits of some foods over others and I try to make healthy decisions. I have incorporated smoothies into my daily regimen and they are great! I have posted several pictures on social media and my part 2 of this blog will encompass my smoothie journey.
I admit that I slip up and have off days where I don't make the best choices. I am ok with that. I had to find a plan that worked for me and fit into my lifestyle in a way that I will continue long after the weight is gone. I was almost size 44 pants and this past weekend I wore a size 38 to church. I want to encourage anyone who has struggled with their weight that there are options out there. The biggest obstacle to weight loss isn't food. It isn't exercise or support. The biggest obstacle is the mindset of defeat. If you can begin to believe you can lose weight - you will! You are the biggest obstacle you face. I tell myself often that no one is going to change me but me and I push myself out of bed at 5:30 a.m., turn on my wii ea Active game, put the wii board in front of me and do my workout. The best reward isn't the number on the scale. For me the best reward is knowing I have made a conscious choice to change myself for the better. No one did it for me. I had to make that choice.... and I did!
jamie
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