Getting Healthier One Step at a Time

I am definitely losing weight and getting healthier but of course I have a long road ahead of me and my weight will probably always be somewhat of a struggle for me.  I wasn't always overweight and that is probably the most frustrating aspect of my weight for me now.  I gained the majority of my weight in my 30s.  I am about to turn 41 on May 18th.  There have been times over the last ten years that I have beat myself up inside wondering how did I let myself gain all of the weight that I have.  I have forgiven myself  for the weight gain and now my focus is to lose what I can sensibly and safely while getting healthier.

I think many of us, especially women, are not always completely satisfied with the way we look.  Some of us think we are too fat, too skinny, too short, too tall, wish we could change a certain body part, etc.   A very wise person recently told me that to truly bring about change that you first have to accept who you are and what you have been given.  I have always had a more endowed butt, even when I was slimmer.  I use to want to change that...wished I had a smaller one.  I have learned over the years to accept what I have been given and work with it instead of against it.  I will probably never have a small behind, but with determination and dedication, I am hoping I can get more trim, fit, and healthier!! 

So many people have been very support of the challenges that I have been facing in trying to lose weight and get more fit.  They have said such things as "Don't give up" and "Keep up the good work".  Others have been negative and at times down right insensitive.  I know that I am over weight...I know that I need to lose weight...I don't need negative people telling me that I can't do it.  Maybe I can't, but it is only me that truly can decide what I can or can't accomplish.  

Being a cancer survivor, I feel like I have already won the race because I am still here on this earth.  Everything else is the icing on the cake.  Spending quality time with my two great kids, hanging with my friends and family, working on getting healthier and living life to its fullest is truly a gift.  I have lost too many family members and friends to cancer in recent years.  It is a disease that I have come to despise and hope that one day will be eradicated.  My biggest reason for wanting to lose weight and get heathier is not to fit into a certain size of a dress, or look more glamorous.  I want to LIVE and I know that there are no guarantees in life, but I also know that being healthier is helpful.

I would love moral support during this life altering journey and don't even mind the occasional "kick in the butt" to jump start my motivation if you think that I need it.  I don't need hurtful comments though.  We all have goals and things that we are working on and none of us are perfect.  I have not walked in your shoes and you have not walked in mine. 

I have posted a picture of the slimmer me for comparison...physically I have changed but in many ways I am still that younger, trimmer me.  I am still full of life, energetic and enthusiastic.  I still have a sense of humor and love to explore new places.  I am still hard working and have strong ethics.  I am still generous, kind, and compassionate.  I am also still stubborn and determined.  All of these things make me who I am...fat or slim!!! 

Have a good weekend everyone and don't give up on your own goals and dreams!!!

Pam :)

Good News!

Well, that's how the email from my doctor started out anyway. I've never gotten biopsy results back this quickly. It only took 2 days! The biopsy was clear. No cancer and absolutely nothing abnormal!! It's hard to put how excited I am into words right now but I can definitely tell you that I haven't stopped smiling yet.

I hope that you all have a fantastic weekend!!

~Cindy

Spring has sprung!!

This is by far my favorite time of year, even if it does mean itchy eyes and a runny nose from all of the allergies. Working in San Francisco, I get to see the city come to life.  People get outside for walks or jogs during their lunch breaks and I get motivated to be outside and to be moving. 

This is a good thing for the survivor slim down because I’m very motivated to spend my evenings at the gym, in the swimming pool, or walking my dog.  I spend very little time at home and have honestly had to force myself to stay home tonight to write this blog.  But, there were things to share about my progress so it’s okay to skip one evening of activity :-)

The plateau I mentioned in my last post – it’s driving me crazy!!  I can’t stand this anymore and can’t quite figure out how to fix the problem.  I encountered this once before when I did Jenny Craig back in 1999.  I lost a bunch of weight, was going to the gym, and then quit losing weight all together.  My advisor’s response?  She told me to stop cheating.  I’ll admit, I have cheated this time.  I went wine tasting with friends last weekend, did some emotional eating last week when my great aunt lost her battle with cancer, and when I had a bunch of stuff to deal with at work.  But, this emotional eating was by no means a binge.  I ate 2 candy bars in one day and had fast food once that week.  Yes, that’s cheating.  Most people I know can get away with that little bit of cheating and see no repercussions.  Unfortunately for me, my metabolism can’t take it.

Today was biopsy day for me.  I can’t believe how quickly the last 4 months have flown by… which honestly makes me nervous about how quickly the next 5 ½ will go between now and the triathlon!  Biopsies are always hard.  They bring back emotions that I want to forget and memories that I wish weren’t there.  It’s not just the physical pain of having a biopsy that’s hard to get through.  Now, there is the waiting.  It could take anywhere from 3 days to 4 weeks to get the results back.  The waiting stinks!  However, I went into this biopsy with hope and a positive outlook and I truly feel that those things will have an impact on the results.  Keeping my fingers crossed for negative results!!

Happy Spring everyone!!  Don’t forget to enjoy the beauty that’s all around you.  Life is too short not to stop and smell the roses once in a while (even if it means that you’ll need a tissue later!)

Bye for now…

Cindy