I Am NOT My Weight

I went into Maurice's a while back (quite a while back) with my daughter. Maurice's is a clothing store and my daughters have always liked to shop there. They have both regular sizes and larger sizes now, but way back then, they only had "regular" sizes. Every time I went in there I always felt like the sales associates were looking at me like "what are you doing in here, we don't have your size." Whether or not that is true, I will never know. When you are extremely overweight you feel like everyone is looking at you like that.

I had been on Weight Watchers and had been losing weight so I decided that I would try to see if I could fit into "regular" clothes. I knew I most likely wouldn't fit into them, but at least I could see if I was getting closer. So I found a pair of 15/16 size jeans on the rack and took them back to the dressing room. I put them on. THEY FIT! I couldn't believe it. I could fit into "regular clothes".

I will never forget that day. It was the most amazing feeling in the world. I was jumping for joy and felt like dancing all around the dressing room. I treasure that moment with my daughter. It was as Stephen Covey says, "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels."

Fast forward. I lost 110 pounds total and really felt like a new person. I learned to like exercise and became addicted to hiking. I had always looked at people who had accomplished such things in their life and just knew that there was something special about them. Something that I did not possess or understand, for I certainly could never accomplish something like that.

You want to know what the secret is? There is no secret. Sorry to disappoint you but there really is no secret. Each of us has the power to accomplish amazing things. We just have to look within ourselves and find that strength. It is there just waiting to be called on. Sometimes it will show itself more freely than others. What I have learned is that patience and forgiveness are huge factors in a life changing event. Also learning to like yourself no matter where you are at is crucial. That comes and goes for me. Some days it is easy and others, not so much.

Since my initial weight loss, I have gained back 30 pounds. Most of this has happened since I moved to Winslow. I can blame Winslow for that, right? Wrong. I finally went back to Weight Watchers, realizing that I am someone who needs accountability. I finally started walking and running again. Funny thing about exercise, I don't exercise cause I don't feel good and I don't feel good cause I don't exercise. That could go on and on forever. It all goes back to blooming where you are planted. Prescott is not the only place where I can be healthy and look good. That can happen anywhere I am. It is up to me. After all, I am not my weight.

At the Four Corners. Bottom picture July, 2006 at 269 pounds.
Top picture October, 2008 weighing 110 pounds less.