Many of you, my friends, already know that I have tried to lose and have moaned about it for years. I am sure you are wondering "why is this time any different?" There are two things that have made me excited about "this" time.
1. The simplest answer is that over the past year I have watched my close friend slowly but surely lose a pound here or there. Every few days he would announce that he weighed a pound less and last week he hit a loss of 74 lbs! He did not use the same meal plan that I am, not even close. The point is that his steady attack, despite setbacks, and his willingness to accept sloooowww change worked for him. During his process, I fully realized that it is a journey. No, those aren't new words to me but they finally have meaning.
2. I am tired of living a life that is LESS than what I want. My "chubbiness" has kept me from so many of life's joys, the most important one is feeling good and being proud of myself. With the loss of confidence it has cost me some job opportunities, relationships and more. I feel like it is now or never....I want better for myself, if nothing else but the sheer joy of feeling alive.
3. The past few years have been quite a work in progress on my inner self. I have come to a place, that became apparent first few days of the Extreme meal plan, that I am FINALLY doing it because I want it. In the past, I was always dieting to earn someone else's approval, and even love. The time spent healing was well worth this new ability to choose what is right for me.
And yes, that was three reasons. I probably could keep going. It's been a lifetime of self-doubt and anxiety and ill-fitting clothes. With that comes a lot of baggage....ya know what I mean?
Why do I like this plan? Chris Powell said it is about 80% what you eat and 20% about exercise. This removes that horrible pressure to get out to the gym and attempt to feel normal in a place where the only normal seems to be lycra on the thighs and two tank tops layered, bra optional. Well...I overstepped with the bra but I bet you can understand that one too, eh? I am not saying no excercise and if you have seen the Extreme Weight Loss show you know that is far from the truth. Those folks exercise their butts off. This plan requires a minimum of a 5-minute workout that alternates between high intensity and low intensity by changing the exercise every 30 seconds. Who can't do 5 minutes of movement? Suffice it to say that if a healthy weight is based on 80% of what I eat, then I feel reassured and find hope that I can change despite my level of exercise. I can follow the plan and let the desire to workout come on its own as I lose weight and feel more confident and ready to face the workout environment.
Also, this plan is all "real" food. Measuring is done by looking at the palm of your hand, two fingers, a fist or two, and the size of your thumb. No special tools and no special foods. This makes it so simple to me. I have all of those things with me at all times! Best of all, it is lots of eating....just the right things. Rotating through a schedule of Low Carb and High Carb days and a day of reprieve every week. With 3 meals and 2 snacks each day I am at the end of Day 3 and I have yet to feel cheated or starving.
I truly believe that overcoming this battle is in my life plan. I believe in God and I don't think He would work so hard to change the inner me if He didn't think we could get the whole job done! I really want my outside to match the inside. Right now, I don't believe the out of control body reflects the new and improved inner compass.
So hey, if you are out there and wanna tag along....keep reading. My first goal is in 90 days, or on December 1st, to lose 50 lbs. I have my ruby red slippers on and I am grabbing my power back and making the change I want to see!
"You always had the power, my dear. You just had to find it out for yourself." Glenda, the good witch, The Wizard of Oz.