Changing our appearance, specially for women, sometimes seems to be a way of life. Our attitudes and justifications for this change over time. When I was young I wanted straight blond hair so badly. Later in life, my roommate Linda, convinced me to color my hair. Since I had always wanted blond hair we decided to make me into a summer blond. Well, let’s just say it didn’t turn out like we planned. With the curly perm I had at the time I ended up looking like Bozo the Clown. My hair was bright ORANGE. I will try to find a picture for you so you can see just how bad it really was. Anyhow, the point was that all of us change our appearance at some time or another in our lives. It can be as simple as a haircut or something really major like gastric bypass surgery to get rid of the extra weight.
I have been overweight for a long time now. I have about 50 pounds to lose and not just so I look nice in my jeans, but because it is negatively impacting my health. I am pre-diabetic and if I don’t get my weight and my eating habits under control I am going to have to start taking insulin. Additionally, my children are copying my bad habits. Three of my five children are also overweight and not just a little bit. So through my unwillingness to change I have perpetuated a problem that unless I can undo it may carry on for generations. You remember those seven life areas that we talked about earlier – they are all intra-related. If one or more areas is out of whack it is having an effect on the others.
Anyhow, I started a new program to try to drop the weight. I will share with you the basics of what I am doing, but I won’t share the program until I see that it is working for me. I had to go through a mini physical in order to be able to start with them – blood work, EKG, health history etc. Then they put me on this machine that told me exactly how fat I was. No really – the readout says that I have 90.01 lbs of fat mass. It also said how many calories I was eating per day in order to maintain my current weight. I was certain that was wrong, but it made me start paying attention to what was going into my mouth and looking at those calorie counts. Guess what – it was right on. I had no idea.
Today, they gave me the dreaded diet. As I was reading the instructions and going over the food items with the staff, I was certain that they were trying to starve me thin, BUT I made lunch using the guidelines and I’m full. That was almost 2 hours ago and I am STILL full. I will check in from time to time and let you know how I am progressing with this reinvention process.
What weight loss plans have you used that have worked for you?
Hi Lisa,
How has the diet been working for you? I am looking for a way to stay accountable for my eating habits and excercise. I am not able to be strong long enough on my own to see definite results. ANd the holidays are coming! I am interested to hear if this diet program worked. Thanks!
Michelle, The program is excellent. My problem is consistency. When I follow the program guidelines, even if I am not working out, I lose weight. I just can’t seem to get myself to consistently pass on those things that I love – like ice cream! The program starts with a medical exam and a blood test to ensure you are healthy enough for wight loss. If you are, then you are evaluated to determine, weight, BMI, body fat, caloric intake to maintain current weight and suggested intake to meet goal weight. You discuss an appropriate weight goal and decide upon that with a counselor. Then they provide you with a detailed diet plan to reach your goals. You are given vitamins and iron to take daily and are given a weekly B-12 shot while in the weight loss portion of the program. It is an 18 month commitment. Approx 3-6 month to take off the weight and the remainder to maintain it. For people with larger weight problems those timelines are adjusted, of course. You are monitored at least bi-weekly to start, with reducing time frames as you begin losing the weight and then eventually shift into the maintenance phase of the program.
If it is something you are interested in, they are having a half price special right now to try to encourage new customers. Physician’s Weight Loss Center of Manassas on Sudley Rd. The number is (703) 335- 9149. Please let them know that I referred you if you decide to check it out!