Friday, September 28, 2012

SEPT 28th Always Keep Going & Decisions


It's been a hard few days... well, weeks actually. Lots of ups and downs. Lots of tears, lots of soul searching. I'd have a few good on plan days, then go over my calories. Rinse and repeat. 



I finally slowed down, got honest with myself, and listed what the major thorns were, including what I might do about them.

1) I was re-visiting my spiritual roots, and asking a lot of questions, and trying to learn what it really means to do this thing in God's strength, not my own limited supply. I felt like such a failure... Answer: Admit defeat; accept God's compassion, mercy, and grace. Trust in His love. Rest in that love.

2) I was fed up with so many thoughts about ME, and this weight loss struggle, and always feeling like success was just around the corner; it was just out of reach; it was teasing me, illusive and slippery. Answer: see Answer #1 :-}

3) I was frustrated to realize that I was STILL doing the "as soon as" thing with regards to my art. "As soon as this weight thing is solved, I can concentrate on my true passion."  I thought I had gone beyond that, only to find I had fallen right back into the same muck. Answer: change where I spend my time, my energies.

4) My health has been acting up and causing so much physical pain, that I fell into the most deadly of all thinking: self-pity. It drained my energy, and I found myself many times saying "oh what's the use?" Answer: Be honest with my feelings. Remember gratitude. Then go back again to Answer #1

5) And with the health problems, I thought about Time. None of us are guaranteed more Time. And I came to the conclusion I didn't want to spend all my focus on this weight thing. Yes, I will keep going, and working at it. But I am tired of talking about it for now. I want to spend what computer time I have over at my art blog instead. Answer: obvious!  :-D


So I think this (too long) post will be it for awhile here. I was recently asked to join a book project, which was subsequently postponed. But it got me to thinking, and I've decided to close out here with some of those thoughts... it sort of sums it all up:



Fat baby. Fat child. Fat teenager. Fat adult.

Until I started my blog, I rarely talked about it. I smiled. I answered "I'm fine" when asked. But how "fine" can you be when your highest weight was 460 pounds??

Why talk about those early years?? Because they were the foundation. No blaming, simply for understanding. Wearing leg braces due to a birth defect, I first learned to walk as a chunky 3 year old. 

Upset, scared, crying? Food. 
Mad, sad, glad? Food. 
Reward, bribe, celebration? Food. 
You name it, Food was the solution.

This foundation set me up for a lifetime struggle. Not being taught food was for nutrition, but could be a comforter, soother, escape, even friend. That's what I "heard", anyway. How I wish I had been taught a healthy way to process feelings. Instead, I was told "Stop crying or I'll give you something to cry about." 

Except for a couple of teenage attempts when I "dieted" to an almost normal weight, I've spent a LIFETIME with this weight thing. It invaded, affected and tainted EVERYTHING. I was put on my first "diet" at age 10, which taught me I was viewed differently, even by adults. 

I felt like a target. Cruel words and treatment, based upon external appearance, cut deeply. It was hard to develop self-confidence when I was constantly made to feel I was "less than." 

I've loved art as long as I can remember. But didn't believe in myself enough to seriously pursue it until recently. Have I mentioned I am 61 years young?? I may be a late bloomer, but I now want to bloom audaciously!! 

Yet when asked to join this project, I was embarrassed and ready to decline. I did NOT feel worthy of it! I've been struggling a LIFETIME, and yet am still not to goal. As of this writing, I have lost over 100 pounds, but am still barely even halfway there!

Then it hit me. I DO have something to say. ONE THING! The most important lesson I've learned along the way:

 NEVER QUIT. 
Ever. No matter what. 
Always ALWAYS 
keep going. 


Over the years I've tried or wanted to try just about everything, including weight loss surgery. But my insurance denied coverage. Which turned out a blessing in disguise, because losing that last hope made me desperate enough to be willing to change.  I had lost weight repeatedly in my life... but never kept it off. It always came back, and then some. I didn't want another diet. I wanted true inner change. 

For my lastest attempt in 2009, I had a simple plan: 1) Don't eat sugar or flour 2) Do some kind of exercise 3) Positive mental input, all on the foundation of my relationship with God.

That's it. Nothing complicated, and I tailored it for me. I could have anything, anytime, as long as it wasn't sugar or flour, which affects my blood sugar. Going sugar-free/gluten-free removed the insane physical cravings, giving me a fighting chance. Now I concentrate on the mental/spiritual issues. I have some medical issues that I have to work around, but this change made it possible for the first time in my life to KEEP OFF the pounds lost, with an occasional bit of bouncing. I know for it to be permanent, I have to change INside. My progress has been turtle slow, but I have hope and determination. 

Do I ever want to give up in frustration or discouragement? Yes! But feeling like doing something and DOING it are two different things. My source of strength is my relationship with God. He has never given up on me, so I won't either. Period. 

We all have the ability to choose. Sure, I was taught poor coping strategies as a child. But I was the one making those unhealthy choices as an adult. Me. That's GOOD news, because now I can choose to make BETTER choices. 

It's not easy, at for me. I aim for progress, not perfection. I am undoing a LIFETIME of damage, poor habits, early programming, and bad choices. It's been a long, hard road, and it's taken a long time to find pieces to MY puzzle, unique to me. I encourage others to seek what is right for them, and NEVER GIVE UP until they find it. 

My nutritional choices have gradually improved over time. I still struggle with quantities, and have decided to go back to what I did in the beginning: calorie tracking. I've studied and experimented, and that's just what seems to work best for me.

Same with exercise. I've tried lots of way to get movement, believing it's important to my health. My goals include walking again! Building strength, getting lighter, getting out of my wheelchair. It will happen one day, I'm convinced. All I have to do is NEVER QUIT! And a huge part of that relies upon that daily healthy mental/spiritual input. In fact... I'd say most of it.

"Sometime in your life you will go on a journey. It will be the longest journey you have ever taken. It is the journey to find yourself." --Katherine Sharp

At 61, I think I am finally finding the real me.


Enjoy the journey,

Loretta

PS: If interested, I invite anyone here to visit me at my Art By Retta blog. That's where I'll be hanging out most of the time, at least for now. 




21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I go on one little vacation, and look what happens! :o

Personally, I like Answer #1, a lot. :)

I just got home 2 hours ago and am pretty brain dead. I'll catch you later when I am more coherent.

I've been praying for us!

Deb

Retta said...

Welcome home, Deb!
Yeah... Answer #1 seems to about cover it all. :-)

BEE said...

agree answer # 1
and keep your head up

700 pounds is as bad as it sounds said...

What a great post! Some really encouraging stuff, I can sure relate to a lot of it. Good luck on your project, God Bless

MargieAnne said...

I could say, I don't know what to say!

Instead I will say, You are one of the most amazing women it has been my privilege to meet.

You are sometime wise,
sometimes funny,
always creative,
And I always find you kind and encouraging.

I found a treasure when I found you.

You are so much more than your weight,
your eating plan.
your health.

You are passionate,
smart,
clever,
and you know you're no more perfect than the rest of us.

You have strength and you will never give up,
it's in your DNA to persist.

You are not the person you once were.
Discovering ourselves is lifelong,
So many stages,
so many things to grow through,
life is like a kaleidoscope,
Ever Changing.

We, who are cracked vessels
Reveal luminous light
from the inside out.

See you on the art Channel.

Love and Blessings


Retta said...

Thank you, Bee. :-)

Retta said...

I'm so glad you found something encouraging here, 700. Thanks for visiting! :-)

Retta said...

Aww, MargieAnne, you dun made me cry. You are so sweet! Then I chuckled, thinking of that prayer: Oh Lord, please make me the kind of person my dog thinks I am. :-D

Seriously, you have a beautiful way with words. And I've been thinking lately about being a clay vessel, made by the Master Potter, to use as He wills. And nodded when I read "cracked vessels", since that is sort of how I see myself. Yet I loved this:

"We, who are cracked vessels
Reveal luminous light
from the inside out."

Thank you for this poem, it is very touching to me.

I think I may have to save it for my eulogy. :-D

Niecy said...

Such wonderful words, MargieAnne! Loretta, I really do understand how this journey can become so emcompassing...and tiring. There are many reasons to lose weight, but not doing it does not make us bad people. Unfortunately, it's the pressure from society and how fat is viewed that keeps us on this roller coaster. We have learned that we HAVE TO do something and BE DIFFERENT than who we are. We have learned that something IS WRONG with us, simply because of our bodies. When you really sit and think about it, it is SO ridiculous, isn't it?

I've been in a similar place for quite awhile, yet have not been overly upset about it. I suppose I am accepting myself as is, not perfect, but with so much more to offer than what my body reflects.

Like you, I do not want to give up and I will tell you why. I have a feeling you are having similar thoughts. I DO NOT want to gain any of the weight I have lost back. I can handle where I am right now. I can love myself; however, I have to keep some kind of control, even if it is 75%, to keep from going backwards. I think your philosophy is pretty much the same and that's is why the journey is never ending.

Take a break. Explore the other parts of you that make you special. Let the food thing go for a little while, but hold onto SOME of the new healthier lifestyle. I do have a feeling that a break will bring you back and in a happier place without a lot of backtracking due to everything you have already done and learned.

I don't know if I am making complete sense but just remember, skinny does not necessarily equal happy...or healthy. There has to be more and, Loretta, you are so much more.

Take care.

Losing Streak said...

MargieAnne...I really like all you've said! I couldn't agree more. I've gleaned so, so much from Loretta!!

Where is this art channel?

(Margaret aka TBR)

Retta said...

You can click on the white tiger in my sidebar, or just go here: http://artbyretta.blogspot.com/

See ya there! :-D

Retta said...

I appreciate your words, Niecy. I think if I were smaller even though not to goal yet, I would most likely feel just like you. But actually for me, it has nothing to do with societal pressure, being good or bad, numbers, looks, or any of that. It's plain and simple: I hurt. Bad. And I can hardly walk. At all. It's destroying what little mobility I have, and stealing my ability to pursue my art, since just activities of daily living take so long when disabled, and are exhausting. So... I have enough "reasons" right there to keep me from quitting. :-}

About acceptance... I've had to truly accept that my progress will be slower than I had wanted. But if I can just keep it going in the right direction, and spend more time on my art, then I think that's healthier for me than fretting and fussing and focusing ONLY on weight loss.

Again, thank you for your encouraging words. I know you are living with health issues, too, and understand how they can complicate things. :-}

M Pax said...

Loretta, I think you hit on sentiments and feelings and struggles most of us have. I'm sorry to hear of your health battles and hope you're feeling better soon.

I agree with the others, that you are amazing. I'm glad I've gotten to know you and still believe you will find your way and find you.

Please go after your passion and take the opportunity. You are worthy. Very worthy.

Christine said...

dude...I began to get better the day I decided to live life and not just observe it. That is the key. Go you. Have fun with your book! Looking forward to seeing your art.

Losing Streak said...

Oh...ok. I've already been there, LOVE that place! :) I thought there was a whole new world called "ArtChannel" Haha that's what I get for being nosy!

debby said...

Loretta, I've said it before and I mean it: You are one of my weight loss heroes.

Thanks for that link to that podcast. I loved every word of it! Gonna write about it tomorrow!

Retta said...

I appreciate your words very much, Mary. Thank you.

Retta said...

"I began to get better the day I decided to live life and not just observe it."
What a powerful sentence!
Thank you, Christine.

Retta said...

Awww... you dun made me mist up! Thank you, Debby.

Unknown said...

Love your Blog, I appreciate another spiritual centered artist who has struggled with her weight. Best wishes to you.

Retta said...

Thank you for visiting, Pamela. I appreciate your words very much. :-)

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