Welcome to my blog!
I'm Loretta
aka Retta
I live in beautiful Oregon in the United States, with Jim (married for 41 years!), 2 kitties and 1 energetic girl mini-schnauzer.
I am an artist, and am finally getting my art blog dusted off and going again.
I started this blog in 2009 for one purpose: to help me stay focused. I am determined to make my goals this time. I refuse to accept less than success... in weight loss, and in regaining health.
A few years ago I hit my highest weight of 460 lbs. I battled to lose some, but my real breakthrough came in March of 2009 when I stumbled upon the Low Carb way of eating.
I started simple, and just cut out all sugar and flour. The effect was amazing! After the initial rough first few days of withdrawal, I felt like I finally had a fighting chance. The physical cravings were practically nonexistent.
I started simple, and just cut out all sugar and flour. The effect was amazing! After the initial rough first few days of withdrawal, I felt like I finally had a fighting chance. The physical cravings were practically nonexistent.
Now, I could focus on my real bugaboo: emotional overeating. The mind. My thinking. The results of what I believed deep in my Heart.
Learning to not run away when things get uncomfortable and diving into a vat of mac n cheese.
FACING MY STUFF, NOT STUFFING MY FACE.
Learning to not run away when things get uncomfortable and diving into a vat of mac n cheese.
FACING MY STUFF, NOT STUFFING MY FACE.
As of January 1st, 2013 I've lost 108 lbs. It's taken a long time to get this far, but... and this is BIG... it's the first time in my life I've KEPT OFF the lost weight. I have a ways to go, and am planning on making 2013 my year to complete the weight loss phase of this journey to health. I've had setbacks, yes. But I'm determined to learn from them, and continue.
Updated 5/2016: The years from 2013 thru 2015 proved to be a bust. My best intentions went out the window when "life" hit, and I regained about 50 lbs. It took time, but I got help and turned it around, and am on the road again in the right direction. Still no sugar, no flour. Still learning to "feel and deal" instead of stuffing my face.
Updated 5/2016: The years from 2013 thru 2015 proved to be a bust. My best intentions went out the window when "life" hit, and I regained about 50 lbs. It took time, but I got help and turned it around, and am on the road again in the right direction. Still no sugar, no flour. Still learning to "feel and deal" instead of stuffing my face.
Keeping this record of my journey might someday help someone, and I can pass on the hope and encouragement that was so kindly given to me. I have a LOT of links in my sidebar at the right to various kinds of info. Those are not for me... they are for YOU. :-)
"Heal the mind...the body will follow."
A friend of mine once said: Figure out what your biggest excuse is and make a plan to get rid of it. If you don't think you have any excuses, just ask yourself why you aren't at goal yet...and catch your first whine...that's it, the biggest excuse, the thing that is getting in your way.
The Battle is Won or Lost
Between the Ears!
And what I've come to believe now is that what I think, between those ears, stems from what I truly believe in my deepest innermost parts, what I choose to call my Heart.
Continuing into 2016 and beyond, I've shifted my emphasis to what I want: my art, and to live my life to the fullest, becoming who I was meant to be, living with passion and purpose. To be who I believe God made me to be.
After all, that's why I'm working to lose weight and regain health. That's my WHY. I want to focus on that, on what I WANT, not focus on what I do NOT want.
To look forward, not backward. This is a process... and in shifting my focus, it got rocky for a bit. But it's a new season now, and I will continue to Believe, to reach for my dreams.
Another Update March 2019: Was diagnosed with cancer in 2016; treatments, finally surgery; wonderfully successful outcome; very hopeful. Still battling non-healing leg wounds for last 20 months, but close to being healed. Encouraged that I am sitting at 199 lbs lost, with only about 70 to go to reach my goal.
With God, all things are possible!
Thanks for reading,
Retta
To look forward, not backward. This is a process... and in shifting my focus, it got rocky for a bit. But it's a new season now, and I will continue to Believe, to reach for my dreams.
Another Update March 2019: Was diagnosed with cancer in 2016; treatments, finally surgery; wonderfully successful outcome; very hopeful. Still battling non-healing leg wounds for last 20 months, but close to being healed. Encouraged that I am sitting at 199 lbs lost, with only about 70 to go to reach my goal.
With God, all things are possible!
Thanks for reading,
Retta
