I continued the PRISM Weight Loss Program through two phases, and sort of fell off the wagon shortly afterwards. I realized that the daily lessons just weren't for me, but most other elements of the program created the 'perfect' fit in my lifestyle change. I've predominantly cut my daily caloric intake back to 1200-1300 calories a day, as well as drinking between 8-15 glasses of water a day. I've cut out ALL alcohol, deep-fried foods, in addition to restricting and/or entirely cutting out refined sugars and bread products. I journal my food consumption every day on MyFitnessPal.com, and I've also purchased a FitBit Flex with which to monitor my physical activity.
Today is the day I've dreamed about for years... This morning I stepped on the scale and the numbers read 199.6 lbs... For the first time in years, probably since Junior High school at least, I finally weigh under 200 lbs!!! As of today, I have officially lost 80.4 lbs. I still have a long way to go, another 20-60 lbs approximately, but I am not scared or worried about the future. I know that I can achieve anything I set my mind to, and I know that despite the difficulties and challenges that I've had to overcome, this has all been worth it.
I am so proud to share this fact with everyone. I know that people have told me most of my life that I don't look like I weigh over 200 lbs, but trust me, I DID (notice my obvious use of the past tense there...)!! Since I started this journey, I felt very subconscious about letting people know how much I weighed. I felt embarrassed and ashamed... now I feel elated, proud, optimistic and hopeful.
I've never hated myself, in fact, I never really thought there was really anything wrong with my size until the beginning of this year. Everyone who knows me would tell you that I was always bubbling over with self-confidence and attitude, and I definitely didn't hate my body. Oh sure, there were things that I wanted to change - who doesn't? I always knew that God would never put someone on the planet that he deemed ugly or unworthy, and I knew that I was beautiful because of that. But I guess for the longest time I thought that I was "born to be fat." I never really considered the possibility that I was supposed to be anything other than plus sized. My whole life I figured that I would wear XL pieces and would always be doomed to shop in the limited plus-sized sections - always to be too big for 'regular' clothes, but too small for true plus sizes. And then one day it hit me. God had given me this body - His temple - for me to take care of, and I had failed Him miserably. I didn't eat right, I wasn't active - I was a picture of someone who was wasteful and ungrateful and gluttonous. I had become someone my Father would not have been proud of... And that's when I realized that something had to change. How could I be a good witness of my faith to others if I wasn't acting out my faith? Like "Oh ya, God loves you... blah blah blah... Don't mind me as I shovel this bowl of potato chips into my mouth... and OOOO! Is that a donut?? Thanks, I'll take 2... one for each thigh you know..." *wink wink* This certainly wasn't the picture I wanted to send to others, and this wasn't how I wanted to continually spend the days that God gave me...
Some BEFORE pictures...
I weighed in at my heaviest late last year, at a whopping 280 lbs, and a BMI of 42.6. This put me in Obese Class III, as very severely obese. This is especially evident in any pictures you'll see of me taken between August and December of 2012. Here is a comparison of my measurements from start (on the left) to present (on the right):
Waist: 41" (Dec 2012) | Waist: 32" (Sept 2013) = 9" difference
Hips: 50" (Dec 2012) | Hips: 40" (Sept 2013) = 10" difference
Thighs: 32" (March 2013) | Thighs: 26" (Sept 2013) = 6" difference
Calves: 20" (March 2013) | Calves: 17.5" (Sept 2013) = 2.5" difference
Neck: 16" (Dec 2012) | Neck: 13.5" (Sept 2013) = 2.5" difference
Biceps: 17" (March 2013) | Biceps: 14" (Sept 2013) = 3" difference
Overall, that's a total of 33" lost to date.
Back in December, my in-laws took us to the States on a trip to visit my husband's grandparents in Arizona, as well as to take us to Disneyland. When we went shopping, I happened across a store called Torrid. I'd heard of it before from plus-sized YouTube gurus who raved about the clothing and quality. So I ambled in and picked up my first pairs of well-fitting jeans. They were a size 22.
Today, I am fitting into pants size 10-12. My shirts have shrunk from an XL/XXL to XS-M. I've 'under-grown' 2 belts, and have completely overhauled my wardrobe. I don't have any of the same clothes that I had 8 months ago in my closet. My feet have shrunk from a size 11 to a size 9.5-10. My engagement and wedding bands have become so loose, I am afraid that I'll have to take them off soon before I lose them accidentally. Today, my BMI is at 30.2, which puts me in Obese Class I, as moderately obese - however, I am just tenths of a point away from falling in the Overweight category (with a BMI between 25 and 30).
Some CURRENT pictures...
All in all, I think that in all the progress that I've made, God's been holding my hand walking alongside me through it all. I know that He is proud of the accomplishments I've made, and He's beaming because I'm learning to treat my body as His temple - a place to be an honor and testament to Him and the good He can work in even the worst of sinners. I am absolutely certain that He will continue to walk with me as I push on towards the end goal... He is my strength and my song, and in the moments when I can't go any further, I look to Him for the motivation to move forward.
As my reward system, my sister and I purchased Pandora bracelets back in April to give ourselves a special reward every time we achieved one of our goals - without the reward being food. Food is for nourishment, not for a reward, is what I've told myself. I've gotten charms for 25 lbs lost, 50 lbs lost, 60 lbs lost, 70 lbs lost, and today for breaking the 200 lb mark. I hope to fill the bracelet right up with charms to commemorate my journey, and as a pretty reminder every day that I can do this and succeed...
Also as a celebration and reminder of this huge milestone, I'm planning on getting a small tattoo on my wrist with the words: "I will find my strength in the shadow of Your wings." They are the lyrics from a song by Third Day called "Your Love Oh Lord." The phrase has become my mantra throughout this journey - when I am unable to continue, I will find my strength and the will and purpose to go on in my saviour, Jesus. It is only through Him that I have lost all this weight, and it will be only through Him that I can continue successfully through to the maintenance stage of my journey. The tattoo will be small and simple, but the message that it will carry is strong and powerful, and something I need to be reminded of on a daily basis.
I am so thankful and grateful for all of the support and love everyone's given me in the past 8+ months. I've received so many compliments and hearty enthusiasm, I can barely contain my joy with everyone's overwhelming support. Please let me know (message me or come chat) if you have any questions or queries about my journey... I've done tons of research, and I'm very happy and willing to help anyone out who may find themselves in the same place I was back in January.
My next big milestone is when I hit 100 lbs lost from my starting weight. At that point, I will weigh in at 180 lbs. So keep following me on this journey... It's going to be a wild ride!
Mucho love <3
-Rebecca
