As you may know, because I keep talking about it ‘ad nauseum’ (as my dear mother says), I permanently lost over 50 pounds 8 years ago.
You’d think that 8 years of being a size 4 (or 6 – depending) instead of a size 18, would have sunk in by now. But – not into this thick skull.
My view of self is slightly skewed. I don’t imagine myself as a size 18, nor do I see myself as a size 4. Rather, somewhere in between.
When I see myself on television, I am mesmerized (in a non-narcissitic way). I’m like ‘Who is that?” I simply can’t get over it (again, in a happy, good way).
Sometimes I wish I’d gone through this metamorphosis when I was twenty-something. But … No use in going down that road!!! What matters is NOW.
And right now, I am simply grateful to have shed the extra layers that were weighing me down in many ways at the ripe age of 50.
Yes, I am ripe now! Juicy! Alive! And I am happy to share a link to two short, sassy, informative pieces I filmed for Better.tv that aired this week.
Here’s the link! Janice Taylor, Your Weight Loss Coach on Better.TV, discussing everything from how the Biggest Loser is making you fat – to – what the scales of injustice really measure! A tasteful and tasty blend of tips and humor. Laugh it up while you slim down!
And please weigh-in on how you see yourself! Is your view of YOU, accurate? Am I the only one with a skewed vision of self?
Spread the word … NOT the icing,
Janice
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If I’m standing next to my ultra-thin sister who can devour a gallon of chocolate chip ice cream and still weigh in at 110 pounds, it can be a little disheartening! Why did she lucky and get those “skinny” genes?
All kidding aside…I think women are very hard on themselves…No matter what size they are!
Soooo true! Why ARE we so hard on ourselves? What if we gave it up??? WOWZER! Wrap your mind around that one!
Deliciously yours,
Janice
THIS TIME LAST YEAR I WEIGHED 235. I NOW WEIGH 160. I STILL SEE FAT. ITS FUN TO TRY ON CLOTHES AND KEEP GOING OUT TO GET A SMALLER SIZE THOUGH. THE MIRROR IS NOT MY FRIEND YET. IT SUNK IN ALITTLE WHEN MY DOCTOR TOOK ME OFF MY BLOOD PRESSURE MEDS.
Take Heart! I figure after spending decades on the heavy side (being kind), it’s going to take some time for my mind to catch up to reality! So great to know that we are in this together. Thanks for writing.
Spread the word … NOT the icing!
Congratulations, susanetx!!! This is a tremendous accomplishment. I’m so excited for you that you could go off your blood pressure medications. You must feel fantastic.
How did you do it?
I am hopeful and prayerful that a year from now I am in the same position you are in.
Yesterday I got my 63 year old, “I just lost 22 pounds,” 5’9″ tall body into a pair of size 6 Levis. No, even though they felt great, I did not buy them. They were way to short!
My weight is not the point, my fitness is. My birthday is in January, my friend has hers the following June of the same birth year. Last Feb. 7th she had a heart attack. We are both slender, but she is a heavy smoker and a heavier drinker. So this am I will go out and “dance” with Cher, do sit-ups with Janis Joplin, and wear weights for part of the day with ABBA. I will not complain, I will not smoke and I’l; say “pass” when offered a nice glass of wine at dinner. My fitness efforts (I hope) means more time with those I love.
Yes, women are hard on themselves about their weight. God knows I am. It’s as if somewhere in my mind all my accomplishments and experiences, all the goodness of my heart and kind things I do for others, any beauty I may have — all those things get wiped out because I’m carrying extra weight.
It’s not me at my best to think this way, but I have my moments, definitely, when I am that hard on myself. I’m doing my best to lose the weight, but it is taking time. I gained it while recuperating from breaking both legs a year ago, and the pounds definitely piled on a lot faster than they’re coming off. It is very difficult for me to handle this. I get through it by telling myself a lot of people have problems that make this look like a luxury. Still…it takes a great deal of strength to overcome being obsessed by the discomfort of being overweight.
It really does take a lot of strength to not be obsessed over weight issues. Especially when you’re doing your best. I have to be on harsh steroid programs at times. Which creates Moon Face and rapid weight gain….fantastic. But I can breathe again.
My very handsome uncle had to do the same thing for a much longer time, his face considerably. He was able however to retain his good sense of humour, and that’s just good for everyone.
I have been so hard on myself all my life. I look back at my 30year old photos and at that time I was thinking I am fat at 137lbs but wow did I look good…
So at age 58 I am happy. I dont want to be a thin 137lbs as I will look a lot older. I am 5’5″ tall but have muscle. Being a life time member with Weight Watchers I upped my maximum goal weight to 155lbs. I am always now 147-150lbs. I fit into a size 10 nicely. I realize exercise is what will keep us young and mobile and flexible so no wheelchairs for me.
I just joined Tawkwondo me being the oldest in class and the school…yahoooo so proud.
Its tough to keep up and I do get winded but drink water and my master says you are doing great and it will get easier and easier. Onto my black belt by 60 I hope.
So its about good health and energy and last year I thought I was a year older
Then my friend who is 1 month older than me said you are nuts we are younger…LOLOL
Its great to find this site with so much joy and motivation
Sadly, I see myself as thinner than I really am. It’s only when I go to try on clothes that the reality sinks in. 8 yrs ago I lost 40 lbs and those are the pictures I cling to and look at and allow to be published online LOL. Needless to say all the weight came back plus some and now I can’t lose it no matter what I do because now I’m insulin resistant. So, the old diet doesn’t work anymore, and I’ve yet to find one that does. boohoo.
I just finished reading The Secret by Rhonda Byrne…she addresses our obsession with weight better than anyone I’ve read and it made sense to me. Recommend this book.
SeaWriter, you talk about other people’s problems making your focus on weight seem like a luxury. May I chime in? I strongly feel that weight reflects health and not the other way around. So, to the extent that health dictates weight, health is no luxury to my way of thinking. Like the L’Oreal girl says, “I’m worth it”! And so are you and every woman here. The trick is to redirect that focus from weight toward health and to then convert that focus into action and results … a subject for another post …
To get back to Janice’s original post re self-image, I too have permanently solved my lifelong weight issues - close to four years in my case. Varying from 30 to 70 pounds overweight, I was accustomed to seeing myself as fat, though looking back on old photos, I realise I was never as bad as I made myself out to be. But getting rid of the hippopotamus I saw in the mirror did not come as quickly as the weight loss itself. To this day, I still fret about “looking” fat and take great care in my dress to flatter my image rather than frump it up. I work diligently on reframing my self-image because I know it is just my mind playing games with me. One little share that is helping turn my self-image around slowly - my shop-window relfection. Like Janice seeing herself on TV, I keep expecting to find Ms. Tubby in every shop window I pass and then finding she has been replaced by a nice trim woman – THAT’S ME! Nice to see, but oh so freaky; but it is slowly working – the Ms. Tubby in my mind’s eye is slowly melting away and the real Lorri is finally emerging. Getting to know and love the real me is a journey, just like any other – it has to be mapped out and followed and eventually you reach your self-image goal just like any other goal in life …
I lost 65 lbs in stages — 10 and kept it off, another 20, then a big push to lose 35 more, which with a little yoyoing I’ve kept off three years now. I quit dieting and just work on my eating habits – no more 1/2 gallons of ice cream in the house, or 1-lb single serving bags of Doritos…. After the last 35 — and I’m still 170 at 5’7 and a size 12 — I thought I looked slim as a reed. I really should be happy with where I am, which I can maintain. But all I see in the mirror is loose skin, that lovely deflated balloon look. Losing more weight is probably going to make that worse, and I’m not sure exercise is going to fix the problem anyway. I have a very hard time doing abdominal exercises because of some hip and lower back problems (even the alternative stuff like planks). It really is discouraging to lose 65 lbs and think I look worse than before.
You know, i wrote a short thing below, but let me echo what you said. I too had the the deflated balloon look. Lost the 100 lbs, a gastric bypass, and looked 20 years older. the weight gain of 25lbs filled out my face a little,but the low back pain is back. I am over 60 and have been told that no amount of exercise will tighten the loose skin, and the surgery is out of the question $$$. I had hoped would improve my health and I did, but now I am back to the struggle to re lose the gained 25lbs and then the remaining 50. So far I just bounce up and down 5 lbs.
Having lost roughly the same amount of weight as you and being roughly the same height, may I share what has helped my body from being overly saggy? A twofold focus: 1) topping up the nutrient levels that I can’t get at the grocery store because of poor agricultrual and food processing practices today; and 2) whey protein to feed lean muscle tissue. This two-pronged approach has really diminshed the sag …
Lost 100 lbs, which got me down to 176, then I gained back 25… the struggle continues
Received info on this & think it’s a fabulous, yet simple "movement."
http://operationbeautiful.com/