On Sunday June 26, 2011, I started a journey that impacts so many different aspects of my life. I began Weight Watchers. I have struggled with my weight for years. I have always been a big girl. I believe that when you have always been big, you somehow become comfortable in that skin. How you are raised and the environments you grow up in also has a lot to do with that comfort. I was raised in Louisiana where home cooked meals were standard. From the greens and cornbread to the red beans and rice to the smothered pork chops... I loved it all! In my junior to senior year summer, I found myself really sick and my eating habits changed. Let me be specific: I stopped eating. A hot pocket every now and then, sometimes I would eat one or two nectarines, but that was it. I recall going to Applebee's with one of my classmates and eating TWO cheese sticks and feeling stuffed. I lost 60lbs in three months. From a 22W to a 14. People were saying "Oh Kevina you look so good!!" Too bad I didn't feel that way. Any of my friends will tell you that I hate being put on the spot and being the center of attention. I'm in no way shy, I just like to play the background. My rapid weight loss made me feel very self conscious. I was constantly explaining to classmates that I didn't mean to loose so much weight and even worse I had no clue on how to adjust to the change. A lot of people are not going to understand, I barely understood. When Homecoming arrived I tried on a size 16 dress and it fit (side note: I have always been chest heavy, the girls never went anywhere. I tried on the 14, but then I couldn't breathe because my boobs were literally choking me... literally). I made it my business that night to not be photographed (SUCCESS!). As my senior year went by, I started to gain some of my weight back... and some of my confidence. I took senior prom pics!!! Yayyyy!! I admit that every now and then I would wear my 22W jeans to school, but I was senior, who cared!
I graduated and decided to go to the University of Louisiana in Lafayette (GEAUX CAJUNS!!!) where I ate red beans and rice on Mondays, white beans and rice on Tuesdays, rice and gravy on Wednesdays, fried chicken, rice, and gravy on Thursdays, and Chik-fil-a on Fridays... and yeah, that was just lunch. Let's not mention the burgers, fries, grilled cheese sandwiches, pizza, and hot wings for dinner. I was gaining 20-30 lbs every year!!! What I figured out recently that I probably should have addressed then that I am an emotional eater. So yes, I received a C- on my test, but that burger and TWO helpings of fries lessened the blow.
Fast forward to the present...
I graduated with my bachelors degree, moved to Dallas, fell in love, fell out of love, got a good job and continued to be... fat. I hate exercise, but decided to take part in a running class. LOVED IT! Until they told me I had to stop. I tried to keep going on, but was diagnosed with exertional compartment syndrome and the thing I loved to do was becoming too painful. I lost some weight, but gained it back, plus some. I decided that it was time to make a definite change about a month ago. I found myself crying and upset because I wanted to do more, I just didn't know where to start. I moved to a new apartment that has the stupidest location for their gym and for a complex this size, I'm afraid of cooties. I don't think half of my neighbors take baths, wash their hands, or cover their mouths when they sneeze or cough... Eww...
My plan is to conquer Step 1: healthy eating habits. So I joined Weight Watchers and my life is now consumed by points, lol. I like it though. Lost 10lbs in 3 weeks with changing my eating habits ONLY. The next step is to somehow add exercise. I don't mind living by the "no pain, no gain" motto, but my co-pay to the emergency room is $100. I'm taking it slow. I'm changing up my blog just-a-lil-bit to give you all my progress, my thoughts on dieting (OOOPS, sorry! healthy living), reviews on foods, and alternatives to hard core exercise. Below is a pic of me at my heaviest in 2011... Let's get it!!!
Have a good one, Fam!
KP
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