My journey (deep thoughts)

After quite a long chat with a fellow ww'er, I thought I might try and put down in an intelligible way, deeper issues concerning me and weight loss.

It is obvious that for many of us on the large side, that there are deep issues that may have contributed to our weight gain, and also may have made it difficult to lose the excess kilos.

But I need to say, that not everyone who is overweight, will have deep hidden issues to deal with. So don't necessarily go looking for something - it might not be there!

For me, however, there were major issues from my childhood that needed to be dealt with before I could lose weight. I was severely abused as a kid, up until the age of 13, and interestingly that is when the weight started going on.

As an adult I needed to work through the pain of my childhood. This was extremely difficult, but I am sooooo glad that I did it. With the help of a couple of wonderful therapists/counsellors I did the grieving, yelling, crying etc that I needed to do.

Nothing will ever make up for all that I missed as a child, but now it does not have the hold of me that it used to have.

I am sure that I could not have got to goal if I had not worked through these issues.

Coffee Shop - December 2007

This was taken today, on my mobile, so I could get an 'after photo' on my facebook page.

I think I am unused to seeing the skinny Jan - yeah, there is a big difference isn't there!?

GOAL

On Monday 17th December I made my Weight Watchers goal of 62 kilograms. I had to lose 100 grams from the previous week's weigh-in, and that is all I lost. But that is all I needed to lose to make goal.
I was stoked that I had done it by Christmas.

I was asked on the online board for the gory details. This is what I wrote in response.

I joined ww online in October last year and since then have lost 30 kgs. Before I joined I had lost about 6 kgs in the previous 6 months, but was sort of half-hearted.What got me focussed was a blood test result that showed my cholesterol and blood sugar way too high.

That gave me a big fright, so I joined online the day I got the test results.I started on points, but within 3 months, changed to core, and became a core convert/junkie. I LOVE core, and I think this will be heaps easier on maintenance, too.

How does it feel? - I keep grinning when I think about it. I am just so stoked that I have done it, that I could follow through, and not let the little bumps become big bumps or stop me altogether.

My most recent blood tests show that my cholesterol and blood sugars are fine, and my blood pressure is normal too. I have chronic health issues, so cannot say I feel healthy, but I know I am a whole lot healthier than I was 36 kilos ago.

I love clothes shopping now. Into size 12 stuff, but my size 12 jeans are a little loose. I also enjoy seeing myself in a mirror - some skinny chick looks back at me!

Chaplains' Conference March '06

This was at a Chaplains' Conference, Andrew playing the fool behind, and Elizabeth on the left in the picture.

At this stage I was working as a chaplain in a girls' juvenile justice centre. I finished my 6 years there at the end of '06, and since then have been working as one of the ministry team at an Anglican Church.

This was probably me at my heaviest. I think I weighed about 98 kilos then, and was just about to go overseas for three months.

By the time I started Weight Watchers Online in October '06 I had lost a whopping 6 kilos. But hey, losing weight while overseas, including gourmet France, is pretty good!

September 2005

How embarrasing. This photo was taken up at Noosa while on holidays. The shorts I was wearing were size 22, and the ones that Lorries told me, last year, in no uncertain terms to chuck out!