Two-ville In My Rearview Mirror

boatsie77

See my Avatar? Today I made it to One-derland...again(!)...and this time I am buying a condo, unpacking my bags and never boarding the train to Two-ville again.

I've been on this (current) journey since April 2012 when I started at 236. When I lost 10 pounds I rewarded myself with a 7" tablet computer and found the MyFitnessPal App and started logging in my food and exercise and the rest--as they say--is history.

This current journey is different--my fab sister is along for the journey (shoutout to MARVELMO!) and I'm going to be here to greet her when she arrives. Last week she traveled hundreds of miles to surprise me and JOIN ME in my (OUR) very first 5K walk...we did it side-by-side and had a great time crossing the finish line together.

When she left, I was so stoked that I looked around for another 5K and found a "Bridge Run/Walk" that was 4.8 miles the following weekend. I've been walking since April 2012, but only did more than 5 miles twice--I signed up, did 2 more 5-mile practices and completed the walk yesterday. I gave it all I got and drew on the support and inspiration from my sister and all the other heros on MPF and crossed the finishline #6 out of 78 walkers and 3rd place in my age division (I'm 56) out of 14. Being the oaf that I am, I sprained my ankle while I was doing stretching exercises after the race, but I'll nurse it back to health in the next couple days and will get back to training and searching for my next 5K. I encourage everyone out there who has never done it to sign up for a 5K (the holiday ones are coming and I understand they are really fun)--once you commit your money, your body and mind will follow.

As I said before, this is my second return to One-derland. The last time was about 7 years ago--I started at 225 and lost it "the right way--slowly;" but compared to my current journey, it was a long, solo trip of depravation and pain, there was no MFP, no counting calories or writing down food & exercise; but in a year I made it down to 155 (I'm 5'8") and looked and felt great for my 50th birthday. I always feared maintaining, but I figured I could do it...WRONG.

Fast forward to April 2012 -- I was watching "The Apprentice" and there was a challenge on there to create an ad campaign for "Walk with Walgreens" where they gave out a kit with a pedometer and a website where people could come together to log miles and get healthy. As I watched, I looked down at the big bowl of "EXTRA Theater Butter popcorn (to which I added some extra REAL melted butter)" and made the decision to get up, put on my sneakers, blow the dust off my treadmill, and watch the rest of the show from the treadmill. The next day, I drummed up the courage to step on the scale and it registered 235...my highest weight ever. (Since I hadn't gotten on the scale in years, I believe I was probably over 240 at sometime). I joined a group on the Walgreens website and started walking and logging miles, then I gave up diet sodas (TIP: If you are trying to give up sodas, don't simply cut back on your "favorite" brands--go out and buy some "off store brand" instead--I found it was easier to give those up). Then I found MFP and started logging in my food and exercise and when my sister joined me it made the journey 10-times more fun.

Why wasn't I able to maintain the first time? I believe--and this is HUGE--I never addressed the underlying cause of my needing food to medicate myself. I believe until you can find peace and acceptance with who you are, and be happy in this life REGARDLESS of how much you weigh, losing and maintain weight and dealing with food issues will become a lifelong struggle. Relying on a reflection in the mirror; a number on a scale; the size of your pants or the acceptance of other people to dictate whether or not you are happy in life is setting yourself up for a lifetime of pain and sorrow. If you rely on "outside acceptance" and it doesn't come to you as you expect, your brain will demand some type of "medication" (in our case--food) to give you a "feel good" shot to compensate for the pain and suffering--which in turn starts the cycle of using food for pain and pleasure. Find peace and happiness within yourself; find support from those who care; show gratitude for what you DO have; and feed and exercise your body well...this is my daily quest now. It's not always easy, I do have better days and not-so-better days, but THIS TIME it's not a solo trip of depravation and pain...it's a lifelong journey of healing, learning and joy...and One-derland is now my forever home! Thanks MPF folks and my sister for making the trip so enjoyable...I'll be here to welcome my sister and the rest of you to One-derland!

Find the peace and joy WITHIN...that is the key to success!

marvelmo

Thank you for the inspiring post. You must take credit for results as life is all about choices. Each moment, each hour each day. Those choices have resulted in success. Hears to you and all those on MFP who have made it onederland:drinker:
TA DA ! I knew you would make it this week. Your hard work and commitment not just to being healthier but living peacefully and finding joy everyday is Truly inspiring! Thanks for all your support!
Now a message from the lollypop kids "we'd like to welcome you to onederland" lalalalallalalalal
Kudos on your race stats. Onward and Downward!

JennPrebs

Right theres with you chica never 200's again just got to 195 NEVER AGAIN!!!!