About Moi

About Moi
My Name is Brittany, and I'm 23yrs old. I was diagnosed with Lupus when I was 15, and then diagnosed with RA, when I was 18. I also got married when I was 18, and I'm enjoying my happily ever after with my hubby! When I got married, I was slim and trim...But not for long. After getting married, I started to gain a LOT of weight! In 1yr, I gained 50lbs! Finally, I went to the Doctor, where I discovered I have low thyroid. After being put on medicine, my weight gain slowed down, although over the next 3yrs, I gained an additional 26lbs. When I was 20yrs old, I got yet another diagnoses of Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. That's 4 diagnoses in a 5yr period, if you lost count. They all effect my weight, in one way or another. Add on top of that, my love affair with food, and every 1 of those 76lbs gained was accounted for. Being 76lbs over weight is unhealthy for anyone, but it was especially unhealthy for me, and my health issues. Since starting this blog, in Jan-2010, I have lost 40lbs! I'm a new, slimmer, and healthier me! Before losing weight, I was told I needed knee replacements. Losing weight was the ONLY tool I had to help me hold off on that life changing surgery. Since losing 40lbs, my knees have never felt better! My husband and I are also trying to start a family, but my PCOS was not going to make it as easy as 1,2,3, as I didn't have periods on my own. My doctor had told me if I wanted a baby, I HAD to lose weight. Since losing 40lbs, I've had regular cycles for the first time in my life! Which is very important when trying to have a baby ;) This journey of mine is more than me simply wanting to wear skinny jeans. It has been a quest to becoming :Deliciously Healthy, so ALL of my dreams can come true! I'm almost half way there! With each new day, I get closer and closer to my goal of 120lbs, and becoming :Deliciously Healthy!

Monday, September 10, 2012

Getting Over Being Blog Shy, and Getting My LIFE Back!

I've written this post at least 100 times in my head. I've even made a few vlogs (video blogs;), but blog shyness, and the devastation of hearing how annoying my voice sounds, prevented me from posting them.

As nasaley as I think it may sound, the important part is, I have found my voice again. It was lost for a while there. My goodness am I glad to have it back.

I could probably write a book on what's been going on with me, and my weight loss journey over the last 6+ months. But for the sake of hand cramping, and the fact that it's almost midnight, I will give you the short version:

Last year I hit a bump in my weight loss journey. I think I had just lost the passion I once had about losing weight. I had gone from 206 pounds, to 161, and I got comfortable. Instead of giving 100%, it was more like 50/50. If you're only going to give 50%, you're either going to maintain your weight, or slowly gain it back... it's really not rocket science. I know that now, but back then it completely frustrated me when I would step on the scale each week, and see that I had only lost ounces, or I had gained a little back. "Hello! I ate like, two salads this week! I should have at least lost a pound!". Not when your salad is followed by a cupcake, Brittany. It doesn't work like that. My frustration caused me to eat Junk, which caused me to slowly go the opposite direction on the scale. Soon, I had gained 29 pounds back.

I don't regret the 29 pounds I had gained back. I regret what I did next: I went on a diet. Which went against everything I believed in.

 I was finally able to be successful at losing weight a couple years ago, when I realized and accepted that diets don't work. For me anyway. I finally kicked every diet I had gone on from the age of 8, to the curb, and focused on changing my life around. That was when I started this blog, and adopted my :Deliciously Healthy way of losing weight: To eat food that I loved (like mac-n-cheese;), but learning how to make it healthier, lower in calories, and enjoy everything in moderation. I didn't have to break up with food entirely, as most diets ask you to do. I simply developed a healthy relationship with food. It not only worked (losing 45 pounds), but I found freedom.

When I hit my bump in the road, and gained 29lbs back, I steered away from that philosophy, and put myself on a restrictive diet. I felt this huge sense of anxiousness, and frustration at myself for the weight I had gained, and the time I had wasted. I felt like I needed a quick fix. Losing 5lbs a week, instead of 2, was the only way I could forgive myself for allowing myself to get to where I was. The only problem with that is, diets don't work. Every day I would wake up on the 17D diet, and everyday I would crash; but not without promising myself that I would try again tomorrow. I had 6 months of crashing, causing me only to gain weight. The more I couldn't do the diet, the more I felt I needed it. It was a very confusing time.

Luckily, a few things happened that helped me to snap out of it, and go back to losing weight the :Deliciously Healthy way:
  1. We moved. Sometimes changing your surroundings really does help to start a new.
  2. I talked to my husband, and he helped give me the courage to break up with the 17D diet, and go back to focusing on living a healthy life.
  3. My husband through me a surprise birthday party, and all of my family came out. It was such a support having everyone come out, especially after my Brother Casey's accident last year on my birthday. Spending time with my family, and feeling so much support and love, really took a weight off of my shoulders, that I had been carrying around for a year. It was just what I needed, and I'm so grateful to everyone.

Since kicking the diet to the curb, and going back to a healthy lifestyle, I have lost 5 pounds. I am happy, and I feel fantastic! I am well on my way to my goal of 140lbs.

Thank you so much for all of your emails over the past few months! They played a huge role in helping me get my crap back together :)

Thank you!!
Man am I excited for what's ahead!
I hope you'll be along for the ride,
xoxo

5 comments:

Jessica said...

I am soooo happy to see you here!! I too had to break up with the 17DD because I was doing the same thing. I couldn't eat that plan AND exercise...so I stopped exercising. BIG Mistake! These day I am trying to keep my exercise up and eat thoughtfully. The scale isn't moving, but it will eventually. And I feel better when I exercise!

Melissa said...

So glad to hear from you! I have wondered about you & hoped you were doing okay. :) I've gained back some too... it sucks... but I am going to keep on going! And so are you! :) We can do it! The healthy way!

erica said...

So glad to hear from you! That picture is adorable you look fab and I LOVE your hair. Hope everything is going fabulous for you and I know you can make it to your goal. xo

Former Fat Bride said...

I'm so glad you're blogging again!! You have my support! I know you can do whatever you set your mind to.

Ak said...

Glad to see you back! You look gorgeous!