When losing weight isn’t enough to cure your bad thoughts
Posted on | November 7, 2008 | No Comments
Photo credit: Andrev1988
I was reading a post by 101 reasons I hate being fat and I was horrified to say she was absolutely right about this post she wrote. It is funny that even when you lose weight your mind still thinks you are the same weight as you were before. I myself have done this, recently.
She points out the obvious that this type of hysteria is in your mind, which leads me to even more so believe that obesity is a disease and an emotional thing rather then a medical physical thing.
Most of the reasons why people are overweight are usually an emotional thing that has happened to them. Be it at child hood or a divorce, perhaps some trauma in your life. What really gets me is that it is so built into your mind and heart that even when you lose weight you still feel fat.
People do pick on you, even when you are doing what 101 says she did at the coffee shop. The fact is people are cruel and what they say and do really effects you and this is why you can’t let it go. I do believe that a lot of people will lose weight and be very happy but the others will still have those same thoughts.
You know the ones where you feel like people are watching you, but this time they are watching other fat people and you see this and it will infuriate you. So even though you feel better, dress like a million bucks – in the back of your mind you are still fat. You are vulnerable and still scared despite of it all. Sometimes your confidence is an act and you can’t stop this feeling.
Do you need a Psychiatrist? Maybe you do because you can’t let this feeling go. You need to process all the issues in your past to try to find a way to finally deal with them and then deal with the fact that you were fat and it isn’t your fault. You were caught up in a world wind of emotional garbage.
I know this young girl who lost all her weight and became a gym instructor, she still feels scared that she will go back to her old ways. She is even paranoid that she looks terrible and she can’t allow her self to relax to enjoy her life because if she does she might put weight on again.
This is no way to live, after all life is meant to be interesting and fun and adventurous, not filled with doubt and feelings of fear. So I guess what I am trying to say here is that we can all lose weight but can we all deal with out demons on our own? That is the question you need to ask yourself.
If the answer is yes then you are on the road to recovery, if the answer is no then try to find an outlet, a councilor, a priest, a doctor, a friend – I am not sure but I do know that things will seem a lot clearer if you talk to someone who can listen to your fears and foes.
YAY TO ME
Posted on | October 29, 2008 | 3 Comments
Photo credit: light_arted
Last night was my first personal training session at Fernwood. It went exceptionally well and I am so proud of myself. I usually do around 5 minutes on the treadmill, last night I did 10 minutes. You might say ha that is only 10 minutes, but when you weight 148kg, which in pounds is 326.27 lbs, it is a BIG accomplishment. Then I went onto doing three sets of 15 of the circuit weight machines, and finishing off with tummy hovers and stretches.
Mind you still not well with the reflux and now the flu. Honestly, I am just glad I did it and I feel better for it now. Still a little ill but I just keep telling myself – “you’re not sick, your not sick”. That seems to be working.
My eating isn’t perfect, but I have made a few changes in regards to this. I can’t remember the last time I went to McDonalds, Hungry Jacks and all those other junk food restaurants. When I do get take out I now go to Subway.
It is amazing how easy it is to make this change; I thought it would be a lot harder than it was. I still have real trouble with portion size, but I guess that is going to take a little longer. That is the worst part for me, changing what I guess is habit. You know the getting a large dinner plate and filling it to the brim. I have smaller dinner plates and I will have to start using them. I found that if you use smaller crockery then this helps with the portion size.
Progress report 23rd October 2008
Posted on | October 23, 2008 | 2 Comments
As many of you know I have been on quite a roller coaster ride this year. I started the Gym with all good intensions and have managed to probably go for 3 out of 6 months. I went through surgery and now the doctor thinks that I may be developing ulcers. What a year.
I started back at the Gym last night and did my first work out in perhaps 4 months. It was good, but I did take it easy. I changed my membership to have personal training sessions once a week for the next six months.
I hope you all support me during this time and the aim is to really get stuck into it again and I am sure with someone pushing me to begin with I myself will find the strength within myself to push ME to my limits. I really need to start looking after myself.
In January 2009 I will be 37 and this means I am getting older and if I don’t push myself to change I might not be here by the time I am 45. Don’t know about you but I want to live and be happy and have babies if my body can handle that.
So, I will once again give you updates and keep you informed with what progress I have achieved.
It is great to be back on the straight and narrow.
Difficulties in getting pregnant
Posted on | October 15, 2008 | 6 Comments
Photo credit: Danusunt
There are sometimes reasons for why a woman can’t get pregnant; I have found some information that may give you an insight into this subject. How do you cope with this? I don’t know how I am coping with it, as you may know I am personally going through this myself.
The thing that I have tried to do is get my health back on track after my gall bladder surgery and will very soon be back at the gym to lose those unwanted pounds. This is the start for me because I think if I can start getting my periods regularly then I can maybe start ovulating again.
I do suffer from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Whilst this is not always easy I try very hard to not dwell on this and this is how I get through it. Here are some tips for you when you are trying to get pregnant. Every little thing you do to help your cause is great, and it makes you feel like you are actually doing something constructive. I wish you all good luck and I will write a post if and when I get pregnant.
Things that make you go Hmmmmmm
Posted on | October 8, 2008 | 2 Comments
Photo credit: Magic74
Kaboose has kindly made up a list of ideas for spring. From de cluttering to recipes and craft, it is that time of year when you wash away your winter blues. When spring comes all you want to do is stay outdoors and do your gardening, tidy your yard, have BBQ’s. There are also some things you would rather not do but you really need to. This is my list of things I will be doing this spring.
- 1. Clean the windows
- 2. Steam clean carpets
- 3. Re arrange closets
- 4. Freshen the couches
- 5. Wash your curtains
- 6. Take out your healthy eating cooking books
- 7. Get rid of that winter food out of your fridge and cupboards
- 8. Restock them with fresh fruit, vegetables, lean cuts of meat
- 9. Take out those beach towels
- 10. Organise activities outdoors
- 11. Walk your dog
- 12. GO to the park
- 13. Have a picnic
- 14. Go to your local knick knack market
- 15. Go to the beach
- 16. Have the friends around for an Alfresco dinner/BBQ
- 17. Go for a long drive to the country
- 18. Day trip to the Mountains
- 19. Wash your car
- 20. Don’t go the gym, go to a park and exercise
These are the 20 things that I will be doing this spring, take special note of the healthy things I will be doing. My home will look great, food will be fun to prepare and going outdoors will be exhilarating.
Spring is a time for me when I come alive, have loads of energy and am just generally happier. It is a very good time to make changes in your life, start a fresh and exciting new time for yourselves by the power of positive thinking. Spring will do that to you and so will Eating well.
Tips on portion size and staying on track
Posted on | September 3, 2008 | 2 Comments
Photo Credit: Prevention Information Centre @ RMC
Lately due to illness and just being slack I have completely come off the tracks to my goals. I have been slack at the Gym, not really trying hard enough with my food intake and generally not really inspired to go any further. So I read on Spark People 25 tips to stay on track today and wanted to share this with you too. They make sense and are pretty good to just print off and place on your fridge or office wall.
This way you get to actually look at them and not have them stashed away in a folder or left under a pile of papers on your desk. I know for me the portion sizes are a big hassle but I still need to learn how to do this and be ok with it in order to get to my goals. Below are some links to portion charts, and tips of how to stay fuller longer. I found these on Spark People; I thought that they would assist with this very issue. Very helpful and informative, use it as a guide so you don’t slip up. I am placing this on my pantry door.
Getting Married? Then get directed
Posted on | September 3, 2008 | 2 Comments
Photo Credit – Jacqui Motoska
My Husband and I on our Wedding Day 14th October 2006
Getting married can be daunting to anyone, especially a plus size woman. When I got married I was a size 28 Wedding dress. I did look lovely so people told me however it was not that easy to find things that suited the plus sized woman.
The dress was only part of it, I had to think about undergarments and shoes and even seating at the reception that I could fit in. In any case, if you are plus size and getting married refer to the directories below to assist you in finding what you need. Some great sites that can give you everything from your dress and right down to the table cloths at the reception.
Directories
For the plus size woman you need to think about fit and what will be flattering. All women thin or large get nervous before the Wedding, although naturally when you are overweight you have so much more to consider. You want to look your best and at the same time not give up on a style because of your weight. This includes makeup and jewellery and even your hairstyle.
Plus size bridal stores
Churches
If you are going to get married in a Church her is a list of churches around Australia and even overseas.
Reception
We all want to make the reception look amazing and special, here are some sites and directories to look at to help you with this big decision. Check out the venues that are great value for money and always compare what the venue offers in the price.
www.weddingreceptionvenues.com.au
www.theweddingdirectory.com.au
Victoria
Perth
SA
Queensland
NSW
Tasmania
Cakes
Photo credit: cupcaketastic
You can get married and not have an amazing cake; if you ever watched that movie “Because I said so” you will agree that the cake in the Wedding scene was amazing. It was like 101 Dalmatians. Rent the movie and you will see for yourself or take a look at the link above. After all you want to make a statement about who you are and put your personal style to it – lets get creative girls.
Cake recipes if you want to go it alone, or you may want to consult the professionals like:
Directory – Bride online Victoria
PS – Oakleigh Quality Cakes I do not recommend, my mother was dying in hospital and so we didn’t know what was going to happen – the whole Wedding may have been cancelled at a drop – so we cancelled the reception and tried to cancel the cake for which we paid for in full – they did absolutely nothing in regards to preparing the cake and they kept $180.00 of the $500 odd dollars I paid for themselves. This was even after my explaining my mother’s situation. I was horrified to think that someone would take the money off someone whom this was happening to. As I rule I tell everyone not to go to them, not because the cakes are not nice but simply because they were too money hungry and not very sympathetic to my situation – one I classed as extreme.
I could go much more into details however the directories I have chosen will really give you all you will ever need. Here is a list of things you may need and I can assure you that they are all in the directories.
¨ Bridal gown
¨ Lingerie
¨ Groom’s Suit
¨ Groomsman
¨ Bridesmaid
¨ Mother of Bride
¨ Father of Bride
¨ Mother of Groom
¨ Father of Groom
¨ Flowers
¨ Cakes
¨ Receptions
¨ Jewellery
¨ Hair
¨ Make up
¨ Invitations
¨ Thank you cards
¨ Gift ideas
¨ Honeymoon
¨ The rings
¨ Cars
¨ Catering
¨ Hiring of equipment
¨ Churches
¨ Celebrants
The operation
Posted on | August 27, 2008 | No Comments
I recently had my Gall Bladder removed and I wanted to tell you the entire story. Because I am obese the hospital I was going to have the procedure done at ended up cancelling my operation because they didn’t have an intensive care unit. And so I was transferred to another hospital that had one. The reason for this is because I was obese and they wanted to take precautions because when you are obese all operations are that much more dangerous.
They have to make sure that you are breathing properly and that your heart can withstand the amnestica. I was at high risk. This scared me to death because all I was thinking was that I would die on the operating table and I would have to leave my husband, my puppy Pebbles and my life as I know it.
I was lucky that I had keyhole surgery, however when they got my on the operating table they couldn’t find my Gall Bladder and so they had to do an X-ray or ultrasound whilst I was under. In this case they had to do a bigger incision above my belly button. This gives me pain to no end still after two weeks.
I still have my bandages on from the operation they are not to come off till I see the surgeon in another week or so. I am afraid to see the scares and the bruising was not pleasant to look at. They put four incisions in my abdomen. One above my belly button, another further up above that, one to the side diagonally from my belly button and one to the side of that one, this was the drainage incision. I had a tube out of it with a small bag to hold the fluid that came out of me. It was disgusting to know that fluid was coming out of your body.
It scared me to know that at some point that tube would have to be taken out. I had a panic attack when it came out. My chest tightened up and I thought I would pass out. But luckily for me it didn’t hurt once removed and I was scared for nothing. If you were anything like me you would have panicked too.
And so I have been at home recovering for the past one and a half weeks, and even though I am getting better, the larger cut above my belly button hurts and I have been told I look pale. I know I have to go back to work soon, and also the Gym, but I am afraid, it is like I am a different person. The Gym scares me because I will literally be starting all over again; all the hard work I put in has been in vain.
As for work, I have been away for a while and not sure what to expect. But I am sure it will be ok. The moral to my story is that when you are obese surgery can be a big issue, and it has just shown me that if I had only been thinner and started the Gym earlier, I am sure I would not be in as much pain as I am now.
When I have fully recovered I will be back online and bring you more interesting articles to read. I will keep you posted as to my progress and also how I go when I go back to the Gym. PS Public hospitals are really not very nice to say the least, I didn’t even get a wheel chair to go out of the hospital, and I had to walk in excruciating pain. It was not much fun because I was so emotional that I burst into tears. I was also released overnight. It was like a production line of operations. One after the other and when you can eat without throwing up, you can go home. They really need the beds.
The realities of losing weight
Posted on | August 8, 2008 | No Comments
Photo credit: mireillelovelyworld
It has come to my attention from reading a post by Angie all the way that weight loss in itself isn’t the major change. People you haven’t seen for a long time either tell you that “it’s nice to meet you” because they don’t recognize you. Then when they realise that it’s you, they tell you that you have changed for the better, but they are solely basing that on your weight loss.
There is so much more that happens to a person, yes you lose the weight and look different, but I know from personal experience that once you have been overweight, and then lose a lot of weight your mind is still partially feeling the feelings of obesity. What I mean by that is that once you are obese, even if you lose all your weight, feel more confident and appear to have changed to everyone around you, you don’t really change – you feel better and are more happy yes, you have achieved a huge thing in your life so why wouldn’t you.
However, in my case when I lost 22 kg at one point in my life, the same thing that happened to Angie happened to me, people I hadn’t seen since I started the weight loss walked right by me and didn’t even recognize me, in fact after finding out that they knew me they had a different tune about them. It was like I was more acceptable now, then what I was when I was bigger.
This is not an article that is supposed to be negative, however in light of the facts this is just the truth. When you lose weight everyone loves you and finds you acceptable. The only good thing for me at the moment is that my husband met me when I was obese and loves me for who I am and also finds me attractive the way I am. Others out there in the world don’t often accept me for what I am and therefore my husband and I find that we don’t get invited to occasions because we are both overweight. This is our theory anyway.
There is so many issues I think that don’t get explored, and I found that people don’t really care why you are obese – just the fact that you are you are at the end of the gene pool so you are not worth anything. If anything it is like you are doing something wrong to them personally, the disapproval you will receive is just ridiculous. I know I have written about this sort of thing before, but and there is a BUT, I believe that a person doesn’t really change. I also believe that when you are obese you think and feel a certain way, and it really is a disease, usually mental, however on occasion it will be a medical reason.
All in all I think people shouldn’t patronize you if you have lost weight or even if you haven’t, because you are still the same person, just more confident and perhaps happier. By you losing weight this is a major discipline that would have taken you a long time to perfect, this is the real thing you should be praising, not the actual weight loss.
Handbags a fashion statement 2008
Posted on | July 29, 2008 | No Comments
Pictures courtesy of Pauline Weston Thomas for Fashion-Era.com 
I am one of those women that loves her handbags, big ones, little ones and even weird looking ones. Different colours and shapes and sizes, those hand bags that you take with you when there is a formal evening affair, a tote bag for the beach, every day bags and those colourful bags that match your outfit.
The latest spring and summer fashion for handbags in 2008 are amazing and you will see a lot of texture, colour and materials used, innovative ideas and bags that are truly functional and look fantastic.
You can find more great photos of handbags for 2008 in Pauline’s article.
I know that most women have everything in their handbags that would blow men’s minds. The make up, phone, phone book, PDA, wallet, sunglasses, notebooks – you name it we have it. Do you ever find that your bag is getting bigger and heavier. I have a tip for you, when you get a handbag for everyday, always only put in it what you need during the day.
Don’t forget that you can change your bag for evening functions. By bringing your evening clutch bag you can put your bits and pieces into it in the car before you get to your evening function.
To change your look from office wear to eveningwear you only have to change your bag and shoes. These items can be in your car waiting for you after work. You can also put your hair up if it is long to make a more evening effect.
You will find that a make up bag can fit in your handbag and you don’t have to lug your everyday bag to your evening function, it is quite a simple way to organize your days and nights with accessories like the one and only HANDBAG. I love them and have many different types.
If you want to change your look this spring then buy some bags to match your outfits and you will bring some life into your wardrobe. Remember try patterns, texture and colour, they are in now.
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