Weight Loss Support-- Learning To Take Care Of Yourself

[Sunrise85]

Hi All,

I haven't posted in a while now, and have been struggling a bit over the past 6 months. Along the gluten-free journey, I am still yo yoing with my weight and confidence. Although my career has been soaring, I can't seem to get hold of the weight issues that are holding me back. I find myself alone alot from not feeling confident enough to be all that social, as I used to be very fit, and am embarassed to have old friends see me now.

I'd like to stop making excuses, and to start paying more attention to my health etc. I haven't been very good at being gluten free either, as I think I began to resent it and ignored the fact. My reactions had gotten less severe, and I found myself just putting up with the stomachaches etc. However, I think it's been a downward spiral lately with feeling tired, achy, and just "down" all the time. I have to remind myself that life can be different!

Below is the letter to myself to finally put the brakes on this behavior. I am only 23, and have aot to look forward to. Are there other 20 something's out there feeling similarly?

<< Letter to self >>

Dear X,

Please come to terms with the realization that this is not much of a life. Relationships, fitness, talents, successes, all have to be built and juggled. You cannot trade one for another, and expect the rest of the balls to be floating in the air, waiting for you to pick it up where you left off.

To care about your friends and family and be a great addition to their lives -- you must first respect yourself. You must value your body, your mind, and spirit as deserving of care and attention. You can put yourself first without being selfish. Because if you neglect your own needs, you will have nothing left to give.

The weight loss, self-determination, and discipline, that's easy. You could not have gotten to where you are now without knowing those qualities. It is knowing the importance of the present that is what needs to be changed. Not tomorrow, or next week, next year, but now. Those balls will fall naturally, and when they do, you have to have the confidence to pick them back up again. No one is going to help you if you won't help yourself.

Tell yourself that your life will be great. You have nothing to risk by trying, but everything to risk by not.

Yours truly,

X

[celiac-mommy]

Rachel,

I was you, also at 23. I had a great career, great husband, beautiful baby girl and more than 100# overweight. It was after my dd was born that I realized if I couldn't do it for me, I would do it for her. That only works for so long before you realize it has to be for YOU and no one else or it's not possible. It took me 2 years, it wasn't easy, but I did it AND I kept it off, all 100#. I'm 30 now and I feel better that I have, ever. Even through a 2nd pregnancy, I knew I would never get to 255 again. Now I crave exercise and I feel like crap when I eat crap-like the ENTIRE last week Just take one thing at a time--like going gluten-free first. If you have celiac disease, that must be the first item on your list, the rest will fall into place when it's supposed to. If you tackle too much at once, might be more difficult... I know it is possible and I know that here-you will have all the support in the world!!!

I know you can do it!

[luvs2eat]

I need to write myself a letter like yours. I NEVER intentionally eat gluten, but I'm such a carb addict... and didn't get the "unexplained weight loss" symptom of celiac, probably because I was diagnosed in a matter of 2 months. I went about eating all the foods I COULD eat to make up (in my head) for all the foods I could no longer eat, and gained about 40 lbs.

I remember a time when I jogged regularly and felt like crap when I didn't do it. I need to get back to that place... and to the other place where I'm not craving carb-comfort food all the time!

Good luck on your journey! I need luck for mine too!!

[MELINE]

thank you Rachel for this letter. It can be an inspiration for everyone's issues, either these are weight or health or family or whatever.

I am so glad that this forum is like a big family.If you think about it ,what you did was not easy. You allowed us to see your inner thoughts.

Thank you so much.

Good luck.

Meline