My Story

I don't know if this will help anyone, but, Judy, I told you I would write this, so here it is.

After topping out at my heaviest, I knew I had to do something, but it had to fit in with my schedule and be easy enough for me to stick with. Keith, my husband, and I were in a bookstore just browsing. He was in one section while I was in another. He came over after a little while with a book in his hands. He said, "Honey, this may be the answer for you." It was Leslie Sansone's book, Walk Away the Pounds, with a sample video inserted. He asked, "Would you like me to buy it for you?" I am thinking, "I won't be able to do this. It's probably too hard." I will shorten this part of my story by saying, he went ahead and bought it for me, just in case I decided to pick it up and read it (he is a sweetheart). I did start reading the book and about halfway through, I pulled out the video and decided to see what it would really be like. I watched it through - a one miler.

The following day, January 18, 2005, I began my weight loss journey. I laced up my walking shoes and started walking. I could barely do half of a mile. By the second week, that mile got easier. I added another 1/2 mile. Then another. Then another. I now do 4 miles Monday - Friday, with a 5 mile walk on Saturday. Sunday is my day of rest spiritually and physically.

I knew that I had to start out slowly and take it one step at a time, or else I would get frustrated and quit. So during 2005, I only concentrated on exercise. Getting up and getting moving! I was surprised that without changing any eating habits, I had lost 30 lbs. by October of that year. I decided to cut out something that seemed would be easier to cut out than anything else, so I cut out sodas. I haven't had a Coke since November '05. Do not miss them either! Water has become my all time favorite!!! By the way, Wal Mart has a jug called the "Bubba Keg." It has been my faithful friend for the last two years. "Bubba" gets filled with ice and water every morning and refilled throughout the day. It is insulated with some kind of fat that keeps your water cold for up to 12 hours (it holds 52 ounces). This is very important during a Texas summer! I have left it in the car during 90-100 degree heat and come back to the car to find that "Bubba" was still cold and had ice in it. I don't leave home without it!!! If y'all have a Wal Mart, check it out (p.s. they need to pay me for the free advertisement since I have sold others on them also).

Beginning in 2006, I thought I had a decent handle on the exercise. I was up to 3 miles, 6 days a week. So I began by counting calories and watching my fat intake. I started dropping weight a little quicker. I hit a plateau in September '06, thought I was doing something wrong, so I started up with Weight Watchers. It wasn't my eating like I thought, just my body trying to adjust to where I was and hadn't been in years. As of today, I have lost a little over 71 lbs. and 45 inches!!! I don't have a lot of "before" pictures, because after seeing how I really looked, I would tear them up or hide behind others while photos were being taken. Anyone else been there?

What keeps me going? Leslie has an upbeat personality for one. If she was not very enthusiastic about what she does, I don't think I would have kept up the exercise for this long. I haven't missed a day since May of 2005, and now have around 20-25 videos. Hey, I need something to keep things changed up! She uses different people in different videos, so I can see different people everyday. I keep a calendar in our laundry room, and give myself a sticker everyday that I complete my exercises. It sounds childish I know, but you have to find what works for you. I am a goal oriented person, so I guess seeing those happy face stickers on my calendar help. My family, Keith, Mallory, and Taylor (my two precious daughters) , have been a constant source of encouragement. They are incredible!!! And last, but certainly not the least, God has been my constant. He's the one that has given me the physical ability to move, and now it is my duty to keep HIS temple clean and in good health (to the best of my ability). Keith has been urging me to write a book on health and fitness for PPH, but I worry that too many Apostolics don't care anymore. It is getting to where it really disturbs me, when at Campmeetings and such, I see that God's people have let themselves go so much that they cannot hardly move around. How can we win the lost? Do they want to become like us - overweight and hardly moving?! God help us! I better stop before I begin preaching. Speaking is not my area of expertise. Let me add that I understand that some have physical problems that have allowed them to gain, but most of it is overeating and idleness.

I will end with, "No, I haven't finished losing all that I want to yet." I realize that it didn't come on over just a short period of time, and it will not come off overnight either. I cannot turn back. I have no more big clothes in my closet. I sold some in a garage sale. Keith took the rest of them to Goodwill. I guess he got tired of them being baggy and then watching me pin them up. My shoes are also getting too big. A medium is too wide, while a narrow is too, well, narrow. LOL. I am now 5-6 sizes down. I can't quit. There are some that are in our church that are following and watching me. No turning around! Ladies, we have to set an example of health and fitness!

Accomplishments:
1. A little over 71 lbs. and 45 inches lost.
2. 7 pairs of walking shoes in 3 years (at least I got to shop for them).
3. Lowered blood pressure. It went from 120/70 to 100/60. I was told that is the blood pressure of a trained athlete. LOL!
4. No depression, and walking is a great way to get rid of stress!
5. Feeling my youngest daughter's arms (she's petite) around my waist and hearing her say, "They overlap now, Mom!"

Tips for walking:
1. Make sure your clothes are comfortable.
2. Shoes - VERY IMPORTANT!!! Note: Shoes are only supposed to go for about 500 miles. Listen to your feet, they will tell you when it's time to change. Do not try to go cheap, either. Your feet will pay for it.
3. Socks. Not many think about socks being important, but they are. They need to be fitted to your feet. It will help if they have an arch support, and are made of a material that will help absorb sweat.

Keep it up! You CAN make it!!!