Watch My Weight Wednesday! Meet Kitty!

Welcome back to Watch My Weight Wednesday!  This week I am so excited to introduce you to Kitty author from Trying to Fit in a Big World.  Today she is going to share her weight loss story with us!   Welcome Kitty!

Hello everyone :)

Angie has asked me to guest blog today.  It took me a while to think of where to start.  So I guess from the beginning is a good place.

I was a skinny kid, very active, in swim class twice a week, sometimes when my mom could afford it, synchronized swimming was added to the week as well.  I was at the height of most swimmers dreams, I was able to kick butt during the relay races -all the kids older then me (I was always the youngest in my classes by at least 5 years).  My synchronized swimming teacher begging me to join the Guelph team.  It was awesome!  Then....the dreaded day of puberty hit...I couldn't swim with my period!  So I quit everything!  :O!!

No...of course I didn't start packing on the weight right away...took a few years after that, but I know in my heart that's when it all started.  I also thought it was normal to eat a full big bag of chips, 1-2 a week, and when I was upset, my mom would take me out to DQ for a treat to make all my problems disappear.  Of course when your younger, you think the treat really does make life's problems disappear, but now that I am older, I know it was the fact I was with my mom doing the girly chat thing.

But after 5 years, it had become an awful habit, also out of convenience I landed my first 'real' job...at McDonald's!  What convenience, if i was having a bad day, or I forgot to pack something, or i was out with my friends, no problem, they offered discounts to their employees!  I was eating it 3-4 times a week.  After working there for 3 years, adding 50lbs to my figure, I left for a coffee shop.

Initially, I did lose 10 lbs, what an amazing feeling, 10 lbs.  Then somehow over the course of the 4 years I gained that 10, plus another 30!!  Oh noes!!  One day, I was having a really bad day with my self esteem, almost crying at work, I looked up and out the window after I placed some donuts on the shelve and saw a weight loss clinic.  I was like you know what, this is it, this weight is gone!  And I called them right away.  Of course they booked me in for right when I was done work.

I got all signed up, ready to go.  The program sounded easy enough, follow the food portions (which are the same as the food guide if you look closely), and take a few herbals to help me conquer my cravings.

After 4 weeks, I noticed the results, down 2 sizes!!  But due to financial reasons, I had to leave.  Of course I put it all back on over the next year and a half.  By then my financial situation had changed for the better, so I got by butt back into that center and worked really hard for 6 months.  I lost 60lbs!!  I still wasn't at my ideal weight, but I was fine with where I ended up, I didn't want to lose more, I could fit into clothes at my favourite stores, Le Chateau, the French Connection, American Eagle, etc.  I even wore a bikini for the first time since I quit swimming! 

When I heard that clinic was hiring, I was in there every 2 weeks, dropping of a resume, and pestering the ladies that worked there to give me a chance to join the team and share my story.

Finally after almost 3 months, they hired me on.  I was on top of the world still!  I tried to lose a little more so the clients in my new work place could see that I care about my body, and that someone is on their side.  I wanted to stay relatible. Nope, backfired, I slowly started to gain weight...very slowly... .5 lbs a week on average.  By the end of my first year, I had gained back 20 lbs despite biking every day for 2 hours and walking everywhere.  I had a lot of pressure of coworkers to lose some more -don't get me wrong they did it out of love, and it did become something I had to do for someone else, which made it so much harder.

I lasted there for another year, when I decided, working in a weight loss clinic wasn't for me.  I left for school!  Yay!  But, since moving, and going to school, I packed on the rest of the weight I lost...fast!  But keep in mind, I was on the bus for 2 hours every day, sat in class for 5 hours, and sat for another 6-8 hours every afternoon studying.

Yes, I moved back home for school, and yes my mom doesn't cook the healthiest (everything consists of canned soup or cheese or butter), but I didn't start eating less either.  And with my lack of activity, I should have.

Now that I am done school, I am working 30 hours a week (on my feet) and have incorporated exercising 3 times a week.  I am picking up more fruits and vegetables and I'm started to see some changes, my waist on my pants have gotten more lose, and my shirt I'm wearing today is fitting more lose, also my 'pouch' is slowly disappearing (only appears when I sit now!).  I also managed to get my hands on a copy of the PX90 videos, will get some bands over the next few weeks and start tackling those and challenging my body!

My eating still hasn't changed, but my activity levels have.  Also my happiness has changed, I'm not stressed out over exams flying at me every 2 weeks.  So yes, some may think my journey is a failure, I disagree, its anything but.  I have learned so much about health, fitness, and how to take care of my body.  Every journey is different, we all have things to bring to the table for health, and don't let someone knock you down!

I am proud to be a 'loser' again!

Posted By Kitty author of   Trying to Fit in a Big World

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