ihavebones.com

Me Now. Taken on 09-15-08

     Here's my journey:  I wasn't fat all my life.  I was always muscular, but not fat.  I started gaining weight at 18 and kept gaining.  When I got pregnant I actually lost 75 pounds because my doctor told me not to gain one ounce.  After the pregnancy I regained it and a lot more.  Ten years later with my second pregnancy, the same thing happened.  When Mckenna, our youngest of two daughters, was in 4th grade a boy was being mean to her.  He told other children a joke about how our family went to the ocean and a whale popped up and starting singing "We Are Family" to me.  Even that didn't make me start to lose weight. It was a series of things that finally made me not want to live that obese life.  I realized I just couldn't live that way anymore.  Life was hard being soooo fat.  I decided to buy an exercise chair that I saw advertised on television.  It was for senior citizens, but I figured it was a good place to start.  A place called 'Basic Training' that was selling the chair, so I went and bought the chair.  That's when I met Bill.  He gave me some of his literature and told me if I needed anything or a jump start to give him a call. I told my sister Jan that I was thinking about doing training with Bill, but I wasn't sure.  She asked me if I would get the training for Paul or the girls if they needed it.  Of course I would.  So why wouldn't I do it for myself?  She made me realize I was worth it, as much as they were.   She was right, so I signed up for training with Bill and only told Jan, and my two daughters Sarah and Mckenna. I didn't tell anyone else.  What if I failed again?  What if I couldn't do it?  I didn't want to hear criticism from anyone.

     On September 15, 2006 I went to my first workout session with Bill Crawford.  When I arrived, I was wearing a dress on top of my sweats.  I never wore pants.  They don't hide the fact you're fat.  It's funny how our minds work.  Bill must have thought I was crazy.  He never said that, but come on, who wears a dress over workout clothes?  The gym is a private studio and the training was one-on-one, so no one was there except Mckenna, me and Bill.  Mckenna came to a lot of my workouts in the beginning.  She did cardio while I trained for an hour.  Before my first workout, Bill took my measurements.  He tried to cover up the fact the tape measure wouldn't fit around my hips and we had to add 7 inches.  I was officially 2 inches wider around then I was tall.  That was a big butt.  I also couldn't fit on his scale, or in some of his machines when I started.  I had 54.60 %  body fat and was out of shape, but I made it through my first workout and didn't die.  I had workouts with Bill three times a week.  I couldn't even sit on the toilet that first week because my legs hurt so much, but I felt good.  I let Paul know I was training after my first week of workouts, but I didn't let anyone else know.  I felt if I kept it to myself no one could say anything.  I started to let people in slowly.  I changed the way I ate and prepared things for myself and my family. 
     When I had lost 102 pounds, I was so excited.  Bill let me wear his World Series Ring to celebrate.  The funny thing is I still didn't see myself looking any different from when I first started to lose weight.  The mind is a funny thing to fix, you have to really look hard to see the difference.  I felt different and had to buy smaller clothes, but I still didn't see it.  I celebrated losing 100 pounds by getting my first pedicure, my sister Jan got it as a present for me.  I wouldn't break the chair and it had arms so I fit now.  My daughters and husband bought me a Tiffany's bracelet with a heart charm that had Mom on it and then they engraved 100 on the back.  It was an exciting time for me.  Then my one year 'training' anniversary came.  I had lost 114 pounds in that first year.  The truth is you never realize how much you can accomplish in just one year.  If someone can learn anything it would be that if you have to lose 5 to 25 pounds that is like a divot in the road.  If you need to lose 25 to 50 pounds that is like a pothole in the road.  If you need to lose 50 to 100 pounds it is like a sink hole.  If you need to lose more than 100 pounds it is like a crater.  Don't wait until you're in a crater.  It is a lot harder getting out of a crater than getting out of a pothole.  
     After CNN put me on their website, Kate Nolan of the Scottsdale Republic wrote a story on me.  CNN had my weight on their website and I was a little concerned, but I didn't have to tell people if I didn't want to, so no one could find out my weight.  When the newspaper story came out, my weight was there in bold print.  I was horrified to think people would know how much I weighed. The day the newspaper was delivered, I tried to run out our front door when my husband asked what I was doing.  I told him I needed to get the next door neighbor's newspaper, because it said my weight.  He told me not to steal the newspaper.  I said I was just getting the part I was in.  I went out to get the paper only to find the neighbor already taken it inside.  I was so upset.  How was I going to face them, with them knowing my true weight?  I always kept how much I weighed a secret.  My older daughter and husband tried to comfort me.  Oh, not very many people read that section, don't worry.  Then Mckenna, the smart one, told me "Are you kidding? Thousands will see it."  Oh my gosh, I never thought about that.  I started to get calls, and when people saw me they told me that they had read the article.  People went up to my husband and told him that they saw the article as well.  Mckenna was SO right.  Even with all the weight I had lost, I was ashamed of how much I weighed then and how much I still weighed.  It took awhile, but I was okay with people knowing my weight.

     After I did my first interview and then lecture, I was very surprised that people thought that I had accomplished a tremendous feat.  If I heard someone telling me the same story I would have thought the same thing.  I think it is because I take one day at a time so I see the small things not the big weight loss.
     My first plane ride since I had lost a lot of weight was a much different experience for me.  Even though I was 150 pounds lighter I still worried about fitting down the aisle, fitting in one seat without a seat belt extender and being able to put the tray down.  I have not been able to have a tray down almost my entire adult life.  For the first time, I felt that I was a normal size.  It was a nice feeling not having to worry about breaking chairs, fitting in chairs with arms, being the biggest (fattest) person in a room and finally thinking you look good.  Most people don't understand that there are a lot of little things 'big' people cannot do.  For me this trip was much more than a vacation and family reunion.  It was a victory!
     I had an absolute ball at U.S. National Whitewater Center with my family.  It had so many different things to do.  We plan on going back soon to experience more of what they have to offer.  If you are in North Carolina you should look them up, same with Scream Time Zipline.  I had always wanted to zipline, but I couldn't do it in a dress and let alone thinking that the cable could break.  I found out the zipline could hold more than a few jeeps.  What a rush.  Those three days I spent with my family doing activities was the best vacation we have ever had.  It was also the first time we planned a vacation around physical activities.
     During our family reunion we went to the beach.  I didn't put on a swimsuit, but I used that beach more than anyone else there.  I walked on the beach every morning and evening, in lieu of my normal workout  in the gym back in Arizona.  I made my favorite healthy recipes for everyone and I realized how far I had come since the last reunion.
     I came back a changed woman.  I look forward to my next adventure with my family by my side.
     On September 15, 2008 I celebrated the 2nd anniversary of my journey.  In some ways I can't believe it has already been 2 years.  In some ways it seems like I have been doing this for a lifetime.  I had lost 140 pounds and my body fat was down to 28.5 % body fat.  I had lost 15 inches in my waist, 20 inches in my hips, 7 inches in my shoulders, 14 inches in my chest, 12 inches in my right thigh, 5 inches in my right calf, 5.5 inches in my right bicep and 2.25 inches around my neck.  When I see all that, I can't believe I have lost so many inches.  No wonder why my sweats fall off.  CNN called and wanted to interview me.  What a privilege. 

     On October 16, 2008, Matt and Orlando from CNN came out to interview and video tape me.  I had a lot of fun.  I didn't want it to be a normal interview, so after taping in the gym we climbed up Hole in the Rock.  With my family by my side we got there right when the sun was setting, what a beautiful sunset.  Then we woke up early the next day and went hot air ballooning.  I was a little scared, but I had Sarah with me, along with Matt and Orlando.  The balloon ride was so peaceful.  The next time I want to hot air balloon in Sedona with Paul and Mckenna joining Sarah and me.

     Matt asked me if I would go to New York for Fit Nation's Summit.  I said yes, I didn't realize that he meant as an ireporter and to be one of the success stories there.  New York was amazing, I got to share where I was born with my family.  Mckenna had never been there before.  We did all the tourist things and I got to visit family, who I hadn't seen for a very long time.  Look under Fit Nation Summit to see pictures and the story of the best night of my life.  You can see pictures of our New York trip under New York Pics.

     When I got back from New York, I got really sick.  I still blame the sign I kissed, you should always know who kissed the sign before you.  Sometimes your body needs to rest and take a break.  It isn't always what you had planned or wanted, it just is what it is.  It took a long time for me to get back on my feet and get healthy again.  Life is good, and I wouldn't have changed anything I've done.  With a obstacle or a setback you learn things you would have never learned before.  Use an obstacle as a stepping stone.

     I'm doing things that I wouldn't have dreamed of doing when I started this journey.  Don't live in fear, welcome the challenge and you become a better person.  Life can be everything you have dreamed about with a little bit of dedication, commitment and hard work.

     I signed my family and I up for a race called Urban Dare.  On March 28, 2009 I will be in a race like the Amazing Race on t.v..  My family and I watch this show and love it.  I would have never thought two years ago I would be looking forward to running, doing challenges, and competing.  We didn't win the whole race (Sarah's guy friend Sam did), but we did win it in the family division. We got a plaque and we completed it under the time allowed.  Look under Urban Dare section for full story and pictures.

     I'm not sure what is next, I am hoping to go back to New York City and climb the Statue of Liberty this time, since they opened it up to climb.  I'll let you know new things on my blog page, sign up and help people at the same time.

     If you have any questions or comments, please email at karen@ihavebones.com