"I've decided that perhaps I'm bulimic and just keep forgetting to purge."

-- Paula Poundstone

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Oh, good gravy

And for that matter, good biscuits and mashed potatoes and steak and hamburgers and fries and pizza and cookies and cake and … Well, you get the point. Each and every one has caused me so much pleasure yet so much pain throughout the years.


Bad food has always kind of been like a secret lover for me. It makes me feel better when I’m down. I celebrate with it when I’m happy. I love it even though it doesn’t love me back. I try to hide it, yet everyone knows.

Heck, several years ago, I dumped the bad stuff for a couple of years. I started to gain my independence. My life didn’t revolve around it anymore.

I lost 90 pounds.

And then, slowly – and, like always, surely – it crept back into my life, filling the voids that nothing else did. I embraced it wholeheartedly and didn’t give a rip who knew it. I didn’t even hide it anymore. I LOVED BAD FOOD, AND I WAS GONNA SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS!

I’ve gained 140 pounds.

Think about that: 140 pounds. I’m carrying around an extra normal-sized woman.

It’s time she gets off my back.

Starting Monday, March 1, I’m changing my life. This has been a long time coming. Actually, I reserved this blog name a year ago, and it’s taken me this long to get up the courage to start.

I am going to take the steps necessary to get back the life that for so long, I’ve felt I don’t deserve. I am going to eat better. I am going to move more. I am going to actively enjoy my life – and my son’s – instead of watching it from the sidelines.

My husband is joining me in this adventure (and some co-workers say they will, too). He and I have a hefty but realistic goal: Lose 100 pounds by Dec. 31. We will need to lose 2.3 pounds a week to achieve that.

I hope you’ll join me on this adventure, too, if only for moral support. I have to lose this weight, and I need all the encouragement I can get.

I’ll write about it here along the way.

Sign up to follow this blog. Share your tips, your trials and your triumphs.

Let’s lose it.

14 comments:

  1. I love that you're doing this. I will follow along religiously, as I've been trying to behave more. Two different docs told me to lay off the starches. Actually my retired doc had told me that several years ago too, but I figured he was just old and, well, dumb. I also saw others' photos of me from last summer and it was getting pretty ugly, too. So I'm eating only non-wheat whole grains and feel better already. So here's to you, Nate, me and, I hope, my fat husband who has put on 90 pounds since he came home from the hospital in 2006. I just checked out "Change Your Brain, Change Your body" from the library, hoping it helps me find a way to get through to him. Again, bravo and here's to a happy ending in 2010.

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  2. Thank you so much, Sue. I wish we were sitting beside each other like old times at work, but I can hear your voice when I read your comment just as if you are right beside me. Your support, everyone's support, means the world to me. We can do it.

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  3. Hi Misty,

    I remember following you the first time. You certainly can do it again. I'm trying to reverse a 25-pound weigh gain over the past year, myself (life changes have a way of making fitness and healthy eating not so much a priority). At least we know while these endeavors aren't easy, but they are rewarding.

    Elaine, Lily and I will be rooting for you.

    - Chris

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  4. I am on board and supporting both of you. I expect results GOWER! Very proud of you for the start. You can do it! You will do it!

    I love the blog idea also - a great way to showcase your sense of humor and use writing to help you through the deal...

    Good luck,
    Nick

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  5. Misty! So proud of you! I started a journey very similiar to yours about 1.5 years ago. I have since lost 40 pounds and am now training for my first Marathon! I owe it all to WW and support from friends and family. You can do this! PS I just started logging my activity on DailyMile.com...it is kinda like facebook...and very encouraging! Go Girl!
    Shauna

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  6. Misty, I am SO happy for you! What a courageous move to do it online, too! I will be cheering you on in my off time, when I'm not out in the desert. And, I must admit, I'm stoked to have a way to catch up with you that's NOT Facebook. (i.e. I don't have to sign up. Yes, I'm still resisting. :+) I only wish I lived closer to you so we could go for walks! But if you want any delicious recipes, just let me know. And I'm still behind you all the way!
    Love,
    Terri

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  7. Misty, here you go inspiring me yet again! I've known since we first met a hundred years ago that you're funny, fun to be with, smart and brave (for quitting smoking and losing 90 lbs.!) and I know you can do this!! I'll be following this blog closely, since I'm on a quest to lose about 40 pounds. Luckily, I am already on the verge of LOSING it, so I hope that's a good sign. Stay strong, girl! Next year we'll celebrate reaching our goals at scrapbooking weekend by skipping the ice cream sundae bar and about 70% of the meals. So keep writing, I'll be reading ... Love you!

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  8. Just fished your invite out of the Junk Mail file -- so glad i found it -- i LOVE this blog, Misty. You speak to the demons inside ALL of us, with heart and humor.

    I will be following you for sure!

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  9. Misty,
    Once again I find myself reading something you have written and I think yep...yep...that girl is SO right! I love the way you write and it always strikes a chord deep inside me....as of March 1 I will throw down my popcorn bowl and hop on my Wii fit and exercise more! Thanks for sticking it all out there...oh and I am carrying around the twin to the small woman you are carrying around with you!!! Let's both shrug them off and that secret lover..(food)....we have more things to love than food!!!

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  10. You rock, Misty!

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  11. Misty, I posted this to my FB last week..I gave up jogging today...for my health.... when my thighs kept rubbing together and setting fire to my underwear...
    I am so proud of you sharing this. I have been fighting the bulge the last 3 years. I am going to start this journey with you and hopefully by the grace of god we will succeed...Keep up the great work!!
    Chera

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  12. This is wonderful, Misty. I am with you all the way. I can't wait to talk about this Saturday on the way to Indy. I love you guys.
    Karen

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  13. Go Misty!!! Losing weight is so hard, most specially when you have lost it then gained it back, I've done the very same thing, and I have told myself there is no quitting this time. I have to watch my weight for the rest of my life - it's just the way it is! I'm behind you and look forward to reading your blog. Here is a quote I heard and WW that I try to remember "Nothing taste and good as thin feels"!!! - Krystal (Rickard) Schindler

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  14. This is a great blog, Misty! I'm so excited to get up every morning and read about how you're doing, and you've already inspired me to "move" a little more. I need to lose about 35-40 pounds, so maybe we can celebrate our successes at next year's scrappin weekend! (And maybe skip the ice cream bar ...)

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