How did I do it?

I still can’t believe it, but this month I celebrated losing 74 pounds and staying at my goal weight for one year.  Literally-I’m surprised every day.  Yes, I weigh myself every day, and every day I’m shocked. Did I do this? When is this going away? When do I turn back into a pumpkin?

Ashley is shocked when I try my size 18 jeans on my size 6 body.

The part that is most shocking of all to me is that people are asking me (me?) how I did it, what I am doing, etc.  People call me inspirational, positive, and confident. Me? These may be things I have wanted to be, but didn’t really think I would become.  People want to know how, and the answer is simple.  Not simple as in easy; rather uncomplicated, clear, straightforward.  I believed. I believed in me. At the start of this journey, let’s say in August of 2006, I believed only that I could make a few positive changes. As I approached my goal in the spring of 2008, having lost just over 70 pounds, I did not believe that I would actually reach my goal and I surely did not believe I’d maintain it.  So slowly and steadily I regained about 40 pounds over the next 4 years.

August 2012, family trip to Boston. Was this really me? Yup.

On August 16, 2012, I made a decision.  ( Now I call this my “eight/sixteen”; a day to decide to take steps to being happy.) If I was going to be happy in my life and with my body, I had to do it myself.  And I didn’t want to dawdle.  I wanted to do it NOW. Between August 16 2012 and January 16 2013, I lost 44 pounds and hit my target weight.  I had lost 74 pounds from my all-time, non-pregnant high.  Why? because slowly, between August and January, I had started to believe that I could reach my goal.

I celebrated reaching my goal with some fun new jeans!

So here I am, one year later, I have maintained my weight a few pounds below my target. How did I do it? Every single day I need to prove to myself that I can, that this is real. So I do the things I have to do to keep myself at my strong and healthy weight. And I continue to believe I can. This is my thought cycle: I believe that I am a strong and healthy person, therefore I behave that way. It has become my reality. There are a lot of steps and and changes and setbacks involved, but there is one single process that is driving everything I accomplish: I believe I can. And the things I believe I can do? I do. Even though it still surprises me that this is in me.

One of my favorite new strength skills: the advanced plank!

So I’m noodling on writing this blog. Maybe something in my experience can help someone else connect what they want to be true with what they believe to be true, and make it reality. I want it to be short enough for busy people to read quickly!  I have my own five kids to take care of, and I have to get to the gym! Or dance class! But I’m starting in the middle, with a celebration.  Now I’m going to organize the ideas and successes and do-over’s in my mind, and share them with you.  I am jazzed to think maybe something I’ve experienced will click into place with someone else! That would be…amazing.

Bessie, Jene, Melissa, Ashley, Debbie, Maria, Ellen and I strike a pose!