Let’s start off with some good news. It seems that even with my weekend detour, I lost another 2 pounds -- 2.2 pounds to be exact. I didn't realize how much weight I'd lost until a very embarrassing incident happened while visiting my mother this weekend. When I removed the belt from my jeans, they dropped all the way to the floor. Let's just say, thank God for Spanx!Now, on to today's post. For several weeks, Dan, Melissa, and I have shared our personal struggles with weight. While many of you have been very encouraging, there have been many who have not been so encouraging. That's fine for me. In some sadistic way, the negative comments have been a way to reinvigorate me. Sick but very true.
I often hear that people read our blog and some enjoy hearing our weekly toils. Yes, many feel that we are not working as hard as we should and you are entitled to your opinion. From the very beginning, I stated that my blogs would be a walk in my shoes – an opportunity to share stories and encourage those who share my issues while educating others who may not understand what it means to be overweight.
I made a very reasonable goal -- to lose 36 pounds this year and another 36 next year. Low by most people's standards, but it is my goal. To date, I have lost 21 pounds. I plan to lose another 20 pounds by August 15th. Am I perfect in my approach to weight loss? No and that was never my intention. Are there still things I can learn about nutrition, portion size and exercise? Absolutely! That's why I am a member of Weight Watchers. I have a great leader and my Wednesday team at-work is the most supportive group I know!
So Anon 5/10/2011 9:54, thank you for continuing to read our blog. I appreciate the time you are taking from your day to read our daily antics. Weight is a very personal issue – one that a lot of people in the Charlotte area struggle with every day. I will continue my charge to lose the weight; I am committed to that. I am just as committed to educating the masses about the various issues that overweight people face. Yes, it is often our fault that we are in this predicament, but that does not give anyone the right to ridicule anyone that finds themselves larger than others.
If you are like me and are struggling with weight, post a comment and share this with your Facebook friends. I know there are many overweight people out there. We don't have to sit in silence. Share the love. Post your comments. Let me see that FAT people (Faithful And True) can type.
Until next week.
Nancy Johnson
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26 comments:
What exactly are the "various issues" that you feel the masses need educating on in regards to morbid obesity? The media is awash in stories on the impact on society, health, finances of obesity. You can't go 30 minutes without seeing a story or a commercial about some item related to obesity these days.
Obesity isn't a disorder or some disease that afflicts people. It is a self imposed lifestyle choice with horrible and catastrophic impacts. People need to be educated on all sorts of diseases but obesity certainly isn't lacking for exposure or discussion these days.
Obese people are not a protected or special class. They are regular folks who have made the unfortunate decision to live unhealthy, period.
This is exactly what I'm talking about.
That's a mighty high horse your riding, 7:37. I think the point of a blog like this is to inspire others to put forth the large amount of effort it takes to change long standing behaviors - to encourage people to improve their own lives. I'd say that's a positive thing. Your overtly judgmental tone doesn't help. The internet is full of all kinds of content. If this post doesn't interest you, why spend time reading and commenting on it?
Well, Nancy, you said it yourself: "In some sadistic way, the negative comments have been a way to reinvigorate me. Sick but very true."
Initially, most comments did start out as very positive, providing tips and tricks to help each of you. However, as those of us reading the blogs have seen one of you three slip far behind the others, lack motivation, desire and be extremely weak, the comments turned to vitriol. As readers, we're owed nothing, but we all (or at least the vast majority) of us were rooting for all three of you from the get-go. It's like being a Panthers fan. We want them to win, but some of their decisions really just fly in your face and you feel obligated to let them know how you feel.
Just my $0.02, anyway. I think you and Dan are doing a fantastic job, and hope you guys can keep up the good work.
Keep up the good work. Make the changes a permanent part of your life so that straying from them feels bad.
Oh, and find that Melissa blogger, sit her down and get her back on track.
Nancy, keep it up. You should be proud. Those of you that have never fought this battle have absolutely no clue. If it were as easy as you say, there would be no overweight people. Its not all about being lazy. I'm one of the busiest people out there, and I fight this battle daily, have since I was EIGHT years old, and I have grandchildren now. I've lost it, gained it back. Its more about not taking time to take care of myself, to many others to take care of than being lazy as some of you say.
Right now, I'm losing again, slowly and safely for the first time. So, Nancy, keep it up, you inspire me!
7:37 - Must be nice being the first perfect man to walk the Earth since Jesus. Here are some of the "various issues" people need education on:
* - Waking up one morning and saying "I will no longer be obese" is not all it takes to no longer be obese. There are many possible reasons obese people have the bad habits they may have, and it takes time and effort to erase bad habits and establish good ones.
* - being at an ideal weight does not make you a superior life form to those that are not.
* - Ridiculing someone for struggling with something you do not struggle with is wrong. It doesn't benefit you or the person you ridicule. Try saying something helpful for a change.
But of course, none of this applies to you, right? After all, you are perfect, completely without flaw.
You're a legend only in your own mind.
Great blog Nancy. Being overweight is not simply a choice. If it were, I would have been healthy and thin my entire life. There are underlying causes to some people's overeating. Its easy to get depressed and/or embarrassed about your weight and unhealthy style of living. Only those that have experienced the little embarrassments overweight people live with everyday, will understand how easy it is to end up depressed, and it can become a viscious cycle usually causing more weight gain.
Thank you Nancy, Dan, and Melissa for being an inspiration to all of us that have weight to lose. The three of you have kept it real, good times and bad and helped us to acknowledge that we are not alone in the battle of the bulge.
Keep on fighting the good fight. We are cheering you on!
You can justify being fat any way you want to make yourselves feel better but it won't change the fact that it is simply up to you what you put in your body. You are entirely in control of what you eat and how you live. Blaming a busy life, depression, etc for your fatness is a smoke screen.
And, I'm so sick and tired of the fat posters on this forum saying that unless you are fat you have no idea. That is bologna. I got heavy in my 30s and lost the weight and have kept it off. I know exactly what it is like and what it takes. If you are still fat and can't change your life, that's on you and no one else. Man/woman up! Stop making excuses. Stop whining. Start moving.
Everyone has to start somewhere, and the most effective way to start is to set small goals for yourself. Every time you achieve one of those small goals, your self confidence grows. I have already witnessed you standing up straighter, being more active, and flashing that beautiful smile more often. The results of your weight loss are evident in more ways than just the numbers on the scale. I am proud of the progress you are making, and I am confident that you will continue to meet your goals and become an example for all of us to follow.
I find it very hard to criticize Nancy who has lost weight. Not everyone can drop 150 lbs in 6 weeks. She's taken a solid approach of eating less, moving more and the scale is moving. Good for her, and more importantly- it sounds like her daughter has seen similar success.
Losing weight is not easy. And YES people do have varying metabolisms. No metabolism allows for goring oneself, but if you are like many women, you end up needing to eat 1400-1500 calories a day to lose a pound or two a week.
Often times weightloss is less about burger binges and icecream sundaes and more about the fact that overtime you eat 200-300 calories too many a day.
At any rate, if the scale is moving down, and you feel happier and healthier, you are making progress and that is great. Could you lose faster if you ate more strictly and exercised like a fiend? Probably, but then could you maintain that- probably not!
What I've posted before, I will post again. I really think it's a good idea to see a doctor before you start weight loss AND to seek counseling. Unfortunately, many people who respond to this blog think I am being insensitive or mean in stating this. I am perplexed at this. I'm not saying that obese people are somehow mentally challenged. But in many cases, obese people seek comfort in food and there is usually a root cause of this. Think of an alcoholic or drug addict. Many times the reason they get to that point is because of something that is hard or painful in their current or past life. If you can talk with a professional about what causes the addictive behavior, you can many times find a solution to overcome...work past that difficulty. And for those of you who will retort that "you don't know what it's like"....I do. I have overcome all these things and I sought professional help in doing so. A person is not somehow less of a person because of it. In fact, the adage "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" has some validity. But some of you who are so quick to shoot back at the people who comment...take a chill pill and then a good look at yourself. If you're not happy with what you see, don't fire back at others. Do something about it. And Nancy....go on with your bad self!
To Anonymous at May 12, 2011 10:00 AM :
So you got heavy in your 30's and got it off. Good for you. Glad it worked for you. I was heavy from the time I started school. Got down to a size 8 in my 30's, but didn't address the issues that got me heavy in the first place. You're so judgmental.
I'm changing my life, as you say, and I'm not whining. I'm just offering encouragement, and taking it from Nancy. Down 20 pounds so far, making the changes. I don't need you to judge, and neither does anyone else struggling. I could "start moving" in my 30's. Can't so well now. So that has to be taken much slower now. Like I said, glad you were able to succeed. Don't judge those of us that are still trying (as I eat my grilled chicken tossed salad with non-fat dressing).
Don't confuse non fat with non calorie. And, I could really care le
Being called fat isn't a judgment call. It is a fact. If you are fat, you are fat, no judgment involved.
I think it is awesome the blogger is losing weight.
WOW! Just goes to show you that some people are just plain MEAN. I try my best to do as my parents told me, and if I don't have anything positive to say, I don't say anything at all. Too bad not everyone was raised by my parents!
I'm in your boat, Nancy. In fact, I'm in your WW meeting every Wednesday, and you have my FULL support and praise for what you've accomplished. Keep it up, and if you ever need a shoulder, I'm here.
Just know that you are very much appreciated.
There is no such thing as a perfect weight so those of you who so rudely ridicule these bloggers should be ashamed of yourselves. Those of us that are overweight and are putting in the work to make it right KNOW THAT WE HAVE MADE SOME BAD CHOICES. We don't need anyone to bring that to light for us. Why would you be reading a blog for people in WW if you don't need help yourselves??? Good thing you don't have to post a pic of yourselves along with your comments because I believe you may not be as perfect as you think you are. We are all equal under God and guess what? He knows what you have written!!!
The whole family is on a diet and the first week I lost 7lbs. my wife lost 6lbs. my son lost 4lbs. and my daughter lost 3.5lbs. Why? Because we all decided it was time to start making better choices then the ones WE KNEW WE WERE MAKING BEFORE!
I am glad you are invigorated by the Nasty Anons, as I like to call them. I find them disgusting cowards who would never say to your face what they say on the blogs. God knows what they type and I am sure it won't help them when they need help someday - but I know you will still pray for them because you are not nasty.
You look amazing. Wow, you can really see the weight loss in that picture. Congratulations on your success.
One more thing. Some of your readers (me) - even if thinner now - are the "fat people" with all of the same struggles - just, at the moment, in a different place. If someone has been 40-60 lbs overweight since high school and lost and gained some of the weight after fad diets,
starvation, 10x over but then really did it like you...believe me, we are the fat people and I hope you know you'll always be - at least in your head. When you know it, I believe, you'll be more successful at keeping it off. It's working for me because I know, know, know that i could be 40 lbs heavier in the blink of an eye.
All that said, I do hope those in the early stages of the struggle put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard as it HELPs to talk, write and get support. Thanks for all of yours (and the other bloggers) even in the face of nasty.
Continued good luck.
I too am struggling with weight loss and read this blog regularly. I am encouraged by by reading how I am not the only one who struggles with this. I have lost only 15 pounds since November but that is 15 pounds less than I did weigh. With health issues (diabetes, hypothyroidism)I know I must loose this extra weight. I have about 60 more to loose and it will probably take me a couple years but I want to thank you for allowing me to take this journey with you all. PS: I just walked my 1st 5K this past weekend!!!
I love how this blog deletes posts and the associated comments when they don't go the way they want them to.
If Melissa can't handle the truth, that's her problem.
Anyone who posts as an anonymous entity is a coward, especially when your posts are negative. Step up, show yourself, and make your point. But so many of you never will. You hide behind your computer screens like those cowardly Klansmen used to. Cowards all.
"Anonymous" ONCE AND FOR ALL SHUT THE **** UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are all tired of your CONTINUOUS POSTS!!!! This blog only serves to allow you to type your vicious and hateful comments.NO ONE here gives one crap about what you think!!!!!!!!!!!! Melissa can "handle" alot more than you can,after all she was willing to show her face and share her personal story. ALL you can do is post your hate under "anonymous." Now go fall in a deep hole!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah Anonymous...why don't YOU go play in some traffic somewhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shut up all you fat enablers. You guys are doing Melissa, et al. more harm than good. You aren't encouraging her to lose weight, you're encouraging the status quo, which is morbid obesity.
Also, KMAL? Your profile isn't publicly available, that makes you as big a coward as anyone posting under the Anonymous username. Coward. Hypocrite.
Kerri - apparently Melissa can't handle it either. I suppose I couldn't after continually failing at every goal I set myself to.
I wonder if she ate the Golden Corral buffet tonight?
Yo, Isabella! I'm gonna be a tough girl and tell you to go play in traffic! How about you take a long walk off a short pier? I'm cooler than you and more along the lines of "keeping it real" because I'm posting under a name that I enter instead of Anonymous. But, when it comes down to it, it's really the same difference, I can enter any name I like.
Look, Barack Obama posted this message!!!
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