Diet is only a 4 letter word

Diet is only a 4 letter word

What is the best diet? Do diets plans really work?  They should right? I mean dieting can’t be that hard, after all it’s only a 4 letter word. 

That’s what I told myself over and over again since I was 25 when I slowly started gaining weight. I felt sad. Imagine getting a magazine subscription every other month in the mail except I received the “talk” or received a healthy / diet cookbook for every birthday, holiday or special occasion. Embarrassing for sure and I felt even worse. I never wanted to be in a picture and stood in the back.

I used to look in the mirror and see this beautiful young lady who had an athlete’s body. Who is this woman who put on only 1lb a month? 1lb a month for 12 months (12lbs) x 10 years is 120lbs. Wow, now I ask myself who is this lady in the mirror. I beat myself up every day. I was truly depressed. I became the overachiever simply to make my parents proud … “look at me, look at me” (waving to see if anyone would notice). They didn’t and continued to slide backward.

I was elated to have had weight loss surgery. Initially, I lost 130 lbs., but like most, experienced regain. I learned through this process, the scale doesn’t define me. Dieting does not work. It is a lifelong, “lifestrong”, lifestyle change. It takes a great deal of focus every day to stay on track and make the right choices. We will fall from time to time, but find support and ways to hold ourselves accountable.

There are so many great resources in our community. Find one that’s right for you!

 

Peace & Blessings,
Dawn Hurlebaus