Julie’s Changes Along the Long Journey

Goals are set and sometimes tend to go by the wayside. I went for a run the other day, and was thinking about my weight loss journey. I was thinking about the goals I had set in the beginning and what I wanted most out of my journey.

It was then that I realized just how much all of that has changed along the way. I thought I would share this aspect of my own experience with you as I do some of my own reflecting.

Attempts in the Past

I have been trying to lose weight since I was in middle school. I have tried so many strategies and spent thousands of dollars on programs and gimmicks. You might be wondering what made me sign up for these things. My goal was to look better and I wanted buy cute clothes.

This is motivation for many people to lose weight. But in my own opinion, that may help you stay motivated, but it will NOT be enough to keep you going on the journey for life if that is your sole purpose for losing weight.

My First Real Motivator

When my first daughter Tessa was born I made the decision to head out on my final journey to lose weight. My reason at this point was to live longer and be the best me I could be, so that I could watch my daughter grow up. Motherhood taught me so much about myself. As any of you who are parents know, you get to that point where you realize it’s not about you anymore. I was going to do this for her.

As I went on in the journey, I realized somewhere along the line that if I wanted to stay successful, I ultimately have to do it for myself. My girls can be my motivation, but I have to keep myself first so I can be the best me. If I am doing it for someone else, the chances of me getting off track eventually are inevitable.

You have to want it for yourself.

Food Changes

My food started out as anything I wanted as long as in my calorie range. I would eat fast food often as long as I counted the calories. I have come to learn that there are so many more things that affect your body other than just calories. I am conscious of my fiber, sodium, calories, and whether it’s whole or not.

Over time I went from one mindset to an entirely different mindset.

Now I want to put the best foods in my body. I was the kind of girl who went to fast food restaurants daily and multiple times a day. I can say I have been fast food free for 9 months and I also gave up soda. I don’t miss either one at all because my tastes and cravings have changed.

Physical Activity Changes

I started working out to lose weight. I wanted to focus on burning calories and losing weight. Now I work out to feel good, be healthy, and do what I love. My calorie burn is honestly the last thing on my mind when I work out. I want to just enjoy and get the most out of what I am doing.

I have fitness goals now. I have become a runner, and have many goals set for my running. I LOVE running, and the satisfaction if gives me. I didn’t care about goals at the beginning.

What I Ultimately Want from My Journey

My old goals seem so trivial compared to what I really want now. It has become my focus, and most important mission to teach my daughters how to be active, how to eat a balanced diet, in moderation, and how to feel beautiful. The most important thing to me in this whole journey now is to teach my girls how to feel beautiful and confident, and respect their bodies for what they can do.

In my new life that I have now since losing weight, I can teach them all of these things. I couldn’t have taught them that before because I didn’t believe it or feel it. I wasn’t living the example. I have a two year old who loves steel cut oats, broccoli, tuna, eggs, lettuce, and cookies of course , in moderation. She points to the birth mark on her shoulder and says pretty. She feels beautiful.

Message of Encouragement

It is hard sometimes becausethe journey is long; I am 2 years in and almost at my goal weight. But I have learned so much that I wouldn’t have learned had it been an overnight change. I have experienced many changes throughout the past couple years.

We have to embrace the journey, no matter how long or hard, and take each day for what it is. We need to be the best we can be, forgiving ourselves, and moving on to what is in store for us.

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