I am so honored to be
your 2007 State Runner-Up Queen. It is
a dream come true for me.
But my story is not
unlike a lot of your stories…many
of you can probably relate to it.
I was an overweight
child who came home
everyday in tears. I was called some kind of ‘fat’
name everyday and was always chosen last to be on
someone’s team. I was put on my first diet when I
was 7 years old and given ‘diet pills’ by my doctor.
Back then the diet pills were amphetamines! My
dieting career had begun.
Junior High and High
School weren’t much better. My mom got me a
doctors note so I
wouldn’t have to dress out for PE and I sure didn’t
want to shower my 200 pound body in front of all the
skinny girls! I had a handful of close friends, but
never a boyfriend. I decorated for the school
dances, but never got invited to one.
No Prom, No Homecoming
dance for me. I was on the school newspaper, so I
wrote about these events and the pretty dresses the
girls would be wearing, but I never wore one myself.
I learned to laugh and
joke about my weight before someone else did. That
was all part of a ‘jolly fat girls’ mentality.
I went on all kinds of
crazy diets trying to lose weight quick.
The Apple Diet, The Hard Boiled
Egg Diet, The Stewardess Diet, just to name a few.
I always had the same results, I’d lose a little
weight, but end up heavier than when I started!
After High School I
managed to get below 200 pounds. I don’t even
remember what diet it was, but I am sure it wasn’t
very healthy. And in all my
dieting career, I had NEVER exercised…I
hated to exercise!
Thirty-Eight years ago
I married a wonderful man, who has loved me through
thick and thin……..mostly
the thick of it! During my one and only pregnancy I
gained 90 pounds and I only had 1 baby! When my son
was 35 years old I was still trying to lose that
baby weight and then some!
I was so desperate to
lose weight, over the course of several years I
tried many new things available to me: daily shots,
pills, hypnosis, acupuncture, diet doctors, Jenny
Craig, Weight Watchers, Nutri-System,
to name a few. TV and magazine ads caught my eye AND
my pocketbook…..offering
MAGIC PILLS for instant weight loss. But they all
said the same thing; For
these pills to work properly, follow the enclosed
diet plan and exercise at least 3 times a week! What
kind of magic pill was that!
By 2003 I weighed 353
pounds and my health was rapidly declining. I could
barely walk or breathe. I was using oxygen 24 hours
a day, everyday. I had to quit working,
then in 2005 I was
diagnosed with diabetes.
A relative had told me
about TOPS several years before and how successful
she had been. In fact I belonged to TOPS a number of
times, but had dropped out.
With a diagnosis of
diabetes and needing to lose over 100 pounds I knew
I needed to rejoin TOPS and get serious about losing
weight. I needed their help and support, plus I was
just plain scared……I
didn’t want diabetes to beat me!!
I rejoined TOPS # TX
598, FRITCH April of 2005 at a weight of 296.50
pounds. To my surprise I had lost 58 pounds after
having total knee replacements in 2004.
My head and heart were
truly in this decision to get healthy this time
around. I started following the diabetic exchange
plan and walking with 2 of my TOPS friends.
I had experienced diet
failures all my life, but this time I wasn’t
dieting. I was changing my way of life. I
reached my goal, with a loss of 116.50 pounds, April
of 2007, almost 2 years to the day that I had joined
TOPS.
I have received many
awards since rejoining TOPS but, none
so great as the last 2
days….receiving
my Century Club Medallion, being a KOPS graduate and
being your 2007 Runner-Up Queen. I’m even wearing my
long awaited Prom dress!!!
My advice?
Don’t ever give up! Set mini goals for yourself. Get
an exercise buddy or two if you can……or at least
make sure you exercise! Journal what you eat and
weigh in every week, being accountable is very
important.
Last but, not least,
get yourself a good support system. My family is
behind me 100 % and I love them dearly for that. My
chapter in Fritch has been very supportive, plus I
have been fortunate to have the TOPS internet group
support as well.
With the
TexasTOPS, and
CyberTOPS loops, these
wonderful people have been my behind the scenes
cheerleaders.
We all need as much
support and encouragement as we can get.
Thanks to
TOPS for helping to make
my dreams come true…….Now
go out and make them happen for you!!
