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A re-post from a Successful Bander

Hey all! I hope your day has been going fabulous!! I was re-reading Amy W's blog and ran across this entry. I think it says so much about what I have been doing and maybe some of you might see a little of this in yourselves as well. I know I am guilty of it so when I read this entry it just rang true. Amy is such an inspiration to me. Once Upon a Time in the Land of Cheese and Sunkist was the very first blog I started reading and I got hooked. I almost became a stalker of this wonderfully funny charismatic young woman. She hasn't posted in a while, but I know she is still out there, probably still riding high off of her recent birthday. Amy I need a post because I'm starting to have withdraw symptoms.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009
A BIG FAT Comparison
I have been mulling over this post for a few days. I wanted to talk about comparing our weight loss with others. I wonder if my feelings would be different if I were at the low end of the spectrum...but here goes:

My thought on comparing our weight loss with other's weight loss is....

DON'T DO IT

It only feels good when you are "winning". The rest of the time, it makes you feel like a failure. There is no point in it really. It doesn't matter if someone was banded the same time as you or not. We are all built different, shaped different, have different genes, and different jean sizes. Our daily lives are different, our environment is different, our bands are different. And with all those differences, why would you expect to have the same results? For example, Mary, who was banded months after me, has now passed me in weight loss. Do you know why? For all the reasons I listed above AND because she works out more than me and probably doesn't sneak Sunkist into her desk drawer. So I don't beat myself up about it. Would you like someone else to beat you up? No. So why do it to yourself?

We chose the band for various reasons. Hopefully though, we all knew that the band was a slower weight loss, 1-2 pounds on average. But still we, (ME) get cranky when on AVERAGE, that is what we lose. It's like we look at the scale and say "Ah HELL NO BIATCH....ONE POUND!" Like we didnt know that is what is expected. We want Biggest Loser numbers! Well guess what!? We dont work out with the hot Gillian or Bob 8 hours a day on a magical ranch. We live real lives with kids, work, cheetos, parents. And we are succeeding. You know how we feel when one of the contestants are standing up there boohooing about "only" losing 6 pounds in a week? Do you ever think that maybe other, nonbanded folk, look at us the same way when we bitch about only losing 4, 6, or 8 pounds in a month? How quickly we have forgotten that we used to GAIN that in a month.

I started this journey in January at 327 pounds. When I hear people starting off at a weight like 233 (where I am now) or lower, and referring to themselves as FAT COWS, or saying "I can't believe I weigh 233...do I get my feelings hurt? No, bc I am smart enough to realize that weight is relative. So while at 233 I feel like I am doing pretty good....for others....that is their highest weight ever. BUT, my point is that when you are feeling like an unpolished turd about your weight, remember that there are those that started even fatter than you! I look at the girl on the Biggest Loser who weighs over 400 pounds and I am grateful for my 327 pound starting weight because I had a head start on her.

We are doing this.
We are changing our present and our future.
We can't change the past, but we can learn from it.
We will and we can be better, do better, and live better.
mmmhmmm...Yes We Can (sorry, I felt like Obama half way into my speech and had to throw that it in).

I am writing this for all of us! Sometimes the girl in the mirror with the pointed toe needs a reminder too! Love ya blog buds!


To read this in full Amy W. form click here

7 comments:

Jen said...

Amy is the queen. I remember reading that post and it struck something in me. We need to remind oursleves of this more often! Thanks for sharing.

Pamela - if you keep posing awesome pictures...you know I'm going to make you a header right? I can't help myself. lol :)

Pamela E. Williams said...

Jennifer you made me LOL for realz!!

Yes Amy is the Queen!! I bow that that crazy chick.

And you ever feel the need to make me a banner some day, then you know what I wouldn't dare stop you. I would consider it a SUPREME honor!!

Bonnie said...

I really think I'm going to be starstruck when I meet her in Chicago. If I can manage to squeak out anything it will probably be, "can I have your autograph?" Smooth!

Lena said...

I so love reading Amy's blog. I would love to meet her one day as she only lives about 50 miles away.

Also, I am nominating you for an award. Check it out at my page.

gettingmyskinnyon.blogspot.com

The Banded Lady said...

Good stuff, good stuff.

Angela said...

I remember that post too. Thanks for bringing it back. It definitely helps put things in perspective.

Amy W. said...

well HECK! I am pretty eloquent arent I (re: unpolished TURD). Thank you for reposting that. I had forgotten that once I was wise and blogged like a good lady blogger. Thank you for slapping me back into blog land. I loves you Pammie EEEE! and jennifer, and Bonnie, and Lena, and Banded Lady, and Angela.