Where my Story Starts: From Fat to Chunky and All in Between
What is it like being overweight?
How did she ever let herself go like that?
She is so beautiful, if only she would lose weight.
It must be hereditary, her whole family is fat.
Yeah, those hurt. A little. Us fatties, we learn to develop a thick skin. (In public anyway-then we grab some Blue Bell and hit the couch and watch Hairspray cuz that fat chick was mad cool) We learn to crack jokes at our own expense. Like Fat Amy if we make fun of ourselves so that twiggies don't have to! You may look at me and say why is this lady talking about being a fatty when CLEARLY she isn't. Well #1 thank you, and #2 I WAS. So deep at heart I still am. What people don't realize when they are judging people for their appearance is that YOU DON'T KNOW THEIR STORY! So here is mine. Boring parts and all.
Once upon a time in a far off land lived a fair skinned, four-eyed, cargo pants & plaid shirt wearing, chubby cellist named Amandissa. She lived in a town called Greateth Fallseth, Montanaeth. (Ok, if you didn't get that--Great Falls, Montana--Focus). She lived with her single mom Penelope and her two wicked sisters Rachelle & Ashlene. All of these beauties were blessed with the chunkiness of God's Cherubs. Full-figured, rotund, juicy, yet modest babes. Their community, you see, was thriving with over-sized people and glorious amounts of delicious taco spots. So you could see why this battle lasted an eternity (and still rages on today). -------->Yawn, lets fast forward a smidge.
So along comes 2007. I was married, had two children, just graduated from college, and my husband received orders to Hurlburt Field, Florida. (I know what you're thinking-I had no idea where that was either). It is in the gloriously beautiful Florida Panhandle. I was 300 lbs, my husband was a trim and buff 180, and I was like, "what in the h*#% am I going to do in Florida?" I was totally allergic to the outdoors, disliked any physical activity whatsoever, and refused to fix my hair to go outside and sweat it out within 47 seconds. But I had no alternative-so off I went!
Fortunately for us, we lived right across the street from the bases' most prominent running track. So I really enjoyed looking out my kitchen window to see these muscular toned women jogging in shorts from Baby GAP and sports bras! I was like---no I cannot go on living like a hermit in my fat shell. From then on, as soon as I put my daughter on the school bus I threw my son in a stroller and we walked to the beach everyday. At first, I panicked. Sweat, ew. And I don't know about you but my mind won't allow my mouth to close when I walk, jog, or run. When I breathe it sounds like I would imagine a cow on a treadmill would. But I remained faithful to those morning walks. And after about three months of them, I started getting comments about my weight loss. I almost started taking offense! Like "oh I am sorry I didn't know what a disgusting pig I was." But truth was...I felt GREAT! I slept better, I was more confident, and I was ready to take this action to the next level!
Fat peoples biggest fear? THE GYM. No surprise there. I used to casually stroll into the gym like a pro, meanwhile, stretching my arms while slyly trying to read the instructions pasted on each machine. Over time, I owned it. I made sure to do outdoor cardio for at least 30 minutes. That usually entailed speed walking and jogging the track. Then I pushed myself to do push-ups, sit-ups, leg lifts, and dips outside before I went in and worked on weights or machines. The thing is, we let our mind take over our body! We are capable of much more than our minds allow us to be. Push a little further each day and I promise you will do more than you ever thought possible when you first make the decision to change. It's totally a lifestyle adjustment.
NO EXCUSES! No matter how tired I was, no matter where I was, and no matter what people said about what I was doing. that never stopped me. I woke up each day feeling like I was finally in the right body---like I was finally the "me" I always had inside. Walked with confidence, smiled with grace, spoke with certainty, and found my inner vixen. Just ask my husband. BUT GUESS WHAT? There was no miracle pill, no quick fix, no "drink your meals the rest of your life" plan. Do you want to know how long it took me to get from fatty fat mcfatterson to chunky chick? 3 years (1095 days or 156 weeks or 26,280 hours)...however you want to look at it. Time, patience, persistence, consistence, and support. TRUST IN YOURSELF. Your battle now is worth a million journeys later.
UPDATE: 2022
I did it. I finally did it! After over a decade of work outs, diets, learning to adapt to my new body...I did something for me. I got a tummy tuck (skin removal) and a breast reduction and lift. I battled with the decision to do so for quite sometime. The recoup time, the financial aspect of it, the "what would I gain" questions. Here's why I did it. Mainly, because I wanted to. Secondly, I promised myself if I was going to do it-I had to have the ability to pay cash for it. And it just so happened 2020 was my best year ever in real estate so I was able to afford it. Thirdly, life circumstance and my timeline to recoup all lined up. So it was just meant to be. My recovery went amazing and here I am almost two years post op and I am all back to normal and feeling AMAZING, I would never change that decision or go back and do anything differently. I earned this new body. I worked hard to get here. I am owning it.
My story...one in a million.
Write your own.
Choose your ending.
Don't wait another minute.
You are only given one life, why aren't you living it now?
How did she ever let herself go like that?
She is so beautiful, if only she would lose weight.
It must be hereditary, her whole family is fat.
Yeah, those hurt. A little. Us fatties, we learn to develop a thick skin. (In public anyway-then we grab some Blue Bell and hit the couch and watch Hairspray cuz that fat chick was mad cool) We learn to crack jokes at our own expense. Like Fat Amy if we make fun of ourselves so that twiggies don't have to! You may look at me and say why is this lady talking about being a fatty when CLEARLY she isn't. Well #1 thank you, and #2 I WAS. So deep at heart I still am. What people don't realize when they are judging people for their appearance is that YOU DON'T KNOW THEIR STORY! So here is mine. Boring parts and all.
Once upon a time in a far off land lived a fair skinned, four-eyed, cargo pants & plaid shirt wearing, chubby cellist named Amandissa. She lived in a town called Greateth Fallseth, Montanaeth. (Ok, if you didn't get that--Great Falls, Montana--Focus). She lived with her single mom Penelope and her two wicked sisters Rachelle & Ashlene. All of these beauties were blessed with the chunkiness of God's Cherubs. Full-figured, rotund, juicy, yet modest babes. Their community, you see, was thriving with over-sized people and glorious amounts of delicious taco spots. So you could see why this battle lasted an eternity (and still rages on today). -------->Yawn, lets fast forward a smidge.
So along comes 2007. I was married, had two children, just graduated from college, and my husband received orders to Hurlburt Field, Florida. (I know what you're thinking-I had no idea where that was either). It is in the gloriously beautiful Florida Panhandle. I was 300 lbs, my husband was a trim and buff 180, and I was like, "what in the h*#% am I going to do in Florida?" I was totally allergic to the outdoors, disliked any physical activity whatsoever, and refused to fix my hair to go outside and sweat it out within 47 seconds. But I had no alternative-so off I went!
Fortunately for us, we lived right across the street from the bases' most prominent running track. So I really enjoyed looking out my kitchen window to see these muscular toned women jogging in shorts from Baby GAP and sports bras! I was like---no I cannot go on living like a hermit in my fat shell. From then on, as soon as I put my daughter on the school bus I threw my son in a stroller and we walked to the beach everyday. At first, I panicked. Sweat, ew. And I don't know about you but my mind won't allow my mouth to close when I walk, jog, or run. When I breathe it sounds like I would imagine a cow on a treadmill would. But I remained faithful to those morning walks. And after about three months of them, I started getting comments about my weight loss. I almost started taking offense! Like "oh I am sorry I didn't know what a disgusting pig I was." But truth was...I felt GREAT! I slept better, I was more confident, and I was ready to take this action to the next level!
Fat peoples biggest fear? THE GYM. No surprise there. I used to casually stroll into the gym like a pro, meanwhile, stretching my arms while slyly trying to read the instructions pasted on each machine. Over time, I owned it. I made sure to do outdoor cardio for at least 30 minutes. That usually entailed speed walking and jogging the track. Then I pushed myself to do push-ups, sit-ups, leg lifts, and dips outside before I went in and worked on weights or machines. The thing is, we let our mind take over our body! We are capable of much more than our minds allow us to be. Push a little further each day and I promise you will do more than you ever thought possible when you first make the decision to change. It's totally a lifestyle adjustment.
NO EXCUSES! No matter how tired I was, no matter where I was, and no matter what people said about what I was doing. that never stopped me. I woke up each day feeling like I was finally in the right body---like I was finally the "me" I always had inside. Walked with confidence, smiled with grace, spoke with certainty, and found my inner vixen. Just ask my husband. BUT GUESS WHAT? There was no miracle pill, no quick fix, no "drink your meals the rest of your life" plan. Do you want to know how long it took me to get from fatty fat mcfatterson to chunky chick? 3 years (1095 days or 156 weeks or 26,280 hours)...however you want to look at it. Time, patience, persistence, consistence, and support. TRUST IN YOURSELF. Your battle now is worth a million journeys later.
UPDATE: 2022
I did it. I finally did it! After over a decade of work outs, diets, learning to adapt to my new body...I did something for me. I got a tummy tuck (skin removal) and a breast reduction and lift. I battled with the decision to do so for quite sometime. The recoup time, the financial aspect of it, the "what would I gain" questions. Here's why I did it. Mainly, because I wanted to. Secondly, I promised myself if I was going to do it-I had to have the ability to pay cash for it. And it just so happened 2020 was my best year ever in real estate so I was able to afford it. Thirdly, life circumstance and my timeline to recoup all lined up. So it was just meant to be. My recovery went amazing and here I am almost two years post op and I am all back to normal and feeling AMAZING, I would never change that decision or go back and do anything differently. I earned this new body. I worked hard to get here. I am owning it.
My story...one in a million.
Write your own.
Choose your ending.
Don't wait another minute.
You are only given one life, why aren't you living it now?