Trapped Inside of Me – “CELEBRATE!”

Trapped Inside of Me – “CELEBRATE!”

I wanted to start this blog off with one of my favorite songs from the “Dream Girls” movie soundtrack by R&B Singer, Jennifer Hudson, titled “I Am Changing”.  (Please click the link in the middle to play.) Please listen carefully to the words and I hope it encourages you wherever needed. Every time I listen to it I get something different out of it and although it is a secular song I find a little inspiration to press forward! ~Enjoy

http://youtu.be/nYuFvu2gdFU

Celebrate this moment – JUST BECAUSE you can! I have good news to report…I am happy to celebrate that six pounds of me are FREE! I finally bought a scale (HA!) and although I was apprehensive about getting on it; I finally did the inevitable  and WHAM! The numbers are moving “to the left…to the left…to the left”! Now I am sure I could have done better but I must admit that I slacked at going to the gym the past couple of weeks. I had a little setback and I am now trying to get back on track. My goal for next week is to be free of two more pounds. WAIT! I guess I should share what I am exactly doing to assist with my lifestyle change to becoming healthier. Well, I started Weight Watchers online with a dear friend of mine and also an awesome accountability partner. What I have learned through Weight Watchers is portion control. It has been the most awesome transition I have dedicated myself to doing. I do treat myself to certain things as a mild celebration but I grind hard to stay focused. Yes, I count points and it helps me to consider carefully what I want to eat. I now eat more fruits than I ever have because I used to prefer sweet treats instead that would pack on not only the inches but the pounds as well. So, I NOW enjoy eating blueberries, strawberries, mangoes, raisins, and apples and find that it is actually quite satisfying and takes care of those sweet treat cravings.

Whether you have lost a quarter of a pound or one…CELEBRATE! Pat yourself on the back and be proud of yourself for passing up that doughnut or that bag of Lay’s Potato Chips. If you have given up one can of soda this week for a bottle of water instead – GOOD FOR YOU! I am not big on drinking sodas but I had a hard time just drinking water so one thing that I do to “motivate” myself to drink water is use Crystal Light water enhancers (flavors) or you can add lemon juice. Eventually your body will start craving just good ole plain water and I LOVE it now! Find your substitution for the things you love to eat but are not loving you back and open yourself up to CELEBRATING with YOU in mind! I would LOVE for you to share with me what changes you have made for the NEW KIND OF YOU!

Trapped Inside of Me – The Silent Addiction

I titled this segment “The Silent Addiction” because the problem is widely seen but is the least favored subject. I hope to change that…one reader at a time. In my last blog I shared some of the identifiers that lead to “emotional eating” or “overeating”. It’s a hard truth to face but an even harder truth to do something about it. Obesity is the addiction no one wants to talk about because in the society we live in there’s a “to each their own” mentality. We hear ALL the information one could stand to hear on weight loss regimens that include pills and special diets  (crash diets) that only becomes a band-aid to the problem. Trust me I know! I have done the “special teas”, weight loss pills, shakes and etc. but no one gave me anything to help me with those emotional triggers that would have me making a beeline to the refrigerator or the snack aisle at the grocery store. No one sat down with me and simply asked, “Gina, what’s EATING you?” (Literally!)  So when I became upset about something that alarm would ring off in me to EAT whatever I thought I had a craving for that seemingly just “appeared”. It is easy to withdraw from family and friends when food provides you with this temporary comfort that operates like a quick-fix drug that sends you on this high and crashes fast with nothing left to do but seek the next fix! (I’m just keeping it real!)

One of the reasons I believe obesity is one of the least addictions talked about is because no one wants to come across as offensive, disrespectful, or hurt someone’s feelings and I totally understand how that can be portrayed. One of my goals in this blog series is to bring awareness and share my story. I still struggle with dealing with those emotional triggers and just plain old poor eating habits. This is real folks! People are on lifetime maintenance medication for illnesses due to poor choices about food. People have lost their limbs due to complications from diabetes from poor eating habits. Some people have lost their lives. My personal goal is to not fall prey or victim these things because I know that’s NOT God’s will for my life. If you’re battling this and you’re reading this blog…It’s NOT God’s will for your life either! I know there are many of you feeling trapped on the inside and I certainly hope you make a decision that you want to be HEALTHY & LIVE your best life according to God’s will! I don’t have all the answers, solutions, or how-to’s but I do have a voice! Will you speak up?!

Trapped Inside of Me

This blog series, “Trapped Inside of Me” is one that hits very close to home. I want the opportunity to give an introduction as to what I am embarking upon. It deals with the epitome of who I am, who desire to be, and what I desire to do with my life. This series will dig deep within the underlying areas that most would not reveal. The good, the bad, and the ugly.  This is probably the boldest and riskiest thing I have ever done in my life! I am openly admitting that I have an addiction. This addiction comforts me when life throws me curve balls, when my feelings are hurt, when I feel lonely, and/or just plain old bored. It is called “FOOD!” Sounds ridiculous, right? Well, unless you’re walking in my shoes or in my skin, as I am sure many of you may understand and are probably too ashamed to admit it or perhaps you joke about it as I once did to appease my own discomfort.

I have encountered triumphs and successes in my life and I have also encountered failures and disappointments. One of my greatest disappointments has been conquering this mountain of living an unhealthy lifestyle that can potentially render so many health failures, such as: heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, high cholesterol, aching joints, depression, and etc. The list goes on and on. Improper eating, binge eating, and/or overeating also play a significant part in our everyday living with self-esteem, confidence, and judgment from others.  I won’t bore you just yet on what research says about obesity but I will share what it is like inside my world as I take this journey…one day at a time. There is a whole world outside of the world that I live in…or shall I say, trapped in. I have tried this attempt several times in my life but never to the point of becoming so transparent and sharing it with people whom I may never encounter in life, however; if you have lived in this world (metaphorically) that I am talking about, then you know exactly where I am coming from.

This is not a “New Year’s Resolution” or a “quick fix” but a commitment to live my best life because I am only afforded one on this side of time. I invite you on the journey… “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.” 3 John 1:2 

LET’S GO!