It all started when I was 15. My mom and I joined the local wellness center and I had my very first weigh-in ever. I'm talking about the first time I ever saw my weight with the intention of losing anythin at all. I can't recall the exact number but I was somewhere just shy of 150 lbs. At 5'2, I was considered overweight and my mom, being the loving parent that she is, saw this and wanted me to get started with exercise and diet.
Note that prior to 9th grade, I had been invovled in cheerleading, basketball, and volleyball at my middle school. I never really thought about my weight but may have been aware of being larger than some of the other girls. Shopping was never that fun. :(
During my 9th grade year, we embarked on the Atkins diet and worked out daily, weather at the wellness center or at home with a video (I'm talking BodyFlex with Greer Childers at 5:30am - check that out on YouTube). I think I probably lost about 20 lbs and kept it off for the most part though we did phase out both the diet and the exercising by the end of the year.
The following school year, I got a couple of my friends to do Atkins again. I was 16 and in the 10th grade. I got down to 120 lbs, which is still my lowest weight to date that I know of. I didn't really do Atkins in a super healthy way though my mom did try to make salads and send peppers and carrots in my lunches. I was known to order a Big Montana sans bun at Arby's along with the processed cheese. Hey - it was protein all the way, right!?
I maintained that weight for about a year to a year and a half. I think at my Junior prom I was around 130ish. I had really stopped watching what I ate but still involved in cheerleading. I had my first boyfriend and that is where things started going downhill.
During my senior year of high-school I found myself eating dinner at home then going out with my boyfriend to a second dinner. I gained all my weight back and had to wear a size 12 dress to my senior prom (I had worn a size 6 the previous year). I don't think I was really paying attention too much because I was so involved with that boyfriend.
I went off to college at age 19 and 155-ish lbs. I felt huge. The first year of college I continued with cheerleading and lost a little bit (maybe 10 lbs). My sophomore year, my family created their own biggest loser competition. I started out at 164 lbs and made it to 136 after 3 months of diet and exercise. I did The Firm five days a week, rested on Saturday and Sunday, and I ate small portions (basically the size of my fist or two). I never ate seconds, I never ate after 7pm, I drank only water and tea, and I never ate fast food except for Subway (no chips or soda) when I drove home on various occasions. I felt amazing!
I worked at a factory that summer to earn money and with the physical work and continued small portions I got down to 130 lbs. It was a fabulous summer. I went shopping, I felt sexy, I took pictures, and smiled all the time. Along comes the annual family reunion and I bomb out. I eat too much every day and am not active enough.
I never fully recover and by graduation I am 168 lbs. My boyfriend has dumped me and I'm looking for full-time jobs far away from my hometown. I land a position at a company in Charleston, SC. I think I was about 165 when I moved down a month after graduation.
My first year at my company, I have to wear business casual dress. I buy a bunch of new things because my old clothes don't fit. I have small success with another low carb venture but I only get down into the upper 150s.
From that point on, I've steadily gained weight. I think it's a combination of being sedentary and eating too much. There were times when I was heavily involved in exercise and eating right/good portions and I lost weight. But it just keeps coming back. I am officially at 241.6. How I long for those days of highschool where I thought 150 was huge.
I need to find something that is sustainable and my first hope is that I can conquer the portions. This is my #1 enemy. I don't want to deprive myself of foods I love but I do need to control the amount I eat. Beginning this diet bet is a way to keep myself accountable, win some money, and work on my portions (at least to start). My plan of attack is to eat more fresh fruit, eliminate soda, and stop eating after 7pm.
Let the game begin...