How has SBD changed your life?

[duker]

I posted a question earlier about SBD having an impact on other areas of your life (other than weightloss), but is anyone willing to share how this way of eating has changed your mood, energy levels, relationships, self-confidence? I know that there are many empowering stories out there of how eating cleaner can change your personality and impact a variety of areas of your life, so please post here and let everyone hear your success!

I know most of us are focusing on weightloss as the #1 priority, but it would be wonderful to hear how eating more healthy has promoted positive change in other parts of your life! If you have an amazing weightloss story though, please feel free to post here as well! Any empowering sucess is welcome and should be celebrated!

[tinytowngoddess]

Originally Posted by duker

I posted a question earlier about SBD having an impact on other areas of your life (other than weightloss), but is anyone willing to share how this way of eating has changed your mood, energy levels, relationships, self-confidence? I know that there are many empowering stories out there of how eating cleaner can change your personality and impact a variety of areas of your life, so please post here and let everyone hear your success!

Since changing my way of life January 1 of this year, it has impacted more than my scale. It has changed the way I feel and the way I think about myself.

I have lost only 20 lbs so far, but I assure you, I've gained much more than I've lost, in terms of what that 20 lbs. loss has done for my confidence level and physical well-being.

First, the physical changes are nothing less than remarkable. I no longer go to sleep every time I sit still. I no longer feel tired all the time. I sleep at night, and wake up in the morning ready to get up. I have less gas (indelicate, I know, but true) and fewer headaches. I can get my wedding band off for the first time in two years (though it goes right back on. ) I have fewer chins, I took another notch up in my Super Steel Reinforced Industrial Strength Bra. I'm not hungry. I don't have that gnawing sense of always wanting something to eat. I know that when you weigh as much as I do, 20 lbs isn't much in the Grand Scheme of Things, but to me it means a lot. Which leads me to the other changes this way of life has made in me.

Because I so rarely get hungry, I can approach food from a more sane direction. I can eat without stuffing myself, and I can stop before I eat too much. I control food, instead of it controlling me. I'm also feeling more in control in other areas of my life. I've never been able to lose weight before or stay on a "diet" for more than a couple of weeks without giving up in defeat. Now that I see a steady change in the numbers after 6 weeks, I know I can do this. Have you any idea what a confidence booster that is? It no longer bothers me that I'm so big, because I know I won't always be so. I hold my head up more, and find I love telling people how healthy eating is changing my body and my life.

I am blessed with a husband who loves me - fat, thin, no matter what. And the rest of my family is also incredibly supportive this time, unlike times past when they'd just roll their eyes at "another diet." But I'm not doing it for them. I'm doing it for me. I woke up one day and realized I was nearly 300 lbs on a 5'3" frame, and that I was going to die of heart disease or diabetes or some other horrible disease and it would be my OWN FAULT, because I refused to do what was necessary to heal myself. Now I have the confidence that comes with knowing that I can control my destiny, at least as it pertains to what goes in my mouth and on my body.

I have begun to re-explore some goals I let go of because of physical limitations. I am considering going back to school to learn a trade. The BA I earned while sitting on my ever more corpulent backside is useless to me. I find I want to DO something besides hide out under my baggy clothes and eat.

So, to make a long story shorter, SBD and the way of life I've adopted from it have definitely impacted all areas of my life, from how I feel about myself to how others view me. I know that I am what I choose to be. And I am choosing to reclaim my health and the body I had way back when. It's in there somewhere. I'm excavating it, a little at a time.

I'll shut up now. Thanks for a great question. I'll look for the other thread.

Jean

[Jennyl]

I feel like I'm doing something healthy for my body. I'm giving my body the proper nutrients it needs. I'm not overdoing the fat but I don't do low fat either. I eat some whole grains but I don't go nuts over the carbs. I feel like I am able to eat in moderation without cutting out entire food groups....except the junk food group!! When I eat crap, I feel like crap.

[duker]

Tinytowngoddess,

Thank you so much for sharing your success story. Your words have inspired me not to give up this time. When adopting a nutritional program, most people focus on numbers- inches, lbs, fat percentage being lost. But I loved that you focus on what you've gained. Though I'm young (22) but I somewhat feel old inside. My father died two and a half years ago, and that led me into a cycle of binging (sometimes purging), fasting, eating for days on end for 6 months (and ended up in a twenty something lb weight gain). I lost some of the weight, but I haven't taken care of myself in the past two years and it's shown in my personality and energy levels. Eating junk, drinking on the weekends with friends, and not exercising has aged me and shown up in my skin, my hair, and even my smile. I feel like I've lost my zeal and mental energy and just do the same thing day to day because I don't feel creative or energetic enough to take on new projects or even sort out the ones I have in progress. I want to embrace nutrition and exercise as part of my life (not something that I spend every day obsessing about) and help use these two things to filter out my negative feelings and emotions about my so-called imperfections. I hope that by adopting this way of eating, I will eventually stop focusing on JUST my waistline and the cleaner eating will make me happier, more energetic, and have healthier relationships with those around me. Thank you again for your amazing words. You have helped me realize that no matter how much I may want to hide out, I am only limiting myself and what I could possibly be -- the vibrant energetic girl I knew two and a half years ago. I want to do this for my father, for my health, and most importantly, just for myself because I know what I am worth. I am worth feeling better than I do now. I am worth waking up everyday and looking in the mirror and walking down the street being proud of the woman I am. Thank you again for you inspiration and motivation.

[TracyinKS]

great posts!

[Off My Duff]

Thank you so much for this topic.

I love what you said about "excavating" yourself, Jean. That is what I need to do too.
I am absolutely BURIED under this fat, and have lost pretty much everything that makes me "me".

I hide out in my house most of the time, not accomplishing a whole lot, due to lack of energy and difficulty with a lot of movement, such as kneeling or bending over to clean the corners of the baseboards, etc.

I need to get a new job, but I am paralyzed with ZERO self-esteem due to my appearance right now.

I am so glad to hear that a twenty pound loss can make such a difference in your level of energy, hope, and anticipation of the future.

I'm at my highest weight ever, and have so much to lose that it feels impossible.

Thank you for the inspiration!