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I have always had a desire to be physically fit, toned, and healthy! I just couldn't figure out how to do it. Just over a month ago something happened....I figured it out. I needed to get on board mentally. Having the desire in my heart wasn't enough.
When I was younger I was skinny. You know, a normal active kid. Then, when I turned 10 years old my body changed quickly! Around this time I was sexually abused by someone in the family (by marriage). I can't say the weight started to go up because of that, or if it was just puberty, but none the less it happened. When I was 14 years old and in grade 8, I weighed 192 lbs.
Over that summer between grade 8 and grade 9, I went to a summer camp that I had to bike to every day. 42 lbs were gone over the summer from just being active everyday. I was unaware of my weight changes, meaning it wasn't something I set out to change... it's just what happened! I stayed at 150 lbs all through high school.
When I was 19 years old, I went away to college. People mention the "Freshman 15," but mine was more like the "Freshman 35." For example: I would have a frozen pasta dinner for breakfast, maybe 2. Get a bagel at school. Lunch would be 2 cans of pasta, and dinner was maybe another can of pasta and 1-2 frozen pasta dinners. Wow carbs! And then add the booze to the picture... hello 35lbs!
When I came home from school I started working at a butcher shop. I would walk to work most of the time...even in the winter! That helped get rid of some weight. I had joined a gym my last year of high school, so I started going to it again. Lost the weight and got down to 145 lbs. My weight over the next few years would stay between 150-160lbs. I looked good too!
In 2007 I was promoted to Assistant Store Manger for the grocery company I was now working for. I was still slim at this time. A few months into this position (May 7th, 2007 ) I was diagnosed with what we would later find out was microscopic colitis. I lost weight fast, and on top of that on my birthday (June 13th) I got food poisoning. I lost about 15 lbs in two days, but not the healthy way. So I dealt with the colitis. It didn't matter what I did or what the doctors told me to take, it never got better.
In November of that year. I met my husband online, only three provinces away! We were met and married in 8 months. Bring on the happy fat. We got chubby together in wedded bliss! I knew I was 182 lbs at the time, but I was enamored by the newfound love and marriage!
For the past year and a half I dealt with being over 200lbs and it sucked. Especially because I still felt like the good looking skinnier woman I was before and had that attitude too! But I was quickly reminded while trying on clothes and looking at photos that I was no longer that woman on the outside. That's a very weird feeling. Knowing that your big, but inside you don't feel it. So I started doing a lot of reading on weight loss, eating plans, exercise plans and tried HCG. I just couldn't make it work this time.
With all the reading I found out about Paleo and it sounded great. But then I found out about Keto and I knew it was the way for me. I just didn't know how to get my head in the game, so to speak. Well on June 27th of this year I saw something on Facebook that would change everything. A "No Cake 'till Christmas" challenge group. I can't say what changed for me mentally but something clicked. I was excited to do this challenge! Not just for me to get started losing weight the healthy way, but this is the first time in my life I have ever felt like I was truly applying myself. With this mental shift, I am finding it's happening in other areas of my life, like it's like I'm finally living my life the way I always wanted. I just didn't know I would actually get there.
Currently I am down 16 lbs and 48.5 inches, and still gaining momentum every day!
Best Tip for Newbies
Don't over think everything and stay away from the scale if you think you will get hung up on the number! Go by how you feel and inches lost.
Favorite Recipe
Right now, my favorite recipe is a simple meal of chicken and zucchini, cooked in butter of course! For dessert, I will sometimes whip some heavy whipping cream and coca powder together. Yum!
Where can you find Katharine?
You can find Katharine in her Facebook group, the "Say Yes to the Challenge," where she and other members support each other for continued weight loss and health gain!
Have you had success with a ketogenic/low-carb diet and want to share your story? E-mail me at nobunplease@gmail.com.
Doreen
I am so thankful for this site. You said exactly how I felt. I didn't think I was big until looking at past photos. I still felt nice and trim in a way until certain clothes didn't fit me anymore. I got on board on Keto on June 2019 until about mid Nov. and lost 30 lbs. Slowly gaining 10 of those lbs back now im back to tackle the remaining 30 lbs that I need to feel better about myself. Thanks again for the inspiration.