Post
by luzoradrianne@yahoo.com » May 5th, 2009, 2:49 pm
Adrianne's Return to Fitness Story...Revised 4-21-09 with "thank you's"
Adrianne Rondon’s Return to Fitness Story Weight loss 12/2007 to 4/2009 from 235 pounds to 135 pounds, from size 18/20 to size 4/6 TOTAL WEIGHT LOST=100 pounds. Chest from 46" to 37", Waist from 42" to 28", Hips from 44" to 37", Thighs from 26" to 21.5", Arms from 14" to 11" TOTAL INCHES LOST=37” Ok, I have been procrastinating writing this story because I just don't know where to start...I guess I just don't want this to sound like all the other weight loss success stories...One thing I know I don't want it to sound like is like many stories I read that actually disencouraged me....like famous people making lots of money to lose weight and have personal trainers and their own personal chefs...how could you not get fit like that? And then there were stories of normal, regular people who were spending soooo much time at the gym...2 hrs. plus and sometimes 2 times a day and lifting weights and doing cardio and counting ounces and really depriving themselves...who can live like that? It just seemed way too hard and so it really did not motivate me! So, keeping in mind that everyone is different....here's my story: I have a family history of obesity but it seems to be that life-style choices and mental health are what have dictated our weight....my grandmother died young of breast cancer, my grandfather died of colon cancer, my mother died young of ovarian cancer....From what I've read, these cancers are caused in part by life-style and nutrition and some from obesity....My mother was a svelte and beautiful woman in her pre-marital, pre-baby years...but then came the stress of life and so did the emotional eating and the pounds....I remember her always struggling with her weight and never happy with herself...I also remember her being very stressed and depressed and snacking "emotionally"....Did I get it from her? Well, my whole life I've been down the same road she was......At 15 years old, after I had bi- lateral hip-dislocation (from being obese)....my mother started a weight loss plan called "herba- life" and she was doing so well....she put me on it....I did it and lost so much weight! BUT, it turns out SHE was becoming anemic because she just was not ingesting enough vitamins from just a liquid shake diet.....BUT, I started to lose the weight! As the weight came off, I became more and more confident and interested in being athletic...I started doing little aerobic routines at home and going for bike rides all over Hialeah and then being very careful of my caloric intake and expenditure...I would get on the scale and see the pounds drop so quickly and it would just totally motivate me to continue eating less and exercising more....soon I became anorexic...weighting 100# on a large frame...(I'll have to scan that picture)....BUT, it was so exciting because we were very poor and I was able to go to thrift shops and buy really cheap clothes for very little money....the catch was that the nice clothes were all size 2 or size 0...BUT, I was fitting into them..yey! So, I was anorexic and how did I get out of it? I really don't remember....I think what happened was I re- discovered food and went to the opposite spectrum and got overweight again..........thank God, 'cause I would've died if I didn't start eating again...So, when I graduated high- school...I was fat! Then, I got married and so many self-esteem issues starting coming to the surface and the hardships of married life and buying a new house together, and owning a business together, and all the stresses made me start putting the weight on and more and more until I was into my 29th birthday...I'll never forget, my brother and sister asked me if I was Happy...because they saw how I had bloated up and I guess they figured I was having problems.....I got defensive.....BUT, it made me realize that for sooooo many years, I was eating to cover up the pain of an unhappy marriage..So, in 1999, I decided to lose the weight and I did and was down from size 18 to size 6 by the time I filed divorce in Nov. 1999...and was ready for the new millenium! New millennium, new life! I divorced and was on my own for the first time since I was 19 yrs. old! I danced every night, had plenty of free time to exercise, and was in the single's scene! I went back down to a size 4...130#.....at 30 years old! My 25 year old boyfriend couldn't believe that a 30 yr. old could look so good! After enjoying my fit self and being single for a year, I met my current husband....he was very athletic and I was too and I made that a priority when dating...I really wanted my partner to be athletic and keep up with me... So, we were both fit, athletic and very conscious of our health and fitness! BUT, he was Italian, great cook, and we started doing the whole eating out at restaurants and staying in because we were so in love and just got lazy and FAT! We bought a house and the stress started piling and then we had kids and the stress REALLY started piling on...We both gained a lot of weight! When I was young and overweight, I had asthma which re- occurred as my weight increased. Also, I developed gall-bladder sludge, herniated lumbar disk, hiatal hernia, and sciatica, irregular periods, bad PMS… all attributed to my obesity. I stopped exercising here and there....having meals out and eating my husband's rich, Italian (DELICIOUS) cooking here and there.....and then we decided we wanted to try to have kids...Ok, so we tried......didn't happen...I went to a fertility specialist who said that because I was obese, I had developed poly-cystic ovaries and therefore would have difficulty conceiving....so, I didn't like meds and decided to ignore her..I thought maybe if I lost some weight, it would help....I lost 20 lbs. and guess what? Pregnant! So, prego with my first kid....gained like 45 lbs....ugh..maybe 60.....supposed to only gain something like 25 lbs......BUT...I gained more....Then the stress of raising a kid...(which I wasn't cut out for)...every time I got stressed out, I popped a Dove Dark chocolate in my mouth....40 calories each? Ok, gained lots of weight....Trying for baby #2? Stress! I was overweight AGAIN and it wasn't happening fast enough.....8 months after giving birth to first baby, I was prego again! UGH! So, I said well, why even try to lose the weight from the 1st pregnancy and ended up gaining even more weight....another 30-35 more lbs.......getting really heavy now...size 18-20...Had 2nd baby and was 235# and size 18-20..wow!!!! My doctor's notes read "severely obese"!!!!!UGH!!!! I remember looking in the mirror (which I rarely did) and thinking "how did I get this big? How and when will I ever lose this weight?" And I just hated myself for being so weak and lacking self- control over food and for being lazy! One day, I just thought, I CANNOT go on like this! None of my clothes fit! I'm uncomfortable in social situations, I cannot even find clothes to wear unless I go buy more and more.......so I decided it was time to commit! I joined my husband's work's gym... and he generously gave up his lunch hour to watch the boys while I exercised for an hour...I went every day, religiously because I knew that the boys could get sick or appointments could get in the way and I may have to take an unscheduled day off...Meanwhile...I wanted to feel comfortable and confident...I went to Lane Bryant (the fat women store) and I bought 2 pairs of jeans that made me feel "good"...and I didn't feel depressed in them....I bought some work-out clothes that didn't make me feel like a blimp....I started eating just for nutrition and NOT for comfort! I realized that if I was working so hard at the gym, then I didn't want to waste it by over- eating! So, I DID start counting calories.....I realized that I needed to lose X amount by my 38th birthday Feb. 2009...I wanted to be at least back to a size 8! So, I calculated a slow and realistic weight-loss of 5 lbs. per month...1 pound is 3500 calories expended.....AND I did it! I started eating lots of really filling veggies....brussel sprouts, broccoli, asparagus, spinach, salads...etc...with the protein thrown in...fish, tuna, Boca-burgers..etc....and by controlling my caloric intake and expenditure, I was on track losing 5 lbs. per month. 1 hr. of cardio per day....started with treadmill, then elliptical, then Stairmaster, then Concept 2 rowing machine......mixing it up! And listening to my body! You have to listen to your body! I would give myself the daily treats....some chips...and then the weekend wine...BUT still keeping in mind the caloric intake to make sure to work it out! The weight started coming off and people at the gym were noticing and making comments and that just motivated me even more and more and more...Until I reached my goal and even surpassed it! I don't know what else to say! I am more energetic for the kids! I am more confident as a woman and mom and I am feeling very healthy! I LOVE to exercise and I DO feel guilty putting "crap" in my mouth! I think before I eat...I am being very aware of what goes in my mouth and how much I move....I am a very confident and healthy person now. I am happy that I have my "emotional" eating under control and didn't succumb to laziness!My health problems have disappeared and the only pain I feel now is just from strenuous work-outs.The health and emotional benefits that I've gained are important BUT most important is that I have been teaching my kids the joy of healthy eating and exercise...they love to eat broccoli and love to exercise" and this is a very important part of life that I want them to grow up with as it just becomes 2nd nature to eat well and exercise. Losing the 100 pounds wasn't easy...but it sure makes 5-10 pound losses seem like a piece of cake! (Yumm) IT IS DOABLE! YOU JUST HAVE TO WANT IT ENOUGH! Just a side-note: Maybe something that moms can relate to.....I felt a lot of guilt and had people impose guilt on me for being so "selfish" taking time for MYSELF to exercise...those people did NOT understand that I was NOT being selfish because the repercussions of my obesity affected my family also and so they are also benefitting from the results...a happier, more energetic, more patient mother, wife, and sister. Also, you wouldn't believe how far a compliment can go when you see someone who has accomplished something, be it weight loss, or any other accomplishment....IT is so motivational to hear the words and actually realize that others have noticed...so don't be stingy or shy or even envious/jealous....GIVE THEM A COMPLIMENT! Speaking of compliments, I REALLY want to thank a few very important people that have motivated me along the way: Susan Powter for writing the book “Stop the Insanity”…wow! She really understood emotional eating! My friends Rayda and David who have helped me come out of my social shell. My old friend of the family Joey for sharing his work-out stories on facebook and encouraging me too. My old friend from high school Ruben for commenting and encouraging me. My co-gymer Kiki for being such a great ear and giving me lots of emotional support during my work- outs! My old friend from high school Robert for also sharing his boot-camp and bicycling passion. My cousins Claudia and Sara for commenting on my efforts. They're Colombian too and we share the same blood that carries the cellulite gene...ugh! My chorus teacher/spiritual healer/philosopher/friend Sybil for giving me words to remember 20 years after high school and Junior high and teaching me that I have a "light" inside that I have the ability to let shine! My dear old friend from high school Elizabeth who loves gym- talk and who when we were in high school perused Vogue and fashion magazines as we cursed our fat thighs and flawed bodies..haha...don't miss those days of self- loathing....but do miss the days of getting to hang out with her every day for many years! And for encouraging and complimenting me and for having abs to be envious of! My former nanny, Melodie for getting me back on track with veggies...she would bring lunch for herself and it was a very healthy lunch always! Co-gymer Ed for motivating me to go faster on the Stairmaster and for reminding me not to lean on the handle bars... Ali for being interested in writing my story and actually being a great reporter! My co-gymer Robyn who also lost a lot of weight and started me on the Concept 2 rowing machine kick...I love the rowing machine! My co-gymer Amy for the constant praise and the fun stories that kept me distracted from the pain... My co-gymer Matt for pushing me and reminding me that interval training would help... Co-gymer Jacqui! YOU have come a long way too and you are so sweet to call me "itty bitty"...You are so cute! Keep it up! Like I said before, you'll be back to looking like a 70's model really soon! My co-gymers Barbara and Margaret that although one of them doesn't want to mention "age"...are a little older than me and are in FABULOUS shape and put to bed the myth of being out of shape in the later years...you guys put me to shame! And for always chatting and exchanging such witty and insightful stories while we exercised. My dear friend and former "nanny",Caitlin, an amazingly beautiful young woman, both inside and out who encouraged me and motivated me to take time out for myself to join the gym and who never misses an opportunity to compliment my physical and personality improvements. The attentive and hands-on Director and co- director of the University of Miami's Wellness Center Norm and Al for being around so much and actually noticing and commenting on my constant progress. They run a GREAT wellness center and a great bunch of people! And for recommending that Ed write a motivational story about me in the UM Cane newspaper..thanks Norm! My brother Edgar for his very ENTHUSIASTIC reaction when he sees me and gasping and reminding me how proud he is and what a big deal it is... My sister Maggie who has inspired me because she REALLY has serious health reasons for not exercising and yet has been able to stay very attractive and slim. My kids for putting up with this middle of the day nonsense of "mama has to go exercise" and just getting used to it! And last, but not least...my wonderful husband that actually saw me get so big and be so unhappy and never made me feel "ugly" or "fat" and encouraged me to do whatever I needed to do to find health and happiness again...thank you, thank you for giving up your lunch hour for over a year so that I could exercise and get my body AND my mind healthy. I love you! TIPS: ONLY WEIGH YOURSELF ONCE PER MONTH 10 DAYS INTO YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE OR WHENEVER YOU FEEL THE LIGHTEST! HAVE PREPARED MEALS SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET HUNGRY AND FEED YOURSELF HIGH-CALORIE FOODS. DON'T MAKE EXCUSES! THERE IS ALWAYS A BIRTHDAY, AN ANNIVERSARY OR SOME SPECIAL EVENT TO MAKE YOU GO OFF YOUR DIET…AND THERE ARE ALWAYS APPOINTMENTS OR EVENTS TO KEEP YOU FROM EXERCISING! DON’T THROW THE TOWEL IN IF THE MACHINE YOU WANTED AT THE GYM IS UNAVAILABLE, JUST USE SOMETHING ELSE AND YOUR BODY WILL ACTUALLY THANK YOU FOR IT BECAUSE YOU’LL BE WORKING OUT MUSCLES THAT WERE ALREADY CONDITIONED TO YOUR USUAL MACHINE AND WILL SHOCK YOUR BODY INTO PROGRESS. DON’T BE INFLEXIBLE ABOUT YOUR WORK-OUT TIMES…IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT AT YOUR USUAL TIME, DO IT AT A DIFFERENT TIME OF DAY…IT WILL ALSO SHOCK YOUR BODY AND EVEN THOUGH IT MAY FEEL REALLY HARD, YOU’LL BE MAKE YOUR BODY WORK HARDER AND YOU’LL SEE MORE PROGRESS. DRINK LOTS OF WATER (BLAH, BLAH, BLAH)… AVOID EATING OUT...SO TEMPTING AND YOU JUST DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CALORIES YOU'RE EATING. FIT EXERCISE INTO YOUR DAY EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP EARLY, USE YOUR LUNCH TIME OR STAY UP LATE! TRY CLOTHES ON ONCE A MONTH AND SEE HOW FAR YOU'VE COME!
didn't let me post a URL......I'm not sure how to post pics.....
