Social causes!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
Social causes!
10
Sun, 08-22-2004 - 4:55pm
I know that I've mentioned getting active in your community, as a "helpful tip" before (and not necessarily met with agreement). But I want to tell you ladies....it really helps. Most of you know, by now, about our family situation following the hurricane. My own little girl (age 20) is home now, but her baby (my first grandchild) is still in intensive care, and she was airlifted last week after coming 3 months early (she was due around Thanksgiving).

Anyway....this may seem like a strange time to take up "social causes" but today, after seeing an article in the paper about "taking back the beach rally"....well, I went and lended my voice--my sit in ability, anyway--to something I believe in. It helps, it really does.

The walking burns calories, of course (our goal here) but the getting involved in something beyond yourself, your own problems....well, all I can say is that I can now focus on our own situation with a much clearer head. It helps, genuinely it does.

Some newbie said, last week, that our board doesn't offer enough "helpful tips" and so maybe in this thread we could, each one of us, start fixing that problem we've made for ourselves as a board:

I invite each person who reads this thread to list what he or she considers the MOST helpful tip to give to another dieter. Mine, for the timebeing, is the above. Look in your newspaper, in your community center, in your church (whatever) and find something to do in the next week which, in effect, takes you outside of yourself in a new way. Find something that burns calories, while taking you away! I think you'll find what I discovered today.....it really helps!

God Bless,

Forte

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2004
In reply to: forte10
Sun, 08-22-2004 - 5:22pm
*picks up ball and runs with it*

My tip is to take every day as a fresh start, realize that this takes time. Hey, I didn't get to be 265 pounds overnight, you know? And getting to the 150's took a while. if someone ever told me it would take four years to do this, I would have cried. Every day is a new chance to do something healthy, and maybe the next day you will do TWO things that are healthy, and so on and so forth.

*passes it to -

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2000
In reply to: forte10
Sun, 08-22-2004 - 10:00pm
Also, there are times when I have to start over with every meal and not wait until the next day!! :-)Stephanie 280/225/170 (still) Atkid since 6/15/2003
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2004
In reply to: forte10
Sun, 08-22-2004 - 10:13pm
Forte - please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, especially that darling baby girl.

I adore the sentiment that you've passed on through this post. To carry it forward I just want to share what gets me through each day - you've only got one shot at this life so make the most of it. This means love yourself, take chances, walk tall and smile.

Before I made the decision to lose weight (I've never dieted before to be honest - call it denial if you will, I do) I finally learned to love myself and my FAT. I realized that I am not defined by my body, I have control over every decision I make. I love me and all of me. However, I want to be fit and strong.

I realize it's a tough thing to do but for everyone out there struggling with their weight please realize just how special you are and love every lucious inch of yourself. It's amazing how far that strength can carry you.

Cheers

Lisa

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
In reply to: forte10
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 1:20pm
You're absolutely right, Amy! Rome wasn't built in a day, and weight loss (at least the sensible, healthy way) will take time too. Patience is a virtue, they say. And it is. Sometimes we get posters who introduce themselves, and start out by saying "how long will it take?.....how long did it take you?...etc). And without wanting to offend anybody, I always want to say....think of it this way....where will you be next year this time if you don't start? A little heavier? The same weight, if you're lucky? The important thing, as you say, is "to make a fresh start and to realize that it takes time." Just start, and every day renew that decision to "keep on keeping on."

Hi barkingshark, and nice to see your "smiling face" when I finally get the chance to turn on the computer today, even if it is mid-day!!

Forte

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
In reply to: forte10
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 1:26pm
Lisa,

I love that! Thank you. This part, "you've only got one shot at this life so make the most of it. This means love yourself, take chances, walk tall and smile," if you don't mind....I'm going to print off and hand to my daughter. As a first time mommy, and with the baby in trouble right now, you can imagine this is the kind of thing she needs to read, and re-read to herself. I know it will be okay: it has to be!

I think it's important to "love every lucious inch of yourself" too, but I think if we have any difference of opinion here (and I'm not sure we do) it's just that I've also learned that fat can kill, prematurely, so the fat part had to go as far as I was/am concerned. It wasn't the real me, but just something I allowed to happen to me by my own bad habits. If you get my drift!

Anyway, God Bless and thank you for the kind words regarding our personal situation at home right now.

Forte

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2004
In reply to: forte10
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 11:21pm
Hi Forte!

I so don't mind you printing off my post - in fact, thank you! I'm glad you liked it and I hope your daughter does too. I can't imagine what she's going through but knowing how strong and supportive you are as a mother must be giving her the strength to keep going.

As for the 'loving your fat' comment...I understand what you mean. I've been farily lucky in that despite my size my health has held strong for the most part but I can easily understand how it can kill.

I think I just wanted women to know that in order for them to move forward they really do need to embrace who they are. For a long time I was in denial, never really admitting my size to myself. I'm not sure what pushed me to change my lifestyle but I know that to do so I had to love every bit of me...and this time, when I love something and set it free...I don't want it to come back!

Hope everyone is doing well in your family!

Cheers

Lisa

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
In reply to: forte10
Tue, 08-24-2004 - 5:58pm
>>I think I just wanted women to know that in order for them to move forward they really do need to embrace who they are.<<

And you're absolutely right about that! It's just that...well, you may have read what I wrote about Dad. The guy thought he was invincible and didn't listen to a doctor. And then, a heart attack and dead at age 50. So I think we're on the same page. All I was saying (and we seem to agree) is first, love yourself as you are. But second, love yourself enough to seek out and get the healthiest body possible. It took me a while to get started along that path, abusing myself for years with a fast burger on the way home. But now, it's like every single aspect of my life has changed as I've finally started taking care of myself.

I really like these posts we've had, and I want to tell you that my daughter thanks you for those words I passed along to her yesterday! Bless you.

Forte

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-02-2003
In reply to: forte10
Thu, 08-26-2004 - 12:15pm
we went on a 7 mile walk for peace thing last week :)
 
 
 
 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
In reply to: forte10
Thu, 08-26-2004 - 3:28pm
Good for you, gothratty! It helps to get *out of oneself* so to speak, doesn't it! I know the "sit in" I got involved with surely helped to bring fresh eyes to our situation. It was a good respite.

This morning, my daughter and I baked some cookies and (after eating just one, I promise) we took the rest down to the hurricane relief efforts. It helps, it really helps.

Thank you, BTW.

Forte

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
In reply to: forte10
Tue, 08-31-2004 - 5:58pm
Bump