Mirror Mirror
I’ve been obese my entire life so it’s a little absurd for me to believe I can erase the years and years of unhealthy behaviors overnight. For goodness’ sakes I use to weigh a mortifying 388 pounds.
Today, I’m 170 pounds lighter, healthier, and happier. But, it’s been a while since I’ve recorded a lost in weight or inches. The good news is I haven’t gained any weight or increased in inches either. So, it’s safe to say I’m able to maintain, and the practices I’ve adopted in my life are sustainable.
I tell myself, maybe I’m suppose to be here in this space. Maybe this is what’s comfortable for my body right now. And yes my thoughts are sort of contradictory, but like I’ve said before my blog is my diary and you just so happen to be privy to read it. Bear with me.
I have to remind myself, this is no yo-yo, fad diet. I’m not seeking a quick fix. I’m creating a healthy lifestyle for myself by eating a wide variety of fresh, whole foods, discovering new things beyond food, exercising, and reaching out to the community along the way. I’m proud of myself. It’s taken an awful lot of discipline and deep inward stares at myself to lose and keep the weight off. I’ve taken a whole lot of negative and turned it into a whole lot of positive.
Yet and still, the other day when I caught my reflection in the mirror, it caused me to pause and ask myself “Are you giving it your all?” Sure, I’ve been busy, busy, writing my latest cookbook. Sure, I’ve been busy facilitating community meetings, speaking at various events, and hosting cooking classes. But those things encompass my life. Shouldn’t I be able to balance it all? Heavy sigh. I’d like to think — yes. I’m going to have to figure out a way to make them all fit together and still work towards my fitness and weight loss goals.
Because of my weight loss success, folks, ask me all the time, “What makes you stay with it?” It’s simple, I look in the mirror. The internal mirror. A journey of this sorts takes a consistent commitment. Evaluation of self — onus. Discipline. Accountability. I’ve come this far by being honest with myself, about my goals, whether or not I’m giving 100 percent. If I find that I’m not giving 100 percent. I call myself out, confront myself. I’m a no non-sense type gal, who doesn’t make a lot of excuses. So my latest glimpse in the mirror has me on a new mission. A mission to put all the pieces together.
Mirror mirror I seek balance. Balance so that I can do all the things that I enjoy: blogging, authoring cookbooks, hosting cooking classes, speaking to the community, all while I continue to work on my health and fitness goals.
Chrisetta Mosley
I am a product – and now a survivor – of childhood obesity. As a child, my family always told me that my extra weight was merely baby fat and I’d eventually grow out of it. I never did. Instead, my childhood is filled with memories of not being able to ride a bike, flattening its training wheels from being over the recommended weight, and avoiding P.E. classes by any means necessary. For years, I wore my fatness like a wounded soldier wears a Purple Heart - with pride. I owned the look. I dressed it up. I worked the room. There wasn't a skinny girl who intimidated me. I made sure my hair was laid just right. Nails polished. Outfits coordinated to the tee. Accessories to compliment every outfit. But everyone has a breaking point, and mine came in the spring of 2004 when I tipped the scale at nearly 400 pounds 388 to be exact. I was MISERABLE trapped inside of that body. I no longer wore my Purple Heart with pride. Rather, I was ashamed and frightened. Ashamed that I had allowed food to become my everything – frightened I would die because of it. Drastic times called for drastic measures... Today, I’m bound and determined to live a better, healthier, active lifestyle. I realize I’m no longer a passenger in my life, I’m the driver. I’m overcoming my inhibitions and I’m slowly but surely saying farewell to my old childhood nemesis, obesity. For once and for all, Farewell Fatso!