"5 or 50" Changing Lives
Have you ever thought of an idea and without much forethought — just went for it? Well, I have. Three months ago, an idea came to mind. An idea to start a women’s group to support, encourage, and motivate.
After years of blogging about weight, health and fitness — I’ve talked to a number of women. Sadly, there seems to be the same common issues among us. Often times, women will come to me for advice, support and I’ll exchange a few words with them on the blog, FB, at an event, maybe back and forth via email, but that would be the extent of our dialogue. I started feeling like there was more that I could do to help. More that I wanted to do to help. It’s one thing to hear from a doctor, nutritionist, or trainer, but it’s entirely different to hear from someone who lives it every day. And so I created “5 or 50” Women’s Sustainable Weight Loss and Healthy Lifestyle Group so the dialogues could continue. So we could share, grow, support, encourage, inspire, and motivate one another. So we could cast out negative self image, look beyond physical attributes, and stop obsessing over our weight and every bite we put in our mouths.
Last night, we held our third meeting, had our second guest speaker, welcomed five newcomers, and had a nice time sharing our “Outside of the Box” changes we’ve been making. At our August meeting I asked the ladies to think of things they could do differently that they would normally not do “Outside” of their comfort zone. It warmed my heart to go around the room and hear the ladies comments. Here’s a few of them:
“I’ve started walking in the evenings even on the nights I don’t feel like it.” ~Maria
“I volunteered to be the President of TOPS. I would never have done that before, but something just came over me.” ~Jaleit
“I had my hair cut and colored.” ~Jennifer
” I mowed my lawn. I wanted to see if I still could.” ~ Carol
“I really have been trying to eat less packaged food. I cook at home a lot more.” ~Toni
And then this morning, I received this FB message from Debbie (it just about killed me over): ” I have so much new information from last night! Can’t wait to check out the books mentioned and the Costco 21 spice idea.”
My heart is full. It’s such a beautiful feeling to know that I’m creating an environment for women to share, bond, and realize their potential. My short sighted idea is working, I’m helping change lives.
Read the blog that started it all: “5 or 50.”
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!