A new chapter!

This blog post is going to be a little different than normal because it talks about actual real-life happenings APART from just weight loss or running. I don't really do that very often on the blog.  BUT, it's all connected in the end and I will explain why.

Losing a lot of weight, getting active and getting healthy has obviously been a life-changer for me.  Physically of course….I look different.  And I can run up flights of stairs no problem whereas at one time, I could barely walk up the stairs in my house without being winded.  But the mental changes are even more dramatic.  I gained confidence in so many ways.  Confidence that I am good enough, confidence that I can do whatever I put my mind to do.  And just in general – no more feeling uncomfortable when meeting new people because I am worried they are judging my weight.  That was a huge issue for me….it affected me when meeting new people socially, and it affected me in a professional environment as well, for example when going to a job interview.  It made me feel awkward in groups ….because it’s no fun being the largest person in a room.  Now, I can look back and see that generally the people who surrounded me were probably NOT actually judging… but in my head they were, probably because I was judging myself.  And really, that is what matters most – how YOU feel about YOURSELF.  I am not saying that there aren’t those out there who do judge (there are) or that being judged by others doesn’t feel like crap (it does).  Just that your self-perception is even more important than that, and self-perception sure can be shot when you are overweight.  At least it was for me.  It's dumb, and it's unfortunate because we all know it is what's inside that counts....but that is simply how I felt.
 

So anyhow... I am feeling awfully thankful right now.  You see, around the time I was losing weight, I also made the decision to go back to school for my M.S. in Health Information Management.  This was a terrifying decision, but because I was feeling good about myself after seeing weight loss success, I decided to go for it.  And now – over 3 years later – here I am.  I exceeded my initial weight loss goal and I’ve maintained my weight loss.  And guess what?!   I finished grad school!  While working full time, being a mom to 2 young kids, and having a very successful  computer nerd- IT Manager husband working MORE than full time AND also completing his MBA.  All of that, and I finished.  And best of all?  My degree is already paying off, as I scored my first “big-girl career job”  a few weeks before graduation.   I went to an interview and ROCKED IT.   I wasn’t uncomfortable in my clothes, or paranoid about being judged right out of the position the moment I walked in the door  (which would be SO not okay,  but unfortunately I am sure it happens.  That’s a whole other blog post, though).   I was myself, and I was confident, and it paid off. 

I am SO excited to see where this new path will take me.  I have always known I WANT a successful career…I truly like contributing and excelling in the work place.  I just never knew exactly what that career would look like.  And you know, I still don’t, but who ever does?  This is just the beginning. All I know is that I went to school, successfully finished, and got a job that I am excited about as a result.  It feels good!   (Well, okay, it’s also a bit of a relief to have this job lined up because…student loans!  I am blessed that, even right out of school,  this job will cover them – and there’s nowhere to go but up!)

So obviously I am feeling all positive and excited at the moment, but I know more curve balls will come.  But I honestly don’t think I would be where I am if I hadn’t made….and followed through….with the decision to lose the weight once and for all.  I would never have had enough energy, confidence, or drive to get to where I am.   And the same energy, confidence, and drive that resulted from losing weight will help me to deal with any bumps in the road ahead.   

If you dream it, you can achieve it

- Zig Ziglar