This letter is from Garnett Stewart, a reader and student of my book due out next month: Fat Is Not a Four-Letter Word: 14 Daily Lessons to Break Through Your “Fat Kid Mentality” and Keep the Weight Off for Life! I wanted to share it with you; her story may touch a cord that will affirm and support your health journey.
“I have battled weight issues all my life!
A little of my background: I grew up in Houston, Texas and I am a Southern Belle. I am very well educated, well traveled and a working health care professional.
As a Southern Belle, I was taught that Horses Sweat, Men Perspire and Women Glow. Grandmother said over and again, “No respectable woman glows unless she has no other choice. And, you are not a horse! Not now and not ever! “.
I grew up hating exercise and I knew that being lady like was more important than most anything. Healthy was never defined as slim and fit. Healthy was not a life goal. Healthy was just not being sick.
Houston was recently awarded a distinction: The Fattest City in the USA. I grew up overeating as our way of life. From childhood, I remember chicken fried steaks with mountains of cream gravy served on large dinner serving platters with dinner rolls because they were too huge to place on a regular plate. And I remember that kids from post-depression era parents were told to “clean our plates or we could not leave the table”.
Thus, I combined extra large portions with our no sweat policy and a very inactive life. I was FAT at age 3. I was morbidly obese even then.
I hated being that ‘Chubby Little Girl’. I hated being the brunt of the jokes and ridicule. I hated ME.
Then and now, I have a my social life centered around eating. We eat out or in or at each other’s homes. I betyour tribe does this as well.
I know that people who have eating issues are mirrors of their reality and I am no exception. Here is the oxymoron: I was a favorite girl at school, president elect to many clubs, beloved by many, a leader of leaders, and so much more.
But inside, I hated ME. I was The FAT KID and therefore not desirable and never acceptable. So, I excelled to compensate for being FAT. I mastered self denial. I created and mimicked workable, reasonable justifications for my lifestyle. After all, I am The FAT KID.
Julie writes ” Each small change does impact a large outcome!” How insightful!
“Because I am good enough, I must change” . Revelation!
As for me, the change is not what I am eating, how I am exercising, or what size I am.
THE CHANGE: It is how I feel about food and my body. I avoid self -hatred and I promote self love. Of course, I regress at times, but I refuse to stay in that foul place. I have been given just this one body in which to live. For the first time ever, I am actually IN my body. I listen to it’s needs and desires but I control it’s reactions.
I no longer feel like I am depriving it. I know I am fueling it. I find ways to socialize when NOT eating. What a fantastic concept!
This is transformational and Julie’s book has been a huge part of this change.
After reading her new book, I took a vacation. I knew that I needed to be fitter and thinner for my trip. I lost 13 pounds before the trip and when I came back from Europe, I was 5 pounds thinner than before the trip. I have never lost weight on a vacation! Never ever! I used to eat my way through a vacation as if the food and drink were mandated requirements of being on holiday.
I eat smaller meals more often now. I drink water all the time to hydrate my cells and prevent hunger and thirst. I fast occassionally and then vary my diet according to my body’s needs. Sometimes I protein load and sometimes I am a vegetarian. Sometimes I even have ice cream! And I continue to loose weight. Never before have I eaten the ‘ forbidden foods’ with emotional and personal balance and still loose weight. Never ever!
My binge eating is almost gone and I plan to have balance from now on. I am not hungry often. I am sated easily. This is a huge, life alerting change.
I hope that you enjoy the book as much as I did and that your experience will be as transformational as mine has been! Best wishes for your success!
I am blessed and enjoying my new tribe- the healthy people. Oh, yes- I forgot to say that I am 160 pounds thinner in this past decade and more than 15% of that loss is since I read Julie’s book. Kudos, my dear friend!”
