My journey...

So, I am a member of a local Toastmasters Club and we are "The Bloody Orators" (we meet at a Red Cross building).

Last night I gave my second speech. Although I ran over by a minute and six seconds, I was told it was very inspirational. So, I decided to share it with you here. Today is Part 1:


Good evening, fellow Toastmasters and guests. Up here with me, I have a total of 41 pounds of weights. (Now here, I took out 41 pounds worth of weights. It was in a bag that I could barely carry, yet I walked around with the weight on for over a year)

Nine months ago, I began a journey that has changed my life. As some of you know, I participated in the 2009 Gazette Healthy Challenge (like the Biggest Loser of MoCo) and became the first woman in the 5 year history of the 12 week competition to win by losing 20.8 % of my body weight. I dropped my Body Mass Index by 7 and half.

I believe my success is attributed to three elements. First I started eating correctly, began an exercise regime that included cardio workouts and weight training and I brought people along with me.

Most people look at over weight people and think they eat way too. Perhaps this is how some people gain weight, but I actually was not eating enough. In fact, during the first part of the competition, we were asked to keep a journal of what we were consuming and on average; I was eating between 1000 and 1200 calories a day. Now that shouldn’t make me gain weight, right? But in my case, it did. My body was in what they called “Starvation Mode”. My body had no idea when and if I would eat again, so every calorie I consumed, it retained. This sent me well into the category that the CDC calls Obese… and not just barely. So the first thing I did was to eat and drink more.

During the competition I was consuming between 1600 and 1800 calories a day. A thing to remember is that 3500 calories equals a pound. It is all about calories in verses calories out. Of course you don’t eat 3500 calories extra a day, but what about in a week? A month? Think about it.

Also, my journal showed that I was barely consuming 30 ounces of non-caffeinated / sugar-free products a day. Now, I drink between 90 and 120 ounces of water a day. At first, you do find yourself in the restroom a lot, but your body actually gets use to it and you do not need to use the facilities more than normal. The Mayo Clinic, CDC, and The Medical Institute says that women should drink 72 ounces and men should drink over 100 ounces of a non-caffeinated and sugar-free drink a day and this isn’t taking into account in you are physically active. You need even more if you are working out.

The best thing you can do is to first journal everything that you eat and drink. You will be surprised – I know I was. Then, I encourage you to talk to a nutritionist or your doctor and find the right plan for you

(to be continued)