Attitude

Wow, hard to believe another month has flown by! I didn't mean to take such a long break from blogging, but I just haven't been in the mood to sit down and write lately.

Today's post is inspired by a quote I saw (on pinterest, of course!)

Tomorrow marks my last class of my Education degree. It's hard to believe that after 6 long years the end is finally in sight. After this, I have an 8 week practicum and then for the first time in 18 years I don't have plans to go back to school in September. It feels incredibly strange. And overwhelming thinking of applying for jobs, finding a place to live, and other important life decisions.

I haven't been coping so well with the upcoming end. In the past I haven't done so well with endings. Or change. But this past week has helped to clear my mind a bit. I've changed a lot in the last few years. I need to start trusting myself more and recognizing all the hard work I've already invested.

People keep asking me what my plans are after I graduate, and it was getting harder and harder to answer that question without feeling guilty or anxious. That all stops now though. I have a game plan.

Step 1) Attitude change. Rather than feeling overwhelmed with all the choices I have to make in the next few months, I am choosing to be incredibly grateful that I have the opportunity to make these choices. I will be a university grad. I have already shown that when I have a goal, I am determined to meet it. Small efforts repeated day in, and day out. My life has completely changed over the last two years, and I'm so happy with the results. I have faith that it will only go up from here.

Step 2) Rock my practicum. And by rock my practicum, I don't mean impress the heck out of everyone with being super student teacher. I mean be true to myself, try my best, love my students, and embrace the wonderfulness of not being perfect.

Step 3) Create a system for those days that I know practicum will be tough. This includes motivational pages full of quotes that remind me to relax and let go and also planning board game/card nights with my friends to help keep me grounded.

Step 4) Continue with the Biggest Winner program. Before Christmas I made the decision to stick with BW for another year (at a discounted price, woot woot!) and I am so happy that I did. It's a wonderful group of people and I am thriving in the positive energy.

Step 5) Complete the Landmark Forum. More on this later.

Step 6) In April, celebrate being finished practicum, find a place to live and find a job. I recognize that these will probably need to start happening before practicum actually finishes, but I am not super concerned about them right now, I need to focus on planning for my practicum right now.

Step 7) Spend a few months in Victoria, working and just living life. I don't know where yet, but I know I want to stay in Victoria, at least for a little while longer. After practicum I can look at my options, and where I want to go, and what I want to do with my life. I'm 85% sure that will include teaching abroad for at least a year or two, but who knows.

This month has been about learning to take deep breaths. I am usually a very planned, scheduled person but I am choosing to let go of some of that control. To just enjoy life. I am so looking forward to not being in school, to be living and have free time to explore my interests. I'm looking forward to my life as I've created it now. Trying new fitness challenges... another half marathon? Tough Mudder? There's so much in my life to be thankful for and excited about.

My next challenge will be putting this attitude change into effect day in and day out. It's one thing to sit on my couch and proclaim to myself "I'm going to be different from here on out!" It takes a lot more effort to follow through. But I am strong, I am determined, and I love being happy. When I find myself feeling overwhelmed, I will close my eyes, take a breath and say "This is home."

(Yes, I've been playing this song on repeat pretty much all night. I'm not ashamed to admit it! Ok, maybe laughing at myself a little bit for being such a dork, but I love the song, and what it means for me.)

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2012: A Year of Transformation

I've been largely absent the month of December, I apologize. I could make a ton of excuses but none of them really matter. I couldn't, however, let today end without reflecting on 2012.

2012 was definitely a record breaking year for me. I had a few lows, but a ton of highs.

• With the help of my family and close friends, I continued working through my emotional issues. I stopped being afraid to talk about the hard stuff, I opened up and finally let people see the true me. 
• There were a couple of incidents this year that literally thrust my past right in front of me and instead of hiding away and eating food to cope, I leaned on my support system and I became a stronger person for it.
• I had a tough practicum that put me through the loop, but I turned to exercise and friends instead of food when I felt at my lowest. I discovered a lot more about myself than I thought I would and have used that to help guide me in my healing process. I also made a great contact which led me to my current wonderful home. :)
• I took a 30 hour course through Curves to become a Curves Complete trainer and worked one on one with more than a dozen people on their own weight loss journeys through the summer. 
• Things really began to change for me when I joined BDHQ's Biggest Winner Program. I discovered that I was stronger than I ever thought possible and that I could do anything I set my mind to.
• I started this blog - self explanatory.
• I completed both the Warrior Dash and a half marathon, proving that my weight does not hold me back from anything.
• I started dating, which for those who know me well know that's a huge deal. My lack of self confidence and self worth when I was at my heaviest led me to be extremely awkward around anyone of the opposite sex. I grew up surrounded by women, both in my family and my friend groups, so I had no idea how to act normal around guys. Thanks to the amazing summer I had, I feel like such a difference person and have no problem showing most people who I really am, regardless of their gender.
• I met two HUGE milestones - 100 lbs lost and I hit ONEderland.
• Sadly, I had to quit my job at Curves in October. I started feeling too over whelmed with everything and made the scary decision not to work during my last year of university.
• I fit into my friends and family's clothes now. The biggest milestone was when I fit into Kelly's old clothes - they still make me feel like a million bucks when I wear them.
• I started shopping in regular clothing stores. Just yesterday I went with one of my roommates to Forever 21 and bought a few things. It wasn't until I got back that I realized I never once thought that I wouldn't be able to fit into their clothes. That was the first time in my life that I have gone shopping with a friend and not been a nervous wreck. It felt wonderful.
• I've inspired my family as well, both my parents have lost a significant amount of weight as well by making healthy choices in their own lives.
• I went blonde! After all, blondes have more fun ;)
• For the first time in my life, I am truly putting my health first. Body mind and soul, I come first now.

Wow, once I started listed that all out, that looks like a pretty stellar year!! I'm looking forward to what 2013 will bring. I haven't made any New Years Resolutions because I find they don't work for myself. Instead, I'm working on a goal list to see me through this next year. Once I finish it I'll post it on here. Some big life changes are ahead but I am no longer afraid of change. I am looking at life straight on, excited to be where I am and who I am. 

I wanted to do a one year photo comparison, but apparently I didn't take many pictures last Christmas! The best one I found that showed my whole body was from February 3.

And here is me this Christmas, with my sister and cousins.

4 beautiful girls, inside and out! <3 

I ended 2012 with a smaller body and a much bigger, brighter smile! A friend of my mine said this in her blog today and I think it is a great way to sum up my goals for 2013:

Let's inspire each other to be who we really are - for that, my friends, is always enough.

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Honey, I've shrunk!

Just a quick update today:

1) Last week I went to some awesome goal setting sessions with my BW group that helped to reset my motivation. I committed to getting 15 work outs in by Dec 31st and since I'm already at 7, I don't think that's going to be an issue at all. Especially since my swim suit and goggles are already packed for my 9 days at home!

2) I went to start packing for home and found a pair of my old pants rolled up in the bottom of one of my suitcases. Naturally I had to try them on. It helps put everything into perspective!

Karin and I BOTH fit, each of us in one pant leg. How crazy it that!

I'm getting accustomed to my current size so seeing these pictures now remind me of how far I've come. I remember being anxious because they were starting to get tight on me and they were the highest size Addition Elle carried. That was a year and a half ago during my first practicum. This year, I'm reentering grade one with both a new wardrobe and an entirely different outlook on life. 

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Self Care

In about 10 minutes I'll be leaving to go visit my practicum class for the very first time! Hard to believe this day is finally here, it definitely snuck up on me. I was doing all fine and dandy until about 6pm last night when I started thinking about all the "shoulds."

I should have gone in earlier.
I should have volunteered in a classroom all semester.
I should have an amazing game to play!
I should look absolutely amazing to give a first impression.
I should seem really relaxed, and eager to be there.
I should, I should, I should.

Then the shouldn't...

I shouldn't show my insecurities.
I shouldn't have spent so much time working on myself this past week!
I shouldn't be stressing about this!
I shouldn't, I shouldn't, I shouldn't.

My mini stress freak out lasted about an hour before I realized what I was doing. I heard Brene Brown's voice in my head and tried to banish all the shoulds from my mind. I mentally shook myself, took some deep breaths, and reached out to a couple of my Ed friends who I knew would understand where I was at. This was the trouble I got myself in last practicum, getting so caught up in the worry that I forgot to enjoy where I was at. So, instead - this is the attitude I am going into the class with this morning:

It is for the kids. I'm not learning how to prove that I'm the best student teacher, I'm not trying to impress everyone that I am magically as good as someone who has been in this career for over a decade. I am learning how to be the most effective teacher I can be for the students. I am learning how to navigate a stressful profession, build relationships, and never lose sight that I am there to inspire children to learn. This practicum is also to help me grow as a person and professional. I will not be perfect. I will make mistakes. Part of what I'll be learning is how to use my mistakes to grow and learn, rather than condemn and criticize myself. And that is OK. I'm at where I'm at and I am who I am.

Today is not about being perfect. Today is about meeting an awesome group of adults and children that I will have the privilege to learn with.

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Late Night Realizations

The result of attempting decision making at 11:45pm while trying to finish a paper...

OK, exercise next semester! Decision time! Biggest Winner, regular BDHQ classes, hot yoga,
UVic gym, dance classes?!? How can I chose? What can I afford?
Damn BDHQ for having such awesome Christmas coupons while I'm still in school mode.

Hey! Wait! Look at all the options I have!

OMG I feel like an athlete. I AM an athlete! I know I can do any and all of those things.
I want to do these things. This is the first time that's ever happened in my life.

Stress = gone. Whatever I chose, I'm just so happy to be where I am today
rather than where I was two years ago.

P.S. My guns are coming in nicely. Go me. 

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Vulnerability Hangover

Honesty. I've been thinking a lot about what that means for me in terms of this blog lately. I haven't posted much this past month because of many reasons. November is almost always a hated month by students, but my reasons were more personal this year. Truthfully, I haven't been writing because I am dealing with issues such as shame, vulnerability, perfectionism and all that fun stuff. Basically my life is just really messy and I don't like admitting it. It was so much easier to write in the summer when I was feeling great and happy and loving life. Not that I don't love life right now. I am still SO glad I am where I am. That I'm owning these feelings and these struggles rather than still pretending I'm happy, because it's what is allowing me to change. By being more aware I can move towards acceptance and healing. And not only that, but I'm so thankful that I have the privilege and opportunity to go through this. I've met the most amazing people that have inspired me to change, to be more aware of what I have and to find joy in the little things. But even though I love life, it does not mean I enjoy this process all the time. The reason I am posting about this is because it is my way of being authentic. Not just with those of you who read this blog, but also with myself. So that is my long winded introduction to what I wrote many hours ago but have been afraid to press publish:

Forewarning, I'll probably be quoting Brene Brown a lot in this post. And if the last few weeks have been any indication, she's going to be a pretty big role model for this next chapter in my life. But yes, a quote:
          
        "Definition of courage: Tell your story with all your heart."

I did that yesterday. In a room full of 30 of my peers. I shared things with them that I've only just starting talking to my friends and family about. About weight loss. And body image. Fat fear. Fat stigma. Fat acceptance. And it scared the crap out of me. Before yesterday I've never really shared my thoughts and opinions about these things out loud before. Only on the safety of the internet. 

From someone who spent much of my life keeping things on the inside, it was scary to just lay myself out. Talk about the things that I hold closest to my heart. I fully understand what Brene Brown meant in her shame video when she said after her first TED talk she had the biggest vulnerability hangover ever. I suppose I'm glad I did it. Even if just one other person in the class got something from it, or if it makes them think twice next time they see an obese person or student, that's all I can ask for. Looking back it's easy to think "oh I should have done this" or "I should have done that." But I'm trying really hard to come to terms with it. It is just hard because everything is new, uncertain, and well, vulnerable! I don't often share such deep things with other people. It's even rarer that I will reach out when I'm crying and ask for help. But I did that multiple times yesterday. And after each time I was so glad I did. It didn't erase the pain or the fear, but just sharing with someone else, and opening up.. that meant something. 

I'm reading Brene Brown's book called "The Gifts of Imperfection: Letting Go Of Who You Think You Are Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are." If there was one book that could sum up my entire journey so far, this book would be it. And that book is the reason I did my presentation the way I did. Because my whole life I've been afraid to share who I am with people, afraid that if they saw the real me they wouldn't like me. Maybe I didn't consciously think that way, but it was definitely always lurking under the surface. I've been scared to share some of those thoughts and feelings on this blog, because I don't know how people will take it. It feels weird to be sharing such personal thoughts in a world that really, I don't know all that much about yet. I'm scared that people will hear what I have to say and think "what does she know? She's only 23." But the thing is I feel like everyone has these types of thoughts, not just us young folk. And to quote another inspiring role model, "Those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." It was really reassuring yesterday knowing that I could speak my fears to my mom, my sister, my friends and they were all there for me. 

So yeah. That's where I'm at. That's me. Imperfect. And super, super excited to see where my journey will take me. To see myself continue to grow. To see me challenge more limitations that I unknowingly set on myself years ago.

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Vulnerability, for realz

I wrote this post last night (well, this morning) and have thought about editing it but instead I'm choosing to post it entirely as is, because today was a fabulous day and I don't want that to influence what I wrote. Another post about today will come later.

You know what sucks? Figuring out the unhealthy ways you cope. Because once you see a pattern you can never unsee it. You can try to ignore it for as long as possible, but sooner or later you'll get tired of lying to yourself.

That's what happened to me tonight. I'm writing this from the warmth of my bed at 1am, when I should be fast asleep. But as I was just about to fall into a blissful sleep, my behavior lately flashed before me and all the pieces fell into place. It's been a long time coming and I don't know what I'm more annoyed by. The fact that it took me so long to see it or that now that I've seen it I have to do something about it. The cynic is me is saying I don't have to do something, and sometimes the best thing to do is not over think things. But that's just not my personality. And I'm not letting myself reason my way out of it this time.

I haven't been writing as much these past few weeks, and what I have been writing has felt like me grasping at straws. I felt like I'd come here, write some sort of motivational blurb about how I'd be getting my mojo back and then that feeling would last until the next time I had the opportunity to eat chocolate. Then I'd go back to kicking myself.

I've had to ask myself why? Why am I doing this all the sudden? I lost over 100 pounds and yes, the process wasn't easy.  I've been through a lot of ups and downs. But lately I could sense that this time was different. Looking back, I can see and honour that I'm dealing with thoughts, feelings, and issues that I've never before considered. So naturally when these came up, I went into default mode.

I stepped back from my friends and family.
I asked what was happening in others lives but found ways to avoid talking about mine in detail.
I told myself I was busy busy busy and didn't have time for anything.
I'd say that I needed to do something, but yet wouldn't make the time to do it.
I ate.
I ate in abundance.
I ate in abundance in secrecy.
And then tonight, the final piece of the puzzle, I spent over 2 hours watching random YouTube videos.

I don't know why but it was the hours on YouTube that made it click for me. I looked at the time when I closed my eyes and thought "why the heck am I wasting time on this again? I love my sleep."

Wham. Bingo. Crap. I'm in avoidance mode. I think it took me so long to clue in because there are noticeable differences. I was still exercising, I was still making mostly good food choices,  I was still talking with my roommates. I was telling myself I knew I had to deal with stuff but I think I rationalized myself into thinking knowing was the same as doing.

Because for all my talk of feeling "weird" lately I was doing very little to change it. I'd say that I wanted to go to counselling but then say I had no money or time. My favourite phrase lately has been "I'll do it December." But as much as I love school and think it is important, my life and health will always come first. I can't keep putting it off. I started reaching out a bit more this past week and no surprise that has made all the difference. I made the mistake of telling Kailey that I've been feeling disconnected with my friends and support system lately. Cue the long phone messages giving me grief for not calling her :P But after a long talk with her, a Kelly smack down last night and then a quick chat with Caroline tonight, I am feeling much stronger.

I am at a really interesting point in my life because I am striving to be this person who models healthy living, who feels balanced. I am trying to be a success story, as finished. But I'm not there yet. And worse, I am realizing I will never be there. I will never be perfect. Even if I have years of therapy there will always be something I struggle with.

This blog in some way magnifies that because I am literally showcasing my life to whoever is interested enough to click on it. I'm trying to be this healthy, whole person someone can look up to and end up feeling like a giant fraud. I am wanting to be vulnerable and honest, but I'm constantly thinking how much info is too much? What should I keep hidden? There are parts to my story that I have to either go all in or avoid altogether. The problem is I don't have all the answers. I don't know if it would be best to post it on here or not. I could never take it back. So what to do?

I've avoided writing lately. Which is hard because it's been my greatest outlet my whole life. When things got tough or frustrating, I'd write. A lot of people in weight loss transformations talk about how exercise is a way to cope with emotions. With me, it's writing. Exercise helps yes, but when it comes down to it I need to write. I haven't been lately. Not in here, not in my personal journal, not even in my inquiry journal. Part of me wants to defend myself and say I've been too busy with school, life and trying to be healthy. But when I really look at it, it's because I was in avoidance mode. And when I'm in that mode I can't think straight, I can't do anything but feel frustrated. Thanks to the wonderful people in my life (and yes to my own strengths as well), I can see the light at the end of this tunnel. For the first time in weeks I felt drawn to writing and the words have just tumbled out faster than I could proof read. I feel like this post is a bit all over the place but I don't want to change it because it's the truth. I'm a little all over the place right now. And that's ok. I'm never going to stop growing and changing. I'll be that person I want to be one day. And by the time I get there, I'll probably have even more changes I want to make. It's freeing to realize that. Because that means I can take things day by day and trust that everything will work out.

I'll end with this: Hi, my name is Susie and I'm a recovering perfectionist trying to learn patience and moderation.

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