I don’t normally share the emails I receive but this one had me in tears. Stacey shares her story and it’s eerily similar to mine. My favorite part is…
so I tried it – and I did it!
Here’s her entire note. This is what keeps me doing what I’m doing…
Hi Roni,
I don’t have a question for you. This is a note to tell you how much your blog has influenced my life. I found your blog while I was on the Weight Watchers message boards about 2 years ago, and have been a dedicated follower ever since. In 2007 I lost 40 pounds by following the WW program. I had lost weight in the past, but I was never able to keep it off. I was always either “on a diet” or gaining weight. I could never maintain a healthy balance. After I had my second daughter, I was the heaviest I’d ever been, and decided to try again at WW. I lost 40 pounds in 9 months – that was the easy part. The hard part was keeping it off. Reading your blog motivates me. I’ve made many of your recipes from Greenlitebites – Chili, Beer Can Chiken, mashed potatoes, Salisbury steak … and the list goes on. It’s so nice to have new and different ideas – it’s so easy to get in a rut. I’ve learned to balance the “healthy” with the “junk”. In the past, when I lost weight, I always went back to eating junk. This time I’ve been able to balance it. I eat a healthy diet during the week, and give myself a break on the weekend. This way I don’t feel like there are things I can’t eat. I can fries and chips, but only on the weekend – not every night, like in the past. It helps me to read about how you struggle with the same things – and how you manage to get over them.When I lost the weight this time I did it strictly by counting points. I didn’t start any type of exercise program. Exercise has never been my thing. I’ve never enjoyed it. So, I only concentrated on the food, and it worked. But after reading about your experiences with exercise, I started to feel motivated. I was finding it harder and harder to maintain my weight loss with only counting points. I heard you mention the Couch to 5K program, and decided to look into it. I was literally starting “from the couch”. I wasn’t doing any kind of exercise at the time. I’d always thought that I could never be a runner. But this program seemed doable – I knew I could jog for 60 seconds – but that’s about all I could do. I started the program in June and I finished it today! I can run for 30 minutes now! I’m so thrilled that I can actually do it. You motivated me to start. I saw that when you started exercising, you were in the same place as me. I saw that someone like me could actually do it – so I tried it – and I did it! Thank you! Now I see how far you’ve come – running a marathon! You are such an inspiration to me! Now that I finished the Couch to 5K program, I’m planning to keep up with running. I rewarded myself with a Nike+. I can’t wait to try it out. I’m also starting the 200 sit-ups challenge. I’m 36 years old, and I’m in the best shape of my life, and you helped me to achieve that.
I just wanted to let you know that I could not have come this far in my maintenance without your blog. Thank you so much for everything that you share. It really made a difference in my life.
Stacey
19 Responses to Weekend Quote: so I tried it – and I did it!
Leave a Reply
BlogToLose
What's Cooking in my kitchen?
-
Finally my first Farro idea! I have to say, I love this stuff! It's chewy and yummy and, well, fun! I tossed it with what I could find in my pantry and it made a wonderfully satisfying lunch. Filling but not heavy, tasty and quite nutrient dense. According to NutritionData.com this [...] -
I've seen it mentioned in a few of my clean eating and healthy cook books but honestly, I never even thought of Farro as an option for me. I refuse to shop at specialty stores and I try to use only common products that I can keep in stock and purchase from a typical grocery [...] -
I've never had a tuna melt. Is that weird? I guess that's what happens when you grow up not liking mayonnaise. I never ate tuna salad or egg salad or chicken salad. Honestly, they always kind of grossed me out. Then I realized.. hey.. why does tuna salad have [...] -
I have no idea where this idea came from. I was hungry. It was lunch. I had Brussels Sprouts. That was all the catalyst I needed.:) I decided to use a slice of real bacon to add flavor and little fat that would help sauté the sprouts. I'm trying [...] -
WOW was this good. I mean seriously good. It's not vegetarian so don't start throwing stones. I'm calling it a Garden Vegetable Burger because I use the new Laughing Cow Smooth Sensations Garden Vegetable Cream Cheese Spread. It was this recipe on Allrecipes.com that inspired [...] -
I drink water 99.9% of the time but every so often it just doesn't cut it. I want something else. Something more. Something slightly sweet. Today was one of those days. I decided to make a refreshing drink based on the famous Arnold Palmer, half lemonade and half iced [...] -
The other day I made a whole chicken on the grill in pieces. It was delicious! Just a little BBQ sauce and an open flame is all I need to make The Husband happy in the dinner department. I also picked up a few ears of corn from the grocery store. They aren't in season [...] -
Let me explain so you don't think I'm making a chili recipe and just put it on pizza. I'm calling this vegetarian Chili Pizza because chili is what inspired flavors. I think I told you. Little Bean is really into, well, BEANS! We go through a can about every 2 days. Yesterday [...] -
I've confessed my inability to follow recipes here on GreenLiteBites many, many times. I don't know why it's so hard for me. I can barely follow some of my own and I wrote the darn things! I think most of my problem stems from not having all the ingredients listed and, [...] -
Leftover brown rice and leftover sauce meet in this quick lunch idea inspired by my favorite food of all time: Pizza. I swear I can turn anything into a pizza concoction. Have you seen all my pizza ideas? I've used everything from pumpkin to zucchini, polenta to wontons. Nothing is off [...] -
This isn't a recipe just an idea I had to share. I can't believe how good it was! I've never had grilled pineapple. Can you believe it? I just never really had the desire to grill it before. When you love something raw sometimes it doesn't occur to you to cook it. [...] -
I whipped this up for lunch on a whim today because, well, I have a baby who's obsessed with three things… Cheese, Beans, and Avocado. No, really. Look... It's my go to meal for him so I find myself with beans and avocado readily available. [...] -
You know that tradition 7 Layer Mexican Dip? The one with the cream cheese, guacamole, salsa, lettuce, cheese, green onion and olives? Yea. That's the one. Well I had a craving for it the other day. Well, not exactly for it as I can never make anything the way it's suppose [...] -
If you go through the archives of GreenLiteBites I have about 5 total beef recipes. Five. Compare that to the 80+ I have tagged with chicken/turkey there's a clear winner in the meat department on my blog and in my home. I don't have a beef with beef (omg The Husband [...] -
I'm a kitchen sink smoothie maker. Whatever I have on hand goes in the blender and viola! A quick breakfast or a healthy snack. Last year I posted an "Elastic Approach" to how I make smoothies but I still like to share specific combinations that worked really well. This was one [...] -
The other night it was just the kids and I home for dinner and I decided to make what I wanted to make no holds barred. Without The Husband home it's much easier for some reason. Hmmm wonder why? Ok, not here to husband bash.. really.. I'm not! I'm here [...] -
*sigh* I was really hoping to share an awesome turkey burger idea. I had grand plans for my leftover ground turkey. The results was alright but they could have been so much better. I added diced pineapple, red pepper, green pepper, oats and soy sauce to the meat and formed 2 patties. In hindsight I [...] -
I made this on a total whim yesterday having no idea if it would work. To my surprise it did AND the husband actually said he liked it... UNSOLICITED! Here's the story. I had only 4 tilapia fillets defrosted for dinner. I knew it wasn't going to be enough for us [...] -
This is a slight reboot of a recipe I posted last year simply called Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili. Staying true to my use-what-I-have-on-hand roots I, well, used what I had on hand and made a similar dish with a spicy twist. Topping the result with avocado added a cool creaminess that [...] -
Did you hear? The Laughing Cow recently launched Smooth Sensations a line of 5 cream cheese spreads. There's Classic Cream, Classic Cream Light, Strawberries & Cream, Garden Vegetable and my favorite… Cinnamon. It's a sweet wedge of creamy goodness! Today I decided to use my new favorite flavor [...] -
Confession time, I recorded a 30 minute video making this with both kids (partally) 2 nights ago. I miss videos. I really do but they seem so much more difficult with 2 children. I'm also having technical difficulties with my video recording and audio syncing making it VERY time consuming to edit. [...] -
A couple of years ago I shared a modified version of Sloppy Joe's I made for a party. Everyone loved it but I've been wanting to try to make something similar for the family on a smaller scale and without the pre-made canned Manwich sauce. I don't particularly have any issues [...] -
Yesterday I was dreaming about a salad. Not just any salad, but a chickpea filled, cucumber, and red onion salad with a fun, tangy dressing. Unfortunately, I had no cucumber or red onion. Well, that's a lie. I had a half of cucumber but it was a mushy mess and [...] -
Dinner meals are getting harder and harder for me to share lately. I've gone back to just whipping things up without really measuring anything (this meal was going to be one of those until I realized I still had enough light to take some photos.) I've also instituted a few brainless meal nights [...] -
Three years ago I posted a video called "Makin' Hard Boiled Eggs" where I shared my system for, well... making hard boiled eggs. Genius name, I know. I'm smart like that. Anyway, since then I've gotten tons of feedback and comments thanking me but all the information is locked in a long winded 10 minute [...]
About Roni
Roni started this blog in '05 to journal her weight loss. 70lbs later, she's committed to living a conscious, healthy life and hopes to inspire others along the way. Read more on the about page.
This is so good for you, I just love it! Well, there are facts you just can’t deny, aren’t there? ;)
I also love it that by publishing this email, you also allow Stacey to become an inspiration for others. You are two 100% real persons, no strings attached, not trying to sell anything, and that’s what’s especially important. Just stay that way!
You deserve that praise, you go girl!
Nina – and that’s why I shared it! Stacey sounds EXACTLY like me and I think there a lot of people can tackle their weight loss by following a similar path. i.e. break the bad habits by learning portions and balance (for us that was points) while learning to prepare most of your own foods. Then slowly adding exercise in without the pressure of weight loss. I really think this slow “lifestyle change” is beneficial. It stopped me from the all of nothing, perfection mentality.
Stacey could be writing for so many of us! Congrats to her on her success! And to you too Roni on the many many ‘Staceys’ out there you have inspired!
Roni – that’s so great that you have been an influence to her and to others.
That’s always my goal too, to help other people in this sometimes difficult – but not impossible journey!!
Thanks for sharing that email. Inspirational for sure!
What a great letter! And, I hope you let this inspire myou to continue, Roni! You help a lot of people here :)
not myou, I meant you :)
What a great email! Kudos to you, Roni! You have inspired so many people, including me. Thanks for doing all you do!
What a great letter! How awesome to inspire others. It’s great to read about people who have come from where you were and are doing and feeling great!
Stacey…Congrats! It’s a great feeling to accomplish something like this and it is huge! Be careful because running is addicting and soon you’ll be wanting to train for races and bigger races. I started with a 5K and now I’m doing a 10K and a half marathon in the spring! You did amazing!
Thank you for sharing that email! It’s so nice to hear that others are inspired by you as well.
Stacey, your email was as inspiring as any of Roni’s posts! I am just starting the C25K program, and I’m the laziest person that ever lived! So it’s so great to hear success stories!
Wow! Thanks to everyone for the kind words. I’m glad that my email could be used to inspire others.
I agree so much with everything Stacey wrote! Roni is a new found inspiration for me!
I also did the couch potatoe to 5K and ran my first 5k last spring – an all female run which was a great way to start my running! It was amazing – and at 201 lbs last december I never thought that was possible! Im now training for a half marathon for the spring, hopefully with alot more weight to come off in the process!
http://last-weight-loss-journey.blogspot.com/
Hey Roni…
This is off subject.. I would tweet you but I do not use Twitter (I know, I know) … anyhoo… what do you think about these? Have you heard of them?
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/barefooting/barefoot_running.cfm
Those are cool! Would love to try them but wonder if they are ok on concrete?!? Hmmmm more research I think. :)
I’ve seen someone running with those foot things on. He was running on asphalt and seemed to be enjoying it. He looked like an avid runner, but who knows.
We’re proud of you STACEY!!! And I like the idea of a Roni’s Weigh Inspiration Story! ;)
That’s an awesome e-mail for you Roni!!
Great job on your success!!!
what a great email! I bet it just made your day :)
Great job Stacey!! thanks for sharing!!
~Lisa
That’s an awesome email! It makes me joyous, I can only imagine how it makes you feel.
That is a wonderful letter! I’m so excited to see she felt motivated to start the Couch to 5K program, because I’m currently doing the Couch to 5K program and I’m loving it! I just completed the Week 6 Run 1 and feel great.