Comments on: I Needed This Today – Dotty’s Thank You http://ronisweigh.com/2009/12/i-needed-this-today-dottys-thank-you.html One Mom's Journey from Fat to Skinny to Healthy. Thu, 24 May 2012 11:16:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: pam http://ronisweigh.com/2009/12/i-needed-this-today-dottys-thank-you.html/comment-page-1#comment-25932 pam Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:09:22 +0000 http://ronisweigh.com/?p=4432#comment-25932 Roni, I just want you to know that you touch us "older folks", too. I am 59 years old (today! ) and have struggled with my weight since I was put on a diet at age 5 for the first time. I am 5'3'' and weigh 190 lbs. I lost 50 lbs in 1973 with the help of WW, but put it back on and then some in the years since then. I have tried LA Weight Loss, Nutisystem, WW many more times, and lots of other diets. Losing weight has been my focus off and on all of my life. Now, after reading your blogs, and the comments and encouragement from so many wonderful people who write on your blog, I am going to focus on healthy eating, cutting through the layers and getting to the core of who I really am, and being the healthiest, productive, most active and happy 59 year old I can be! Thank you for your words of wisdom and encouragement. There are so many of us who can identify with you and your struggles. At least you are young and doing all of this, not 59! But it's never too late, I say, so here's to a healthy and happy 2010 for all of us! God bless you, Roni, and all of us who struggle with life in all its forms. Roni,
I just want you to know that you touch us “older folks”, too. I am 59 years old (today! ) and have struggled with my weight since I was put on a diet at age 5 for the first time. I am 5’3” and weigh 190 lbs. I lost 50 lbs in 1973 with the help of WW, but put it back on and then some in the years since then. I have tried LA Weight Loss, Nutisystem, WW many more times, and lots of other diets. Losing weight has been my focus off and on all of my life. Now, after reading your blogs, and the comments and encouragement from so many wonderful people who write on your blog, I am going to focus on healthy eating, cutting through the layers and getting to the core of who I really am, and being the healthiest, productive, most active and happy 59 year old I can be! Thank you for your words of wisdom and encouragement. There are so many of us who can identify with you and your struggles. At least you are young and doing all of this, not 59! But it’s never too late, I say, so here’s to a healthy and happy 2010 for all of us!
God bless you, Roni, and all of us who struggle with life in all its forms.

]]> By: All Women Stalker http://ronisweigh.com/2009/12/i-needed-this-today-dottys-thank-you.html/comment-page-1#comment-25922 All Women Stalker Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:17:29 +0000 http://ronisweigh.com/?p=4432#comment-25922 That's also what I needed. I'm just slowly getting out of a funk and well... I'm glad I read Dotti's email. Definitely encourages me to get up and exercise. That’s also what I needed. I’m just slowly getting out of a funk and well… I’m glad I read Dotti’s email. Definitely encourages me to get up and exercise.

]]> By: Kimberli http://ronisweigh.com/2009/12/i-needed-this-today-dottys-thank-you.html/comment-page-1#comment-25919 Kimberli Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:24:10 +0000 http://ronisweigh.com/?p=4432#comment-25919 Geez you two! I’m not much of a writer as I struggle with finding the words to effectively articulate my inner thoughts and feelings, however after reading Dotty’s Thank You, I feel compelled to chime in – so here goes: All my life, I’d been overweight and by and large led a sedentary lifestyle. I pretty much accepted that that’s how I was wired. Hey, that’s “how God made me” and who was I to mess with the Great Creator!? Furthermore, at 30 years old, I figured “this is how people know me, how people expect me to me, how I know me, how I expect myself to be” (perhaps a little self-fulfilling prophecy going on there?): I was the “funny, not skinny girl” (yes, “not skinny” because even at 5’4 247 lbs, size 18W, I’d never thought of myself as: FAT (Gasp! Not me!...If I don’t say it outloud, it can’t be true!) In August 2007, something changed. I had moved away to a place where very few people knew me (which for me was key, nobody “knew” me here as I was – no expectations to stay that way). I saw a Dr. Oz special on Oprah, which I believe was the impetus for my lifestyle change (I could go on for hours about this one 20 minute episode, to Dr. Oz, I’m forever grateful). For the first time ever, I admitted to myself that I was overweight, unhealthy, UNHAPPY (that is the most difficult thing to admit to yourself and others), and that I wanted to change. If there’s one trait that I’m blessed to have been born with (or instilled at childhood?), I’ve got a strong-ass determination to succeed no matter what I’m doing. Today, I weigh 170 lbs (which truthfully bothers me but I know I’m a work in progress, and I know I’m healthy and confident), and confidently wear a size 8. Am I still a work in progress? YES! Am I still working towards weight loss/fitness goals? YES! Am I still a little neurotic about my “frienemy” the scale? YES! Do I still crave evenings of pizza followed by ice cream while doing nothing more than watching a movie? YES! Do I give into these cravings? YES! Am I still UNHAPPY? To that, I offer a resounding: HELL NO!! Three years ago, my idea of fun was vastly different than it is today. Three years ago, I didn’t have goals (impossible to fail if I’m not striving for anything!) Today, my list of goals is plentiful (and I just dare anyone to try to stop me ): MBA in NonProfit Mgt, Personal Fitness Certification, Jacksonville Mud Run (10k obstacle course in the mud “6 miles of dirty fun!”), Orlando Muddy Buddy, perhaps ½ marathon in the fall, sparring at kickboxing, start a community program centered around fitness and community service…the list goes on! I’m not too proud to say that I love who I’ve become! I’m proud of my success and accomplishments, and truthfully at times am shocked at where I’ve been and where I am. Sometimes, I still tell myself “I can’t, I’m not this” or “I’m not that” and that self-doubt would have been more than enough to stop me. Do I still say these things? Yes, but I don’t let it stop me. Case in point, last weekend, my 2 trainers invited me to go mountain biking. My immediate thought: “I can’t. I’m not a biker, I hate biking. Tried spinning class twice, 2 times too many in my book! Besides, I’m afraid of snakes and spiders…furthermore it’s Sunday, I’ve got to rest.” But I said to them “Yes! I’ll be there!!” And guess what!? I LOVED it! I believe I’ve found a new fitness passion “Who knew I could be a mountain biker?” Why am I rambling on about all this? Roni, you talk about it. Dotty, you touched upon it. To steal Dotty’s words: “I started not only to lose the weight and feel better about myself but to try new things I never thought I could do….Who knew I could…” The most profound result of my weight loss success isn’t about weight loss at all. It’s the self-confidence, the zest for life, the can do attitude, the desire to expand my comfort zone, the feeling of self-worth, etc. I feel a little emotional when I see overweight people, and that’s not coming from a shallow standpoint. I don’t care what people look like, but I know how I imagine they feel about themselves, admittedly or not. What I wish I could impart upon everyone is that they can change, “God didn’t make you that way,” “people don’t expect you to stay that way because that’s how they know you” I wish everyone could “see” the intrinsic rewards of weight loss, and Roni through your blog and Dotty through your expression of gratitude, you both are living examples! Roni, you are a true inspiration, an endless motivator, a “friend” to thousands! Thank you for what you do and Dotty thank you for sharing! Cheers to a happy, healthy, active, amazing 2010. Keep blazing a trail ladies! May we all continue to expand our comfort zones… MIND-BODY-SPIRIT Kim ;) Geez you two! I’m not much of a writer as I struggle with finding the words to effectively articulate my inner thoughts and feelings, however after reading Dotty’s Thank You, I feel compelled to chime in – so here goes:
All my life, I’d been overweight and by and large led a sedentary lifestyle. I pretty much accepted that that’s how I was wired. Hey, that’s “how God made me” and who was I to mess with the Great Creator!? Furthermore, at 30 years old, I figured “this is how people know me, how people expect me to me, how I know me, how I expect myself to be” (perhaps a little self-fulfilling prophecy going on there?): I was the “funny, not skinny girl” (yes, “not skinny” because even at 5’4 247 lbs, size 18W, I’d never thought of myself as: FAT (Gasp! Not me!…If I don’t say it outloud, it can’t be true!)
In August 2007, something changed. I had moved away to a place where very few people knew me (which for me was key, nobody “knew” me here as I was – no expectations to stay that way). I saw a Dr. Oz special on Oprah, which I believe was the impetus for my lifestyle change (I could go on for hours about this one 20 minute episode, to Dr. Oz, I’m forever grateful). For the first time ever, I admitted to myself that I was overweight, unhealthy, UNHAPPY (that is the most difficult thing to admit to yourself and others), and that I wanted to change. If there’s one trait that I’m blessed to have been born with (or instilled at childhood?), I’ve got a strong-ass determination to succeed no matter what I’m doing.
Today, I weigh 170 lbs (which truthfully bothers me but I know I’m a work in progress, and I know I’m healthy and confident), and confidently wear a size 8. Am I still a work in progress? YES! Am I still working towards weight loss/fitness goals? YES! Am I still a little neurotic about my “frienemy” the scale? YES! Do I still crave evenings of pizza followed by ice cream while doing nothing more than watching a movie? YES! Do I give into these cravings? YES! Am I still UNHAPPY? To that, I offer a resounding: HELL NO!!
Three years ago, my idea of fun was vastly different than it is today. Three years ago, I didn’t have goals (impossible to fail if I’m not striving for anything!) Today, my list of goals is plentiful (and I just dare anyone to try to stop me ): MBA in NonProfit Mgt, Personal Fitness Certification, Jacksonville Mud Run (10k obstacle course in the mud “6 miles of dirty fun!”), Orlando Muddy Buddy, perhaps ½ marathon in the fall, sparring at kickboxing, start a community program centered around fitness and community service…the list goes on! I’m not too proud to say that I love who I’ve become! I’m proud of my success and accomplishments, and truthfully at times am shocked at where I’ve been and where I am.
Sometimes, I still tell myself “I can’t, I’m not this” or “I’m not that” and that self-doubt would have been more than enough to stop me. Do I still say these things? Yes, but I don’t let it stop me. Case in point, last weekend, my 2 trainers invited me to go mountain biking. My immediate thought: “I can’t. I’m not a biker, I hate biking. Tried spinning class twice, 2 times too many in my book! Besides, I’m afraid of snakes and spiders…furthermore it’s Sunday, I’ve got to rest.” But I said to them “Yes! I’ll be there!!” And guess what!? I LOVED it! I believe I’ve found a new fitness passion “Who knew I could be a mountain biker?”
Why am I rambling on about all this? Roni, you talk about it. Dotty, you touched upon it. To steal Dotty’s words: “I started not only to lose the weight and feel better about myself but to try new things I never thought I could do….Who knew I could…”
The most profound result of my weight loss success isn’t about weight loss at all. It’s the self-confidence, the zest for life, the can do attitude, the desire to expand my comfort zone, the feeling of self-worth, etc. I feel a little emotional when I see overweight people, and that’s not coming from a shallow standpoint. I don’t care what people look like, but I know how I imagine they feel about themselves, admittedly or not. What I wish I could impart upon everyone is that they can change, “God didn’t make you that way,” “people don’t expect you to stay that way because that’s how they know you” I wish everyone could “see” the intrinsic rewards of weight loss, and Roni through your blog and Dotty through your expression of gratitude, you both are living examples! Roni, you are a true inspiration, an endless motivator, a “friend” to thousands! Thank you for what you do and Dotty thank you for sharing!
Cheers to a happy, healthy, active, amazing 2010. Keep blazing a trail ladies! May we all continue to expand our comfort zones…
MIND-BODY-SPIRIT
Kim ;)

]]> By: Laura http://ronisweigh.com/2009/12/i-needed-this-today-dottys-thank-you.html/comment-page-1#comment-25918 Laura Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:23:34 +0000 http://ronisweigh.com/?p=4432#comment-25918 Great story, Dotty. Thanks for sharing it with us, Roni, and thanks for the updates Dotty! It's amazing how much we can all help each other, and it's amazing how we all tend to collectively forget that a funk is totally normal these last few weeks of the year... we all go through that, and we need to remember it next year. It doesn't define us, and it doesn't defeat us. We get through it, and we make our December 30th's Day Resolutions just the same... (thanks too Roni for that concept... I can have a Blank's Day Resolution any darn day of the year!) Great story, Dotty. Thanks for sharing it with us, Roni, and thanks for the updates Dotty!

It’s amazing how much we can all help each other, and it’s amazing how we all tend to collectively forget that a funk is totally normal these last few weeks of the year… we all go through that, and we need to remember it next year.

It doesn’t define us, and it doesn’t defeat us. We get through it, and we make our December 30th’s Day Resolutions just the same… (thanks too Roni for that concept… I can have a Blank’s Day Resolution any darn day of the year!)

]]> By: Anonymous Fat Girl http://ronisweigh.com/2009/12/i-needed-this-today-dottys-thank-you.html/comment-page-1#comment-25917 Anonymous Fat Girl Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:40:10 +0000 http://ronisweigh.com/?p=4432#comment-25917 What a wonderful letter to receive. Thank you for sharing that. :) What a wonderful letter to receive. Thank you for sharing that. :)

]]> By: Lynn http://ronisweigh.com/2009/12/i-needed-this-today-dottys-thank-you.html/comment-page-1#comment-25915 Lynn Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:54:56 +0000 http://ronisweigh.com/?p=4432#comment-25915 Wonderful thoughts - thanks for sharing the letter with us! How very cool that her letter not only helped you out but her as well. Happy New Year! Lynn Wonderful thoughts – thanks for sharing the letter with us!
How very cool that her letter not only helped you out but her as well.

Happy New Year!
Lynn

]]> By: Shannon H. http://ronisweigh.com/2009/12/i-needed-this-today-dottys-thank-you.html/comment-page-1#comment-25914 Shannon H. Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:23:36 +0000 http://ronisweigh.com/?p=4432#comment-25914 Beautiful! Can't wait til I get to write my thank you note to you, Roni! I'm waiting until I hit goal and accomplish a few more things (31 pounds down, 19 to go). A HUGE thanks to you for sharing ALL of your thoughts and starting BTL. YOU are changing lives with every post! Beautiful! Can’t wait til I get to write my thank you note to you, Roni! I’m waiting until I hit goal and accomplish a few more things (31 pounds down, 19 to go). A HUGE thanks to you for sharing ALL of your thoughts and starting BTL. YOU are changing lives with every post!

]]> By: Lou http://ronisweigh.com/2009/12/i-needed-this-today-dottys-thank-you.html/comment-page-1#comment-25912 Lou Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:55:33 +0000 http://ronisweigh.com/?p=4432#comment-25912 Dotti, What you did and have done is just FABULOUS! Just never quit! " If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride - and never quit, you'll be a winner. The price of victory is high - but so are the rewards." Bear Bryant Every time I get down on myself, and I do often enough, I seek out my motivation. Stories like yours and Roni help me everyday. Staying the Course By BJ Gallagher Our journey of life is about progress, not perfection. It's not about doing one thing 100% better - it's a matter of doing 100 things, 1% better each day. Progress is evolutionary not revolutionary, and most days we measure our progress in inches, not miles. What matters most is showing up for your life whether you feel like it or not. Ask yourself, "What two or three little things can I do today that would move me forward?" You'll be amazed at how much distance you can cover by taking it in increments. The little things add up; the inches turn to miles; and we string together our efforts like so many pearls. Before long, look what you have - a whole strand! Ah... beautiful. Dotti,

What you did and have done is just FABULOUS! Just never quit!

” If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride – and never quit, you’ll be a winner. The price of victory is high – but so are the rewards.”
Bear Bryant

Every time I get down on myself, and I do often enough, I seek out my motivation. Stories like yours and Roni help me everyday.

Staying the Course
By BJ Gallagher

Our journey of life is about progress,
not perfection.
It’s not about doing one thing
100% better -
it’s a matter of doing 100 things,
1% better each day.

Progress is evolutionary
not revolutionary,
and most days we measure our progress
in inches,
not miles.

What matters most
is showing up for your life
whether you feel like it
or not.

Ask yourself,
“What two or three little things
can I do today
that would move me forward?”

You’ll be amazed
at how much distance
you can cover
by taking it in increments.

The little things add up;
the inches turn to miles;
and we string together our efforts
like so many pearls.
Before long,
look what you have -
a whole strand!

Ah… beautiful.

]]> By: Carolyn http://ronisweigh.com/2009/12/i-needed-this-today-dottys-thank-you.html/comment-page-1#comment-25910 Carolyn Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:54:12 +0000 http://ronisweigh.com/?p=4432#comment-25910 LOL..I think it's just a "Funk" time of year because I just wrote a post about being in a funk. Great letter, Dotty! LOL..I think it’s just a “Funk” time of year because I just wrote a post about being in a funk. Great letter, Dotty!

]]> By: Julie - Big Girl Bombshell http://ronisweigh.com/2009/12/i-needed-this-today-dottys-thank-you.html/comment-page-1#comment-25904 Julie - Big Girl Bombshell Wed, 30 Dec 2009 06:38:19 +0000 http://ronisweigh.com/?p=4432#comment-25904 Roni and Dottie, Thank you for your inspirations. I have been on this track with my blog about focusing on other things and the weight loss and body image will change with it. And Michele, I agree... getting to the core of self. That is the foundation that so many of us skip. I have been questioning my participation in Weight Watchers lately because one of my core beliefs is it is the attitude not the scale and weekly weigh-ins conflict with that. I have LOTS of weight to lose but I have ToNS to gain. Thank you ALL for your inspiration! Roni and Dottie,

Thank you for your inspirations. I have been on this track with my blog about focusing on other things and the weight loss and body image will change with it. And Michele, I agree… getting to the core of self. That is the foundation that so many of us skip. I have been questioning my participation in Weight Watchers lately because one of my core beliefs is it is the attitude not the scale and weekly weigh-ins conflict with that. I have LOTS of weight to lose but I have ToNS to gain.

Thank you ALL for your inspiration!

]]>