How I Shed 60 lbs Using Nature as My Guide

If you saw me Two, Three or even Six years ago you would not recognise me.  I went up and down in weight over the years, fluctuating from a size 22 now down to a size 9; I did it using the nature that surrounds us all to help me.

It was almost as if nature was calling.  I worked since the young age of 11.  I did everything from waitressing, to tending cash, esthetics, caregiver-you name it.  Going non stop really from activity to work, to home to school, it was all I could take.  Being put on medication for my mental illness at the young age of 21 although I was somewhat active, I could never loose the weight.  My highest weight like I said was a size 22.  I couldn't believe it, the once size 13 turned into a size 22 almost over night.

I must say that I was not healthy at all, not by any means.  I was struggling with stress issues, work and an upsetting home life.  Finally nature called!  I decided to take the summer off, relax, only do truly what I and I alone wanted to do.  I remained positive had a positive outlook but needed more then just a healthy mind to sustain a weight that I would be happy with.  I told my husband the summer of 2013 "I am not doing anything this summer"  I needed time to digest, time to heal after years prior of turmoil and mental unstability.  He said "GO FOR IT" and backed me up 100%. 

In 2007 I quit sugar all together.  It was Thanksgiving and I was literally stuffed.  I vowed to never use sugar in my coffee again.  I was drinking atleast 9-13 coffees a day loaded with sugar.  I got the hang of no sugar, but still although smaller I was still unhappy with my weight.  After a year or two of the no sugar rule in coffee or tea, I went down to my regular size being size 13.  To me that size was me, I felt great being that weight.  I was curvy but still somewhat hefty.  No sugar also lead to no alcoholic drinks.  I stopped drinking altogether and never felt better.  Trust me I don't miss the headaches and hangovers.  I do drink coffee but very seldom and drink a lot of water, I mean a lot! After then with no sugar, and no alcoholic beverages and plenty of water I was down to a size 12.

April 2103 was a gorgeous month here in Ontario, Canada.  I vowed to my partner that I would like I said, do nothing.  I am a writer, so I put the pen down; I did not write one single sentence for six months.  I only went to a few family events here and there, listened to tunes and hung out with nature.  I curled up everyday from April until September.  I hadn't had sugar for five years, had not touched a drink for 3 years, and watched the birds and bee's hover around our beuatiful garden on our terrace.  My husband was game.  He made dinner each night, might I add he was and is very good in the kitchen.  The meals were nurishing and tasty.  I was noticing that by atleast August I was much smaller, smaller then I had ever been!  I liked it!  Although that was not my intentions when deciding to "Date" nature.  I soon realised that I was actually shedding my weight and Mother Nature was right along with me to whisk it away.   I did not do any of this to loose the weight, that was never my intention.  Still, the weight was shedding non the less, who am I to argue with Mother Nature anyway?

A dance group just happened to open up in our area, and I promised myself that I would one day check it out.  They had an adult drop in center, I couldn't wait-I was all over that! I was feeling healthier after shedding 20 lbs out into nature just by soaking up the sun, the moon and the stars.  I couldn't wait to get out and dance.  I signed up for class and stuck to a routine for 20 weeks, going sometimes twice a week.  Then loosing 50 more lbs.  I went for enjoyment, it was and is the best fun I had in a long time.  My once very "pronounced" belly went down further and further each and every week until it was back to my regular stomach size.  This dance class in Town, became my joy and something that I looked forward to each and every week.  I went from a steady size 13 down to a size 9.  WOW!  I was able to loose weight, just by relaxing and doing things I Like!  That summer I didn't put any undue pressure on myself, I allowed myself to heal naturally with the flowers and tree's.  I became stronger emotionally and found I was more fun to be around with much more energy and less hectic and emotional days!

I think the summer of 2013 was a huge cross road in my life, I really did let the wind carry my weight away!.  I could have joined the gym, like I had done so, so many times before, making myself go on a tred mill that I really didn't want to tred to fast, or lift a few weights a couple times a week.  This dance class, a latin style inspired dance was my type of excersise and it found me!  Moving and shaking my hips while flaring my arms up down and around with such electric music was the best thing I have ever done.  No price of jewlery or trinket would ever replace the happiness I feel when leaving that dance studio. 

For me, walking wasn't cutting it, biking was not doing the trick, the only thing that led me on my way to health and wellness was Nature itself.  For the first time I became still, I was able to meditate and listen to the birds fly over head and chirp all about.  I became grounded!

Now still a flourishing garden a year later, took a few weeks off from dance, I am still a size 9 on a good day and 10 on a regular day.  Hey that is not bad considering that my worse was a size 22.  I never really cared too much about numbers or what I weighed, I was truly happy being a hefty size 13 or even 16.  I put down the sugar bowl, put away the alcohol, now am at a healthy weight, I have a positive attitude a love of nature and movement.  I will not get off this nature train to health and wellness for anyone or anything, I could never turn my back on nature!! 

Certainly having a mental illness, with it comes sometimes having weight issues.  For me, as I became smaller I was able to wean myself off of some of the medications and now am on a very low dose that is fit for me!  Nature clung to me like a lady bug and would not let me fall, it only allowed me to become a better version of myself.  37 was my time to finally rid myself of unwanted negativity and put myself first!  I give Mother Nature a pat on the back, the breeze that she blows each and everyday blew my unwanted weight and put it right into the thin air.  xxoo