Katie La Pointe
Since January 1, 2013: -0.80% body mass
FOLLOW KATIE’S JOURNEY TO HEALTH
Weekly Progress:
Week Percentage of weight loss/gained since January 1
1 +1.06%
2 +0.27%
3 -1.01%
4 +0.43%
5 -0.01%
6 -0.74%
7 -0.80%
8 ?
9 ?
10 ?
Friday, February 8:
Tuesday, February 5
Friday, February 1: Video Diary 2
Monday, January 28: Blog 3
The balance has shifted…
So, ideally I would be writing blog once per week at a designated time, in a designated place, and with a designated purpose. But, that hasn’t exactly happened.
The Biggest Winner…the truth is that even though I am an extremely competitive person, what I am receiving is a win in and of itself. This isn’t my first nutrition and weight loss rodeo, but this just feels like it’s going to work. The support system in place at Saint Mary’s is second to none. The staff are concerned about the individual, and they don’t bombard us with they think is the right or wrong way to do something. I honestly feel like I’m reintroducing myself to…myself.
I’m learning where to push myself, where I need to be careful, what I need to work on, and what I am working toward. So what’s different now? I guess I’m just ready to look in the mirror and face the music, so to speak. I’ve accepted that I’m not perfect, that the process is not instantaneous, that I will have to step outside of my comfort zone, admit my shortcomings, be open-minded, embrace new ideas, plan, prepare, stick to a schedule, and maintain.
I’m not going to lie. This is not easy. I’m not feeling particularly confident in this week’s weigh-in, mainly because I stepped outside of my schedule and went out of town. It’s not like I went on an eating spree, but missing spin class on Saturday morning, not having a blender to make my smoothie…the whole process I have become accustomed to came to a screeching halt. In the past something like this would derail me. Psychologically, a few days off the beaten path meant no return to the path, but I have learned that this simply isn’t the case. It’s okay to live life…and it’s okay to make decisions contrary to a diet plan…as long as you always find your way back to the path. I feel like I’m responsible for staying on the path, and all of the people involved in this process, from nutrition to personal training, are the compass. It’s such an interesting endeavor, and one that I enjoy every step of the way.
Monday, January 14: Blog 2
Power in numbers
As the second week of The Biggest Winner ends, only to welcome in the third week, I have been inundated with messages and well wishes from family, colleagues, church family, friends, and many others who have heard about this contest through various media outlets. Although I am an outgoing person, the breadth of the attention has really taken me aback, and now things just got real. Accountability is such an important component, and now, like it or not, it is here to stay. This is both exciting and intimidating, but I know that I am up for the challenge.
Week two was the first full week of the competition as well as my first week back to teaching. I won’t say that it was easy to manage the time commitment, but it was an awakening to what I am going to have to do for the rest of my life: balance my professional, social, and personal life in a way that allows me to live in a happy and healthy way. So as I move forward into week three and the rest of my life, I’m ready to learn, embrace, challenge myself, make mistakes and get back up, say what I’ll do and do what I’ll say, and put away the excuses and pick up the dumbbells.
Already so many positive things have come to fruition as a result of The Biggest Winner. At McQueen High School, beginning this week, we will be launching our own Biggest Winner program for the faculty and staff. It’s the pay it forward model that proves that this experience is not just about Katie, Kim, or Christina, but about all of us, as a community, coming together to live healthier lifestyles and to be role models to the younger generations who look to us to set the pace and the example.
Thursday, January 10: Video Diary 1
Friday, January 4, 2013: Blog 1
Fit as a fiddle…or not.
Today marks the end of the first week of The Biggest Winner, which was somewhat abbreviated due to the holiday. For me, this week was the beginning of many changes that will take place over this 10-week period that will hopefully lay the foundation for a healthy lifestyle beyond the competition. Of course, this means that I have to step out of my comfort zone, and boy does this program do just that, and I’m not even talking about exercising. The publicity of The Biggest Winner was definitely a shock. Sitting in front of a camera, spilling the beans about my own struggles, has been a humbling experience, one that I hope will hold me accountable.
The competition: Kim and Christina are wonderful women with powerful stories. We’re all so different in how we got to where we are and why we want to change, but we share one common denominator that unites us: no, not the need to lose weight…but motivation! After yesterday’s first personal training session with Tasha, who is ah-mazing, I left knowing that each one of us put our full effort into what we were doing, and not once did anyone give up. Having this camaraderie and support trumps the fear and shame of being overweight and working out in front of other people, at least for me. Today I am still feeling the burn, but in the most positive way possible. The pain that comes after a good workout is evidence that changes are happening, and once we meet with the nutritionist next week, all of the tools needed to be successful will be at our disposal, and that is a great feeling!
As this new year gets going, so too are Kim, Christina, and I, along with countless others who see the newness of 2013 as the golden opportunity to make lasting changes. I anticipate the quality of my life increasing, a new balance, a new awareness of what I am capable of doing, and a new way to see myself, and an unwavering motivation that keeps me on a successful path and might just help someone else along their journey.
To The Biggest Winner, great success for all three of us, and for all others who want to embrace and enjoy a healthier lifestyle!
