Hi everyone! Wow. I don’t quite know where to start. This month has been a crazy roller coaster ride, since I last shared with you in my “a different kind of makeover post” about the journey I am on to better health.
First, we FINALLY sold our home! It’s been a long, up and down, year for our family as we waited out the horrible housing market. We are so pleased to have such a wonderful family moving into our house and neighborhood, but it was so very hard to say goodbye….
pulling out of the driveway for the last time
…and we will miss our Kentucky friends terribly.
God truly orchestrated every detail of our sale and move and we are now settled into our new house in Georgia. I’m not calling it a “home” quite yet, but our new house is slowly becoming “ours.”
Needless to say, it’s events like this that can throw off even the best laid plans of dieters and weight lossers er… weight losers?? It’s so easy to exuberantly dive head first into weight loss on good days when our lives are consistent, it’s another story when we are stressed and our lives are turned upside down.
I’ve learned throughout this last month that STRESS is most definitely, without a doubt my number one trigger. I found myself standing quite often in front of the refrigerator opening and closing and opening and closing the door. Thankfully I had eliminated all of my trigger foods from the house, so each opening of the refrigerator door revealed what I already knew, even if my mind didn’t fully grasp it yet..there were no banned foods in the house. 😉
I’m proud to share that I managed to stay on my plan through all of the craziness and am now down
28 1/2 pounds!!
I am so excited and motivated to keep going.
This month had me doing a lot of self evaluation: “Why do I eat when I’m not hungry? Can I still love food so much and appreciate culinary experiences without stuffing myself on everything in sight? Can I make the life long changes necessary to maintain my weight loss after I reach my goal weight? Do I have the necessary discipline in me to maintain this for life?”
What I am going through is so much more than a “physical change” and trust me there definitely has been a physical change. My husband gave me a big hug yesterday and said he could “feel” how much I had lost…and boy that’s incentive to keep going! grin! BUT even more importantly, and often painful, are the “spiritual and emotional changes” I am experiencing.
We all know that overeating, like most addictions, camouflage other issues. Often deep seated issues of pain and insecurity. As the pounds fall away so do the layers of defense, the layers that we relied on to protect ourselves from hurts.
I’m excited to see what the next few months have in store! I’m ready to get back to Blogging and DIYing and Decorating and Recipe Creating…I’ve got some great new recipes to share with you all that work with my plan. Next week I’ll be sharing BEFORE pictures of my new house and my plans for it.
I also know that I owe several of you replies from the dozens of sweet, heart wrenching and transparent emails I received last month and I promise I’m working through them. My internet has been very limited these last few weeks so please forgive me and if I owe you an email please feel free to remind me and I’ll get back with you ASAP! If you would like specific information about the program I am on, please feel free to contact me on my Facebook page, or by email: thepattersonfour (at) gmail.com I am so happy to be back to blogging and that our lives are settling down. I am also so happy to have our family back together again! I’m so excited to see what adventures are in store for us in Georgia!
God is so good…all of the time! See you back here soon…at the picket fence!
If you’d like to purchase the darling retro poster or would like to see Curly Willow’s other work please visit their etsy store!
Holy crap (please pardon my French) — 28 1/2 pounds!!!!!! Wow! I am so very happy for you, my friend! And cannot wait to check you out at Haven!
🙂 Linda
Congratulations on your home! I made a move from family and friends over two years ago and I have to say it was hard!
Such wonderful news about your weight loss! You should be proud!
Good luck with your house! I enjoy reading your blog, it is so inspirational to me!
I am so happy for you – both for the house and the weight loss. That is awesome! Congratulations!! I can’t wait to see what you’re doing in your new house and to see you at Haven!!
What a great post, Heather! I am a stress eater too! Sometimes I almost “black out” and I’ll find myself eating crackers or something b/c I’m upset about something else. :s Love your new house!
I’m right there with you girlfriend! It is a struggle! I too am a stress eater and when my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer several years ago, being her caretaker, and watching her go through that and eventually go to be with the Lord – well let’s say I put on quite a few pounds. It’s so easy to put them on, but not so easy taking them off! But, I’ve decided that I need to take care of myself and I’ve started to exercise and watch what I eat. Can’t wait to meet you in person at Haven and so glad your house sold – finally, and that you are getting settled into your new home!
Congratulations, girlfriend. I’m so excited for you!
Congrats girl!! That’s awesome!! Keep up the great work!!
p.s. Your new house is BEAUTIFUL!!!
Hi Heather! I’m so proud of you loosing weight. It is so hard to do. You new house is so lovely and I know it’ll be ‘home’ soon and can’t wait to see inside. Take care dear one.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
I love your new house sweet friend and yes, it’s so hard to part from the old home..(I cried for a day!) I’m so glad things are settling for you and you’re also feeling great, and look great…wow, after 28 1/2 pounds, AMAZING!!! Congrats on both, new house and new figure. Thanks for sharing this inspiring post…’LIFE IS LIKE A ROLLER COASTER!’
FABBY
Congrats on the weight loss!! Dieting is a bummer and I have at least 15 to 20 that need to go. It is so much harder as you get older. I don’t eat a ton it is lack of movement on my part. Must get back to it. Too much sitting with this blogging gig!
How awesome that you kept up your goals through alone craziness! That is an amazing accomplishment! And ai dictation of how strong you are and how much more you will be able to achieve. Cheering for you from NY but know you are amazing no matter the number on the scale.
Your new home looks beautiful!!!…and congrats on the weight loss…you must so thrilled!!!
You are an inspiration, but I know that it is truly a work of God. We’re going through some things right now that have me on my knees in desperation before God. And I know He wants to teach me, again and again, that He is sufficient for my needs. Not a person. Not a house. Not a job. Not financial security. Only Him. The things of this world will fail us. There is much pain, but I know you know that, and I’m so happy with your weight loss and the encouragement it gives you to continue on. Can’t wait to see you at Haven!
Congratulations on your hard work to lose weight, Heather. Keep up the good work and welcome to Georgia!!!!
Heather that is SO amazing. What an accomplishment already amidst everything you have been through w/ the move! So proud of you – it’s so hard, I know.
Your new home is absolutely stunning. Wow. I cannot wait to see the before pics!
Have a wonderful week!
xoxo
Congratulations, Heather! Making a move is so stressful but to continue your weight loss journey through it, is amazing!! Just shows you definitely have the will to succeed and accomplish whatever you set your mind too!! You go girl!!~~Angela
To be able to conquer one of the most stressful and taxing hurdles in your life (selling, buying moving) and to be able to forge through and come out on the other side 28 1/2 lbs lighter, I would venture to guess that you will be at your goal sooner than you think. I am so happy for you and your family ALL the way around.. I know what a journey this has been and I am so glad to see you back in the blogging seat again. 🙂
xoxo
Heather,
Happy to hear that you sold your house and the move to GA. has gone well. Most of all…CONGRATS on your weight loss:)
Blessings,
Linda
I’d say you are well on your way to a healthier you, if you could avoid stress eating while selling a home! WTG on keeping it all together and I can’t wait to see what you do to the new home.
Welcome to Georgia!!! Your home is beautiful, and I’m so proud about the weight that I could cheer. (Feel free to picture pom pons shaking in your blog face right now.)
Yeah!!! Congrats on your move, and extra congrats on your lifestyle change!!! What an exciting time for you, and to finally having your family together!! Have fun making that house your HOME!;) ~ Kim
Congratulations! We’re so proud of the person you are Heather, inside and out! You’ve been a delight all of your life. Love you, Mom and Dad
So happy for you Heather!I bet you feel amazing which is the most important part of losing weight.Putting good fuel in your body.Your home is beautiful what fun to have a new and clean pallet to start decorating.I cannot wait to watch the progress!
xx
Anne
Congratulations on your weight loss and more importantly on the changes you are making to improve your health. I’m currently on a similar journey. Your new home looks lovely and I look forward to seeing more.
I’m so happy for you on the weight loss, the absolutely fabulous new house, and the sale of your old one. Our house is on the market, I also decided to lose weight around the same time, I’ve gone down two dress sizes (didn’t dare get on a scale) and will be moving in two weeks. I totally get the crazy roller coaster you have been on. And I just started a new job a few months ago. (Throwing my hands up in the air as the roller coaster takes me on a ride!!)
You go girl! You are an inspiration. Can’t wait to see more of your new home.
Way to go Heather! So, so proud of you – and with a move too! I’m coming up on a year sober and I’m just now starting to truly embrace myself – my whole self without apology! The best is yet to come!
THANK YOU and amen Chenoa! It is SO important to embrace our addiction and recognize it for what it is. I believe acknowledging it and owning it immediately breaks some of the hold our addictions have on us.
Thank you so much for sharing your heart and your struggle, Heather. I’m so proud of what you’re accomplishing. You did a wonderful job of putting just what a struggle it really is into words.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! How awesome do you feel right now!!!??? You need to go on a shopping spree before Haven! Cannot wait to hug your skinny little neck! LOL
You already inspire me Heather, but now I am really inspired…to get healthy and back on track to where I once was~Thank you! BTW, your house is gorgeous!
Congrats on your weight loss! My husband and I have been working to shed weight for a few weeks now. He’s lost about 10 pounds and I’ve lost maybe 5. Dieting sure is rough — we are hungry all the time! But the good thing is that we’ve been eating way more fruits and veggies than we used to, so that has to be good!
#1 I love Beth’s response.
#2 Heather I am SOOOOOO excited for you and SOOOO proud of you! I can’t wait to see what God has for you in this next season, I know it’s going to be amazing!
Anna 🙂
Good job girl! It’s sooo hard, but so worth it! Keep it up!
Holy moly girl! Go you!! 🙂
Heather, I have always thought you were so beautiful, both inside and out! I, too, have been inspired by Cheri’s transformation and it’s good to know that whatever the two of you have been doing has worked despite the upheaval in your life! I cannot wait to see you again in a few weeks to give you a great BIG hug!
So proud of you! Congrats! Your home is beautiful!
So happy for you!! I absolutely love your blog. So happy you are a GEORGIA girl like myself!! Best wishes and keep up of the hard work!!
Brittany Shook
Congrats on the weight loss and welcome to Georgia!
Congratulations on your move and weight loss! Both are inspirational stories! And you are SO right…God is good ALL the time! Thank you for the reminder! Enjoy the day!
Welcome to Georgia! I promise, it is not normally this rainy during the summer! But the humidity is ours ALL THE TIME!
Congratulations on your weight loss and keep up the journey that so many of us are on. I cannot wait to see what you have in store for your new house and YOU!
What a beautiful house that i’m sure will be a home very soon!!! Excited to see you’ll be speaking at Haven–me too! Hoping I can see all I want to see!
I am so proud of you for all that you have lost and found over the last several weeks. I love what kind of woman you are… stronger than you even realize. I can’t wait to see you in a few weeks my sweet friend. You are an inspiration!!
Take care,
Trish
Heather, so glad that move is behind you. I certainly understand how difficult that time was. Our family had 2 apartments our son’s senior year in high school. One in Texas and one in Tennessee. That was a difficult decision to make, but we did what was right for our son. I so remember the joy we all 3 had being under the same roof again and not having to travel to be altogether. A friend was moving a few miles from where they had been and their daughter was upset about the move. I have to share the most beautiful thing she said to her. She said, “the love moves with us.” So true…enjoy those “long hugs”…that long year is over!
Way to go, Heather! I am so proud of you — and continuing to lose weight through a move and the “crazies” that come with it… Fantastic! I’m so thankful your house finally sold and that your family is now together again in your gorgeous new one. I’ll continue to hold you close in prayer as you keep up the hard work. I know God has wonderful things in store as you continue to trust Him with everything — body, mind, and spirit. (Glad to have you back in Blogland!)
I’m happy, excited and proud for you all of that same time. I’m happy that your life has settled down and you will soon know the peace of family and home again. Excited that you have lost 28 1//2 pounds and so proud of you for being transparent and sharing your journey.
You are an inspiration!
Oh my Dear, you are an amazing woman! Going through the stress of selling your house, leaving your friends, moving to a new place and into a strange house (BTW I Love the new house!!) and everything else you’ve been through and you have STILL lost 28 1/2 pounds…WOW, all I can say is Wow~ Keep up the good work and be sure to let us see what your new house looks like inside as well as outside, it is beautiful already and I can’t wait to see how you make it even more so.
Good for you, GOOD FOR YOU!
Sue
Congrats on the weight loss. That is SO great! Your new home is beautiful. I’m sure it is a relief to have sold your former house. You are blessed!
Heather, it’s never too late to say congratulations on your weight loss and on your new home. Life sure is an adventure. You hit the nail right on the head about food being an addiction. I’m at the crossroads where I must make a change for my health. Diets don’t work for me. I don’t want to have to count points, or buy packaged food. I need to move more and find healthier things to do every time I want to binge eat. Right now I’m addressing the issues that make me want to eat -and that is huge. You’ve always been a beautiful woman but now your beauty shines through even more as you speak about food addiction. Thank you for sharing.