A Wise Woman
Nearly 3 years ago my then boyfriend took me to Wiltshire as there is a shop that sells clothes for large women in one of the White Horse villages. 
I can't remember the name of the village or the name of the shop but I will never forget the owner.
She was a grandmother, slim, active. She told me she used to be a big woman but one day she decided to do something about her weight when she realised she would not be around long to enjoy her grandchild. It was impossible to believe this lady was once fat. She told my boyfriend off for not encouraging me to lose weight and he was taken aback as nothing could be further from the truth.
Anyway, to make a long story short, this lady was more concerned about my health and future than selling clothes. She said something that I will never forget, something that now I tell other women I meet: "you will only lose weight when you truly want it, nobody can make you do it, just yourself".
How true that is!
That trip to Wiltshire was one of the most memorable moments in my life. We had the best time. My boyfriend had booked us into a manor hotel on top of a hill and the views over the valleys below were stupendous! There was a spa on site and I remember facing the long staircase to the swimming pool with dread. I was already using my walking stick then.
We saw many beautiful places like Bradford upon Avon as well as Stonehenge. My eyes filled with beauty and on our way back we made a stop at a postcard perfect village in the Cotswolds called Bibury. Bibury's highlights are a row of preserved stone houses as well as a trout farm where you can fish your own meal.
My boyfriend said he had never seen me so elated as when I was feeding the swan and ducks or fishing trout. I spent 3 hours on my feet in that place and, although I was tired in the end, I enjoyed myself thoroughly.
This would have been the last time in my life that I would be able to stand for long periods of time or walk distances. My health deteriorated rapidly thereafter to the point that I could not get out of the car unassisted (he had to physically pull my feet out and support me to a standing position and it took a good 5 minutes before I was able to mobilise and that with a lot of pain, taking baby steps.)
I lost valuable time in my life, not through obstinance but through lack of information. It was not until the TV began showing programmes about people doing weight loss surgery that I realised there might be a way out for me. But my doctor was not convinced and then I got pregnant.
My baby helped me lose a significant amount of weight in the months that I was carrying her. I dropped from 192 kgs to 167 kgs - 423 lbs to 368 lbs - in 9.5 months. I could not believe my eyes when I asked the physios to take me to the scales after I had given birth. My cry of joy was heard all over the hospital.
I am writing this to remember. And to thank my daughter for coming into my life and brightening it up, despite the difficulties. I am doing it for her, because I want her to live a good life, not a life of regrets and self-imposed barriers.
Remember, Reader, if you are concerned about your weight and the way your life has turned out, only you can change it when you are good and ready for it!
On the other hand, there is no better time than now :)
I can't remember the name of the village or the name of the shop but I will never forget the owner. She was a grandmother, slim, active. She told me she used to be a big woman but one day she decided to do something about her weight when she realised she would not be around long to enjoy her grandchild. It was impossible to believe this lady was once fat. She told my boyfriend off for not encouraging me to lose weight and he was taken aback as nothing could be further from the truth.
Anyway, to make a long story short, this lady was more concerned about my health and future than selling clothes. She said something that I will never forget, something that now I tell other women I meet: "you will only lose weight when you truly want it, nobody can make you do it, just yourself".
How true that is!
That trip to Wiltshire was one of the most memorable moments in my life. We had the best time. My boyfriend had booked us into a manor hotel on top of a hill and the views over the valleys below were stupendous! There was a spa on site and I remember facing the long staircase to the swimming pool with dread. I was already using my walking stick then.
We saw many beautiful places like Bradford upon Avon as well as Stonehenge. My eyes filled with beauty and on our way back we made a stop at a postcard perfect village in the Cotswolds called Bibury. Bibury's highlights are a row of preserved stone houses as well as a trout farm where you can fish your own meal.
My boyfriend said he had never seen me so elated as when I was feeding the swan and ducks or fishing trout. I spent 3 hours on my feet in that place and, although I was tired in the end, I enjoyed myself thoroughly.
This would have been the last time in my life that I would be able to stand for long periods of time or walk distances. My health deteriorated rapidly thereafter to the point that I could not get out of the car unassisted (he had to physically pull my feet out and support me to a standing position and it took a good 5 minutes before I was able to mobilise and that with a lot of pain, taking baby steps.)
I lost valuable time in my life, not through obstinance but through lack of information. It was not until the TV began showing programmes about people doing weight loss surgery that I realised there might be a way out for me. But my doctor was not convinced and then I got pregnant.
My baby helped me lose a significant amount of weight in the months that I was carrying her. I dropped from 192 kgs to 167 kgs - 423 lbs to 368 lbs - in 9.5 months. I could not believe my eyes when I asked the physios to take me to the scales after I had given birth. My cry of joy was heard all over the hospital.
I am writing this to remember. And to thank my daughter for coming into my life and brightening it up, despite the difficulties. I am doing it for her, because I want her to live a good life, not a life of regrets and self-imposed barriers.
Remember, Reader, if you are concerned about your weight and the way your life has turned out, only you can change it when you are good and ready for it!
On the other hand, there is no better time than now :)
posted by Tania at 8:40 AM
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