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Lynn Blogged Her Way to a 160-Pound Weight Loss
Posted on May 27th 2010 3:00PM by Martha EdwardsFiled Under: Motivation, Success Stories
Every week, we introduce you to bloggers who share their weight-loss journeys and hefty doses of inspiration with their readers. This week's featured blogger is Lynn from Lynn's Weigh and Refuse to Regain. Name: Lynn Haraldson-Bering
Age: 46
Start weight: 296 pounds
Current weight: 130 pounds
Goal weight: 138 pounds. I continued losing -- not intentionally -- after reaching goal. I was confused at first, but I let my body settle where it needed to and it seems to like the 128 to 132 range.
My weight loss approach: Before I could start to lose weight, I had to decide if I wanted to lose weight -- again -- for what seemed like the millionth time. I spent a lot of time in 2004 writing in a journal and exploring what I wanted for myself physically and emotionally. At 41, I was just going through the motions of my life and not engaging in much deep thinking, mostly because I was afraid of what was there that needed to be explored.
Once I decided that yes, I did want to lose weight, the next step was figuring out how to make this time the last time. I joined Weight Watchers online, and rather than following the program blindly and wishing the weight off fast, fast, fast (as it had with so many diets in the past), I focused on learning how to eat as healthy as I could, in the right amounts, and most importantly, I accepted the slowness of the process.
Why I wanted to blog about it: Because I was doing Weight Watchers online and not attending meetings, I found inspiration by reading other members' blogs. In July 2005, six months into my weight loss, I decided to come out of hiding and seek out support among my online peers. I also wanted to be accountable to other people than just myself. My blog gave me a place to share my frustrations and successes with others who in turn encouraged me and gave me great advice along the way.
The best part of blogging is: By far the best part of blogging is the support. I know getting to my goal would have been much harder if not for the people online who helped me along. Even now in maintenance, I never feel alone because no matter what question or glitch or bump in the process I experience, there is always someone -- usually more than one -- who has experienced the same thing. I also love that my success has inspired so many other people to get healthy. Blogging is a way to pay it forward and to honor those whose blogs and websites helped me lose weight.The best comment I've received: Any comment telling me that something I've written was "something I needed to hear" is the best comment. It means that I've made someone think about their life, their journey, their weight, whatever. There are millions of people out there losing weight and looking for someone to relate to. Any time I write something that impacts a reader directly and changes how they think or makes them feel understood, I am both humbled and exhilarated. I know then that I've done my job.
What's next for my blog: Just when I think I've written all I can about weight, a new aspect I hadn't thought about will come up and a new blog idea is born. I seem to be taking my blog into a broader network, moving away from the details of a particular day (what I ate and how I exercised) to thoughts on life as a whole. My weight is only part of who I am and it's interesting to explore how it fits into the fabric of my entire life. I was overweight and a mother, obese and a writer, thin and a friend. It's been interesting exploring those themes and reading comments they generate from readers.
Cheer Lynn on as she continues to maintain her weight by visiting her blog.
Another Lyn also struggled with her weight -- find out how this one is escaping obesity one pound at a time.
