After reading Brandon’s (So Long Fat Ass), and Mary’s (A Merry Life) post about what their tipping points were for starting this journey I thought I would examine what my tipping point was as well. I’m often asked what was the deciding factor but in hind site I don’t think it was one particular event but a bunch of little ones that eventually turned into the big unmistakable elephant smack dab in the middle of my life.
- My Depression – while I wasn’t fully aware of the degree of my depression I knew it lingered. I can only describe it as a throbbing pain that eventually you just get used too. I was used to being depressed. I functioned well in that I went to work and I kept up the house duties. Outside of that I was just an empty shell.
- My Dependency to World of Warcraft – I’ve referred to this monstrosity before and I’m sure I will bring it up again. I played this game day in and day out. I stopped being social (unless it was through the game). I felt important when online. I didn’t feel important in real life. It was all I thought about and it consumed me.
- My Brother – He came to live with me back in April of 2009. His alcoholism brought to the fore front my own addictive behaviors and the notion that my path (while not as detrimental as his) was not going in a positive direction either.
This picture was taken back in September of 2009. UGH. I cry every time I look at it. I can’t believe I was so oblivious to what I was allowing to have happen to my body and my life. This is the hardest photo to look at and I will never go back to this. NEVER! (btw – that beautiful woman is my Aunt Kathee and I am absolutely obsessed with her).
- Tyler – I came across his blog in a Google Reader search back in October 2009. As I read his story, I began to feel a tug in my own life to do something about my weight, and my life. I will always be grateful for his bravery in putting his life out there and in doing so saving the lives of others.
- Pho & CalorieKing – Sounds silly I know but one day I was eating a delicious bowl of Pho and I started to wonder about these little things called calories. I did a search on what the calorie content was and the first thing that popped up was the website Calorieking. That was during the last week of December. I signed up for the free trial membership. When the last day of the trial was over, it was December 29th, 2010 and I decided it was time to make a change.
Was it an easy decision to make? No. Was it easy to implement change? Hell no. Over the first few weeks I made very small changes to what I was doing. I gave up World of Warcraft (not an easy feat mind you). I promised myself to only take the elevator (as long as it wasn’t 5 floors up). I began walking my dogs on a daily basis and I slowly began to ween myself off of diet coke. The first month was painfully hard. Painful because I was quickly learning this journey was not about the weight but about taking control of my life. I had to start intensive therapy in order to remain consistent and not allow myself to give up. That month came and went and I’ve been going full speed ahead since.
I don’t know who was living my life before December 29th 2009.
I know now.
What was your tipping point?
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June 2nd 2010
Valerie (Seattle runner girl) and I are going to be hosting a virtual running challenge in celebration of National Running day. No details as of yet, but I can almost assure you of three things: 1) There will be running 2) You will be involved 3) There will be stuff to giveaway.
As soon as well hammer out the details we’ll let you know. In the meantime, dust off those running shoes!
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Here comes the exciting news.
Are you ready?
Are you sitting down?
Cause it’s pretty exciting.
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I AM DOING A TRIATHLON IN SEPTEMBER!
I can swim, I can run and I can bike.
Now I just need to bring it all together.
Can’t talk about it just yet cause I’m still taking it in.
But there ya go!
Umm, this post is full of awesometasticness!
1. I’m so incredibly glad you reached that tipping point and you’re way way over the other side now.
2. National running day plans sound exciting! Can’t wait to hear more.
3. a Triathlon?! Say what?! AMAZING! You are going to rock that triathlon. I kinda wish I could do it with you.
T you continue to inspire and amaze me. Can you believe how much you’ve transformed your life in such a short time? Hell yes!
This post is so full of awesometasticness that it is almost too much to read! While I am living the transformation, I am having a difficult time believing this is my life right now. Our lives are pretty much the coolest things right now!
You should love that picture. It should remind you how freakin awesome you are and how far you have come.
Oh I do love it and I profess that love in my progress page.
OOOOHHH! A triathlon! I’m so excited for you. I start my official training program on Saturday. You will kick butt.
You will kick butt too!
Oh MAN! A triathlon! That’s sooo super amazing!
Can’t wait to see what you have in store for National Running Day.
I loved this blog. plain and simple. I will post my tipping point in my next blog, also I am so excited for your triathlon!! I’m looking to do a 3k or 5k this summer, just got to figure out a good date. I do have to agree, Tyler’s blog really helped me out through my journey as does your blog. Seriously, I love reading your blog-it inspires me and motivates me all the time. I cant wait for national running day- when I hear that your giving stuff away that makes it even better 🙂
Free stuff makes everything better!!!
I got called for an interview for a job I LONGED TO GET—and no suits fit.
none.
not even close.
and I had no money (hence needing the job :)) for new ones.
Clothes can be so emotional. I cried when I had to buy bigger clothes and now I’m crying when I give them up cause it’s so scary.
Tara, great post. I’m not sure what my “tipping point” was but I think more than anything it was a multitude of many things. I’m just very glad that I had the opportunity to open my eyes and workout in the gym with my trainer Dean. That changed everything.
Thanks Bobbie! Everyday I am becoming more and more grateful for making the step in the right direction.
Loving the tipping point details. It’s amazing how different each of our stories is, but they’re so similar, too – it’s when we realize we are not living our best, fullest life, and we’re not living out who we really are, that we begin to long for change.
Super excited about our National Running Day challenge!
Thanks Val. We’ve all traveled different roads to get to the same place of needing to make a change. I’m super happy we met on that road!
[…] is National Running Day – are y’all excited?!?! Well, you should be. Because, as Tara announced today, we are co-hosting an event on June 2 to celebrate National Running Day. Stay tuned for the […]
Great post Tara.
Thanks Ms. Mary!
My tipping point was over the holidays…..I went on a plane and was so uncomfortable….and for the first time in my LIFE had to ask for an extension! When I got back from the holidays, it was January 4th, and my 30th birthday was in the next week. Finally, seeing pictures of me at my birthday and through Valentines Day……it took me awhile to register that it was really ME; I started making changes on Feb 15th.
So far, it is going well and I hope the next time I am on a plane, I don’t need the extension.
Also, Good Luck on your Triathlon, that looks like FUN! Is the swim in open water? I would almost do this one, but I am terrified of open water – you never know what is in there!
🙂 ivie
I’m taking a plane ride in a few weeks and I’m wondering if it will feel different now that I’m 50 pounds lighter.
A TRIATHLON??!!! WOW You go girl!! :p I’m sure all this makes you feel so much better than any lvl 80 char you have ever played. LOL
[…] – Just your average Thursday, if your Thursday includes deciding to do a TRIATHLON! Oh and of course I talked about my own tipping […]
Great post Tara, thanks for sharing your own “tipping point”.
I’m definitely looking forward to see what you have cooked up for National Running Day! 🙂
[…] your first half Marathon and then you went and did something down right crazy: You signed up for your first triathlon! They fondly remember you thinking that you might actually like being an athlete and couldn’t […]