Yesterday morning I woke up to a sweet text from my friend, Jaime. Here is what it said:
Happy New Year, Darlin’! Can’t wait to see what this year has in store. Also, I am planning on doing this “thing” alongside you starting today. But FYI: last night I went out and binged on chips and queso. Here’s to an incredibly healthy year. I believe in you.
Everyone needs to wake up to a text like that once in a while. A simple reminder that you’re not alone and that someone believes in you.
Yesterday, Monday, January 4, 2021, was the very first day of the rest of my life. In my 7th grade English class, my teacher had a poster saying that exact thing on her wall: Today is the first day of the rest of your life. I never really understood it…until now. I started over yesterday. All of the days of bad choices that prevented me from being my healthiest self, I let them go. That’s not to say I won’t make another bad choice. But all the ones that have shamed me for the last many years? I let them go. They don’t own me anymore. They won’t dictate what I do or don’t do. I started over. And whereas I used to be embarrassed at the thought of constantly having to “start over,” I’m not embarrassed at all anymore. Thank you, God, that I get another chance at my health.
But back to the text from Jaime…
It made me laugh out loud that she referred to it as “this thing.” She’s not wrong, though. What is this thing we’re doing? What do we call it? Is it a diet? Is it a program? Is it low carb? Is it micros and macros? We need a name, and we need a definition; we need a packet and an app and a journal with the title engraved on the front. I get it. I’m the same way.
But sadly, I’ve got none of that for you.
I do, however, have some answers to some questions I’ve been receiving. So, let’s take a look at those and maybe that’ll clear up some of the confusion. You ready?
Melissa, are you doing low carb?
Maybe. I don’t know. Not right away. I’ve done low carb in the past and it worked well for me. I’ve done WW in the past and it worked well for me. I’ve done intermittent fasting in the past and it worked well for me. But even when I do decide what approach I will be taking, I’m not sure I will share that with you. The last thing some of you need is me coming along and making you feel like the route you chose is not the best option. Don’t follow anyone who tells you that. Honey, you. do. you. No one knows your body and your metabolism quite like you. So instead of me pretending like I know what YOU need, how about I do my journey and you do yours? And we promise to do it together? I prefer the sound of that.
Melissa, are you exercising?
Yes, eventually. But not right away. I have a lot of weight to lose. And one of the things that my weight has left me as a souvenir is terrible knees. So, I would like to lose some weight first, and then I’d like to bust out my jazzercise moves. I am excited about moving my body were it to be walking, swimming, yoga or Pilates, but give me some time. I’ll get there. In the meantime, you move in the way that most benefits you. You’re the boss of you.
Melissa, I thought you said this was about more than just weight loss?
It is. And I cannot stress that enough! If I come out of the gate drinking Slim Fast shakes and walking 10,000 steps a day, I will give up. I will fail. I know me. I KNOW ME. There is NOTHING I can accomplish when my mind is working against me. And there is nothing I CANNOT DO when my mind is working with me. For me, health is a brain game. Food is a brain game. Exercise is a brain game. And the one thing we will be talking about the very most on this journey is our brain. It is the one thing that I am not sure I have ever truly tried. So, before you spend another $100 on protein shakes and diet apps, make sure that your thought-life is working for you and not against you.
Melissa, what are you using for inspiration?
I’m glad you asked. I think it’s important to talk about this for a moment. I feel like I have always been very respectful of the way you choose to worship. I have followers who haven’t stepped foot in a church in decades, and I adore them. I have followers who go every single Sunday, and I adore them. I have some that don’t own a Bible and don’t want one. I have some that have read it cover to cover. Whatever your affiliation is, welcome! I love you and I’m glad you’re here. But if you are wanting to know what my personal inspiration is? It’s my relationship to God and my faith. It is at the core of everything I do or say or even want to be. And one of the things I most want to be – is healthy. But I cannot, absolutely 100% cannot, do it without God. I wouldn’t even want to! This is a 93-pound battle for me!! If you think that I can watch it come off without some serious prayer, you are sadly mistaken. Again, you do you! But please respect me and trust me enough that when I talk about my faith it isn’t because I am “preaching” to you, but rather I am sharing with you where I am at that moment. I need God. Oh, how I need Him.
Melissa, did I hear you say you were fasting?
Yes, you did. Yesterday I began a 21 day fast called The Daniel Fast. Taken from the Biblical book of Daniel, it is a 21 day fast that is good for cleansing your body, but not good for lovers of French bread and Pop-tarts. Over the course of 21 days I will be fasting bread, flour, sugar, meats, fish and dairy. I will be crying a lot. Actually, as I am writing this I just ate quinoa for the first time and I’m pretty hacked off about it – so this 21 days should be a lot of fun. Although my body certainly needs a good detoxing, I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I am also doing this fast out of my desire for a more spiritual connection in this next year. I will need God’s unending help and He is quick to give it to me whether I fast or not. But I wanted to do this as an act of obedience. Imagine it like your child has asked you over and over and over again for a phone. So, you give them one, and they lose it. So, you give them another one, and they lose it. So, you give them another one, and they lose it. Would you keep giving them chances? Probably not. But God does. Over and over again He has given me help when I’ve needed it, only for me to turn my back and try to do things my way. This is my attempt at showing Him that I will be responsible and mature with my new phone, not out of obligation, but out of obedience.
Will you stay on The Daniel Fast?
After the 21 days??? Are you serious?? Not just no, but HECK TO THE NO!!
I guess this about covers all of the basics. If you have any other questions be sure and leave them here in the comments and I’ll get to them as soon as I can. In the mean time, I’d love to hear what you have decided to do. Is it a new program you heard about it? Are you starting slow like me? Is there an exercise that you just love? I’d like nothing more than for us to build a community of support and encouragement for the 15,000 or so that have raised their hands, burnt their boats, and are journeying with us.
And don’t forget to check out Remembering Reeses on Instagram. I’ll be posting things as we go along that may help you or may just make you laugh. I’ll also be posting my mugshot there when I am convicted on manslaughter charges for killing David Radke who is also doing the 21 day fast with me and will probably lose 80 pounds by next week. I hate men.
I’m so glad we’re doing “this thing” together. I believe in you.
Melissa
P.S. Don’t forget to join us for Rise & Radke at 9am (CST) every weekday this week on my Facebook page
Happy New Year & My Underwear Are Tight
As I sit here in tears reading your words of encouragement, I just want to say "Thank You" for being vulnerable enough to put your journey out there for the world to see! It is definitely a huge encouragement for me. I will be doing this "thing" with you!! Like you, I have to start slow as well. I have been overweight ever since puberty and I am approaching 50 this year so literally a life long battle. I have been through all the fad diets, medications, programs, etc. and have been successful. In 2011, the day after I turned 40, I had gastric bypass as a last chance resort. I went from 384 lbs to 180 (and at 5'8" I felt really good about that weight) after the weight loss and removal of excess skin. In the last 6 years I have put back on 90 lbs of that and it makes me sick every time I think about it. The reason......just like you, I have never tackled my brain. This time, that is where I am starting. Sugar is my addiction and always has been. So I will start slow, mostly by eliminating the sugary snacks from my home and refusing to buy them again on my grocery store runs. I am also going to opt to chew a piece of sugar free gum any time my brain gets bored and tries to convince me to get a snack (even though my stomach is telling me it's full). I am going to put the fork down at the first feeling of being full instead of continuing to eat just because it tastes so good. That's where I'm starting. May seem small to some but for me, it's where I need to start otherwise my brain will fight me during this battle and I don't want another failed attempt. Thank you for sharing that you have "let go" of all your failed attempts in the past. I never realized that is something I need to do but I do. I have to let go of all the guilt of having tried and failed (even after surgery). You are such an inspiration and I can't thank you enough!
I’m glad to have a community to do this with. I’d like to lose 64lbs. I am doing intermittent fasting daily (16:8) and trying to stay around or under 50g carbs per day. I have decided to walk on the treadmill during the Rise & Radke lives every morning, and I’m doing a free 30-day yoga program (Yoga with Adriene) on YouTube. That plus daily dog walking should help me lose weight, slow and steady. I have very painful plantar fasciitis in both feet and arthritis in one knee, so increasing my walking will be a challenge. But, I’m taking it slow. Good luck to all of us!