May 05 2007
The Great Weight Loss Experiment
This week starts a new category, chronicling my own journey of weight loss. I have to admit this from the start: Writing a weekly post on this topic is right up there with going to a dentist and having my teeth pulled. Or standing naked in front of the world (represented by you, readers).
Why? I don’t usually have trouble publicly exploring other levels of my personal or spiritual growth and development. But in America, we are highly judgmental about overweight people. We perceive them as people who are dumb, emotional wrecks, gluttonous failures, slothful and lazy and a slew of other attributes that Americans despise. Well, I’m none of those things. I’d like to get beyond the superficial profiling that we do with overweight and obese people and discover the metaphysical causes. If by writing this series of posts I can help open just one person’s mind about this challenge that many people face, or help someone else in their own most challenging growth issue, then it’s worth the soul/body baring that I will do.
Oh heck, forget the altruism. If writing about it helps me lose weight, then it’s worth it and I thank all of you in advance for being part of that process!
Some Stats:
- I’m 52.
- I have 100-110 pounds to lose.
- I’m more interested in learning to eat for a lifetime, then eating for short term loss.
- I’ve had weight issues a good deal of my life, although now when I look back at times when I thought I was overweight, I looked pretty decent.
- Even at my most skinniest, I am a large woman. The last time I was skinny (about 20 years ago), I was a size 12. My mother told me I looked anorexic!
- Some part of me likes being large. I’d like to shift the form for that part of me, from my physical body to the blog. If you’d like to help me with that shift, please spread the word about this blog!
- I will give out “reports” as they come in periodically, but I don’t plan on weighing myself every week. I’m more interested in exploring the metaphysical and energetic causes of my personal challenge. If I get the energy right, the form will follow.
- I am very honest with myself in almost all areas of my life. The “almost” is because I question if I’m totally honest in this one area of my life. (And if I’m questioning it, then I already know the answer). I am making a declaration to the Universe (and to all levels of my being) that there will be no bullshit allowed here.
Here’s What Makes Me Feel Naked
I tend to think in terms of vertical energies and horizontal energies. Vertical energies represent my connection to Spirit, Angelic realms, guides and Creator Source. Horizontal energies represent my human relationships and my expression of soul purpose and life in form. When I need an attribute such as love, connection, belonging, abundance I bring it in vertically first, then express it horizontally. This attribute is then reflected back to me by those around me.
Some people are better horizontally than vertically. My strength has always been vertically with a strong connection to Creator Source. But that’s not working for me now. The key to my losing weight, I feel, has to do with my horizontal energies, of opening myself to humanity in a new way.
Here is my first insight (the plan is working already!) The thought of opening up horizontally and receiving and giving to all of you at some new level of me (which I don’t know about yet) is really scary. Hence I use excess weight to protect that vulnerability.
In Conclusion
I’ve been looking to the past for the reasons I’ve put on weight, when in fact it’s the future that I need to explore. What in the world am I moving toward?! Now, that I’ve acknowledged my feelings around vulnerability and yes, some shame about the weight, the psychic clarity shows up. I love when that happens! (For more on working with emotions check out this post.) And I look forward to discovering what’s coming.
I would love your support on my journey to fitness. Here are some creative ways that could happen (and feel free to think of more):
- Send me an email to subscribe to and receive my weekly installment on The Great Weight Loss Experiment.
- Add a comment and share your wisdom from your own challenges or let me know if anything I’ve said has helped you.
- Spread the word about this blog, supporting it to be the new form of “bigness” in my life.
- Send a trackback to a post that tells your story about weight loss.
- Donate an amount for each pound lost, either for me or you. I won’t be posting weight lost until July.
Copyright © 2007 gia combs-ramirez. All rights reserved.
Gia,
As always I love your sense of humor, which bursts through even when you are in a difficult vulnerable space. I particularly like your tongue in cheek suggestion of donating for pounds lost, but that idea might take some refinement. Especially if you are not posting your weight!
Maybe people could also donate a dollar per pound they lose if they lose weight from insights gained here at this blog?
This should be quite an adventure, I need to lose the weight I had lost before my brother moved in. Sure put it back on while he was here, but now he is out on his own and maybe I can get back to what I was doing before family chaos hit!
Thanks, Lexi, for your insights. I won’t be posting actual weight lost until July, when I get a bunch of new tests done. Last fall, I worked very hard at losing weight, eating appropriate amounts and getting lots of cardiovascular exercise and didn’t lose a thing (in 2 months). Because I was weighing myself every week, I got very discouraged and lost motivation. So trying a different focus this time.
I like your suggestion about donating for someone else losing weight so will edit that part. gia
Gia,
I am so glad you are doing this I was just talking to my sister-in-law about her 30lbs loss. I have lost 100obs twice and recently lost a good 5lbs with out trying.
My sister-in-law told me her method. She started by being positive about her body. Negative thoughts(energy) she said made her metabolism slugish.
She is constantly thinking “my metabolizim has speed up”. She tells herself every time she eats “I deserve the nutrients I am eating” she had to change her opinion of I eat to much (which to her is I don’t deserve the nutrients from this food). Anything my body needs I will enjest anything my body does not need or has plenty stored will pass threw.
I am still trying this and will let you know how it goes but I think it is a great start for me. I did put on 20lbs this winter.
Liz
Thank you, Liz for your inspiring words. I look forward to adding the suggestion here to my tool box. gia
I have been struggling with my weight all my adult life and totally agree with you- that when I look back at old pictures I can’t understand what I thought was wrong. In the past 10 years- I’ve steadily gained about 8 pounds a year. I believe one of the keys is that I’ve always been unhappy about what I weigh and have attracted the extra pounds.
I remember last year when I was in Ennis doing the Advanced CCT- you told me that some of us seem to take on the weight of the group- or those around us. The weight has some great protection benefits but can also be somewhat of a rebellion- take me as I am and I don’t care about what society says I’m supposed to look like.
About 3 months ago- I began CCT healing and “restoration” sessions for a healthier, fitter lifestyle and like you- have elected only to weigh myself every sixty days. So far– all I can say is that some of the guilt, shame and anguish has disappeared. Food has become less important to my life. I look forward to continuing the journey with you.
Gia,
How goes the weight lose? Don’t give up. There is always hope. You can do it. You will live a longer life if you do.
Digger
Hi Digger! My first squidoo commenter. Very exciting and thanks for the encouraging words. We’ll see tomorrow how this past week went. I got a bit derailed with a cold/flu bug. Sigh. gia
That’s a good article about The Great Weight Loss Experiment | The Science of Energy Healing. Thanks for the info.