“You have no right to tell people how to be healthy and lose weight when you’re still fat”
Whoa. Heavy. Did that make your heart skip a beat?
Typing those words down actually makes my heart race and my skin flush a bit. Those words are ugly. They aren’t words that were sent to my e-mail or popped into my social media comments by a mean-spirited person. No, they are words that have rattled around in my own brain trying desperately to stop me from doing the work my hands have been called to do. Have you ever had mean and self-depricating thoughts like that pop into your brain? I’m guessing so.
My Christian roots are about to show — I believe the devil is toiling away, whispering lies and tearing us down. Trying to stop us in our tracks, telling us to give in and give up. He’s trying to get us to let go of the dreams that were uniquely placed in our hearts by a loving and kind God. I’ve been aware of my passion for health and nutrition from childhood! It’s always been part of who I am.
“The devil tries to shame you where God is trying to use you.” Christine Caine
I’m a dietitian. I’m a health professional. I have worked with hundreds and hundreds of women helping them restore health to their body and revive their metabolism. And oh, the sweet irony — I struggle with my weight, too.
Instead of telling myself I am only going to be equipped to help once I reach my pre-babies goal, I instead turn the narrative on it’s head: I am more equipped than MOST to help. Because I understand what it’s like FIRST HAND to struggle with my weight. I get it! I know what works and WHY it works because I’ve walked in it! After researching, asking questions, researching and applying – This, {woman slash dietitian slash stubborn metabolism} knows what works and the science behind why it works.
Cutting my calories just makes me hungry, tired, and crabby
Eating low fat just makes me – well, hungry, and crave sugar
Trying to eat only perfectly clean or Whole 30-compliant just makes me feel bad if I eat something off-plan
I’ve struggled since childhood…
I’ve struggled with my weight since childhood. Pictures and memories tell a story of a girl addicted to sugar, who would stuff her face with Poptarts, candy, and cereal whenever she was given the chance. I was quite literally packing the cells in my body full of sugar from the beginning years of my life.
Overweight and obesity are time-dependent issues. The longer you’ve struggled, the harder it is for you to lose the excess body fat. The longer you’ve struggled, the more likely you have been getting heavier and heavier as the years have gone on. Maybe some up in weight and then some down, but the pattern is always heavier.
Knowing the science of metabolism, this makes perfect sense. We don’t even need the research to show us this is true. We see it in our friends and family members. Those who have struggled for a long-time might be able to lose some weight, but quickly gain it back. Those who have only been struggling for a year or 2 can pretty effortlessly lose any excess weight and keep it off with some newly adopted healthy habits. Again, knowing the science of metabolism, this makes perfect sense.
I am practicing what I preach: I am loving myself where I’m at while simultaneously working to create the best version of me. Since I have had up and down weight problems since I was like 3, it might take me another year? 2? Time will tell. I’m not going to wait until then to show up and help people how I know how to help. I had baby number 2 within 2 years 8 months ago. Since using my Best You Plan I am down 25 pounds and have kept it off without feeling hungry or craving sugar – it’s been much easier than typical low-calorie dieting, which doesn’t work for me. But? I’ve still got a little bit to go before I truly feel comfortable in my skin and I am at my version of “normal”. Everyone’s version is different. Some have 100+ pound to lose, others it might be around 20.
But don’t be confused: once I get to my goals, life won’t all of a sudden be perfect. A goal weight and jean size doesn’t create true happiness. You create that where you’re at right now.
Stop waiting for things to be PERFECT! Perfect is a myth and the world needs you to be you, exactly where you are at. Come as your are, show up as you are right now and bring your gifts, your talents, yourself. Do not bow down and give in to the lies that roll up in your brain telling you to give up. You are braver than that. You are stronger than that. You are uniquely and beautifully you and you can not allow your circumstances to be greater than everything you are called to do.
To your best you,
Katie Vigesaa, RD
Creator of the Best You Plan
You Should Feel Satisfied After Your Meals
