100 Pounds Lost
Weight Loss Success Stories: Stacey Lost 185 Pounds With Inspiration From Carnie Wilson
Name: Stacey Morris
Age: 48
Height: 5’8″
Before Weight: 345 pounds
How I Gained It: I was a chubby kid. My parents panicked and put me on a diet at age 9. They were concerned and well-meaning, but the 70s were the dark ages. Dieting wrecked psyche and metabolism. I was either making an attempt to live under the depressing conditions of the latest diet, or binge-eating as if it were my last day on earth. I lost 100 pounds twice in my 20s but regained it, in large part because I made the change out of shame and because I believed that my pre-existing problems would magically melt away with the weight. Even at a smaller size I was still the ashamed fat kid who was never good enough. By the time I hit my 30s I was 300 pounds and utterly worn out by the lose-gain cycle, so I waved the white flag of surrender and decided I would eat whatever I wanted when I wanted. My designated food groups were fat, white carbs and salt: French fries, potato chips, Italian bread soaked in butter, cheeseburgers and fried chicken. Cream cheese was my all-time favorite source of protein. No need for salmon or spinach, thank you very much. My mission was to seek out food that tasted good and helped me escape the feelings of turmoil over a stressful job, unhappy relationship and the deep sorrow over slowly losing my father to Alzheimer’s disease.
Breaking Point: I was sitting in front of the TV the afternoon of January 5, 2009, working my way through a large bag of potato chips and a party-sized bowl of clam dip. I’d just come from my annual checkup at the doctor’s, where I learned my weight was at an all-time high of 345 pounds. Equally discouraged and disgusted, I retreated to the couch to watch Oprah reveal that she’d fallen off the wagon (boy, could I relate). Unbeknownst to me, Carnie Wilson was a guest that day, beamed in via sattelite to explain her recent turnaround and weight loss. I was riveted. Carnie was slender, her eyes glowed with contentment, and I had an immediate realization: If she could do it, there was hope for me. I’d always considered Carnie Wilson to be my genetic twin: we were both chubby kids who became fat teenagers who became obese adults. And we were both trapped by an overly zealous love of food.
How I Lost It: Through a Google search, I found Carnie’s fitness guru, Diamond Dallas Page, and began doing his DDPYOGA workouts regularly. The routines began to strengthen my lethargic and sedentary body. They’re also a cardio workout and got my heart and lungs in better condition. I was given valuable nutritional mentoring from Dallas Page, who suggested I give up gluten and cow dairy. As much as I adore bread and cheese, I was willing to give it a try and amazed at how much better I felt — the weight also started coming off like never before. The last thing I wanted, however, was to be doing anything that felt like a diet, so I set about putting habits into place I could live with. No food was permanently off limits. But at the same time, I had to acknowledge that a steady stream of junk food was doing me no favors. I agreed to have treats like fried chicken when I was truly craving it, and not when I wanted to fill an emotional hole. The lighter I became, the more I wanted to do. Nine months into my new way of life and 100 pounds lighter, I trained for and participated in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. To this day, I love long-distance walking, as well as weight-training, Pilates and all forms of yoga.
I wore nothing but black stretchy clothing for 20 years and now I wear color! It feels great to walk into a clothing store and gravitate to a rack because of the color or style, not the size of the clothing. That experience beats the daylights out of hoping to find something quasi-fashionable in a plus-sized clothing catalog. I also travel a lot more. Trying to fit into an airplane seat at 345 pounds is something I wouldn’t wish on an enemy. I no longer avoid crowded restaurants for fear of knocking tables askew with my hips, and don’t flee the building like it’s on fire if someone pulls out a camera. What’s different at the core is knowing I deserve to be happy. That was a belief that always eluded me. And no coincidence that once I turned that belief around, a happy and fulfilling relationship with a wonderful man was added to the list of positive changes.
I’m very fortunate that the Carnie Wilson/Oprah incident was my wake-up call. It’s a mixed blessing that I come from healthy genetic stock. Even during the obese years, my blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar were all about average. I’m not saying they were great, but there was no solemn moment when my doctor warned me I was a ticking time bomb. Like I said, a double-edged sword. I could have gone on for another couple of decades at that size, but at what cost? My blood pressure may have been OK, but what good was that if my energy level was non-existent, my mobility severely limited and the majority of my mental energy harnessed in the direction of orchestrating my next binge? Today, I love food, possibly more than ever, because I eat with awareness and not in a trance. And I love other things, like climbing a few flights of stairs without sounding like a locomotive, wearing high heels instead of flat sandals, slipping into the back seat of a compact car and mentoring others who are on a similar path.
So who knows, if you’re reading this and want similar things to unfold for you, maybe I can be your Carnie Wilson and let you know that it really is possible. Start out wherever you are and take the first few steps in a new direction. If you really want it to, your perfectly imperfect path can deliver you to a new life.
After Weight: 160 pounds. To read more of my story, visit my blog, StaceyMorris.com.
Source: Huffington Post
Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Shannon M Lovell
March 23, 2015 at 9:08 pm
I took pics of the whole article with pics for motivation!!!
Cristal Gomez
March 21, 2015 at 1:11 pm
Wow!
Billie Sanders
March 20, 2015 at 10:35 pm
Awesome
Anya Loses Weight
March 20, 2015 at 8:06 pm
very impressive!
Michelle Herrera
March 20, 2015 at 1:59 pm
Omg wow
Carol Janosko
March 20, 2015 at 1:33 pm
WOW!!
Leslie-Claire Spillman
March 20, 2015 at 12:38 pm
Amazing. Congrats and thanks for the inspiration!
Debby Cantley-Preciado
March 20, 2015 at 12:03 pm
I wondered how that series was and thought about giving it a try but didn’t want it to be another dust collecter. I do love strength training yoga so maybe this is yhe right combo for me.
Catalina Quiroz
March 20, 2015 at 11:12 am
how about the plateau you hit and you got past that point
Jones Melissa
March 20, 2015 at 10:48 am
Amazing
Ronald Davies
March 20, 2015 at 10:29 am
Gratz.
Christina Bussmann
March 20, 2015 at 10:26 am
Stacey Morris is awesome and DDP Yoga is the best workout on the planet! I have tried EVERYTHING, my flexibility has increased so much, and my quality of life (example – being able to bend down and pick something up off the floor pain free) has improved tremendously!!!
Marla Theodoro
March 20, 2015 at 9:40 am
an inspiration…I just ordered DDPYoga! Can’t wait!
Sara Figueroa
March 20, 2015 at 9:24 am
Stacey Morris also has a fantastic blog; she is a brilliant and inspiring writer!
Tina Stoppa-Thompson
March 20, 2015 at 9:22 am
Phenomenal! I am happy for you that is so awesome and inspiring.
Linda Thompson
March 20, 2015 at 9:06 am
Very impressive. Congratulations!!
Patricia Walters-Fischer
March 20, 2015 at 8:55 am
Fantastic! I love seeing pictures and reading success stories. Tremendously well done.
JoAnna Guarnieri
March 20, 2015 at 8:53 am
Congrats
Vanessa Cruz Torluemke
March 20, 2015 at 8:40 am
Congrats!
Becky Brickhouse McCorkle
March 20, 2015 at 8:26 am
I too was inspired by Carnie!!!
You look great!!!
Linda Thompson
March 20, 2015 at 8:02 am
Holy smokes!You are awesome! Amazing!
Pamela R Wilson
March 20, 2015 at 6:04 am
Thank you so much! I too am near your starting weight and needed the aha moment here. I too ordered DDPYoga and have not started it, but you just gave me the inspiration to. Thank you! You are a gem!
Neva Pesce
March 20, 2015 at 3:52 am
awesome… you look wonderful…
Rachel Kennedy
March 20, 2015 at 3:27 am
You look incredable, so inspiring.
Abby Bivins
March 20, 2015 at 3:22 am
Looking Great!! You go girl
Sugar Puffs Patterson
March 20, 2015 at 2:30 am
Well Done
Renee Pigeon
March 20, 2015 at 12:34 am
You are awesome.
Sylvia Williams
March 20, 2015 at 12:31 am
Great job you look amazing
Orit GB
March 20, 2015 at 12:22 am
WOW!
Steve Elliott
March 20, 2015 at 12:20 am
What a wonderful story!
Jer Sigler
March 20, 2015 at 12:18 am
INSPIRING! 🙂
Michelle Reames
March 20, 2015 at 12:13 am
Wow! That’s amazing!
Gentry Fitness
March 13, 2014 at 11:38 am
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!
Lucia Stephens
March 12, 2014 at 9:07 pm
I need to find “the workout” that works for me… no such luck yet
Aris Drayton-Vaughan
March 12, 2014 at 7:18 pm
Amazing!
Melissa Gallitto
March 12, 2014 at 6:35 pm
Why can’t that happen for me
Wendy Bannister
March 12, 2014 at 6:11 pm
Incredible!
Monica Ling-Tannehill
March 12, 2014 at 5:00 pm
way to go!! I have pictures like that – in reverse. 🙁
Mary Golla Newrones
March 12, 2014 at 4:55 pm
Inspiring! Yoga has certainly made a difference in my life! So great to see how it transforms people inside and out! 🙂
Dana Genett Stephens
March 12, 2014 at 4:26 pm
Wow! 🙂
Zumba Chick Melissa Grove
March 12, 2014 at 4:20 pm
I thought Carnie Wilson had “Gastric Bypass” Surgery?! Not once but twice b/c she gained her weight back again~ Just not sure “what” inspired you about her since you did it on your own?
Melissa Van
March 12, 2014 at 4:18 pm
Not sure how you followed “Carnie Wilson”? She had GASTRIC BYPASS surgery! That is how she lost “HER” weight. Not once but twice. And gained it back which led her to the “2nd” surgery~
BoOgedy Jeana
March 12, 2014 at 4:06 pm
Tamara Clevenger said it all… 🙂
Tamara Clevenger
March 12, 2014 at 3:57 pm
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kate Reese Mahowald
March 12, 2014 at 3:54 pm
Congrats for all the hard work.. You deserve it!!
jackie
March 12, 2014 at 3:46 pm
I’d love to lose some weight .. I had a massive stroke 2 years ago I done some exercise but not a lot.PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN
Michelle Evrard-Currie
March 12, 2014 at 3:39 pm
Excellent! Congrats u look amazing!
Peggy
March 12, 2014 at 3:36 pm
Very inspirational. Congratulations!
Malta Nelson
March 12, 2014 at 3:33 pm
Great job.
Melissa Thrasher
March 12, 2014 at 3:31 pm
Wow. You look great
Rhonda Spangler-Stepp
March 12, 2014 at 3:30 pm
Good job =)