My name is Catherine and I’m a 46 year old woman, who apart from being 35 Kg (77lb) overweight, is relatively healthy …… at least in the traditional Western medicine eyes. I am happily married, with 3 girls of Primary School age.  My parents are both still alive and live close by, allowing me regular contact with those loving and lovely supportive people.  I have a loving and close family, both mine and my in- laws. How blessed am I?

I have struggled with my weight most of my adult life, but particularly as work commitments ramped up in my 20s. It restricted my participation in my chosen sports (I was a sport freak) as I did a lot of traveling as part of my Consultancy job.  In addition, my diet changed with regularly eating out at restaurants or eating mining camp food.  The advent of 3 children whilst in my mid 30s has seen my weight yo-yo a lot since.

However, in the last 3 years, my struggle with emotional issues saw my weight balloon out an additional 16 Kg (35lb) in 3 years.  Like others, I suffered an abusive relationship through a teacher at school, but I’m through that now!

Needless to say, I am unhappy with how I feel and the lack of energy that goes hand in hand with being overweight.  I am both embarrassed and repulsed by my body and long to feel love for it. Update: I’ve lost 12 Kg and feel better about myself, but know there’s heaps to go.

My weight loss experiences have worked for a time (eg. Weight Watchers, EasySlim etc), but after I lose the weight, it just seems to creep back on.  I feel there has to be some underlying “missing” link that has caused me to oscillate up and down.  I have the will power to lose the weight and believe me, that does take effort when you’ve got more than a couple of kilos to lose.  As soon as my vigilance drops off after reaching goal weight, the weight creeps back on.

Therefore, from 23rd March 2010, I commit to explore my weight loss journey from other than a purely physical perspective.  I will look to eat an overall healthier diet and exercise at an appropriate level, but will consider more the mental, emotional and spiritual basis for the extra weight I carry.  I am drawn to spirituality and new age thought and have a preference for using natural therapies as my first choice of treatment.  I try and meditate regularly, although this is an area for me to improve.

One thing I want to say here though is that we all are doing the best we can at any given time, with the skill, knowledge and resources available.  We do the best we can, but often what we do is also shaped by our past experiences.  Even the teacher in the above paragraph.  We don’t know exactly what sort of abuse was suffered there.  I’m now trying to get to the point where I sincerely thank the teacher for the role played in my life, for it really has made me a much stronger and more sensitive person.  I think things will come up as I delve deeper, particularly into people and events that have hurt me, but I maintain gratitude for the learning.

After all, it’s all a journey …….. and I invite you to join me on this journey to a healthier and happier body!
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