Former Fat Girl of the Week

Former Fat Girl of the Week is a place for us to come to celebrate and learn from the success and achievements of one another. Former Fat Girls of the Week are regular women like you and me, living normal lives, but are extraordinarily inspirational. This is their time to shine, and I hope you are as inspired by them as I am.




Name: Danielle
Age: 29
Occupation: Currently a student (studing for my BSN)
Blog: Losing Waist

Danielle before


How often do you exercise?

I am curently exercising about six times a week. I do occasionally get held up when I have a migraine, and only make it three or four times a week. I am also in physcial therapy right now trying to correct my terrible posture which creates some pretty sharp back and neck pain, and triggers my migraines.

What is your favorite workout?

I don't have a specific workout that I like. I switch it up at the gym. Sometimes I will do a cross training course on the treadmill, or do three twenty minute sets of different cardio machines. I do light weights twice a week to work on my "core" muscles. There are days that the gym sounds about as fun as hitting myself with a hammer, and I will substitute a gym workout with a ninety minute walk with the dogs.

What 5 food items are "must haves" in your kitchen?


  • Lots of veggies, specifically yellow peppers and onions for grilling, and yams. That is a small sample ... I love veggies because I can eat quite a bit without the caloric consequences.

  • Frozen petite green beans (Costco). Still a vegetable, but different.

  • Larabars (specifically apple pie, and peanut butter cookie).

  • String Cheese

  • Ripe fruit
What is your favorite motivational/inspirational quote?

WALK TALL... do not get this confused with "Walk Hard" from Johnny Cash!

I have a friend from my adolescence who always told me that someday I would find myself,and learn to "WALK TALL" ... I value that quote more than any advice that has ever been given to me.

How do you find balance in your life?

I am not a "dieter" ... and I don't believe in extreme weight loss. I want to lose weight steadily over a period of about two years (200 pounds total).

I truly believe that the place I put myself in (at 365 pounds) was not about simply about eating too much, and not exercising. I think I needed to work on my inner self first.

I keep myself balanced with a consistent individual therapy, and also my husband and I are in couples therapy. I feel like blogging helps me feel less isolated in my stuggle, and my journey. With the combination of therapy, exercise, moderate food intake, and writing about my journey, I feel like I have a well rounded situation. My husband supports me in some ways, but we are currently having an adjustment period, and things are a bit tense. I am thankful that I have gotten to a more independent place in my identity because without my personal strength this issue with him might be a little bit more damaging to my progress.

I also face some challenges in treating my Narcolepsy, which I was diagnosed with last year. I have to be hyper-vigilant about paying attention to my body and mind. I started having symptoms about 15 years ago, but unfortunately it was not diagnosed until I was 28.

The diagnosis changed my life for the better, but the medicine that is typically used is a little rough to get used to. The adjustment period of trying different medicines was tough, and also having to take meds to counter the side effects sometimes is tiresome. I am aware of every change in my level of "alertness" ... it is actually a positive for me because it has just enhanced my connection to what my body is going through on a daily basis.

Danielle now, 70+ lbs lighter!


Last 5 songs listened to you on your iPod/mp3 player
  • Firestarter - The Prodigy

  • Why I like the Robins - Hum

  • Assassin - Muse

  • Everyone Knows that You are Insane - Queens of the Stone Age

  • Love Lockdown - Kanye West



What is your greatest accomplishment?

There is not a single accomplishment that I refer to as my greatest, but I am currently in my greatest accomplishment. The last year has been an amazing collection of big and small actions, starting new things like school/weight loss/fitness, and great strides towards collecting myself, molding myself and becoming a strong woman.

I am aware of my person like never before, and growing my belief systems, and identity. I have never felt like such an ASSKICKER in my life. I love feeling like I can tackle the day head on, and love every second of it.

What do you love most about your body?

As I lose more, and more (and more to go) weight - I find that I am loving certain things about myself that I could not see before. I used to have a tiny list that only included my insanely long eyelashes, and hair, but I now enjoy my height, newly emerging neck, strong shoulders, and fantastic leg muscles.

In the process of learning to love EVERY part of myself I find that I am also learning to accept parts that will never be "perfect" or perky, or even normal. I have some lose skin, stretch marks, and discoloration that I am trying to now see as a part of my journey, and not the bane of my existence... almost like a picture of what I have overcome.

Are you working towards a particular goal we can support you in?

Hell yes. I want that 200 pounds like nothing ever before! My husband is training for a federal job that requires a physical fitness goal of being able to run three to five miles at any time, and I would like to be able to run that THREE miles with him. He just started, so even though he only has about fifty pounds to lose - I have a huge head start on the fitness part. I do need to be under the 200 mark to really work on this goal. I would like to be able to train with him, and running in general is part of my overall lifestyle goal.


Danielle, it is such a pleasure to feature you as our Former Fat Girl of the Week! Your interview gives me chills - and I've read it at least a dozen times by now. Thank you for being such a forthright and honest example of what dedication, hard work and perseverance truly means! I have no doubt your interview will inspire many women to get off the couch and take that first step towards better health! Please be sure to visit Danielle's blog - Losing Waist!

xo,

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

This was a great read. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to more!

Beth @ Kitchen Minions said...

This is great, I love these profiles!

AzLinda said...

Congratulaions Danielle!

jo said...

She rocks, doesn't she! We'll all be cheering her on to get to her goal! =)

Brightcetera said...

Hi Michelle,
Thank you so much for making Danielle a featured FormerFatGirl.
On her blog she says she was hesitant about being labelled that since she still as work to do to reach "goal" but I truly believe that in Danielle's HEAD her "fatgirl" is a former one. At least that how I read her.
Danielle has been a real help and supporter of me in such a genuine, loving way.
WAY TO GO DANIELLE! It's inspiring to see how far you've come and you look so beautiful and happy & TALL!

and may I say Michelle this is such a wonderful thing you're doing.
Touting others successes and lifting them up and exposing their awesomeness ... that's a gift of yours that needs to be recognized as well.
<3

jules said...

Hey, thank you for picking LOSING WAISTE for this interview. It is one of my favourites and she truly deserves it. She is so strong and very open and reflected about her feelings and struggles. And thanx to her I just found out about your blog! Congrats on your succes!

Julia

wildfluffysheep said...

woot glad i read this.
feel like i know you just a little bit more.

fire starter is one of my favourite gym songs. lol. quite the motivator i find.

love your blog, misssus!

Kimberly said...

Danielle is right. Slow and steady is the way to go because it does allow you all the time you need to fix what got you there in the first place.

Mesha said...

WAY TO GO DANIELLE...that's a great accomplishment. You should be so proud - it's so inspiring to see other people succeeding and it's just a little reminder that it truly IS possible. keep up the good work. CONGRATS!

Anonymous said...

I've known Danielle since she was a teenager, have witnessed her struggles & triumphs & am so proud of where she is headed in this journey of hers. She deserves every bit of praise I can offer!!!

Bonnie

Fatbrideslim said...

Wow! She looks great!

I wasn't really familiar with the whole world of blogging until fairly recently but there are so many great weight-loss blogs and stories.

I have yet to find one that hasn't been an inspiration. Every weight loss story is amazing and gives me hope that one day I'll be saying I've reached my target :) Keeps me going!

Copyright © 2009 - Secrets of a Former Fat Girl - is proudly powered by Blogger