FFTFL premiere

FFTFL premiere

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

The Big Reveal!!

So, what I couldn't tell you before because I was so afraid to jinx myself was that my weight loss transformation is actually featured in an article and it's posting today! The last two months have just been surreal. I got the phone call on June 1st from Jen (you know, from our Ragnar team/Media Meld and her blog From Fat To Finish Line) that somehow, after hearing about our RR team, Ragnar Relay and Lori Weiss, a writer for the Huffington Post, had been in contact with each other and they thought my "later in life" reinvention would make a great story!

I spoke to Lori on the phone for about an hour so that she could get a good feel for my story and whether it would pass the test for her editor, 'That Girl' Marlo Thomas! (I know her as Phil Donahue's wife and the ambassador for St. Jude's Children's Hospital.) I was concerned that I'm not post 50 and my transformation began in my late 30's since the section Marlo manages is about life after 50. Lori said not to worry.

I got the phone call from Lori about a week later to say that the story was accepted and we then had to schedule a time when we could sit and talk, for about THREE HOURS!!! I thought, "What the hell do I have to talk about for 3 hours???" Wouldn't you know we wound up on the phone for 3 1/2 hours!!We talked about everything, starting from early childhood all the way up to my trip to Miami for the Ragnar Relay. I just never thought my story was all that special, but because I have no problem chiming in and "conversing" with complete strangers (namely commenting on Katie's blog!), all of these amazing things are happening! The stories of each and every one of my Ragnar team members are extraordinary because we are part of the 5% of people who have lost weight and are keeping it off. We are hoping that the documentary as well as this article will inspire others to believe in themselves and do it as well, no matter what your age.

After the phone conversation I had to get together pictures representing my life and the ups and downs of my weight. I also had to write down all of the information for each picture, like, for example, my kindergarten picture. I'm one of seven kids, and my mother was terrified that one of us would come home with lice and then the house would be infested, so she cut our hair so we ALL looked like little boys, not just our brothers! Add to that the fact that my shirt was turquoise covered in flower-filled vases atop gold end tables and you get the gist of my childhood in the 70's. Oh, and I'm chubby. FML?

I can't think for the life of me why I'm SMILING!!
So, Lori said that the picture gallery in the article can hold up to 30 pictures, so I sent 30 pictures! They can edit whatever isn't worthy, but make sure you click on all the pictures so you can see me through the years- too bad there can't be a soundtrack! I think I covered all the major milestones in my life, high school graduation, college, my wedding, the babies... Then the good stuff is covered, like my different races and finally THE MAKEOVER!!! I hope my new look meets all of your expectations since the anticipation must have been building for over a month! (NOT!)

The cherry on top of this most unbelievably decadent to-die for dessert? The Huffington Post article could make the AOL Welcome page, since they are owned by the same company. I'm on AOL daily because we have an AOL e-mail address since the dinosaur days of dial-up, (You've Got Mail!), so I click through all of the top story screens, from top world news to celebrity gossip. It's how I keep abreast of everything! Anyway, this could happen as early as tomorrow but up to a week later. Lori's last story did make it to AOL's home page, so *fingers crossed*...

About two weeks ago, Lori called to read me the article. I couldn't believe it was MY story. It brought tears to my eyes to hear what I lived the past 40 years from someone else's perspective, written so beautifully but so succinctly. My weight loss journey, the trials and tribulations, milestones and victories in less than 1400 words.

It boggles my mind that this is my life.


Head to www.huffingtonpost.com/50/ to read the article!

15 comments:

  1. How Fricking Exciting! Gonna check out the story now. A HUGE congrats to you!!

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  2. Ok. Excellent story and LOVE the makeover. The hair is SO cute!!

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  3. Congratulations! Ragnar is an incredible experience, even more so with the mission and accomplishment that you have demonstrated. I will be at Ragnar FLK in January as well - looking forward to meeting you and cheering your team on!!!

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    1. What's your team's name? I look forward to cheering everyone on, after overcoming the astonishment of me running 3 legs in one day!

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  4. Linda - Great story and pictures! The makeover pic is wonderful, but your honesty and willingness to share is even more beautiful. Thanks so much for your inspiration. P.S. I'm a child of the 70's and can totally relate to that kindgergarten outfit:)

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    1. Every time I read it, I cringe at the mentioning of my weight, and then hearing my f-i-l say I weighed more than him!

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  5. LOVED the article and LOVED your make-over. You look like you're 20 years old again. I sent in my story after reading someone else's weight loss story on Huffington Post and seeing their note that you could send them your own weight-loss story. They just e-mailed me a bunch of questions, which I answered and the article is pretty much what I wrote verbatim. They have a whole section about weight losers, here's my link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/i-lost-weight-pam-holmes_n_1690357.html

    And evidently it did show up on that AOL page as well, cause my daughter-in-law's sister saw it. I hesitated about posting a link to the story on Facebook, because my story tells how much I used to weigh, etc. etc., but I finally did it yesterday. The story has intimate details that I only share on my blog at Sparkpeople. But I did it, and a whole bunch of my "friends" commented on it. Sometimes I feel embarrassed to BRAG about my weight loss and maintenance (I lost 175 lbs. and have kept it off now for 16 months), because I am the one who was solely responsible for letting myself get morbidly obese AND for staying that way for 30 years. But one friend told me to focus on NOW and how I have changed and be proud. So that made me feel a little better.

    Anyhow...back to your story. It was beautifully written and I loved the pictures of you throughout your life. What changes you have made--a true transformation!I was a fan of Marlo Thomas and "That Girl" in the 60's (that's how old I am!),and loved her as Rachel's Mom on "Friends." Marlo is still beautiful and I'm glad she decided your story was a good one even though you're still SO VERY YOUNG!

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    1. The article was amazing. I found myself wiping tears away several times. I looked at all of the pictures that you shared in the article, and I couldn't believe how much heavier you were back then. I never saw it. Yeah, I knew that you were overweight, like most of us were, but you never looked bad to me. I guess seeing how fit you are now makes it more noticeable. You really are an inspiration! And no one should ever feel like they're bragging when they share their weight loss. It gives people like me, who want to lose weight and get fit, the inspiration and incentive to believe that it's possible for us, too. Would Michael Phelps not share his excitement about winning a Gold Medal at the Olympics? Keep up the good work and thanks for inspiring me. Love, Karen

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    2. Thank you Pam and Karen! Pam, I've always wondered what does "dupster" stand for? I've seen you comment on Katie's blog a ton and was curious! Your success story is miraculous! It goes to show that it's never too late, no matter how much or how little you have to lose. You are worth the work!

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  6. Soooooooo awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sounds like you had a blast, you deserve it and you look fantastic!

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    1. Thank you!! Now my appearance reflects how I feel physically and emotionally!

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  7. Hola! I've been following your blog for a long time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Austin Tx! Just wanted to mention keep up the good job!
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