Full Blog:
Weight: 204!!!!
Amazing!!! I had a great week and an amazing weekend! I've probably said the word amazing 1000 times this weekend. To date, 107 pounds removed for good off my body. I read the book, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle this week to my students. I used a puppet with food props to illustrate the story. I wrapped the very large, full, fat caterpillar up with brown construction paper to demonstrate the cocoon he built around himself. Then, I peeled away, pulled, and tore the paper off to show that the caterpillar transformed into a beautiful butterfly. It was a two sided puppet one side was the caterpillar and one side was the beautiful butterfly. This story identifies my life in two ways. I am transforming my body spiritually, physically and mentally into a beautiful person just as the caterpillar transformed into a beautiful butterfly. You look and feel different, yet you never really lose the caterpillar. The caterpillar is the core of who I am and the butterfly is the product of who I can become.
107 pounds ago, I was depressed, lonely, and miserable. I had a miserable attitude about everything, everybody and life in general. I felt hopeless. I felt there was very little hope for a bright, "thinner" future. I thought, "I have so much to lose and it will take forever. I will never get to eat a piece of cake again or a cheeseburger or pizza." 99% of me was miserable, but there was 1% that had hope. I began to pray. Pray that God would help me because I was not helping myself.
Amazing!!! God is awesome and answers prayers!! I know I would not be typing this blog if God was not present in my life. He has guided this "fat caterpillar" to transform into a beautiful butterfly. I'm 81 pounds to my long term goal and 5 pounds to my immediate goal. Even though I'm not at goal weight, I still feel like a beautiful butterfly.
For 5 years, I've had the desire to meet Michelle Lane. She is a pioneer in blending Montessori curriculum and ABA methods with children with Autism. She runs an amazing school in Toronto. Well, it has been a dream of mine to meet her. I am a Special Education Teacher and I am Montessori trained. I always believed children with Autism would benefit from using Maria Montessori Curriculum. So, when I heard about Michelle Lane's school, I knew I had to meet her. Since I am feeling better physically, mentally and spiritually, I decided to act on my dream. I want to open a similar program in Northern Virginia for children with Autism. So, I asked her if she would come and train me. Well, the reason this weekend was soooo AMAZING was because I spent it with Michelle Lane!!! I have to admit, I was very nervous the whole week before she came. There were times I wanted to binge eat out of nervousness, yet I made the RIGHT choices. Walk the Talk is my Mantra and it helped me get through a WHOLE week of nerves!!!
I bought an inexpensive dress at Walmart, so I would look professional. It was a size 16/18. But, I prefer to say 16 any way, I tried different dresses/outfits. The dress I finally chose was a basic black dress and I actually thought to myself, "you look good". Wow!!! I haven't truly thought that in years!!!! I don't mean to brag, but The Size 16 black dress did look good on ME!!!!
Amazing things are happening to me personally and professionally. I am acting on my desire to open a school for Autistic children. I'm not just thinking about it!!
Thank you to Dr.Peeke, Jenni, Brian and Misty for this challenge and inspiring me to keep moving in the right direction!
Tina the transforming Caterpillar, AKA "Beautiful Butterfly"
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