I seem to be turning into a spokesperson for people who have suffered from self-injury. I self-injured off and on from my teens until my mid 40's. It's been 7 years now since I've hurt myself on purpose. I did a radio show interview this past month with an author/professor/sociologist who wrote a book on self-injury. I honestly think that if I hadn't joined WW I never would have been able to do the interview. It wasn't because I had lost weight and looked better, it was because I had a new found self-confidence that I found at going to WW meetings and by sticking to the plan.
The radio interview went really well and now I'm being asked to do a short news piece for Denver Channel 9 news with the same author and a few other participants. I still weigh 290 pounds but I'm going to go for it. I know that I bring my experience to the topic and that is valuable. If I can help one person by doing the interview I will have found it all worth my time and effort.
I haven't focused on my appearance in a long time so I have a little sprucing up to do but it will be worth it. I'm feeling better about myself every day and deserve to color my hair (red, thank you very much) and get a new outfit. I have 2 weeks or so until the interview and that will give me the opportunity to lose a few more pounds. Every pound makes a difference.
I'm very excited and proud to be asked to do this interview for Channel 9 news. Everyone says that I sound intelligent and well spoken in the radio interview. I just hope that will translate into TV for me too. I am nervous about doing it but I can't sit on the sidelines my whole life just because I'm overweight right now.
If you're interested in hearing the radio interview you can find it here. There are some graphic depictions so please be forewarned.
I was thinking about self-injury because of being asked to this this news piece and wondered about "hurting" myself by overeating. I wonder if that was the new way that I hurt myself. I've gained a lot of weight since 2004 when I quit self-injuring. Self-injuring was a way to cope with serious issues and then when I stopped I turned to eating to deal with my emotions. I know it's not as outwardly hurtful as self-injury but it's still taken it's toll on me. I think that I wouldn't have seen that connection before joining WW. My eyes have been opened up to so many things in just the past month since I joined WW. I am so grateful for all of the things I am learning and the opportunities opening up to me.
I know this is a serious subject that doesn't get talked about in public much but I'm hoping to change that. There are a lot of young people out there, and older people too, who think they are crazy or all alone and I just want them to know that they are not crazy and they are not alone.
I'm 290 pounds and 51 years old but feel like I am finally getting a shot at living my life and contributing to the world. Thank you WW for giving me that opportunity!
No comments:
Post a Comment