Simply Cintia: MWLISS: Slowly, Patiently, Hopefully

Sometimes, change comes slowly. These two photos of me were taken exactly 10 years apart.

The natural question is, how? I will answer this one-word question with one-word answers.

Slowly - I had two kids 15 months apart between 2009 and 2010 when I took the photo on the left. I lost a lot of weight then I had another sweet baby in 2012. I gained and lost weight again. After that, I gained some weight back. I am now getting close to finishing my weight loss journey. It has been slow for sure. I was told that if I chose to lose weight slowly chances are, I won't gain it back. Slow is the way to go.

Patiently - A lot of things happened in 10 years. We lost loved ones. We moved several times. We changed jobs. We dealt with stressful situations. Through my ups and downs, patience was my friend. I was told that if I look from a lifetime lens, women's weight goes up and down. I know mine certainly has done that. I had to be patient during seasons where I wanted to lose weight but it just wasn't working for me. Embracing patience shows wisdom and faith.

Hopefully - I remember writing in my journal that one day, I was going to be a runner. I was walking at that time. I remember dreaming about running marathons. I remember saying that one day, I was going to make healthier food choices. It took a lot of hope to get here. Hope is positive expectation. It has nothing to do with current circumstances. Hope doesn't care what the now looks like because it is fully focused on energizing you for what's to come. Hope is so good for you and it is completely free.

I don't have a product or service to sell you as I show you this "before and during" picture. I take full responsibility for my decisions these past 10 years. My decisions were enhanced by going at it slowly, patiently, and hopefully.