Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Eat

Hi. I'm Jasmine, a jewelry artisan and freelance writer/marketer in Portland, OR. I opened this blog in 2008/2009 and eventually went on to create a standalone site. This site sat reader-less for years, and I rediscovered it in 2013, by which time I had quit blogging. I've quietly started writing here again in a journal format. 

I'm older and not quite as energetic as I once was, but it sure is fun for me to look at this blog and read about my adventures. If you want, read below the dotted line to see the story as I wrote it in 2009. I believed back then that I was an "after." I know now that there is no such thing. There is only the process. Cheers...

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I am flesh and blood proof you can change your life with a little courage and a lot of hard work.

Hi! I’ve had a complicated love affair with food since childhood. By the time I was six years old, I was wearing my mom’s jeans with the legs rolled up. I was a fat child, a fatter teen, and, eventually, a super morbidly obese adult.

At the age of 22 years old, I made the decision to undergo gastric bypass surgery. At 350 pounds, I was more than 200 pounds overweight (I’m only 5’1.). It was a drastic choice that I made after nearly a lifetime of dieting. I knew then that dieting didn’t work, but I didn’t realize what would.





It took me two years to lose the weight. I lost it faster than others because I worked out 2-3 hours a day and ate as few calories as possible. I took in maybe 7-800 calories a day at the time. All I cared about was my eternal quest to be “skinny.” I didn’t even know what skinny would feel like. Before I could walk, I was overweight.


Down 40 pounds.


On my 24th Birthday. Down 180 pounds.


My quest to lose the weight changed me and took a toll on my marriage. I survived my caloric stupidity, but my first marriage didn’t. I had married a wonderful man, but I was no longer the same person.

Divorced and still not “skinny,” I hit my lowest point. From there, I began to get real with myself. I started to study nutrition, and I began to consider my health. My whole health. The kind of health that includes your emotional well being. I realized that I’d lost all the weight, but I was still as shattered and insecure as ever.

I decided it was time to eat the right way, to make a move for me (a cross country move, in fact), and to focus on my writing.

In July of 2007, I moved to San Diego, CA.

July 2007. San Diego. Down 200 pounds.

Since that time, I have dedicated myself to EATing well, to exercise and positive, forward MOVEment, and to becoming the best WRITEr I can be. I now eat better than I have at any time in my life. In March of 2009, I married the love of my life. And, in August of 2009, I left my full-time job to pursue my greatest dream: I am now a 100% self-employed professional writer.


My own journey has inspired me. I believe that anyone, at any moment, can change their life. All they have to do is re-write their story.

What's your story?


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Read about my life philosophy at MOVE and my writing life at WRITE. Want to contact me? [eatmovewriteATyahoo.com]

44 comments:

  1. This is amazing girl!! Congratulations! :)

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  2. Wow! What an amazing story! Thank you for sharing it with us. :) What an inspiration!

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  3. What an amazing story! Congrats on finding a perfect relationship with food and health.

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  4. opps sorry don't know what happened. Will be reading more.

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  5. Your story is unbelievably inspiring. You should be SO proud of everything you have accomplished in life.

    Chloe

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  6. You have a very amazing story! I cannot wait to read more.

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  7. Thanks for the comment on my blog. you are AMAZING and you look absolutely gorgeous in your wedding photo. You are incredible beyond words.

    xo- Molly
    www.givinganythingbutup.wordpress.com

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  8. Wow! You've definitely come a long way! Congratulations on the weight lost and on your decision to pursue your dream! I'm doing the same thing right now (leaving a good job in TV production to become a personal trainer). I just feel that eating healthy food and exercising improved my life so much that I have to help others do the same! You're truly inspiring! You rock!

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  9. What an amazing story! Thanks for coming over to the blog so I could in turn stumble onto yours. -Katie

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  10. I came to your blog via marathonmaiden's and wow, what an inspiration you are. I loved Eat, Pray, Live too - reading that book confirmed a lot of things I'd been thinking for a long time. I'm changing my life by running a marathon in memory of my father, who died at 55 from a heart attack. I don't want to be overweight any more, and I don't want my children to lose a parent like I did. It's lovely to see someone who has made such positive changes!

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  11. Wow! Your story is AMAZING! You are truly an inspiration, not only for your weight loss but for pursuing your dreams!

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  12. Wow, what a life change. You look fabulous.

    PS Thanks for the comment on my blog. I love your blog design!

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  13. You are an inspiration Girl, I am truly amazed reading your story. You simply ROCK!!

    And thank you very much for the comment on my blog!

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  14. Such an inspiration! What an amazing journey you have taken.

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  15. I just read your story - HUGE congrats to you! I am impressed at your determination, and proud of you for it. You look fabulous as I'm sure you do on the inside as well!

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  16. Way to go! What an inspiring story, and even more inspiring...your picture! Congratulations!

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  17. You look so beautiful and healthy, reading this page so made me cry! Rock on.

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  18. when i'm having a bad day i like to read this. i can't wait to read your book. truly inspiring.. and not just for weightloss and happiness, but for anything! you're an amazing person and you're beautiful inside and out :)

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  19. Jasmine, all I have to say is WOW.

    You are so right in saying that anyone, anywhere, has the power to change their life with courage and hard work. You should be so very, very proud of yourself, and I hope you are enjoying every moment of your health and happiness.

    It's an inspiring story, to say the least! xx

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  20. Thank you for writing this down. It just made me get back a little of my motivation.

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  21. Did you have to have plastic surgery after losing all of that weight???

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  22. Anonymous - I have no way to respond to you, but yes, I had to have reconstructive surgery. I had twelve pounds of skin hanging from my belly.

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  23. Love your story, Just came across your blog and can not wait to read more.

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  24. What an amazing story of courage and perseverance...and I love a happy ending! You touch lives by sharing your story. Keep it up.

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  25. OMG! This is one of the most amazing transformations I have ever seen. You look down right gorgeous sista! I love the wedding pic! Please don't stop inspiring people, because you did for me! Love the blog:)

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  26. you are one of the most amazing transformations i have ever seen ( and i watch chis harrisons one year weight loss transformations...can't remember what its called)

    YOu look FAB!!!!!!!!!!!

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  27. unbelievably inspiring story it is very difficult to lose about 200 weight but you can do this .this article motivate readers to try for losing weight it is difficult but not impossible.

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  28. amazing story! you are an inspiration

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  29. Thats an amazing change you made. I recently lost over 100lbs my self. Check out my site at http://mikesweightlossstory.com

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  33. Wow what a beautiful ending to the story...you look amazing!!
    What do yuu eat or how do you eat now to keep your weight in check. I just lost 30lbs my goal is 50 total. I had to take a break from strict dieting I had some gastrointestinal issues. I try to watch my diet lately have been swaying to my old ways. But I still am in check gained about 6lbs so now I am uping my exercise and getting strict with the food.

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  42. Awesome !

    You have done excellent work.i think you have to fully control your mind.
    I need to try but i can't control myself when eating especially fast food
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