My first toastmasters speech

Nicole T.
on 7/14/09 12:57 am, edited 7/14/09 1:26 am

I joined toastmasters to help my public speaking and I am doing my first speech tomorrow. I wanted to get your opinion on what you think. the task was to talk about yourself, something you consider important and it has to be between 4-7 minutes. I also will be showing a couple slides to go along.

text:

On March 25th, 1977 I was born to two Italian-american parents in south jersey. I grew up in Hammonton New Jersey, the self professed blueberry capital of the world. I don’t know if it is still true, but at one time, Hammonton had the highest concentration of Italian American’s in the whole country! I grew up around lots of farms and packed blueberries starting when I was 12 years old. [slide one shown]

Since I can remember, I was a chubby girl. My mom blames my grandmother feeding me too much pastina but I think genetics and too many refined carbohydrates were to blame, pastina being one of them! [slide two shown] My first weight loss memory was when I was 8. I walked into a building with wood floors that made every step resonate and there were chairs around in a circle. I walked into a smaller room, where I stepped up onto a scale to be weighed. Yes, my mother had brought me to weigh****chers.

Over the years, I tried to lose weight. I got involved in dancing. I did jazz and ballet until my senior year in high school. I actually was pretty good, even though I had a little extra to lug around. My senior year was one of the worst times for me. My body went through some changes probably due to the lack of exercise. I developed a condition called PCOS, which is a group of symptoms including insulin resistance and infertility being the main ones. The insulin resistance caused me to be extremely hungry all the time. Over a years’ time, I gained a significant amount of weight. I finally went to the doctor and was diagnosed with this condition and treatment helped stabilize many of the symptoms. I went to college and even started losing weight, doing a low carb diet. But a history of bad eating and the stress of school caused me to use food in an unhealthy way. My weight climbed to an extremely unhealthy 280 lbs.

When I moved to Maryland, after graduating from college, my weight crept up about ten lbs per year until I reached my highest weight of 345. At that point, after using every possible solution in the book to control my eating, I decided to get weight loss surgery. It was not an easy decision to make. I was permanently rearranging my insides! But I had decided I wanted a life worth living and if this is what I had to do, it was worth it. I got approved fairly quickly and had my surgery. The day of surgery I was fine. I mean, I wasn’t scared, wasn’t freaking out about what I was about to do. It was the day after that I really started to freak! The first two weeks after surgery, I was a miserable wreck. I missed food so much!

Over the next 9 months, I lost 100 lbs. I am so much healthier. My energy cannot even be compared. I am now more active in my community as well as having a very active social life. To help myself continue losing as well as help others, I because a support group leader through a wonderful weight loss surgery website called ObesityHelp. Through the website I have access to many tools and lots of information to help someone be completely successful after surgery. I have had a couple meeting so far but it takes time to build a group. [slide three shown] I hope one day to be a motivational speaker, which brings me to why I am here. I want to inspire others to make the changes in their life they need to be happier and healthier. I hope my first speech will lead me to that final goal.

(deactivated member)
on 7/14/09 1:01 am - Middle River, MD

RNY on 08/02/05

I'm in awe!

Nicole T.
on 7/14/09 1:13 am

RNY on 02/12/08

Thanks sweetie

ladybugnessa
on 7/14/09 1:13 am - Owings Mills, MD

RNY on 09/22/09

very very well done Nicole. I can't see the pictures till I get home but I love what you wrote.

good luck giving the speech, although I'm sure you won't need it and you will be fine!

Nessa
Ticker is from Day of Surgery.. weight goal is personal preference as I've MET my doctor's goal
--

HG/SW/CW/GW
286/253/150/151

Nicole T.
on 7/14/09 1:26 am

RNY on 02/12/08

if u can see pics on facebook, check out the new note i posted there. thanks for the encouragement.

abuddingrose
on 7/14/09 1:19 am - Essex, MD

Hello Nicole

I grew up a bit south of Hammonton and growing up in south jersey we would go there to visit friends of my stepfather. Small world , ehh.

I think you speach is outstanding. I know you will reach you goal of motivational speaker. Your off to a great start.

Hugs from essex

Lori

Nicole T.
on 7/14/09 1:27 am

RNY on 02/12/08

it is a small world. thanks for your compliments lori and good luck getting approved!

Cira S.
on 7/14/09 1:31 am - Charles Town , WV

RNY on 03/06/07

Nicole,

Amazing speech! You are going to be great!!!

(((((hugs)))))

I am who I am and accept my feelings wholeheartedly.
Those that mind don't matter, and those that matter don't mind.
Cira 249/144.0 current/goal 154/ 5'3" 10 lbs below my Dr's goal
100Cira-1.jpg picture by negra266