On May 25, 2010, one year ago yesterday, I took the step to transform myself. It has been an amazing year!! Looking back at the first blog entry, one that I wrote four months prior to allowing my blog to be published publicly, I see a completely different person, not just physically, but mentally. You can read that first blog entry here, if you haven't already.
One thing I did not expect when I joined Weight Watchers was the amount of support and strong friendships that I would make along the way. I've had people ask me if I do just the online program or if I attend meetings. The response that often follows is, "I could do it online but I don't need meetings." or "I'm not into sitting in a room full of people and talking."
I get that, I do. Believe it or not, I'm a fairly introverted, private person. Whenever I take one of those personality type tests, the results always include something about being closer to an introvert than extrovert and having only a few, quality, deep relationships. So the idea of sitting in a room of 30 other people and talking about something that has been a source of much sensitivity and pain for most of my life, wasn't all that appealing, at first. However, now I can't even imagine NOT having my weekly Sunday meeting. I've had Sunday's where I've had to miss over the course of this year and I feel I'm truly missing out on something if I'm not there.
It has been a year of ups, downs and stalls. But it's been a wonderful year and I'm so happy I finally committed to changing my life.
Months ago I posted that I lost 50lbs (January 31st, actually). As a reward for losing 50lbs I was going to pierce my nose. Weeks and then months passed and no nose piercing. I gained and lost the same 5lbs and eventually dipped back into the 45+lbs lost. At that point it didn't feel right to go get it done if I was no longer at 50lbs lost. When I saw the 56lbs lost this week, and knowing that yesterday was my one year anniversary, I decided it was time to do it. So tonight, I went and had my nose pierced. I'm so glad I did it! It's a great reminder, every time I look in the mirror, that I did it!
Yes, that title is a very loud sigh of relief. About a half an hour ago I received an email on my droid informing me that final grades were posted and I could visit the website to view them. My heart immediately started to flutter. I am typically a 4.0 student. However, this last term was slightly different. I didn't have the time to study as much as I normally do. I didn't "feel" as organized or as accomplished. In fact, I really felt like I was struggling. It just wasn't my norm with all the outside distractions.
Needless to say, I've been stressing since I finished my last final exam. Had I done enough?
The class that stressed me out the most was my second term of Spanish. I had Spanish in high school - over 15 years ago. Unfortunately, those high school credits were far too old for the school to even dust off and consider, so I found myself taking both terms of Spanish as an accelerated course this last term. Spanish I wasn't a concern. I knew I passed it, as I wouldn't have been allowed to continue in Spanish II. However, the second Spanish caused me a lot of concern. I missed more classes. I failed one test. Yep, that's right, FAILED a test. (I NEVER fail tests.) I threw my presentation together in the matter of a couple hours. My work in that class just wasn't up to my normal and I knew it. So, after the final, I stressed.
I couldn't imagine receiving a D or even worse, an F in that class and having to admit to myself and everyone else that my graduation would be held up another term. I couldn't imagine having that low of a grade on my transcripts.
So, back to tonight. I quickly typed in my username and password, took a deep breath and clicked the link for my grades.
OMG!
O.M.G.
To my surprise, staring back at me were two wonderful, wonderful little letters. Spanish I - A and Spanish II - B. OMG I pulled a B out of my butt!!!! LOL
I did well in my other two classes as well.
So, stress is gone. I am walking, in cap and gown, to pick up a degree that would mean very little to some (A.A. in General Studies) but means so much to me. It's really just a stepping stone degree to continue to my Bachelor's in Nursing and it's not a degree I can really do much with, other than know how hard I worked, how many hours I spent away from my children and family, how many late nights I spent studying and how much Diet Red Bull I consumed the last two years. It really means the world to me.
For those that follow me on my Facebook page and Twitter, you know I had a bit of a surprise last night when my 10 year old son informed me that he had a pencil eraser cap (from a mechanical pencil) stuck high up in his left nostril. He said he did it when trying to be funny waking up his sister that morning. I'm not sure why it took him 12 hours to inform us that this little bobble was stuck in his booger-maker, but he did. So, off he and I went to pick up my mom and head to the ER. Yes, I am a 33-year-old mom of three but my age and maternal experience doesn't matter - any ER trip usually requires a trip to pick up my mom.
Katz Extractor
Off we went to the ER at one of the local children's hospitals. A parade of sick children and worried parents walked through those doors. I was thankful our visit was due to something so insignificant (and kind of funny). It's not all that unusual for kids to put things up their noses and in their ears, so I wasn't too concerned. The worst part for him was having the Katz Extractor put up his nose. It was extremely uncomfortable and painful but he dealt with it like a trooper. He did nickname it the "torture device" and said he certainly learned his lesson to not put things up his nose. Unfortunately, the Katz didn't pull anything out, so off to x-ray we went only to also be told, the pencil top was not anywhere between his sinuses and his rectum and it must have fallen out of his nose earlier in the day without him noticing.
The good news is, he is no worse for the wear.
Due to the excitement, I didn't get to do my Day 6 - Week of Accountability. I think the trackers may have been getting a little boring to look at, anyway. So, I'll just write about my day.
I did well on plan and even went out to lunch with my co-workers. We visited a small local restaurant called Urban Hibachi.
Edamame
We enjoyed some fresh steamed edamame. I'm not sure what it is about the little pods but I think I could be addicted! Anytime I order it out, I really enjoy it and I'm not sure why I haven't tried to cook it at home. And with a cup only being 2 ppvs, I think it's a snack I'm going to try to incorporate! I really like food that makes you work for it. I know, sucking the beans out of the pods isn't really work, but it does consume a bit of time to get three beans vs. shoveling them in your mouth with a fork. I may try to create a "work for it" menu this week and see what happens.
Shrimp Hibachi
I was proud of myself for ordering water with my meal rather than Diet Coke. I even special ordered my Shrimp Hibachi without butter and oil and I only ate half of the brown rice. It was so delicious.
I was mostly satisfied the rest of the afternoon. I did enjoy some crackers with laughing cow and of course, my orange.
California Sunkist navel oranges are in the stores, and even though I live in Florida, I'm partial to California oranges. Consequently, my servings of fruit lately have been a couple oranges per day. They are just so sweet and juicy - it's such a nice treat! I know, I know, why am I raving about oranges? Well, before I started Weight Watchers I absolutely hated eating oranges. It was something I NEVER did. I didn't like peeling the orange. I didn't like the texture of an orange. The entire experience of eating one was just daunting and I hated it. Since then, like with a lot of other foods (*whispers* brown rice, whole wheat pasta, carrots) my tastes have changed. I enjoy these foods and my orange is like a special, sinless treat that I look forward to in the mornings with breakfast and in the afternoon for snacks. Unfortunately, the Sunkist navels aren't around all year, so I try to really cash in when they are.
Friday nights are typically a "family fun" kind of night. We usually order out for two reasons - it's the end of the week so my pantry is somewhat depleted and it's just a special Friday night kind of thing to do where I get a break from cooking. It's a one per week and sometimes every other week occurrence and I usually try to keep myself within some form of boundaries while still having something I don't normally have during the week. Last night it was Chinese take out. Yes, I seemed to have an Asian themed kind of eating day. LOL
While I still used a mess of points on the meal (points I had from dailies and dipping into weeklies - so it was completely "on plan") I still made better choices than I would have made in my "previous life." My favorite thing on the menu is the garlic honey chicken. Unfortunately, this is essentially batter dipped, fried, smothered in honey and garlic - chicken nuggets. I did NOT order it. Rather, I ordered a shrimp fried rice (shrimp because it was the lower point option), a veggie egg roll and I had a couple of my daughter's favorite crab Rangoons. Again, not the greatest of meals health-wise, but within my points and extremely enjoyable. It's WORTH IT to do these things a few times per month with my family. Some weeks my selections are far healthier, some weeks they are worse - and that's ok. It's moderation and I'm thankful to have the opportunity to pass that little life lesson on to my kids.
One slip up I did have is on the way home from the hospital with my son's nose ordeal I did run through a Burger King drive-thru for a Diet Coke. However, I don't anticipate having another for a while and I had gone seven days without one. That is a HUGE improvement over the six or seven I used to drink on a daily basis.
I'm excited for tomorrow's weigh in. Today we are doing some light eating, will have a light dinner and perhaps a popcorn snack this evening with movies.
I love weekends!
-----------------------------------------
Do you change up your weekend eating a bit from your daily, during the week eating? Are there any foods you eat now that you never would have eaten or even liked before you started on this journey to be healthy?
Yeah, the title applies but you know you clicked this because the word "boobs" was in the title. Admit it, it's ok. Advertisers have known for, well, ever, that sex sells. LOL :) (I'm kidding, of course, kind of.)
For the last few months I've been slowly shrinking out of my clothing, obviously. However, I've had a few pieces that I wasn't ready to give up. For one, I hadn't replaced them and for two, I hadn't fully absorbed the fact that the damn clothes really were too big. I'm not sure why but for whatever reason, I was still thinking I needed to wear those size 32 dress slacks. Never mind the fact that my blue jeans are now a size 24. Never mind the fact that my shirts are also much smaller.
This morning I woke up and put on my black dress slacks. I went to work and as I walked I kept having to tug them back up. I was on a mission to drink a lot of water today which meant many trips to the restroom. Well the restroom at work as a full length mirror. My first trip I noticed my pants literally looked like clown pants. I looked frumpy and the HUGE pants did not reflect all the weight I've lost, at all. They were so large that they were gathering and as I stood looking at myself in the mirror I could see myself dancing like MC Hammer and singing, "You can't touch this. . .oohh, oohh, oohh, oohh, oohh, oohh, you can't touch this."
To only compound the issue, the bra I wore was also too large. While I was walking I not only was tugging my pants back up to my waist, but also trying to keep "the girls" under control, as they wanted to slip right out of their holder, and not in the pushed up, can kind of get away with having two mounds way. No, this was slipping under the bra and at one point I honestly thought they were going to fall completely through and my bra would consequently be pushed up around my neck. Bra necklace anyone?
By lunch time I had enough. I was sure I was going to have some sort of wardrobe malfunction that would be far worse than Janet Jackson's at the 2004 Super Bowl. I ran out at lunch to a local store to try to find a few items that would fit.
Now, anyone that has been morbidly obese knows that shopping for clothing is limited to three stores; Catherine's, Lane Bryant or The Avenue. All of which are overpriced. Often a shirt will cost $50. Same with a pair of pants - and these aren't designer or even great quality. They are often in prints that you hate but are forced to wear because that is what some person, likely very small, has determined fat people look good in. However, it's apparent that they have never seen said fat people in the bold, flower prints or horizontal stripes. Yet, when you are nearly 400lbs, you are just thankful you can walk into a store and buy something that will cover your body. Style is a second thought, and often not a choice.
Today, I decided to not go to any of the three aforementioned stores. Rather I went to another woman's clothing store that offered "normal" sizes but also had a plus sized area. Always before I left these types of stores discouraged and frustrated because even their largest sizes never worked for me.
I walked in and gathered a few stylish shirts that I really liked! OMG, shirts I actually LIKE!!! I also picked up a pair of size 24 jeans, not expecting them to fit. I'm not sure why I've lived in this state of denial that the size I've purchased the past few months weren't "true" sizes, but I've played this mental game with myself. I went into the fitting room and tried everything on. Every single thing fit! I went back out on the floor, and decided to leave behind a few of the selections. Again, this is a new thing for me. Normally I'd have to just take the very few things that fit, no matter if I liked them or not. I then decided to give this size thing the true test - black slacks. I picked up three different pair of black slacks, two that were 24's and one pair that was a size larger. I tried them on. The size larger was too big, the 24's fit perfectly. Yeah, I know you are saying, "well, duh." (Especially since Charlie Sheen has brought back the word, duh.) This is the FIRST TIME EVER that I tried something on that was TOO BIG!!! EVER!!
This was a shopping experience that I have looked forward to for a very long time. It's taken some time for me to admit I really am this much smaller. The mind games that go along with weight loss are interesting (and sometimes not so amusing.)
I completed my second 5k this morning. It was the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis. This was the first 5k that I really put my heart and soul into fundraising for - I was able to raise $740 for the cause. As I've written about before, my husband has Rheumatoid Arthritis, so this one was extremely important to me.
Last night, I was struggling with the thought of doing this today. I was exhausted coming off final exams week. I injured my hip a few weeks ago on the treadmill and it still isn't healed. The weather report called for rain. With all of these reasons, I was tempted to excuse myself from doing the walk. BUT! I wasn't doing this just for me. I wasn't walking with my own gain of physical fitness in mind - I was doing this for my husband and several of my close friends that also have Rheumatoid Arthritis. Many of my friends, family and co-workers had faith enough in me to donate to the cause. I could not let any of those people down! I decided I would walk as far as I could and be proud even if I couldn't complete the entire 5k.
I arrived around 7:30 after making a quick stop for a Santa hat at a local CVS. I'm rarely fully prepared for most things and often wait until last minute to wrap up - this was no exception. This is one of those traits I really must work on.
The morning was overcast and fog was still lifting. With my trusty Starbuck's Venti Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte in hand, I made my way to the registration table to get my number - 360. After weaving through a crowd of people and dogs donning Santa hats, reindeer antlers, funky socks and even tutus, I made a quick trip back to my car to lock my goody bag in the trunk. I was ready - my head feeling nearly as foggy as the morning sky.
As the walk started I made some goals. My first goal was just to make it the first mile and then I'd make the decision on if I was going further or not. I walked, waiting for a spot to clear where I could be alone. I really prefer to walk outside of the main crowd, I enjoy the time for reflection, without distraction. I slowed my pace and allowed people to pass me so I could find my spot. Eventually, I got just what I was looking for and was approaching the first mile marker. I made the decision then that I could not let myself, my husband or any of those generous people down. "I WILL complete this 5k."
Shortly thereafter the rain started. First it was just sprinkles, then a steady rain. Temptation hit again but this time it wasn't just the distance that kept me going (I was about 1 1/2 miles into the walk and turning back would only mean I didn't get to walk through the finish line), but my thoughts turned to my husband. Even in the rain, I CAN walk this 5k. He can't. No matter how much rain poured down, how cold I became, how uncomfortable my sloshy shoes were or how much my hip ached - it still didn't come close to the pain and discomfort simply walking causes him. Tears welled up in my eyes and I held back actual sobs.
I went into the walk saying I wasn't walking this today - my husband was - he was just borrowing my legs. Before I knew it I was well past the second mile marker. As I felt the pain with each step, I whispered his name. I looked across the lake and saw the peace and tranquility and could only feel hope that he too will feel comfort soon, perhaps by a development made possible by the Arthritis Foundation.
I pushed on, rain beating down and felt a renewed admiration and love for my husband. He is a good man, fighting a battle that most people could not endure. He lives his life with pain but holds his head high. My heart swelled as I saw the finish line and whispered, "we're almost there, baby."
While I was nearly the last to walk through - I had to throw up my arms
as we crossed the finish line. We did it!
Many people that know me well, know I'm an introvert. I love technology. I love writing. I love sitting, thinking and having deep conversations with one or two people. I'm not so great with the superficial, light relationships so it takes much time to really build trust and friendship.
Through the years I've been asked by many friends to workout with them. (Some may actually be reading this blog.) I always politely declined. I was never comfortable going to a gym or exercising with ANYONE, never dreaming of actually doing so with someone I knew. No way, no how! Even the thought of it caused flashbacks to seventh grade gym class, being the fat girl in the girls locker room and having to endure 45 minutes of PE. Ick!! No thanks.
Then, a very new, very good Weight Watchers friend from my meetings very gently persuaded me to join her at the gym. The first time I was supposed to meet her things came up and I wasn't able to. Honestly, that morning when it happened I felt badly for standing her up but felt a sense of relief. I was still happily in my comfort zone. My world wasn't changed and all was well.
But then, this dear friend, not giving up on me, asked again. I accepted and joined she and another friend. The experience, which I blogged about, was fantastic. Since then we have only missed one day of going to the gym together. We are each other's motivation when our own may be lacking. It feels good to have the support while at the gym and cheering each other on as we set goals and push through personal records.
I get it now! I understand why it's nice to workout in small groups, have friends surrounding you while you pour all your blood, sweat and tears into that hour in the gym.
I look forward to my early morning time with the girls. We have fun, we push ourselves HARD and we walk out of the gym, the sky still dark, with our heads held high.
If you have a friend to workout with, do it! It makes a world of difference. If you don't, invite someone to go for a walk, join you at a pool, go half's on a membership, anything, just get active and if you can, have a friend join you.
I did it! I made it through Thanksgiving without a gain! I lost .2, yes that's right, POINT 2 POUNDS and I'm celebrating it!! I think it's fantastic that I made it though and didn't gain.
Even more exciting is this week starts the new plan on Weight Watchers called PointsPlus! I'll blog about that shortly.
I got a great workout immediately following the meeting and plan to go to the gym every day this week. Next week's weigh in is going to rock!
Easy stats:
Loss this week: 0.2lbs
Total loss: 41.4lbs GONE!
I've stressed greatly about the Thanksgiving meal. This day has always been one of my favorite holidays. I love the food, I love the traditions my family has always shared, recipes that have been passed down over the years and working side by side with my mother as we prepare the holiday feast. Today, I did not spend Thanksgiving with my family, as we are having our meal on Saturday. We spent our holiday meal with my husband's family.
While I do LOVE Thanksgiving food, I vowed last week that I did NOT want to gain weight. I have done well and I want to continue doing well. I am not going to allow the holiday season to slow this pace.
The first thing I did was track everything I planned to eat. This helped greatly, as when we arrived I already had a mental list of everything I would have. The second thing I did was put away the large dinner plate and use a salad plate. It was crammed full with the little spoonfuls of mashed potatoes, stuffing and goodies, but it wasn't over the portions I had already planned to have.
I am relieved that the first Thanksgiving meal is over. I fretted over this day. I honestly believe with the additional exercise I had this morning and the extreme portion control I practiced during the meal - I'll still see a loss this week on the scale. I also did not go over my point values, my weekly point values are still intact and am planning a little snack as we speak.
Saturday's Thanksgiving dinner is lighter fare my mother and I planned together. We will still have mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, turkey - but all will be made with low fat and high fiber ingredients - we edited all those family favorite recipes.
I feel like today was really a success. I faced a lot of temptation and I made it through it. That gives me so much motivation that I can and WILL do this for life!
Today I've realized that I've been on Weight Watchers for over a half of a year. Twenty-two weeks have passed and there have been amazing changes.
One of these changes is something I noticed in the mirror the other day. I felt like jumping up and down when I saw them, and I think I may have done just that. I'd like to introduce you to something kind of new, well not really new but. I haven't seen them for years. They have been well hidden. MY CLAVICLES! (Pardon the sweaty tank top, I took the picture just as I had finished my walk.)
I'm noticing more changes than just my physical appearance. For one, I find my tastes are changing. For example, I have never liked raw carrots. Never! But, this week I took some baby carrots in my lunch and I actually didn't mind eating them. I appreciated the fresh taste and enjoyed it. I'm also gaining a liking towards grilled or broiled fish. I grew up that fish was eaten one way and one way only - batter dipped and FRIED. However, now I can't imagine eating it grease soaked and feel like I would be missing out on some great flavors deep fried. Now, this isn't to say that when Lent comes that I will avoid all fish fries - I think I'll have to partake at least one week. But, I'm thankful that I have grown to LOVE my healthy foods.
For those that aren't following Weight Watcher's, you may not know but there are big changes coming next Sunday. I'm super excited about this! There has been some talk in our meetings about the changes, and I understand the apprehension for some. Change can be scary. Some of us have had some great success on the Momentum plan (Points Plan on Weight Watcher's). However, I really think this change will only be positive!
Years ago I did Weight Watcher's, back when it wasn't points, but exchanges. I had tremendous success and lost 90lbs. I would say I've had equal success this time around with points. The nice thing is, points are not going away, they have just made changes to how the points are structured. I think it's fabulous and can't wait until next Sunday's meeting!
I did it! I made it to my first goal of 37lbs which was 10% of my starting weight. Today's weight in was a loss of 2.2lbs, making my total lost 38.6lbs since May 25th, the day I started Weight Watchers.
As a result, I received my 10% key chain which now holds all of my milestone charms received thus far (25lbs, 16 weeks and 1st 5K). I love the fact that they give these charms! My next charm should be at the 50lbs lost mark - which just may be my next goal. It will be a pretty quick one to reach and since it has a charm attached to it, it might be nice to have just a little "mini-goal" to have in front of my through the holiday season.
My next major goal is 299lbs. It only makes sense as that will be a huge accomplishment for me - I honestly haven't seen the 200's since high school and I'm really excited to revisit them!
Below is a copy of my tracker from my Weight Watchers etools. I really love looking at the trending line over the last 20 weeks. Here's to another 20 more great weeks to a healthy new me!!
Quick Stats:
Starting Weight: 376.8lbs
1st Goal Weight: 339lbs
Current Weight: 338.2lbs
This Week's Loss: 2.2lbs
Total Weight Loss: 38.6lbs
We are faced with temptations all the time. Maybe you're tempted after waking up late, rushing to work and passing by the golden arches (although, I can honestly say this is no longer a temptation for me). Maybe you feel hunger pains with the flashing "Hot Donuts" sign when passing by Krispy Kreme. Perhaps your employer provides a Papa John's Pizza lunch for all the employees and Papa John's just happens to be your favorite pizza, not that I have any experience in this department. LOL (Yes, today my employer provided Papa John's Pizza for all the employees in the building - was a very nice gesture.)
Temptations are going to be there, daily. We have to make a conscious decision on what we want more, those five or ten minutes of instant gratification on a substance that will be gone in a matter of a few hours OR the health, well-being and ENERGY provided by making wise choices; eating healthy and exercising. Some days, these decisions are much more difficult than others.
I've had a few tactics that have really helped me not cave in to these temptations. One that seems to really help me is visualizing the composition of the foods I'm eating. If the food is something like pizza, I visualize the glucose making up the simple carbohydrates of the crust and sauce, the amino acids in the proteins and high amount of lipids in the cheese. I imagine how my body will process the macromolecules and imagine how much of it will immediately be stored as glycogen in my liver, muscles and yes, body fat. Believe it or not, this really works. I don't think it's necessarily the science that works for me, but just the fact that I'm THINKING about it.
For years I allowed food to control me. I did not practice self control, I did not consciously think about what I was putting in my body. Rather, much mindless eating took place, many meals were nearly inhaled without ever giving a second thought to what what I was eating, what it was doing to my body and what other options were available. I did it because it's what I knew, it was easy, it was comforting, it was just. . .there.
Fast forward to now - I'M IN CONTROL! I can choose to take something, or leave it. Oh what a liberating feeling!
By the way, I did not give in to the temptation of the Papa.
This morning, I went for a walk. A very special guest was invited to this walk and while I didn't see her, I felt her every step of the way.
As I mentioned in an earlier entry, my grandmother was like a second mother to me. In 1993, she suffered a massive stroke, she survived but was never able to speak or walk, again. She died in 1996, after living several years trapped in a body that would no longer function. This morning was really about her and the many others in my family that have been affected by heart disease.
My grandma was always there when I came home from school in the afternoons. She saw the tears caused by obesity as a child. She saw my pain and was always there to comfort and console when I felt like no one understood. I know she would be so proud that I was finally putting an end to that which has caused me the most pain in my life.
The morning was beautiful. The last few days have been hot and humid, but not this morning. It was cool and the humidity seemed lower. A peaceful sunrise was lifting as I arrived at the park starting line, covered by an oak canopy.
The 5k started right at 8am. Nearly 11,000 people took to the streets making a statement about themselves, raising awareness about heart disease and raising money for a very worthy cause. I went into this walk with a hope of finishing in an hour. I started strong, actually passing many of the walkers, not that this was a competition, but I had a fear of being the very last one to finish. Along the path signs were posted, placing a face and name with heart disease. Small children, the middle aged and elderly - all were represented. I couldn't help but think of my family, many who have gone home much too soon and many others that are living daily with the effects of heart disease.
The first mile seemed the hardest, after that time and distance seemed to go fast. By the end, I felt accomplished, it felt good to finish. Even better, it felt good to finish right at an hour! I did it!
My next 5k will be for the Arthritis Foundation in December. I went into this walk with a small fund-raising goal of $100, which I was extremely thankful to surpass by $25. However, the next walk is for the love of my life. My husband has rheumatoid arthritis and I plan to raise $500 in his honor. I also have another goal, other than the monetary contribution. I plan to beat my time! Tomorrow, training starts. I will get my time for the next 5k to under an hour.
I know my grandmother was with me every step of the way. I could hear her voice in my head, encouraging me to do it, telling me she was proud. I could feel her love and I'm so glad I was able to enjoy a walk with her this morning.
So my three days of meetings, lots of delicious food and lack of my normal routine are over. After my stress and struggles over day one I decided I would stop stressing about it and just enjoy it. I still tried to maintain portions, and asked myself what I would have done prior to Weight Watchers and then tried to make better choices than I previously would have. At least then I know I did less damage than I would have done if it were four months prior! I can't say I chose great things, because I didn't. I went well over my weekly points, probably in alcohol alone. I ate small desserts, I had some junk food, I had some french fries. Was this a failure of a week? NO!
The last three days were temporary. The food I ate is no longer my normal lifestyle, it once was, but it isn't anymore. Drinking is not part of my normal lifestyle. My lifestyle is a healthy one, full of healthy foods, exercise and positive thoughts. I think that's what threw me off more than the initial panic over the food choices - I started back down the path of negative speak. Rather than feeling like the healthy new me, I felt like the fat girl eating the fatty foods again. Well, until I came to grips with the fact that even if I can't make good choices over the next few days - I can still be the healthy girl! I can get right back on plan. I can get right back into my routine. Just as my "I am a spring" post said - I can bounce back!
So, tomorrow is bounce day.
I had one really great surprise yesterday. There was a lot of walking! I had a moment of "wow" when I realized I made it through a team building exercise pain-free. We went to a theme park and walked, and walked, and walked a little more. Three years ago we did a similar activity and I was in physical pain walking out of the park. I HURT. I actually hurt for days afterward. This time, it was so different. I was able to keep up! I was able to walk out of the park, without pain, feeling pretty good and then able to go out partying that night! Granted, I think I sweat more than anyone else there, not that they weren't sweating, and I looked ridiculous when all was said and done (beet red, dripping in sweat, hair soaked) but I finished! Just typing that makes me feel fantastic.
This change comes after only 16 weeks. It comes after only losing 35lbs. The body is a pretty amazing thing. If you treat it right, even for a short period of time, it bounces back dramatically!
This activity also gave me some added confidence for my first 5k which is coming up fast, Saturday!
So tonight, I'm relaxing. Tomorrow I plan to do some core exercises to try to save my walking legs. I know the 5k is going to be a challenge and I'm super excited to do it!
Today is an amazing day! In May, the catalyst to my weight loss journey was this pesky lab coat that wouldn't fit. (Read about it here) It was too small, I could only button a single button and it was the largest I could find without it being custom made. It was this event, that made me say, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH - CHANGE NOW!"
Today, I decided to try the lab coat on. I've done this a few times over the last few months, each time having one or two buttons that wouldn't fit, but still celebrating the obvious change in how it hung on my body and how the lower buttons inched closer to the holes.
Today, I was able to button each and every button, with a lot of room in the top to spare!
It appears I may need to purchase a new lab coat for Microbiology in January after all - a smaller one!!!
