A Great Thanksgiving

Today I fast-walked a 5K Turkey Trot in Hornell with John and Sarah.  Got passed by many, including a mom pushing a stroller having a long conversation on her cell, but I did pass a few also.  Had only ONE serving of wonderful dinner and pie.  John worked on my shoulder, which has been sore for a month or so.  Now I am getting into my night clothes and slouching in front of the latest NCIS marathon -- I think they are showing Thanksgiving shows.  Hot coco with peppermint creamer awaits.  Mmmm good day.

Big Milestone Ahead! AKA: All About The Love

I am 5 pounds away from 100 pounds lost!  I love saying that, I love knowing that.  I love it when people tell me, every day, how nice I look.  I love it when people don't recognize me - this does really happen.  I love when people actually tell me I am skinny, and they might mean it!  I love buying new clothes, in regular sizes!  Worth the money right there.  I do love how I feel, in this new and ever-changing body.  I love that my doctor is so proud of me!  I love that people ask me about how I did it; I guess I love that I can be a good example to others, and that they might admire me for this notable accomplishment.  I love being able to cross my legs fairly normally.  I love signing up for road races with my brother and with friends.

I am anticipating how great it will feel when I do finally get to say, "I've lost 100 pounds!!!"  I want the confetti, the marching band, the cheers, the claps on the back, the "Good for yous!"  The newspaper announcements!  The "How I Did It" articles!  The magazine covers!!  Haha, that would never happen, but what if!  Those people on BL make a pretty big deal over losing their first 100lb.  I congratulate them, I embrace that spirit, and YES I DO want that for myself!!! 

I can't wait to "out-grow" (in the best way) my current pair of skinny pants.  I think I am smaller now than when I got home from vet school.  I was wearing 18-20s then, eventually outgrew those.  Today I can wear 16s!

I think I feel prouder of this than I did when I got out of vet school! 

A cool milestone!

Yesterday I fit into a pair of real jeans, from the regular-sized department!

Since we tend not to be as kind to ourselves as we would a friend, I'd like to share this "Woo-Hoo!" moment, because it's something I would celebrate if it were anyone else.  This journey has been long, and mostly under the radar (slow and steady, that's my pace and race!).  Nothing spectacular or flashy. 

People don't RECOGNIZE me!!

Thursday this week, I got to witness the effect weight loss has on others.  I haven't seen David Perry in some time; maybe a year or close to it.  He hadn't seen my new knee, so it's probably been since last year.  When I entered the waiting room to greet him, I saw his face change, saw the expressions on his face go from the eye contact of acknowledgement but non-recognition, to recognition, to disbelief.  I actually watched him go from polite, "Hi, how are you (new person)" to, "WOW! That's really YOU?? It's hard to believe that's really you!"  That was awesome!  Then he said I looked not just awesome but freaking awesome!  hahaha!  That was great too, being appreciated for my LOOKS!  (I'd insert a smiley if I knew how to) ;-)

I have meant to write this for awhile now; I get complements nearly every day on my weight loss.  Apparently it is noticeable, even though I fail to notice it!  That's not the same as not appreciating it; I am just used to my own face and shape.  GLAD it is different!

Off Grid

This weekend I've been totally "off grid."  No calorie counting, no careful calculating, no eating the meal plan.  Seems when you don't have to record your intake because no one is going to be looking at it, the accountability fear goes down and you loosen up.  As far as world issues this one is small.  I ate pizza (WM Supreme, small, eaten over 2 meals), and a family-sized bag of Cheetos (ummm, soooo gooood!).  This morning I am eating two WHOLE EGGS, no egg portions (white plus a whole egg is my usual).  Guess that's really about it.  Oh, and I haven't weighed myself since Friday morning, when I was still at 80lb lost!  YAY!  It's that week between BC months when you don't really "have" to log food, and that weekend before the start of the new month, that feels more permissive.  Of course the analytical part of my brain wants to know if that's OK, is that bad, is this one step down the road to defeat.  No, it's not.  It's just still too bad when indulgence takes the form of overeating, that's all.

All-Time New Favorite Blog: Pa Does Life  This guy's funny, articulate, grammatically correct, not to mention rock-star handsome.  Ben's dad.  There were so many things I could have re-posted.  As an aside, Ben really should tighten up on his eating habits.  The urge to eat anything you want that tastes good is what gets us in trouble.  This from the chick who plowed through a whole bag of Cheetos in 2 days.  But, that sick feeling afterward, it wasn't fun.  And I regretted it, every single time I went back for more.

Finished up another month of Boot Camp.  While the numbers aren't Oh WOW! spectacular, I'm still at it and I'm not re-gaining.  As long as I can find the $$$ to keep going I will, because I am always increasing my fitness and strength, and toning up every day.  I get complements every single day about the noticeable weight loss, and that I look GREAT!  THAT is a reinforcement there.  I think I'm becoming an obesity snob, because I notice when others have gained weight, and I silently shake my head in sympathy while tsk-tsk-ing the fact that they are heavy.  I think the only reason I would even do such a thing is because I have been there and I have come back, so I know it can be done.  And I am one of those folks who has the least confidence in themselves to accomplish something (then give themselves the least amount of credit when it's accomplished, like getting thru vet school!).

Good article on "Control..."

control-freak article