I think I've mentioned a few times that it is scary to be aware that I'm beginning a lifetime of maintenance - especially scary when stats show that most people that lose weight regain the weight, and more.
The past 5 or 6 weeks have been somewhat terrifying. About 5 weeks ago I gained a pound (week's average) - not a biggie, note to self, 'be alert'. The following week I gained another pound - ok, still no panic... Ryan has said it's normal for weight to fluctuate ... just be a little more alert. The following week I gained another pound - hummn - I start being more careful with what I'm eating (well, at least I think I'm being more careful - and I gain 2 pounds. At this point, I took my food log and mapped out what had been happening. I cut back on some of the extras - for real, this time.
Well, good news - finally the weight gradually started to come back down over the next two weeks, slowly but surely. Phew!
Emotionally, it was terrifying. I had flashbacks about gaining all my weight back. I had fears that I wouldn't be able to reverse the gain. It was hard.
Now that I've worked this through, I feel like I've had a big victory. I'm sure this is just the beginning, but I'm glad I had an 'alarm weight' and a plan for how to get back on track. I just have to stay motivated and alert. I'm starting to review my weekly class handouts and notes, and I have to internalize this material just a little better - for insurance - especially with the holiday festive meals and muchies coming up.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Things I Don't Miss...
I can't say that there is really anything that I miss about being obese. I don't miss...
Sitting in a theatre seat trying to suck my elbows in so that I'm not cramming the person beside me. Waiting for the movie to begin dreading that someone would pick the seat beside me. It's actually enjoyable to sit in these seats and actually have room to move around!
Hitching up my pants. I saw a fairly chunky person hitching up their pants around the belt line the other day. I used to do that a lot, now I don't ever need to do it because my hips are actually big enough to hold my pants from falling down.
Being hot and feeling sweaty all the time, even when everyone else was feeling cold. Now I'm the one that's cold all the time - can't say I like that part so much, but it's a small price to pay, I guess.
Hating to see myself in the mirror or shop window. I used to really dislike what I saw in the mirror, so I'd avoid mirrors. I hated having my photo taken. Now I don't mind so much.
Always having to take a shower, because laying down in the bathtub felt too claustrophobic and tight. I still don't take a lot of baths, but when I do, it's nice to have lots of room to move my elbows.
Coughing all the time. I still have a little cough, but I feel like I've gotten fresh, brand-new lungs.
Snoring - actually SUE doesn't miss this - she tells me that I NEVER snore anymore!
Having to shop only at the big and tall store. It is really liberating to be able to find clothes that fit in pretty much any trendy store. I has been frustrating all these years to have to dress like a frump because the only clothes I could find were frumpy. What is frustrating sometimes now is that stores sometimes don't have sizes that are small enough! That's a bummer.
Feeling like I had to hide my weight and never talking about weight with anyone. I used to be so embarrassed that when Sue, or others, would ask about my weight I'd come up with a lower number so I would feel so awkward. (I wonder who I thought I was fooling).
Hating exercise of all kinds. Now I enjoy it. I actually feel bad when I miss my exercise for a day or two.
Feeling out of control. Blaming everything and everyone for my weight gain - except me. It is empowering to feel like I'm in control again and 'in charge' of my health.
I'm sure there's more, but there is sure a lot that I don't miss
Sitting in a theatre seat trying to suck my elbows in so that I'm not cramming the person beside me. Waiting for the movie to begin dreading that someone would pick the seat beside me. It's actually enjoyable to sit in these seats and actually have room to move around!
Hitching up my pants. I saw a fairly chunky person hitching up their pants around the belt line the other day. I used to do that a lot, now I don't ever need to do it because my hips are actually big enough to hold my pants from falling down.
Being hot and feeling sweaty all the time, even when everyone else was feeling cold. Now I'm the one that's cold all the time - can't say I like that part so much, but it's a small price to pay, I guess.
Hating to see myself in the mirror or shop window. I used to really dislike what I saw in the mirror, so I'd avoid mirrors. I hated having my photo taken. Now I don't mind so much.
Always having to take a shower, because laying down in the bathtub felt too claustrophobic and tight. I still don't take a lot of baths, but when I do, it's nice to have lots of room to move my elbows.
Coughing all the time. I still have a little cough, but I feel like I've gotten fresh, brand-new lungs.
Snoring - actually SUE doesn't miss this - she tells me that I NEVER snore anymore!
Having to shop only at the big and tall store. It is really liberating to be able to find clothes that fit in pretty much any trendy store. I has been frustrating all these years to have to dress like a frump because the only clothes I could find were frumpy. What is frustrating sometimes now is that stores sometimes don't have sizes that are small enough! That's a bummer.
Feeling like I had to hide my weight and never talking about weight with anyone. I used to be so embarrassed that when Sue, or others, would ask about my weight I'd come up with a lower number so I would feel so awkward. (I wonder who I thought I was fooling).
Hating exercise of all kinds. Now I enjoy it. I actually feel bad when I miss my exercise for a day or two.
Feeling out of control. Blaming everything and everyone for my weight gain - except me. It is empowering to feel like I'm in control again and 'in charge' of my health.
I'm sure there's more, but there is sure a lot that I don't miss
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Before and After
Here are a couple of photos of the 'before' and the 'after' the Medical Weight Loss Program (aka Optifast).....
After
This last photo shows that Sue and I could both fit in my leather coat that was snug on my belly before.
Before
After
Before
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Celebration Time
I've had three really fun celebrations this year to celebrate milestones on my journey to healthy habits.
A lovely kayaking trip at our wedding anniversary (see Week # 9). I had lost about 25 pounds by that point (45 lbs. from January 2014). I was very excited, and I assumed that my weight loss would taper off soon after this point.
A wonderful mountain hiking weekend away with some dear friends on my birthday (see week # 17). At this point I had lost 54.5 pounds ((74.5 lbs. since January 2014). It was an amazing victory over a mountain that had humiliated me 25 years ago - well actually my excess weight was what caused the humiliation, but it felt better to blame it on the mountain. This time I nearly bounced and bounded up the mountain with amazing energy - I felt like I was 25 again!
This past weekend was another wonderful celebration. We celebrated my dad's 86th birthday by driving down to Essex, CT so that he could drive a diesel locomotive. Of course, you can't let a man drive a train all by himself, so I also tried my had at driving a train. Coming at the end of my program, this was a true celebration, kind of like a graduation party :-)
A lovely kayaking trip at our wedding anniversary (see Week # 9). I had lost about 25 pounds by that point (45 lbs. from January 2014). I was very excited, and I assumed that my weight loss would taper off soon after this point.
A wonderful mountain hiking weekend away with some dear friends on my birthday (see week # 17). At this point I had lost 54.5 pounds ((74.5 lbs. since January 2014). It was an amazing victory over a mountain that had humiliated me 25 years ago - well actually my excess weight was what caused the humiliation, but it felt better to blame it on the mountain. This time I nearly bounced and bounded up the mountain with amazing energy - I felt like I was 25 again!
This past weekend was another wonderful celebration. We celebrated my dad's 86th birthday by driving down to Essex, CT so that he could drive a diesel locomotive. Of course, you can't let a man drive a train all by himself, so I also tried my had at driving a train. Coming at the end of my program, this was a true celebration, kind of like a graduation party :-)
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Week Twenty-six - Discharged
Yesterday was the last weekly group session. It was kind of anticlimactic. The session was great, in itself - they presented a whole bunch of relapse scenarios and we worked through as a group how we could 'fix' the situations. On the other had it was kind of surreal - hard to believe that it's 'over.
According to the official discharge letter, I've lost 64.4 pounds and 8.1 inches (waist) since May 7th. That would make it 85 pounds since January 2014 when I was referred! Excellent. When I met with my family doctor, he said with a twinkle in his eye, that I was really normal now. He took me off iron supplement pills, completely off Crestor (cholesterol med), and reduced my thyroid medication by nearly half. My blood sugars are down to well within normal, as are my lipids and cholesterol levels. My blood pressure is very good at about 105/80. The best part is that I feel amazing! No shortness of breath. Much reduced arthritis pain. Lots more energy.
My only regret is that I didn't do this sooner!
I think I've said before that this is really just the beginning, so in that sense it really doesn't feel like a victory yet. The real celebration will be in one or two years' time!
Stay tuned. I still have the monthly group sessions to attend for the next six months. I will be reviewing the classroom materials over the next little while, so I'll post some short summaries here as the weeks go by.
According to the official discharge letter, I've lost 64.4 pounds and 8.1 inches (waist) since May 7th. That would make it 85 pounds since January 2014 when I was referred! Excellent. When I met with my family doctor, he said with a twinkle in his eye, that I was really normal now. He took me off iron supplement pills, completely off Crestor (cholesterol med), and reduced my thyroid medication by nearly half. My blood sugars are down to well within normal, as are my lipids and cholesterol levels. My blood pressure is very good at about 105/80. The best part is that I feel amazing! No shortness of breath. Much reduced arthritis pain. Lots more energy.
My only regret is that I didn't do this sooner!
I think I've said before that this is really just the beginning, so in that sense it really doesn't feel like a victory yet. The real celebration will be in one or two years' time!
Stay tuned. I still have the monthly group sessions to attend for the next six months. I will be reviewing the classroom materials over the next little while, so I'll post some short summaries here as the weeks go by.
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