Week 27 - No Longer Obese!!

Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 178.8

Total lost: 58 (117.7)

This was an exciting week! I lost another two pounds and now my BMI is out of the obese range. I am just overweight. That might sound bad to some people, but I'm thrilled to just be overweight.

I am 28 pounds from my goal! It seems closer and closer.

I now wear a size 12 jean. That is half the size of the 24's I used to wear. Mind blowing.

I am waiting to wear the big jeans again when I hit my goal weight so I can drop them and show the big change. I've kept them just for that purpose.

One thing that's been surprising to me about this weight loss journey is that I think I'm looking more and more like two of my brothers. David says he can't see it, but sometimes I see them looking back at me.

I have to be careful to not cut corners now that I'm feeling successful and more comfortable in my body. It would be easy to slack off and not push through to the end. I really want to get there!

I'm now in an Old Navy size medium!

Week 26

Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 180.6

Total lost: 56.2 (115.9)

I lost just over a pound this week. That's great, but I always wish it were more like five pounds a week, even though I know that's not reasonable. The fact that I've lost 56 pounds in 6 1/2 months is truly a miracle and a blessing. 

I actually like looking at my face. I find myself glancing in the mirror or when I'm on video calls, I catch myself looking at my own face because it is so unfamiliar and yet gratifying to me. I have collarbones for Pete's sake!

The greatest thing about this health journey is the fact that I'm no longer in pain. I used to wake up and crawl out of bed, with my back, knee and hip hurting so badly, I could barely move. Now I just hop up and go. It's such a blessing.

I've taken 464 pounds of pressure off my knees and 696 pounds of pressure off my hips! Believe me, I can feel the difference. It's life altering.

This week's favorite meal was a throw together. I had some fish I had thawed out and needed to eat. I air fried it, added cherry tomatoes and avocado. It was delicious!

I am just over 30 pounds away from my goal. I would like to think I could get there by the end of summer, but we shall see. When I first started this journey, I said I would be happy at 180 - and I am there! I truly feel like a new person.

Week 25 - No Loss

I didn't lose any weight this week. And due to eating some sugar cookie dough, I may have kicked myself out of fat burn, which is a real bummer. But I still think of this week as a victory because I resisted all the Valentine goodies and chocolates. I was proud that I could resist - even when my students gave me chocolate!

Here is a side by side of me at the beginning of the year and another one yesterday. It was pj day, so my gut is hanging out, but you can still see a huge difference. A lot of my gut is skin and I don't know how much of it will ever go away.

It was also time for a jean swap. I got 16's not very long ago, but I can pull them off without unfastening them, so I decided I should move down to 14's. I got a pair at a thrift store and another pair at Costco.

Instead of all the chocolate, I've been sticking to cherry tomatoes. They are my favorite!

Week 24 - 6 months

Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 181.8

Total lost: 55 (114.7)

Inches lost: 29.25 (43.25)

BMI down: 10.1 (19.1)

I look at that picture from 2014 and it's honestly hard to accept the fact that it's me. Who was that person? One thing I do know is that it is really hard to find pictures of me from that time period. I hated to be in pictures. 

This has been another good week for weight loss. I still have a hard time seeing differences in the before and after pictures, but I can feel it. My body feels very different.

I did take a before and after picture with a fellow teacher. I can see a bit of a difference in this picture.

And of course, the weight graph doesn't lie. It's like a slide!

I am 31 pounds from my goal!

Week 23 - 50 Pounds Down!

 Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 185

Total lost: 51.8 (111.5)

TO GO: 35 pounds!

This was a great week. I hit 50 pounds lost!! I now only have 35 pounds to go, which seems incredible. I took some pictures at Costco of me holding 50-pounds of sugar and flour. It was so hard to lift! I can't believe I used to carry that around every day.

I tried some new foods this week and enjoyed them all. When I first started program, I bought some Rasperry spread from Walden Farms. It is sugar and calorie free. I put it on an oatmeal waffle and it was really good.

I decided to try the vanilla shake and it was super good. Today I mixed it with a cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk and it was like a real milkshake. Super yummy!

This is my secret weapon. I keep a bowl of cherry tomatoes on my kitchen counter. I eat them throughout the day and count it as part of my vegetable intake. It curbs any hunger or cravings I might have. These are actually grape tomatoes because they're cheaper as well as lower in calories, carbs and sodium.

I now have six people that I am coaching on the program. This is awesome because I get to help others and it also helps pay for my fuelings. I want to be able to help other people on this program, but I don't ever want to seem pushy or that my intentions aren't 100% sincere.

I am so happy with this new life and new body!