Week 22

This was my best weight loss week since before Christmas. I can feel my body responding to the plan once again. I'm less than half a pound away from having lost 50 pounds on Optavia.

Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 187.2

Total lost: 49.6 (109.3)

One of my non-scale victories is that I can wrap a bath towel around myself! I've never been able to do that before.

I also don't mind taking selfies.

My favorite meal of the week was coconut shrimp. It was AMAZING!

My favorite fueling hack was waffling the oatmeal. It was pretty tasty!

I'm still having trouble getting used to these changes. Whenever I think or write down my weight, I still start with a 2. It's hard to remember that my weight starts with a 1. It's also weird to feel my body because it feels so different. Even my hands and feet feel different. It's great!

I am now coaching four other people. It is exciting to have the chance to help other people the way Chari has helped me. One side benefit is that once I have five people, it will cover the cost of my food.

Week 21

I only lost .2 pounds this week so I didn't bother with a before/after photo. One thing that has changed in my life is my willingness to be in photos. Before, I always made sure I was behind the camera because I didn't like the way I looked in pictures. Now I like to make sure I'm included.

First time eating salad at Smashburger. It was huge!

Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 189

Total lost: 47.8 (107.5)

Week 20 - 5 months

If you had told me five months ago that I would weigh in the 180's by January, I would never have believed you. I think the last time I weighed this I might have been in high school. December was slow pound wise because of the holidays, but I still lost three pounds. Amazingly enough, I lost 8.25 inches!

Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 189.2

Total lost: 47.6 (107.3)

Inches lost: 28.25 (42.25)

BMI down: 8.8 (17.8)

I lost 4.25 just off my belly! (That makes 9.75 since starting Optavia.) 

Here is my face difference.

When I first started Optavia, I told myself I'd be happy if I could just get down to 180. Now I know I can go so much farther. I'm aiming for 150! 

Week 19 - No Changes

I still need to lose the two pounds gained over the holiday. I'm ready to get back to a regular schedule on Monday and get back to a healthier lifestyle. Right now I'm focusing on drinking a lot of water and finally reading the Habits of Health book, which I'm enjoying more than I expected. My next focus is going to be getting more sleep since that is one of the weakest parts of my overall health. I stay up way too late on a regular basis. Next week is another milestone week so I hope to have some positives to report. I'll also update some photos since I didn't take any of myself this week.

Happy New Year!

Week 18 - Christmas is Hard!

For the first time in 18 weeks, I gained weight - two pounds. While I am disappointed, I am actually looking at the bigger picture, which is that in the past I would have gained much more. I am also comparing what I looked like last Christmas to what I look like now. This perspective is so helpful.

I am also realizing just how addictive sugar is. Even though I knew it made me feel sick and my body didn't really want it, my mind wanted it so badly! That's the nature of an addiction - you crave something even though you know it's bad for you and the consequences won't be good.

It feels really good to be back on track. My body is so ready for healthy eating again. I'm really focusing on getting more water. I haven't been drinking enough so I'm trying to get in 64 oz. a day, which I'm finding to be very difficult!

This will be a great week!

Week 17 - Temptations all around me!

 Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 191.6

Total lost: 45.2 (104.9)

This was my hardest week so far. I have been 100% faithful to plan - until this week. It started with one piece of divinity, then one piece of English toffee and then it was just one thing here and one thing there. I still lost half a pound, but I feel sick from sugar. I can tell that my body is no longer used to it. Crazy thing is that even though it makes me feel sick, the sugar cravings are real. I'm going to have to be very careful over the next two weeks while I am home from school. It's so easy to just walk by and pop a piece of candy in my mouth, but it is so not worth it.

I really had fun dressing up at school and I don't think I would have done it if I hadn't felt so much more comfortable with my body.

One intereting thing to note is that I am having a lot of new hair growth. I had lost a lot of hair, but since going on Optavia, it seems like my hair is growing back. I have a lot of new growth where my hairline was receding. So that is cool!

Week 16 - FOUR MONTHS OF CHANGE!

Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 192.2

Total lost: 44.6 (104.3)

Inches lost: 20 (34)

BMI down: 8.3 (17.3)

I have been on this Optavia journey for four months now and it is amazing how much change I have seen in such a small time. I feel like a different person. At times it feels like the pounds are creeping off, but when I look at the big picture, it's incredibly how quickly the weight has come off - basically 10 pounds a month. 

I feel comfortable in my own skin. I'm not self conscious and I'm happy with the way I look. Things fit when I try them on. I am almost 100% pain free. I no longer have hip or back pain. I have slight pain in my knee, but that is in part because of the cold, wet water. I sleep through the night and only use one pillow. I have so much energy. I like what I see when I look in the mirror - even if it sometimes catches me off guard.

The biggest change is probably my belly.

I even decided to have a Bitmoji makeover.

This week we had dress up days at school. It was so fun and I was way more comfortable getting into it than I would have been 40 pounds ago.

My favorite fueling hack of the week was strawberry muffins made from an Optavia shake. They were tasty and filling.

I am so grateful to have found this program that is changing my life in such positive ways. I hope I can share this journey with others because I know it can bring joy to others as well.