10 Months of Change!!

 Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 165.8

Total lost: 71 (130.7)

Inches lost: 39.25 (53.25)

BMI down: 12.7 (21.7)

This month I lost 2 1/2 inches and 3.2 pounds. I am getting so close to goal and it's so hard because I just want to be there already!! I have never been at a weight that I want to maintain. I can't imagine what that will be like. I can almost taste it! (Bad choice of words.)

I love the monthly check ins because I take before and after pictures and it is such a reality check for how far I've come. It's so motivational and brings me pure joy.

I don't think I ever really saw myself as fat as I was, but I know I had trouble breathing, sleeping and moving. I was in so much pain all the time. One of the things that finally convinced me to try was when my coach said she never felt pain anymore.

I often tell people that I feel like I'm taking an anti-inflammatory. I am no longer bloated or swollen. I find myself squeezing my shoulders and poking my collarbones. I just can't used to my new body.

I decided to get out a tape measure and see exactly what 53.25 inches looks like. That's how many inches I've lost. Crazy!

I am so grateful that my friend Chari reached out, and kept reaching out, and didn't give up. And I'm so grateful that my mom convinced me to just go for it and give it a try. It has changed my life forever. My mind is in such a different place that it's hard to remember where I was mentally and emotionally before this change.

I love my new life!

Week 39 - No Cheese

Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 165.8

Total lost: 71 (130.7)

This week I hit a huge milestone as I finally weigh the same as David. That's something I never thought would happen. David and I have gone through a lot in our marriage. This journey has taught me a lot about my part in some of our issues. As I get healthier, so does our marriage. We both have things that we need to work on and as I become healthier, it contributes to our overall health. Of course, he still needs to work on his stuff, but I love that I have a better handle on mine.

This week I learned that I was misadvised about cheese when I started Optavia. I cut out cheese this week and lost a pound! Hopefully this will be something that will help me lose these final 15 pounds and get to goal! I want to lose 5 pounds a month and hit my goal weight by the time I hit my 1-year mark the end of August. 

Week 38 - The Big Picture

Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 166.8

Total lost: 70 (129.7)

I was a little discouraged this morning because I followed the rules this week and only lost .2 pounds. Not even half a pound! But then a picture popped up in my facebook feed and I couldn't believe it was me. I had to do a side by side and remind myself of how far I've come. I am only 16 pounds from my goal. I can do this!

I do not remember a time in my life when I haven't been trying to lose weight. What will it be like to just maintain? I've never been there before. 

This has been a week of wonderful meals. I have loved every healthy meal I have eaten.

Quiche

Grilled Caprice 

Faux Potato Salad 

Taco Zucchini Boats 

Here's to another week!

Body Changes

Unless you have ever truly been overweight, you can't know what it is like. Life is different when you're fat. People who don't know you, often judge you by your appearance. You must be lazy. You must lack self control. You must be sloppy. You probably have lower intelligence. You must not exercise. And the list could go on. And I get it because I do the same thing. I think that being prejudiced against someone who is overweight is as prevelant as prejudice based on sex, race or religion. It just doesn't have any laws or guidelines to protect those who are overweight. If you think I am making this up, read HERE or HERE. Kids who are obese are much more likely to be bullied.

Many of my friends have commented that they didn't realize how heavy I was until they saw my before and after photos. That's because my personality was the same and they love me unconditionally. One of the hardest things about obesity is that you have a person in side of you that is trapped and can't get out. It takes a lot of energy to be the person you want to be when you are obese.

There's a whole psychological side to this that I'm not going to get into right now, but I thought I would just list some changes that I have experienced since losing over 100 pounds. These are probably things that skinny people just take for granted.

• When I go to a movie theater, I don't have to worry about fitting into or being comfortable in the seat.
• I can sit at a booth in a restaurant and not worry about not fitting.
• I can take a bite of something sweet without worrying that somebody will be judging me and think that I don't need that.
• I can fly and the seat belt will fit around me without an extention (an extra seat belt that clicks into the usual one).
• I will be able to lower the tray table on an airplane.
• I can reach the gas pedal in the car without my belly hitting the steering wheel.
• My kids can fit their arms all the way around me.
• I can hold a child on my lap. My kids never really got to spend much time on my lap. They learned how to balance on my boobs, but not cuddle up on my lap.
• I enjoy wearing jeans all day without wanting to put on sweats or pjs as soon as I get home.
• I am able to paint my toes.
• I can bend over and pick something up off the floor of the car.
• I can comfortably cross my legs.
• I can kneel down (I haven't been able to do this since having knee surgery, but now I can.)
• I enjoy seeing pictures of myself. Do you know that I hate looking at pictures from my wedding? I hate that I stick out in front of everyone. I hate that my arms don't lay flat at my sides. It was a perfect day, but I don't like looking at the pictures of it. I'm glad that isn't the case anymore.

• I can lay on my back and not feel like I'm choking.
• I can lay on my stomach and still breathe.
• I can see my collarbones. I find my self squeezing my shoulders and pinching my collarbones because I've never been able to feel them before.

• I can sit with my knees bent up under my chin.

• I can squeeze out of my car when someone parks too close to me.
• There are only two hooks on my bra!
• I tried out our zipline! I was too heavy to do that before.

Things that have been hard to get used to.

• My butt gets sore because there's no padding.
• When I hold up a pair of pants, I think there's no way they will fit because they look so small - but they do!
• I have to buy new clothes - over and over again. I'm love being able to fit in smaller clothes, but it's been hard on the budget. Old Navy and Gap marketing is totally working on me.
• I have to remember not to eat out of emotion or boredom, but instead eat just to fuel my body. Most of the time this is easy, but some days are harder than others.
• My rings don't fit.
• I have saggy skin. I will do a separate post on this at some point, but it is a reality. I will never have a flat stomach because there will always be skin.

I am so grateful for this new life and this new perspective. I will never go back. These are the things that I want to remember. 

Week 37 - I Lost Jalen!

Since I started Optavia the last week of August, I have lost as much as Jalen weighs (.2 pounds off, but I'm counting it)! I've lost almost 130 pounds all together.

Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 167

Total lost: 69.8 (129.5)

Some sweet friends gave me a gift card for my birthday...

...and I used it to buy amazing workout clothing.

It encouraged me to get back on the treadmill. I'm ready to start adding regular exercise back into my life. 

One of the hardest things about COVID-19 is keeping produce around the house. I was excited to find a local company that will deliver local fruits and vegetables for $15 a week. Yum! 

For the first time in nine months, I had pizza! It was soooo good! I used a cauliflower crust I bought at Walmart. I topped it with grated and fresh mozarella and fresh herbs from the garden. It was delicious.

Not all cauliflower crusts are as healthy as they claim to be, but this brand is a good one. 

It was a great week as I lost two pounds. I really want to hit my goal weight soon and be able to start into maintenance for the rest of my life.

Week 36 - 9 months

April was a difficult month because I spent most of it out of fat burn. But I did lose almost four pounds (3.8) and I lost 2 1/4" off my waist and another inch off my hips. Not bad for a month's work! All together, I have lost 15.25 inches off my waist and 18 inches off my hips. That's more than a foot off each. How is that even possible?!

Each week when I first started this life changing journey, I would post pictures of me wearing the same t-shirt. I couldn't ever really see much difference and eventually I started wearing other things. This week (9 months later), I decided to put the original shirt back on. I was shocked at how different it looked this time. The weeks go slow and sometimes the change seems minimal, but when I look back, I'm amazed.

Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 169

Total lost: 67.8 (127.5)

Inches lost: 36.75 (50.75)

BMI down: 12.2 (21.2)

I ate some really delicious food this week. There was so much variety and so much flavor!

Cucumber pinwheels

Waffles with sugar free syrup and whipped cream

Mexican Mac & Cheese

Some sweet friends gave me these super cute leggings for my birthday. They also gave me a $100 gift card, which I was super excited to spend. My old workout clothes just don't work anymore so I am excited to get my new ones. I also ordered new bras because the old ones are too big.

I've already lost the weight I gained on my birthday. (I ate extra carbs and gained two pounds.)  I am just 19 pounds from my goal. I really want to get there before my year mark. I think I can do it!

Week 35 - Finally in the 160's!

It seems like it has taken FOREVER to get out of the 170's. In fact, it's been 8 weeks. So that's five pounds a month, which is not bad. I know that the closer I get to my goal weight, the harder it will be to lose. I also know that it's easy to slack off when I get more comfortable with my weight. I have 29 pounds to go!

I am now a size 10. I wear medium tops and bottoms. I never thought I'd see the day. I was always XXL or XXXL. It still feels weird when I hold up an outfit because it doesn't seem like it will fit and then it does.

Highest weight: 296.5

Starting Optavia weight: 236.8

Today's weight: 169

Total lost: 67.8 (127.5)

I often focus on the weight I've lost since joining Optavia. I forget to look at the overall picture and realize I've lost 127.5 pounds!! That is crazy! I have lost more weight than my sweet friend Yasmin weighs! I've lost a human! Mind blowing.

I bought these pants after I lost a lot of weight with surgery. They were a little too tight, but I hoped that I would get into them. I only wore them a couple of times. This week I got them down from the attic, but they are too big. I have to give them away. Sad, but way more happy about that.

I have stayed active with our home projects. This week, we painted the kitchen and the entryway.

I am loving these home changes sooo much. My house seems cleaner and warmer. It is beautiful. Next we need to paint the eaves and shutters. I love that I have unending energy to do these things.

Tomorrow is my birthday. I will be 52. I have added years to my life and feel like a completely different person.

I am going off plan tomorrow for the first time since starting Optavia. I am going to have an English muffin for breakfast, a bundlet for lunch, and popcorn for dinner. It will be more carbs than I have had in eight months. I hope it doesn't make me completely miserable!