This
morning, I asked my friend for a reality check about my weight loss
journey. It feels as if things have slowed down for me, as though I
haven't lost any weight in months. My friend assured me this is not the
case; my body has completely transformed and I am not the same person I was a year ago. I'm
sitting here in my size 20W Talbot Capri's, the fitted style, with a
front zipper accompanied by a button and two hooks, with slender side
pockets and a lined waistline, and I realize she's absolutely right.
 |
| It's been fifteen years since I last wore a dress! May 20, 2012 (me in the middle) |
It's
part of my journey to sometimes get caught up in these kinds of
thoughts. It's great to have a good friend who can help me step away
from such thoughts and to realize just how far I've come. Success on
this program can be measured in many ways, none of which include a number on a scale.
I Think Differently
I don't obsess about dieting and I skip right past ads for weight loss programs. I know my way around a menu and I'm confident I can find healthy food choices anywhere I go. I know what to eat and I eat well. I still have difficulty with cheese, eating too much, and my meat to veggie portions are still needing more of my attention, but I have not had sugar or carbs since I started this program and that says a lot. The other stuff can only get better and for me as I continue to refine what I'm eating.
I don't obsess about dieting and I skip right past ads for weight loss programs. I know my way around a menu and I'm confident I can find healthy food choices anywhere I go. I know what to eat and I eat well. I still have difficulty with cheese, eating too much, and my meat to veggie portions are still needing more of my attention, but I have not had sugar or carbs since I started this program and that says a lot. The other stuff can only get better and for me as I continue to refine what I'm eating.
I interact Differently
I interact with my doctor differently too. When I was at my doctor's office today, a nurse called my name and led me to a scale. As I stepped onto the scale, I told her I didn't want to know my weight. She then asked if I wanted to know if I had lost any weight. "No thanks," I told her, "I know I've lost weight and I don't need to know how much I've lost." This is my standard protocol at the doctors office, I let them know what I need and they are happy to accommodate. It's the same at restaurants!
I interact with my doctor differently too. When I was at my doctor's office today, a nurse called my name and led me to a scale. As I stepped onto the scale, I told her I didn't want to know my weight. She then asked if I wanted to know if I had lost any weight. "No thanks," I told her, "I know I've lost weight and I don't need to know how much I've lost." This is my standard protocol at the doctors office, I let them know what I need and they are happy to accommodate. It's the same at restaurants!
I Dress Differently
Last weekend I wore a dress,
which I haven't done in fifteen years and it felt great! I look at myself
in the photo (above) and realize I look "normal" - not obese. I can in
see in this photo just how far I've come down in body size. My mind knows I dropped
from a 30/32 to a 20, but I was still seeing and feeling larger than I really am. I had
forgotten, until my friend reminded me this morning, I no longer need
to wear pants with an elastic waistline. It's fitted pants for me from now on -- and
dresses are now a new option.
I feel Different
This journey has
been so solid, that I often forget I'm on a weight loss program. I feels
so natural that I don have to give it much attention. I just need to
remember to look up once in a while and see myself in my transformed
shape. Sometimes I get so caught up in wanting to be a smaller size and how much further I want to
go, that I forget how far I've come. Just a few days ago, I moved a half dozen tops and pants from my middle closet, which contains clothes that I'm currently wearing, into my eBay closet, which is where I put the clothes that are too big. How quickly I forget, that those clothes fit perfect in December and now they are several sizes too big.
How About You?
What's different in your life since
starting the program? Is your energy level different? Is your
wardrobe different? How about your self image? Can you really see your
progress in the mirror or are you too only seeing how much more you have
to lose? How do you stay real with yourself? Tell us about your changes since starting this program.
You look Terrific Theresa! The BEST part for me is NOT seeking and searching out weight loss and workout plans! I also just came back from a vacation and do not have to do a MAKE UP diet!!!!! Like I always have....I wanted some foods that were not on the program but I feel so happy and good when I don't do it because I know it's just a slippery slope right back down!! I also am wanting to be just one half size smaller..I have been waiting and hoping and waiting....Today I took a nap and had a dream that I ate chocolate chips..The dream was so incredibly vivid and real I secretly scanned around the house to make sure I had NOT!!!! I am excited because I read somewhere along the way this means you are ready for a drop! But, my moods are even, my sleep is great, I have good lasting energy all day! I am not bloated. I can find food anywhere I go that is acceptable fare...Even airports!! I had alot of slips along the way and that has prevented me from already being done but I have been back on and strong since April!! I remind myself daily as I do about all tings in my life ....It's not really about he destination it's about the journey and keeping weigh off is a lifetime journey! ENJOY THE JOURNEY!
ReplyDeleteGood to hear another vacation success story! I'll bet your "slips" are still a far cry from what you might have done before following this program.
DeleteI agree with you: It's not really about the destination it's about the journey and keeping weigh off is a lifetime journey!
It is human to strive for perfection and it is also human to be imperfect.
Theresa you look GREAT!!!! Good job!!!! It is so exciting to see that we look normal!!
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time actually seeing my progress with my own eyes. My eyeballs and brain are still 'fat'. But when I think of going from a 24 to a 16, I know something has happened. I know my eyes and brain will catch up!!
This is the easiest most exciting way of life I have ever known, the freedom from food is PRICELESS!! I am enjoying eating and loosing while I eat!! Life can't get much better than that concept!!!! Some of my friends are drinking Shaklee weight loss shakes. They are loosing and loosing fast, but I know in my heart they are not learning anything, those things don't last. I am happy, full and not frustrated with food! I got it made!!!!! I may not be melting as fast as others, but 4 sizes since the end of October, I am not going to complain!!!!!!
I remember shakes. I had great success with them. Dropped weight. Felt great. Traveling was extremely difficult eating that way, as was every social event. I drank a double shake before social events and then ate just fruit or veggies or said I wasn't hungry. I also ate an incredible amount of popcorn, because it was a "free" food item and I built up an intolerance for corn for years to follow.
DeleteI had a handful of shake recipes down to a science and they were so delicious. Hey, who wouldn't love a diet where you get to drink milkshakes three times a day and any time you get hungry? What's not to love about that?
My friends were happy for my weight loss, but they were greatly concerned about the large amounts of deadly ingredients listed on the shake label.
I'm sure if I tasted one of the shakes today I would not find it tasty at all. I know I will never have that type of diet again in my life.
Yes, the freedom from food is priceless to me too!
Thank you Theresa, for all of your time and energy you give us to this blog. I love the pictures, and I love that we are all supporting each other in this endeavor. You look great! Feeling great is a wonderful thing too!!!!! Keep up all the good work!!!!!
ReplyDeleteTheresa, you look great! Thanks for blogging on this site-it's so great to share stories, recipes, and our successes :)!!!
ReplyDeleteI started this program last August 15 and I often marvel at how easy this has been for me. I've battled this my whole life and even had lap band weight los surgery. I lost weight with that (and many diets I tried) but always gained it back.
I also struggle with veggie to meat portion and eating too much cheese but I can't believe how I've stuck to this since day 1. Everyone comments on my weight loss! I've gone from a size 26-28 (and more toward the 28 size) to an 18 and I am wearing 14-16 in certain clothes now too. I went to Fashion Bug today and bought a bathing suit. Although I don't think I look perfect in it, I actually think it was cute and I couldn't believe I was wearing one. I bought 2 sun dresses and haven't worn a dress in about 15 years.
I am more confident and I notice that I wear brighter colors and all of my jewelry lately. I feel good and am not exhausted all day. I've been wanting to work out & that's a first for me!!
I recently had to go to my bariatric surgeon because I was getting food stuck with my band. I don't weigh myself ever but if I need to see my surgeon they have to weigh me in order to do the fills/unfills. So, they weighed me and congratulated me for my weight loss. I'm down 87 pounds since starting this program and 97 from my heighest weight ever! I knew I had lost a lot but really had no idea. I was shocked! Little do they know that my secret success is from this progam-I don't follow the band program at all. In fact, I was there to get an unfill so it is loose on me and I'm still losing.
I really wish they would tell people about options like this before going to have surgery. That was the worst mistake I ever made! And seeing Julie, was probably the best decision I've ever made. It has not been difficult for me at all & I can have thoughts about wanting to eat foods that aren't allowed but they quickly leave. I can eat out ANYWHERE. Just like you I make substitutions. And I use the allergy excuse too but sometimes I just order the sandwich and take the insides out & throw away the bread if I don't want to explain myself. I really love this way of life and I am so happy!
-Emily Bastia