I went to an event yesterday for work--it was a barbeque and I was able to wear something other than a suit. There were people there who I hadn't seen in a few years, people who I spent a lot of time with at one time. It was a lot of fun when I realized that quite a few people didn't recognize me and I had to introduce myself.
Even better was when the look of recognition and surprise hit their faces.
It was great motivation to keep on the path to losing the last 40!
After a long, frustrating hiatus, I'm back.
Today I weighed-in and celebrated 75-pounds lost. 75! That's a good-sized child.
It's been a long-time coming. Since June 2009, in fact. The first fifteen months the weight came off quickly, as though I was shedding a skin. A very thick, fat skin. One that weighed 62 pounds. It's taken me twelve more months to lose 13 additional pounds.
Considering I want to lose 35-40 more pounds I hope it won't take me four more years. I'll be an old woman by then!
What's working right now
Focusing on fruits and vegetables
Limiting carbs
Watching portion sizes
Having a non-tracking day every other Saturday
Limiting alcohol and sugar
Increasing my water intake
What I'm not working on
Exercise (I'm doing some, but not obsessing)
Measuring (I'm going mostly with the "core" plan)
It all sounds rather like a diet, doesn't it? But as I'm eating better, I'm feeling better.
And I can't tell you how good it felt to accept my 75-pound charm today!
In 2010 I let go. It wasn't easy. I'd been holding on to that fat, lazy slug inside of me for so long I'd gotten to believe that I'd never be separated from it. It was me, and yet, it wasn't.
Before now if you invited me to go dancing, I'd cringe. If people played basketball, I'd watch from the sidelines. I cheered my children on as they ran, but I didn't run with them.
In March 2009 walking up one flight of stairs was hard for me. I got to the top at the same time as others, but was mortified that I was huffing and puffing, and couldn't speak easily. Someone invited my husband on a hike, and started to invite me, turned red, stammered, and I jumped in with a joke about how I'd rather have a sharp stick in my eye. It would have been a death march.
Last year, I started exercising. I was part of my weight loss journey. I wasn't doing it for fun. I was doing it merely to lose the weight.
But now I'm close to hitting 75 pounds lost--with another forty or so to go. My body is lighter than it has been in 17 years, and I'm at the strongest I've ever been. I dream about running. When my heart feels like it's going to burst through my chest I know it's a great feeling to revel in, not torture. What exercises can I do when I'm standing in line, waiting for the kettle to boil, and stopped on the freeway?
That slug, that voice that always said, no, don't--exercise is horrible, and you're not an athlete--that voice is gone. I'm not an athlete yet, but I'm also not the slug I used to be.
Guess what? If you exercise more than you eat, you lose weight!
I have a new challenge to kick-start my weight-loss journey. Daily exercise. No more sitting on the couch, growing potatoes on my butt.
Summer is the time of backyard potlucks, people dropping in unexpectedly for weekend visits, and stinking hot temperatures. The following is my recipe for my go-to quick, easy, cheap and healthy Two Bean Salad. I love it as a side with multigrain tortillas and eggs for brunch! Take liberties with it--the salad gets better the more you tweak it to your taste.
Two Bean Salad
(serves 10 as a side; four if a main course salad)
The juice of one or two limes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tsp cumin (or more, to taste)
1 tsp apple cider vinegar (to taste)
1-3 cloves garlic, crushed
Salt, pepper, healthy dash of red pepper flakes
1 cup cilantro, chopped
1 can black beans, drained--rinse if you're watching sodium
1 can small white beans, drained--rinse if you're watching sodium
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 to 1 cup red onion, chopped
1 cup frozen corn (not thawed)
In a medium-large bowl, make the dressing, mixing all the ingredients from the lime juice to the cilantro. Mix well, adjust seasonings and vinegar levels to taste. Add remaining items, mix well. Let sit at least 30 minutes for flavors to develop. As the frozen corn will thaw as it sits, but will also keep the salad cool.
Those of you who follow my blog may have noticed that about a month ago the address changed to "GettingTo120.blogspot.com" as did my Twitter handle. It's a constant reminder for me that even though I've lost a huge amount of weight I have a long journey ahead of me. As of this morning I've lost 70 pounds; I have just 50 more to go.
Some significant changes in the past 14 months:
1) I started as a size 22/24, depending on the cut of the clothing item, etc. I'm now at a regular 16 in tops and dresses, a 16W in pants. Skirts...it depends. I *did* get a 16 regular bathing suit but realized after seeing a picture of me in it that it's still a bit too small.
2) Inches lost. I've lost lots of inches. Over ten inches from my hips, seven from my bust, and six from my waist.
3) Different approach to food. Sure--today I did seriously consider getting donuts this morning after my Weight Watchers meeting. I was even in line at the bakery. My dad's voice ran through my head "fat pills!" and when I looked at them, my mouth didn't water. They didn't look yummy. They looked like the equivalent of a whole big healthy brunch...but with a stomach ache and lethargy afterwards. So I left, thrilled that it was such a happy revelation, such a change in habit.
For lunch today I had a delicious summer salad made with organic Candy Cane Beets and Golden Beets from Shooting Star CSA--a great place I'm lucky to live near. This is earthy, sweet, and tangy. It is summer on a plate!
One cup cold, cooked beets, quartered
One medium orange, segmented
One thin slice of red onion...to taste
1 tsp balsamic vinegar (or to taste)
Salt
Combine the ingredients on a plate, and enjoy. Serves one as a lunch; serves two as a side.
I've only lost 12 pounds since the beginning of the year. Twelve pounds, that's great! You might say. Yes, it's nothing to sneeze at, I agree. And I'm pleased with those 12 pounds. But if I'd been truly working at it, it would have been more. And since I still have at least 43 more pounds to go, if I lose at the 12-pounds-in-six-months rate, it will be another two years. And I'd like to be done with the "figuring it out" portion in a year. Or less. Oh, by Thanksgiving would be lovely. And then just years and years of maintenance--a whole new journey.
One of the things I've been doing that has slowed me down is that I have not been cooking. WHAT? It's true. I have not been enthused about cooking lately. We've been doing a lot of Mexican take-away---shocking that I'm not losing lots of weight when I'm eating beans, rice and chile rellenos...huh?
Last night my husband brought me a sheet of paper and asked, "Why aren't I losing weight?" He'd written down all he'd eaten that day, all he'd drank. I figure that he should be eating about 40 points a day if he wants to lose weight. With the extra weekly points spread out through the week, he could have about 45 points, and still lose.
So how many points did he have yesterday? By my calculation, approximately 80. That's probably an average day for him. And the majority of it was consumed after 5pm. When I was around, and could be feeding him. Oh good god. I'm killing him by not cooking for him.
So I resolve to cook. I'll cook to save my life. I'll cook to save my husband's life.
