I actually hit this milestone last Saturday and then Bill and I immediately left for a race in Alabama and then a visit with my family in Arkansas. We had a truly great and relaxed time. I watched what I ate carefully but didn't count calories. More like estimated, but I'm pretty sure I never went over 1,500 calories a day.
We're back home now and when I weighed in this morning I was happy to see that I maintained during our week away, especially since we literally spent 3 days in the car.
So here I sit today...100 lbs. lighter and 100 lbs. healthier than I was on July 14, 2010.
It's a tough thing to wrap my brain around. I lost a small person! Which also accounts for my mixed emotions, I think. I'm thrilled and proud of what I've accomplished so far, but I also have this nagging sense of shame that I can't quite kick related to how I let myself get so overweight and unhealthy in the first place.
People tell me I look like a different person. Which makes me happy and sad at the same time, if that makes sense.
But definitely more happy, so in the spirit of the milestone, here are some 100 lbs. lost observations.
- Every item of clothing in my closet right now was purchased in the "normal" section of the store. I no longer own ANY plus-size clothes. I'm even wearing a few items with this on the label: 12-14. I think this particular manufacturer just wants ladies to feel good about themselves, but I'll take it!
- I am much more active in my everyday life. I couldn't walk from my car to my office before without getting winded and sweaty, and that was taking the elevator! Now I move at a quick pace and I take the stairs. I get to my office and I'm still amazed...not sweaty...not short of breath...normal.
Which reminds me, I got the BEST compliment from my friend, Haydn, recently. I hadn't seen him in a while, but he made a point to stop by my office to see me. He said he saw me walking in the parking lot from my car and he had to stop by. Essentially he said: "I saw you in the parking lot and I can certainly tell that you've lost weight. You look fantastic, but what I noticed most is that you looked like you FEEL fantastic. I'm so happy for you!" It was simply the perfect thing to say to someone working her way through all the changes...someone embarrassed by what used to be.
- I AM HEALTHY!! Before I started this metamorphosis, it was scary how short of breath I'd become with very little exertion. I didn't tell anyone at the time, not even Bill, but I was also having chest pains and pounding headaches. I took my blood pressure one day and it was in the 170s over the 90s. I didn't go to the doctor's because I was scared and embarrassed. Stupid, I know. But I knew the first thing I'd be told was to lose weight and I felt like I didn't need anyone to tell me what I already knew. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I could be, and maybe should be, dead right now.
I still haven't gotten over the doctor thing. I literally can't remember the last time I've been. Probably an ear infection years and years ago. The last time I saw a GYN was my follow-up visit after giving birth to Sierra. She turns 23 this year. Another embarrassing thing to admit. I made a vow to myself that I'll go for a checkup before the end of the year. I need to work my way up to it. But the good news is that I've been taking my blood pressure and it's been consistently in the 115 over 75 range!
These are just a few observations that I have after losing 100 lbs. of me. There are more things rattling around in my brain. It's all just pretty overwhelming.
The rest of this journey is going to be more difficult. It already is. Getting rid of the next 25 or so pounds is going to take much more work but I think I'm up to it.
I seriously thank God every day for the opportunity.
