Great Advice (from an inconsistent source)

I got an email today, from a great friend I haven’t seen in a long time:

Hello M’dear –

I always see your posts about your weight loss success and I was wondering if you could give me some advice. I’ve always had a bad relationship with food – I have no self control when it comes to it. Whenever I want to get healthy, I stick to it for a month or so, and then right back to my bad habits. I have lots of friends who eat healthy, but it’s difficult to get advice from someone for whom healthy eating comes easily, as opposed to a constant battle. I really want to make some serious, long term changes – lifestyle changes.

Any advice? Are there any support groups or online resources that you’ve found really helpful?

I really appreciate any advice you can give. And as always, congrats on your success thus far, and I hope it continues!

Hugs,
Me

Didn’t you see the posts about the 40 pounds I re-gained in 2011???

Not Pretty.

I’m not sure I’m an expert on this topic. It is a constant battle for me, too.

The End of the Setback, The Beginning of the Rest of My Life.

Hey folks. Long time no blog.

A lot has happened since my last post.

I’ll start with the most exciting news:

I’m cured.

Hive Update

Okay, so a lot has happened since my last hive post.

And yet….not a lot has happened since my last hive post.

This is a picture of my arm after only an hour of sun exposure in 75 degree weather.

That line is actually one big hive because I made the mistake of keeping a hair elastic around my wrist for too long.

Impulse Buy : Weight Watchers Online

As most of you know, I’ve gained some weight dealing with this whole hives thing.

And I can’t work out. Any sweating results in immediate and long-lasting super-itchy hives.

So, after hearing a few co-workers raving about Weight Watchers, I joined the online program.

They had a “buy three months and don’t pay the sign-up fee” deal, so on Thursday afternoon I pulled out my credit card, and began tracking my points.

I had eaten more than double my allotted points.

Whoops.

Cinnamon Fortune Buns: Fail. OR….is it?

Well, because of the hives I’ve gained some weight. Been cooking a lot, and therefore eating a lot. But I made these for a party…I’m only going to have one. (Well, two if you count the one I tried before I brought them to the party.)

Improvised from multiple recipes. The fortune inside is probably a bad idea, but for sure, your future is gonna be SWEET if you make these babies. I used splenda instead of sugar in everything except the glaze.

Yasso Frozen Yogurt: Eat Some!

Blueberry is my favorite flavor. (Tied with Raspberry and Strawberry.)

Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt.

It was EXACTLY what I was haunting the frozen foods section for about 6-10 months ago when I was really struggling to pack in protein.

But I didn’t stumble upon it until about 6-8 weeks ago, on sale, at Big Y.

$3.99 for four bars. 70 calories a piece. 6 grams of protein. How could I POSSIBLY go wrong?

I took home all three flavors.

I’ve been buying three boxes at a time since.

(Temporary) Setback

Well, folks. It’s been about two months since my one year anniversary. My lowest weight to-date was 171 pounds. (Two pounds more than on my anniversary…) It felt mahhhhvelous.

There’s me, in the dressing room of a TJ-Maxx, with a ton of size 8-12 clothes that I tried on. I did end up buying this size 8 dress, and I love it.

However — I can’t wear that right now.

I’ve gained 14 pounds in a month.

Let me tell you why, the best I can remember it. It’s a long story.

The Difference a Year Makes

No makeup in that "after" picture but I still love it.

Well, folks. It’s been a year. 365 days ago, I was laying in a hospital bed complaining about my IV and daydreaming about what the future would look like.

What I would look like.

How it would feel.

One year later, I am 115 pounds lighter.

One. Hundred. And. Fifteen. Pounds.

It feels beyond amazing. Words cannot describe.

I am in shock and consistently in awe of this person I see in the mirror now. But my journey is not over.

I will walk the path of health and all-things-in-moderation,

to the best of my ability,

while living my life to the fullest,

for the rest of my life.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

It’s been a little over 11 months. My one-year anniversary is coming up on May 28th. I am VERY happy with where I’ve come so far, in not just a year, and I’m very much looking forward to my (early) 1-year follow up with my surgeon on May 9th.

 

Eleven Months, and four days. Net Weight Loss: 112 pounds

How Do I Look?

Getting Hit On At the Gym

Getting hit on by random dudes has been an incredibly hard thing for me to comprehend. This simply didn’t happen when I was heavy. Sure, I’d meet someone, we’d hang out, start flirting, and maybe then something would come of it. It was always a gradual process. Now, sometimes, I’ll be at a bar with some friends and I’ll get the cliche questions: “Are you here alone?” “Is this seat taken?” “Can I buy you a drink?”  …This is bizarre. Even more bizzare? Getting hit on — at the GYM.

At the gym, I don’t take my appearance into much consideration. Usually I’ll wear a tank top wifebeater type shirt, and black capri sweats. And my goofy looking Vibram shoes. After “running” (aka jogging), I’m incredibly sweaty, red faced, and if I was wearing makeup, chances are it’s all gone now. This is the worst I could possibly look without trying, or being ill. Certainly the worst I’d allow myself to look in public. And yet — dudes are looking at me and smiling! I’m surrounded by REALLY fit women, and I’m still getting attention.

… Or am I?