157 lbs - One Hundred Pounds Down
This is one of those blog posts where I have so much to write about that I don't even know where to begin. I'll start at the beginning.
Recent Events
This was an unusually busy and fun summer for me, and it all culminated in hosting a huge family party and reunion that took place at my house last weekend. It has been two weeks of company, travelling and keeping everyone in clean sheets and towels and food.
After spending many weeks cleaning and organizing the house, when my sister the birthday girl, came out, it was purely for some pre-party fun. We traveled by train up the coast of California to go hiking on Anacapa Island in the Channel Islands National Park.
We took the train back down and stopped off in Los Angeles and visited historic Olvera Street as well as Chinatown.
When we got home, we had planned to do ziplining and stand-up paddleboarding, but circumstances (busted water pipe in my house) and weather (a freak lightening storm in San Diego) got in the way of our plans. I will look forward to trying these sometime in the future. But with all the great times, they weren't missed on this trip.
So I managed repair people and we started decorating my backyard with party lights. Most of the guests started arriving last Thursday. All beds and couches were occupied at that point, and I really couldn't have been happier to be surrounded by all of my family at once.
On Friday night we had a big bonfire party at a local beach.
I have four siblings, and all five of us were able to come from different states to be there. This has been an extraordinary summer since I've had the chance to see each of my siblings in the last couple of months. When we are all together in one place, I always feel a magical energy and feeling of belonging to a special group. Our parents have passed away, so I'm really blessed that we have managed to stay close and even all get together once a year at least.
This party was an extra special celebration. Five years ago we almost lost my sister Nancy when she suddenly had a complication from surgery. It was fitting for all of us to gather under happy circumstances to celebrate her 60th birthday this year.
Important Weight and Diet Milestones
Hitting the Century Mark
While all this was going on, I hit the 100 pound weight loss mark. When I saw 157 on the scale during my first morning weigh-in, I think I was almost too busy to feel the full impact of that milestone. But it was really cool to quietly share it with my family, and THEY were incredibly excited. That was a very nice way to celebrate a big weight loss number. This big party was the first big gathering since my weight loss, so many people were surprised and supportive. Sometimes it's nice for me to think back to just a few short months ago. I would ask myself, "Can you imaging losing 100 pounds?" I know my answer would have been "we'll see". In reality I never believed that I would get my weight down to a more normal level. It was literally inconceivable to me and such a far-off dream. This is one of the most gratifying parts of doing this on Optifast. If you can make the shakes a normal part of nourishing your body every day, you will eventually get there. I never fought it, I just accepted it, and the people around me accepted it when I didn't eat with them.
Starting Food
I was planning to start my Progressive Food Encounters (PFE's) tomorrow, after the last of my company is gone. Last night, however, my sister steamed some crab legs and we made a beautiful Caprese salad, and I just decided that I wanted to eat something. I had a little bit of everything, even a small piece of bread and butter. This isn't the way the clinic wants us to do it, but I decided that I wanted to eat this meal. I passed up all the catering and cake at the party, and all the the food preceding the event, and just decided that this would be my first real meal. I enjoyed it.
So tonight I'll measure out my 3oz of chicken, and begin my PFE's in earnest, and according to plan. It has been tough being around all the carbs, sweets, and delicious food. I have already thrown away lots of muffins and chips. After tonight, when my last sister leaves, we will purge the house completely, except for what we feed the kids for their lunches. It will feel good to create my new "normal" healthy household food inventory.
On Thursday I'll head back to my meeting just like usual, and I am excited about continuing this program and reaching my weight loss goal eventually. As of now, if I didn't lose another pound, I think I would feel great, but it would still be nice to reach the normal BMI, so that's what I'm shooting for. Then there is the lifelong focus on maintaining a normal weight in the midst of hopefully many more celebrations and special times. I'm taking it one day, one meal at a time for now.
This is one of those blog posts where I have so much to write about that I don't even know where to begin. I'll start at the beginning.
Recent Events
This was an unusually busy and fun summer for me, and it all culminated in hosting a huge family party and reunion that took place at my house last weekend. It has been two weeks of company, travelling and keeping everyone in clean sheets and towels and food.
After spending many weeks cleaning and organizing the house, when my sister the birthday girl, came out, it was purely for some pre-party fun. We traveled by train up the coast of California to go hiking on Anacapa Island in the Channel Islands National Park.
| Hiking on beautiful Anacapa Island |
We took the train back down and stopped off in Los Angeles and visited historic Olvera Street as well as Chinatown.
| Looking out onto Olvera Street, eating lunch. |
| LA's Chinatown |
When we got home, we had planned to do ziplining and stand-up paddleboarding, but circumstances (busted water pipe in my house) and weather (a freak lightening storm in San Diego) got in the way of our plans. I will look forward to trying these sometime in the future. But with all the great times, they weren't missed on this trip.
So I managed repair people and we started decorating my backyard with party lights. Most of the guests started arriving last Thursday. All beds and couches were occupied at that point, and I really couldn't have been happier to be surrounded by all of my family at once.
On Friday night we had a big bonfire party at a local beach.
| Starting the bonfire at sunset. |
| My sister's and brother- all five of us together! |
I have four siblings, and all five of us were able to come from different states to be there. This has been an extraordinary summer since I've had the chance to see each of my siblings in the last couple of months. When we are all together in one place, I always feel a magical energy and feeling of belonging to a special group. Our parents have passed away, so I'm really blessed that we have managed to stay close and even all get together once a year at least.
This party was an extra special celebration. Five years ago we almost lost my sister Nancy when she suddenly had a complication from surgery. It was fitting for all of us to gather under happy circumstances to celebrate her 60th birthday this year.
| This is a fraction of what I passed up at this wonderful party! |
| Some of the part guest eating up! I'm wisely behind the camera. |
Important Weight and Diet Milestones
Hitting the Century Mark
While all this was going on, I hit the 100 pound weight loss mark. When I saw 157 on the scale during my first morning weigh-in, I think I was almost too busy to feel the full impact of that milestone. But it was really cool to quietly share it with my family, and THEY were incredibly excited. That was a very nice way to celebrate a big weight loss number. This big party was the first big gathering since my weight loss, so many people were surprised and supportive. Sometimes it's nice for me to think back to just a few short months ago. I would ask myself, "Can you imaging losing 100 pounds?" I know my answer would have been "we'll see". In reality I never believed that I would get my weight down to a more normal level. It was literally inconceivable to me and such a far-off dream. This is one of the most gratifying parts of doing this on Optifast. If you can make the shakes a normal part of nourishing your body every day, you will eventually get there. I never fought it, I just accepted it, and the people around me accepted it when I didn't eat with them.
Starting Food
I was planning to start my Progressive Food Encounters (PFE's) tomorrow, after the last of my company is gone. Last night, however, my sister steamed some crab legs and we made a beautiful Caprese salad, and I just decided that I wanted to eat something. I had a little bit of everything, even a small piece of bread and butter. This isn't the way the clinic wants us to do it, but I decided that I wanted to eat this meal. I passed up all the catering and cake at the party, and all the the food preceding the event, and just decided that this would be my first real meal. I enjoyed it.
So tonight I'll measure out my 3oz of chicken, and begin my PFE's in earnest, and according to plan. It has been tough being around all the carbs, sweets, and delicious food. I have already thrown away lots of muffins and chips. After tonight, when my last sister leaves, we will purge the house completely, except for what we feed the kids for their lunches. It will feel good to create my new "normal" healthy household food inventory.
On Thursday I'll head back to my meeting just like usual, and I am excited about continuing this program and reaching my weight loss goal eventually. As of now, if I didn't lose another pound, I think I would feel great, but it would still be nice to reach the normal BMI, so that's what I'm shooting for. Then there is the lifelong focus on maintaining a normal weight in the midst of hopefully many more celebrations and special times. I'm taking it one day, one meal at a time for now.
1 comment:
Sounds like some pretty great events! I was a little blue that your pictures didn't show up but hopefully you'll be able to get them up. Congratulations on starting your PFE's! That's super exciting. You have been doing so wonderfully and I'm just thrilled for you, Christy ;-)
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