Jumping for Valentines

Perhaps a little weight loss has emboldened me.  Approaching a 4 day weekend with my youngest son, while the rest of my family are out of town, I decided to take him to his favorite trampoline place last night.  He begged me to jump with him, offering to pay my way as a Valentine's gift.  How could I turn down such a heart-felt plea?  When we arrived I discreetly took one of the staff members aside and asked if there was a weight limit to jump, and she smiled and assured me that yesterday two 400 pound dudes were reliving childhood bliss.  So I went for it!

The smile on my son's face when I started jumping with him was the best Valentine's present I could have asked for.  In the past, with my aches and pains and self-consciousness, there wouldn't have been a question but I would have had to sit it out (though I wish I'd learned about those awesome jumping dudes earlier, or I might have done it sooner).  But just a little over 10% of weight loss has given me more self-confidence, and I had a blast!

There is nothing like the freedom of flying into the air doing twists and turns, arms flapping like a bird.  I even  got up the courage to play a couple of games of dodge ball with him, and got a big hug and kiss for doing that.   When it comes down to it, health benefits are great, but the FUN and JOY that I have now, and will keep having, is really what I'm in it for.

Week 7 Weigh-In

230.5

Tonight's weigh-in represents a big health milestone.  I've officially lost 10% of my starting weight.  It brings with it lots of health benefits.   My blood pressure is down to normal, my bum Achilles tendon is feeling much better, I have more of a spring in my step, and I'm not suffering anymore from sciatica when I walk down the hall.

I owe this to my body, which has put up with years of abuse and kept on functioning despite it.  I've decided that my body deserves better treatment.  It deserves to be nourished properly, exercised, taken in for check-ups now and then.  For year's it's been telling me how much it suffers, and I wasn't listening.  I'm listening now, and determined to give it the life that allows it to thrive, and in return, allows me to thrive.  There is a lot I want to do, and I can't do any of it if my body isn't feeling well.

I'm so glad that I didn't give up on losing weight.  At my age, I was in a situation where if it went on any longer, my body just wouldn't be able to sustain my weight without serious health repercussions.  Optifast isn't a magic bullet to weight loss.  It's incredibly effective and the impact on my health has been very, positive.  The real work will happen when I transition to food, but I'm going to be patient and try and learn as much as possible about controlling emotional eating, and showing my body the care it deserves.