Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Making a commitment

I'm back.  Will I be any better at updating often, probably not, not yet anyway.  Time is a hot commodity in my life, and I never seem to have enough of it.  But that is not what you stopped by for, you are probably expecting an update on my weight loss progress.

I have GREAT news!  I have met my goal for the year.  That's right, I have lost 52 pounds this year.  I am now down to 246 pounds.  A total combined loss of 69 pounds.  YEAH!!!!!!

So, how am I doing it?  I started by doing something I don't recommend you just do.  I gave up the medication that controls my stomach acid production and keeps me from having reflux (ALWAYS speak with your physician BEFORE going off ANY medication).  It was allowing me to overeat as I was not getting the signals that my stomach was full.  I then had to quickly learn portion control as anyone who has ever had heartburn can tell you it is miserable!

That alone took about 20 pounds off.  The next thing I did was start walking more daily.  I set a goal of 5000 steps a day.  Then I joined a gym AND started using it.  That's right, you actually have to go to get any benefit.  I could feel my body start changing in the first week.

We all have been told a bazillion times that the key to weight control is diet and exercise, but what these "gurus" fail to tell you is that there is a third thing that needs to been done to be successful.  You have to deal with the reason you gained the weight in the first place.  That's right, you are going to have to take a good hard look into your psyche and honestly answer the question, "Why?"

What purpose does this extra weight serve?  For some, it may simply be a lack of motivation in getting moving and eating better, for others however, it may be deeper than that.  Be kind to yourself, whatever the reason is.  If you need help coming to terms and dealing with the reasons, please seek counseling.  It takes a very strong person to admit they could use a hand.

I have heard many women say, "After kids, I......" or "I am just getting older."  Well, I've had two children and I am older and both are only excuses.  Granted, some people have actual medical problems which play a major role in weight gain/loss, but most of us don't.  That said, as we age, our bodies change, so how we looked at 20 is NOT how we will look at 40.  But that does not mean we can no longer look and feel good.

While looks aren't everything, they do matter to us, even if we don't admit it.  It took me 50 pounds before I could actually look in the mirror and SEE that I had lost weight.  I had lost 2 sizes by then.  I have now lost a total of 4 sizes and am thrilled to see my progress.  I am able to do things that I have not done in a while and I feel better about myself, better than I have felt in a while.  I still struggle with my reasons for gaining weight and keeping it, but I am making progress and don't have nearly as many tough days.

So, take a good look at yourself in the mirror,  Be kind to the person you see.  Be honest to the person you see.  For every flaw you point out, also point out an asset.  If you have to, post notes telling the person in the mirror how much she/is is loved and all the things you love about her/him.  Then look yourself in the eye and ask, Why?  The answer might surprise you.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Making a commitment

So yea...... It's been a couple of years or more.  I kinda got busy living and hit the snooze button........a lot.  At the end of last year I climbed back on the wagon and lost 20 lbs.  Down to 295 lbs.  This year my goal is to lose 52 lbs, and so far I have lost 10 lbs, so I am right on track.  Now all I need to do is keep my blog current.

So what happens when I go on any kind of diet, I cook.  And what did I cook, truffles.  These are very dark chocolate (85% cacao) with a dark milk chocolate (55% cacao) shell.  They were positively decadent!  I gave most of them away, but it made for a fabulous Valentine's gift for my family.

My family whined about my giving most of them away (can you believe that!), so I have since made some more.  This time I made white chocolate raspberry truffles, and I have a batch caramel dark chocolate truffles ready for dunking.  These will be followed by ginger-orange dark chocolate truffles.  I am thinking about making some sort of nut butter truffles too, but I have not yet decided which kind.

My family has decided that we can add truffles to the list of tasty morsels that we make for the holidays as after these are all done, there will be no more until then.  Fortunately, the neighbors have been helping us eat them.  I have been good so far and sticked to just a couple from each batch.

Diets are dangerous.

Now if I can just lick this cold, or whatever I have come down with, I could get back to the gym and get this weight off and the muscles tightened.

Until I remember again..... Adieu!!!