I just got back from camping for the last week with my immediate and extended family. We had over 45 people there. We go every year and have tons of fun. I had quite a few NSVs while there.
First, my family gave me lots of compliments. My uncle even asked where I'm disappearing too. I'm far from disappearing, but it was nice to hear!
I went on a 1 1/2 hour hike, with some steep climbs. I've done this hike once before and thought that I was going to die at the time. I had to stop every few minutes, it took way longer than 1 1/2 hours, and once we got back my body hurt for a couple of days. Well this time, we only stopped twice, for some of the others to catch their breaths. I think I could have made it with out stopping, and when we got back my body didn't hurt at all. I felt great.
We also went on a couple of bike rides, each 2-3 miles long. It was so much fun. I'd never ridden up there before. We also walked between our camp and the lake/boat. Usually we drive because of the steep hills, but this year we walked each time.
And all of this at altitude of >8800 ft. above sea level. Less oxygen and I didn't feel like I was going to die!! It was an awesome trip. I'm so glad that I have lost weight, and am better able to enjoy it up there!!! Can't wait until next year!!
Crazynette826, all that exercise, and at 8,000 ft., is wonderful! It's wonderful that you could feel the difference from last time.
Today I ran farther than I've run before--3.7 miles. After advice from several people, I took it slow, and was able to run all but one steep (to me ) hill. We did this same route last week, and I had to walk a lot and it seemed steeper so I was pleased with today's run.
FIL was here on Sunday - we haven't seen him in several months. He didn't know who I was when I walked into the house at first. He was very complimentary. Then today he calls on the phone this morning to tell me again how nice I look. He said "you know, when most people loose a lot of weight like you have, their face doesn't look so good - they look saggy and usually pale, but you don't - you look beautiful, you look 15 years younger!!" He asked if it would be ok if he called back and asked me what I have been doing - I told him sure, not a problem.
I have a FIL NSV as well. If you guys knew my FIL, you would then realize what a huge thing this is for me. My FIL is old world European. Very refined, very rigid, very proper, very stuffy, barely ever cracks a smile. He's barely spoken to me in the past 22 years. Have no fear, his son, my hubby is NOTHING like him.
He mentioned my weightloss to me about 5 months ago and said something like, "I know I'm not supposed to be looking at my daughter in law, but you look really, really wonderful."
This past Sunday night, I saw him and he greeted me with a huge smile and said "And how is my gorgeous daughter in law doing tonight?" I can't begin to tell you how out of character that is for him. I almost passed out. How I wish I would have had a tape recorder going. When I told my husband, my husband said to me, "Well, yeah honey, even my father couldn't contain himself. You ARE gorgeous."
Wow, just wow! I'm sure that your FIL's are so proud of both of you!
I think I had my biggest complement of this whole journey today, and from a 12 year old, no less. Kids can be so brutally honest at times! One of my students from last year (whom I have again this year since I move throughout the middle school) walked past me several times today, each time looking like she wanted to say something but wasn't sure....anyway, she came up to me just before 7th hour - the hour I have her in class - and stopped in the hall and said "Mrs. ______, I just wanted to tell you, you look so healthy now..." I was almost speechless. She's right. I do look healthy, and am setting such a good example for the kids. She is your average sized 7th grader, but I can't help but hope that some of the overweight (I mean extremely obese, not just a little overweight) ones look at me and think if I did it, they can do it to and be more healthy.
Wonderful NSVs everyone! I swear, these make me happy-teary.
Just a few little ones I've accumulated this last week:
I got out of the shower and wrapped the bath towel around me and wondered if I lined it up wrong. It's a bath sheet kind, so it's big, but I couldn't get it to line up so I could tuck the end down the front to make it stay up. I figured out it's wrapping around me too far now to tuck in the front! I had to "settle" for holding the end under my arm.
I sleep in t-shirts. My favorite for a long time was this stretchy t-shirt that, if I'm being totally honest, had become the only one that was big enough to be comfortable to sleep in. I have bought a few new ones in the last month and my "favorite" had been relegated to the back of the drawer. Well, I was procrastinating doing laundry and had to grab the fave. I put it on and caught myself in the mirror. It's HUGE! The sleeves hang to my fingertips (did my arms get shorter?) the neck opening slipped off my shoulder, and I was swimming in the rest of it. I couldn't help but laugh. It's going in the garbage (no one would want it).
The last one: I had an itch in the middle of my back between my shoulder blades. I reached around from underneath and got it with no problem. I almost cried (silly, right?), but it's been forever since I didn't have to grab a pen or something to reach the middle of my back for an itch! Hmm. Perhaps my arms are getting longer, not shorter?
These are so fun to read! My NSVs are little things, but they make me happy and help keep me going every day. I have a nice collection of silver and gold bangle bracelets, which I had quit wearing because I couldn't get them over my fat hands any more. Earlier this week I tried one on and it fit again! I polished them up and have been jingling all week. I also discovered this week that I can cross my legs again, really cross them, not just ankle on knee. It has been years since I could do that. And finally, I had to fly this week, and I had gotten to the point of having to extend the seatbelt all the way. This time, I was able to snug it up and have 3 inches to spare!
I went to the only department store in town that carries plus sized clothes today....It just opened a few weeks ago, so I asked one of the sales associates where the plus sized section was. I needed some jeans and maybe some shirts. She said "Sweetie, I think you can probably shop in the normal section of the store" and lead me over to the juniors section....She showed me their pants went up to juniors 17/18, and the XL shirts looked like they'd fit too. SOOOOO I tried on a couple of styles of the 17/18's....BOTH WERE TOO BIG!!! Wooohooo! Unfortunately, the 15/16's were still too snug *shrug*, but I will definately be back there LOL. The XL shirts fit too! Yippee!
This isn't my NSV, it's my husband's. Took him shopping today (against his will) and told him he couldn't go home without some new shirts. He'll agree to new pants because he hates the old ones falling off, but a shirt that goes on is a shirt that fits in his book. He finally agreed to a couple of shirts and I told him to try them on. After a small war, he did. The XL's were too big. Ended up with large. He was speechless. The shirt he wore to go shopping is a 3XLT. He doesn't even need talls anymore since his stomach is mostly gone. I was so happy for him. He says, "**** - what size do you wear now?" I said large in womens or sometimes medium. "****" he says several more times. I don't think he thought he'd ever be this size again. He's so proud that his jeans are no longer bigger around than they are long (he's back in 34 X 34's). Guys act like these things don't matter, but they do.
Oh my goodness, these NSVs are so great (yay Sheila on the 3.7 miles! Woohoo!) I've been so busy I can't go to all the threads I used to, but I always like to stop by here and get inspired!
Pretty much everyone I see lately has talked about my weight loss, because they haven't seen me in a while (students, coworkers, etc). Yesterday was crazy! I wore a nice outfit that I never could have worn in the old days -- a slim skirt above the knee and a nice little shirt, and heels! They hurt my feet a little, but when I was heavy I couldn't wear heels at all. I felt a bit like a giant, though, because I'm already tall! I got a LOT of compliments, especially from my students.
My other NSV is this: I went to the doctor yesterday to get some tests done and when they took my blood pressure it was 105/70. The nurse asked me if it was usually that low, and I said it always used to be on the high side but since I lost 100 pounds my body has changed so much. She said my blood pressure is now more like that of an athlete. Woohoo!
I've been a little short on nsv's lately. I've been trying to stay positive during this stint of no weightloss but I haven't been altogether successful - sigh!
So in the effort to stay positive I have a couple:
- This morning at work I ran up the stairs, back down & across to my desk (a customer was on the phone waiting to see if we had a part) & I wasn't out of breath at all!
- I keep noticing doing different little things that I am definitely gaining more flexibility - especially in my legs - which is great 'cause I've never been so very flexible. I'm looking forward to the day when doing my toenails is not super awkward - it's coming, at least now I'm no longer just dabbing frantically in the right direction & hoping for the best - lol!
- I think I may actually be starting to have more energy!!!! I'm finding I am more and more restless when I have nothing to do.
Today I went to get some blood tests, and I stopped at the volunteer-staffed bp desk. 137/68. That's down from a high of 172/100 a couple of years ago, before meds. Now I've cut meds in half, and got this number. Go me! I asked them to do an A1C. They can't unless the dr. orders it, so I left a request for him to order it. I wanna see what effect Atkins has had on it. I've been doing this for 3 mos. Should be some change, no?
Last weekend I, in a move of incredible grace, managed to run over my barefoot with my vacuum and the beater brush beat the heck out of one of my toes.
The NSV part of this is that I still did my 2 mile Walk away the Pounds all this last week.
Additionally I finally bought some new clothes. I've been wearing mostly size 16 pants which have been two sizes too big for quite some time. And I got something like 5 shirts and 5 pairs of pants for under 85 dollars. Gotta love clearance racks.
Wearing clothes that actually fit meant all week I got comments about how good I look and asking how much weight I've lost.
Also not a NSV but I'm thrilled to say I've lost 40% of myself.
Whilst it feels like a second skin it's a uk size 16 
I'm far from disappearing, but it was nice to hear!
) hill. We did this same route last week, and I had to walk a lot and it seemed steeper so I was pleased with today's run.
