I'm less than a pound and a half away from the 60 lb mark. It's really exciting for me, as it's my unassisted weight loss record (I lost 70 lbs in high school on prescription diet pills). I've only lost 60 lbs twice before. Once on Nutrisystem, and once after herniating a disc (the combination of pain and vicodin are a pretty effective appetite suppressant - also I was in the YMCA pool three times a day - though for the first couple months it wasn't so much swimming for exercise as treading water to escape the pain caused by gravity).
This past month I've been really sick with a nasty respiratory infection, and my typical change-of-season fibro flares. When my sinuses are plugged I tend to want to eat and eat and eat (feed a cold, feed a fever, I feed them all), but I did very well. Not gaining was an achievement. I credit my success to hot broth soups and sugar free popsicles (and my hubby for making the grocery runs to get them).
Hubby's idea of meal preparation is microwaveable soups, frozen dinners and fast food, and I didn't argue. I made the best choices I could given his idea of menu planning.
Another of his bad habits is wanting to bring me my favorites when I'm sick to make me feel better. I did pretty well (but I didn't turn down the cheesecake, I just asked him not to bring that again unless I asked).
That I didn't gain any weight has been a real achievement. It does strike me though, how very different my outlook is this time. It's so much about the longhaul that I'm less likely to be discouraged over small gains, or non-losses, or obstacles. Sure I would have loved to have spent this month losing steadily, instead of taking a whole month to lose 1 lb, but I don't feel like this month has been a "total loss," or a reason for discouragement as I would have in the past.
That's not to say I'm not a bit annoyed or frustrated that this month wasn't more productive. But it's nice to not feel constantly stressed while trying to lose weight. I've had to be a bit of a split personality as I've learned how to succeed at weight loss, and unlearned all the bad habits I've had. When I would start that old "stinkin' thinkin'" I had to remind myself to stay focused and stay positive. And while it worked, it was weird having to feel like two people Old Colleen and New Colleen. I'm having to remind myself less, so it's rather refreshing to feel like just one person (although hubby says I have personalities to spare).
