For the very first time in over 15 years I stood on the scale at the gym and had to move the weight bar from the lovely 200lbs. I was officially underneath that number. I wanted to jump around in the locker room, give someone a high five but oddly enough I was the only one there. That number of 199 I thought I would never see again. I didn't know if that was something that was possible at all.
I have to say that it all started about a year and half ago. I was on a cruise with my husband at the time. It was a cruise to renew us and try to be the couple that we once were. We married right out of high school cause of our son and didn't realize that as we grew up that we would be different people. This was a cruise to mark our 16th wedding anniversary and when the pictures came I couldn't believe how big I had become. This is a picture from us riding scooters in Mexico and I was terrified that I was much to big for the thing. I am sure I was but they wanted to make money so they let us have them. I was close to 280lbs here.
Shortly after the cruise, my parents moved back to Colorado from where we were in at Alabama. My son went off to college, my husband decided that we needed a divorce and I lost my job to the BP Oil spill. Most people would think that was all to much but I took it as my chance to change something.
I gave away everything that I had. Literally.. lol. People would come over to my house and I would hand them pots and pans, silverware and towels, sheets and blankets, televisions, couches, bed, you name it I gave it all away and did the drastic. I got a passport and headed to live with my friend in Norway.
Norway you ask? Yes, Norway! Jeg snakker norsk nå! But when I was there I had an opportunity to try out new things. I got to go the gym for the first time. I got to try cross country skiing. I went ice skating for the first time in 20 years and I got to see what my weight was doing to me and my desire to try new things.
I lost weight in Norway, although I am not sure how much. They have the metric system which made it easy for me not to beat myself up to much over the pounds but when I flew back to the states in March I was wearing what I called my skinny jeans. They were my goal jeans that I got at a consignment shop and I believe a size 14.
As soon as I got here I started at 24 hour fitness and paid for a personal trainer. He really kicked my booty into shape. He cleaned up my diet even more and attached a bodybugg on me so I could see how many calories I was using each day. I love the thing and I think I am slightly addicted to it.
Then yesterday it happened. 198.5lbs.. omg.. I never thought I would see that number again. I still don't have a goal weight, I am still just loving all the new things that I can do and trying still to figure out who I am. I have body issues I still see myself as the very fat girl in picture one and don't know if I will ever be able to get over that. 15+ years of being big, it sort of sticks with you and messes with your mind when you start to lose.
But here it is, a picture of me and my daughter at the Rockies game. Maybe there is a difference after all but really who cares? I know that I am no longer over 200lbs and that goal is priceless!