Six month stats: 50 pounds lost, down two sizes, blood pressure 132/75.
Absurdly baggy snuck up on me. In July, when a wardrobe upgrade came due, I hadn’t realized how big my old clothes were. I joked the next wardrobe upgrade would have to wait until my clothes were absurdly baggy again.
In general, I wear my clothes until they fall to pieces. Three months is the shortest time between wardrobe upgrades ever. Yet, there I was, hitching up my jeans, and looking down in astonishment to see how baggy they were. I won’t lie and say I don’t love the new edition of me. In my mind, I still weigh 300 pounds, but in the real world where there are mirrors, I look fabulous! And I’m so grateful to be able to do the work which got me here.
Truly, it’s about having a healthier body, really not about the weight, But those two go hand in hand. Losing weight has made my body healthier, and easier to maneuver. I can walk longer distances with little to no pain, and I can do it without losing my breath. Huge!
The past week or so has been filled with creative energy, I thought I was going to jump right out my skin.
In no uncertain terms, the universe told me I needed to go to the San Jose Museum of Art for a photography workshop. My introverted nature was shocked and appalled that I would be willing to give up three hours of perfectly good alone time on a Saturday afternoon to be in a room with 15 people I didn’t know.
The reason I was meant to be there was to meet street photographer/instructor Emilio Banuelos, who treated me as a peer. It’s the first time I’ve ever felt like my work was taken seriously by someone in a position to offer guidance and encouragement.
Emilio was someone I could nerd out with about photography, and processes. Specifically, my process. He stayed after the workshop and offered insight when I explained the project I’m working on, and the purpose behind it. “Nice,” doesn’t even begin to describe how it felt to be taken seriously. My greater fortune was finding out that Emilio teaches privately, at a rate I can easily save up for.
Meanwhile, on the food front, I’m committed to prepping and eating seasonally fresh produce. Which means learning how to change my fixed ideas about the weekly menu.
I am process oriented and making sudden changes drives me right ’round a very short bend. I am learning to pay attention to the food available, and think about my menu before shopping. It’s really easy to fall into a routine and stop paying attention.
I managed to botch the curried chicken. Again. The recipe gets set aside for a few weeks while I move on to something else. In the past, I would have given up. Being willing to simply set it aside and come back to it later is new behavior for me.
As my relationship with food changes, so too does my attitude towards life. I find myself more willing to try new stuff and am able to accept, from the outset, that there may be disappointment ahead.
This new attitude really showed itself when my car broke down. It happened as I was driving to meet a friend who, quite literally, rode to my rescue. Having someone text those three words, “on my way,” was the most comforting thing I’ve ever experienced. It gave me such a boost. Which made it easier to spend most of Monday in an unfamiliar neighborhood and take care of myself.
The results of this change were evident when I was able to calmly walk short distances with almost no back pain. Listen to me. I walked. I walked willingly. And nothing dread happened.
Which brings me to this: size 22 y’all. The jeans I bought in July are now too baggy for me. I don’t like when my pants are baggy anymore. No really. Me. I love my jeans from Torrid, and I love the way they fit. So I ordered two pair in the next size down.
Speaking of which, exercise. Finally! With my wonky knee, it’s been difficult to do any kind of exercise without stressing the knee and the leg. The resistance bands have arrived! Me. Actually wanting to exercise.
And all because I changed my relationship with food, and began eating healthier. I wanted a stronger body, and it’s on the way.
I must remind myself, give myself permission, to be human and make mistakes. Even though I’ve made the commitment to exercise with my resistance bands six days a week, I know there are going to be times when I just don’t. This doesn’t make me a bad person, it just makes me a person who every once in a while just can’t with the exercising. Time was, if I missed a day, I just gave up. Now I know if I miss a day, I’ll be back.
This is how I reached six months of better eating. A plan executed one day, one meal, at a time. The burgers still call my name. Chocolate wants to know when we’re getting back together. Today I make the choice not to listen. I make the choice to eat what’s healthy and waiting for me in my refrigerator. I did this. No one else did. Me. And I like the results.
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