Checking in.

My doctor and nutritionist agreed that I had to stop counting numbers. No more measuring inch loss and portions, no more calorie counting, no more logging miles or minutes, and no more scale. No more numbers. Period. I was sabotaging myself and becoming overwhelmed and overly focused on numbers, and when something didn't add up, I became frustrated and depressed and quit.

So here was the deal: If I felt hungry, I'd drink a tall red glass of water equal to 3cups first. If I was still hungry, I'd eat healthy, even if it was 2am, and stop when full, not stuffed. And every morning, I'd exercise as much I wanted in whatever way I wanted: yoga, walking, biking, dancing, whatever I felt like. I was allowed cheat days. Those cheat days could connect. Monday and Friday, or MondayTuesdayWednesday, or just Saturday, or not at all... again, whatever I felt like. And all I had to do was keep a journal that might read something like "Today for breakfast I ate some almonds and greek yogurt and a banana. Then I did yoga and noticed that I can stretch more to the left now and I can hold a downward dog for a lot longer than before." The key is focusing on what I do and what I eat, but never on how much. No numbers!

I'm so, so happy to say that there's been amazing progress for me in just a few short months (since July), and that's it's very stress-free... except for this frustration I'm having with my bike. The tires can only hold 185lbs, and I keep bursting the back tube, so I think I'm still not quite light enough to ride it that much. It's a little annoying, since I really miss being on my bike most of all. But soon. Soon.

So, without further ado I'd like to introduce some milestones I've achieved.

-I can now fit in a size 12/14 jean, coming down from a size 21/22. I can pull up a size 10 all the way, even if I can't button them yet.
-I've been reclassified from morbidly obese as mildly obese.
-I can touch my chin to my chest without blocking my airways.
-If standing, I can touch my ankles together without needing to bend my knees. Can't do this when walking again yet, but soon!
-I can walk 15K with no problem and run (slowly...) a full mile without stopping.
-My back is in less pain than ever so long as I keep doing yoga. (I swapped for some dancing once for about a week and the pain came back).
-My digestion has GREATLY improved... even my food intolerances don't bother me as much.
-I've gone from drinking 2 cups of water per month to about 12 per day -- the only number I keep track of.
-My skin is much clearer.
-And I have made two of the most amazing friends on this journey.

There was a scare briefly when I and the doctors thought for sure I had diabetes -- my feet were swelling (turned out to be from all the walking in the heat I was doing), I was always thirsty and a little sleepier (happens when you exercise), I was urinating much more often (happens when you drink more water), I was losing weight rapidly (oh no!! ... wait. lol), and I was having trouble with my vision (turns out I just needed new glasses, since I hadn't updated my prescription in four years!). But three different tests turned out negative for diabetes, and after we discussed how my weight loss plan was going, it sort of dawned on us all at once what was really happening. There was a lot of facepalming going around in that moment. lol "Doi!"

So this is my update! Hopefully the next time I check in, I won't be "obese" at all, and my tushy will be buttoned into those size 10s I adore so much....