180.8 Thanks!

I really want to say thank you to all of you who make comments. In general these are comments that encourage me and support me. Sometimes I get comments with good information or suggestions. All of the comments are so welcome and I just want to put it out there that it means more than you'll ever know.

Writing a blog is quite a lonely undertaking. I never know if people read it or care until I get a comment or email. So again, thanks so much. I am hanging in there. Today was a better day. I even went shopping and bought some new motivational pants so that means I'm on my way. When I started this blog about 2 years ago I had no idea where it would lead and definitely didn't think I'd be writing this kind of post. But life is good, even though it can be very unpredictable. Thanks.

180.2 Getting Back In The Groove

Is that the same as getting my groove back? I never read the book with the title that alluded to getting the groove back so I hope it's a safe reference :). But I do feel as though I'm beginning to return to the more disciplined life and it feels good. No, I won't make you all gag by saying it feels groovy! Talk about dating myself!

Yesterday, I wrote about doing self hypnosis again and how it didn't involve deprivation or exercise. But in fact during it, increasing exercise and eating carefully became a part of the session. So there I am, lying on the bed in hypnosis and then realized what I had written and what was happening. It did strike me funny.

I went shopping today and was scared to death that nothing would fit me. But all is well on that score so I'm ok. Hope you are too. (And my pedicure definitely fit!)

172.2 Making Chicken Soup

It's a little cooler out here than usual so I decided to make some chicken soup. Now that I'm on maintenance, I've started cooking again. It's not that I made some grand decision not to cook while I was in the process of losing those 80 pounds, but it was just easier to eat very simply and stay out of the kitchen.

I've come up with a great way to serve butternut squash which is healthy and low calorie in its own right, meaning without the butter I added. But anyway, I bought the fresh, already cubed squash and cooked it in the microwave with about 1/4 cup of water added, for about 15 minutes. When it was done I mashed it by hand, added butter, salt and pepper and my secret ingredient, sugar free maple syrup! It is so yummy. I took it to our Thanksgiving gathering and it was a great hit as was my pumpkin pie. Follow the recipe on the can of pumpkin, but substitute Splenda or Stevia for the sugar, egg beaters or similar product for the eggs and use fat free evaporated milk instead of the usual! Another successful contribution to Thanksgiving provided by yours truly.

Now, while we were in San Francisco is where I did a little damage mainly because we ate all of our meals at restaurants. I've learned to always ask for sugar free maple syrup, but it was a little harder to not use the regular since in the two restaurants we went to for breakfast, the real thing was served warm. But, I did the 1/2 and 1/2 trick which I've adopted when I want a little of the real and a little of the more healthy version.

We had a great time seeing relatives, and the wedding was wonderful. We stayed right on Union Square so that even if we hadn't wanted to shop, the Black Friday crowds were everywhere. For this gal from the desert lands of north Scottsdale, it was really fun and exciting to see and be a part of the crowds! But, it's great to be back home where the sun is shining and the temperatures are finally rising!

Now we have two family birthdays and then Christmas. It is a busy time of year!

187.6 Changing My Shape

Now today was a great day. As you faithful readers know, I have been really struggling to get below 187 pounds. In fact I've been hanging around that number way too long. As you can see above, I did at least drop from around 188+ pounds back into the 187 camp, but that's not what made it a great day.

It all started with my walking buddy giving me two tops from Chico's that she has grown out of because she's losing weight. When I tried them on this morning they fit perfectly, and it occurred to me that maybe it was time to go shopping again.

So off I went and tried on *size 3 pants, the size that I'd bought about 3 months ago. They were too big! At first I thought that that wasn't possible and ignored it until the sales woman looked at me and announced for all to hear that those pants were too big and that she'd get the smaller size. So, now I'm the proud of owner of size 2.5 pants, 3 pairs of size 2.5 pants.

What's really interesting is that when I weighed much less and I didn't exercise like I do now, I usually wore size 14 or 16. So to wear the equivalent of size 12-14 at this weight means the exercise has changed my shape! Now I am wondering if I can get down to a size 2! Of course I can, but it will take time and exercise and more weight loss. What a plan! (And if I can change my shape at the age of 67, anyone can.)

* For those of you who aren't familiar with the way Chico's sizes its clothing, it's marked from 0 to 3.5.

187.2 Changes Abound!

As most of you know, I have been given a lot of support during this weight loss adventure, as I like to call it, by Jennifer Scott, a clinical hypnotherapist. She has been encouraging me to look at all of the changes that have occurred in my view of my self and my body during this transformation brought about by losing 60 pounds. Her hope and mine is that by looking at this list, I will understand the good things that have come from the weight loss and find encouragement to continue. So here is what I have noticed, felt, and experienced as a result of the weight loss:

I can cross my legs now, and I can put my feet up on the dashboard of the car. (I know this may not hold any appeal to you, but I've loved doing this on long trips, especially.) I can get up and down more easily from a chair. I know I can get through narrower spaces and I don't have to worry that I might have to retreat because I can't make it when I thought I could (very embarrassing!). I have more energy, a lot more energy. (Think about it. It was as if I were carrying around a 60 pound bag of sand every where I went. No wonder I have more energy!) People notice me more and that makes me sort of giggle like it's my own lovely little secret, and, I admit I like to look in the mirror more. I like having a more shapely body. I love to wear clothes that don't look like tents, and I like to go shopping and am still shocked that size XL and sometimes size L are too big for me. My feet don't swell so much, and I don't hear myself breathe as I walk. I can turn over in bed more easily, and I can move more quickly, walk much more quickly. I can go upstairs without pulling myself up with my arms. I like the attention and people talking to me about how much better I look and how I did it! I love being able to sit in a seat on an airplane with room to spare and not have my thighs touch those of the person next to me. I know I am not fat anymore, and I don't have that fat lady complex that people are wondering how I let myself get so fat. And, I like to walk around, instead of just sitting all the time so people won't notice how large I am. I can work out, and I can do the elliptical! CHchchchanges abound!

Writing about this has really helped me reflect the changes and I encourage you to write down what you have noticed about yourself since losing weight. If you are just beginning to lose, make a list of things that you hope will be the result of weight loss. No, it probably won't make you rich and famous, but, who knows what unexpected changes you may experience!

192.0 The Secret!

Yesterday I went shopping! I was in a down mood but was trying to get my mind focused on some positives so off I went. When the sales gal asked me if I was looking for something in particular, I told her that I had lost 60 pounds and my closet was bare! I was ready to try anything on that appealed to me. I did find several things and in spite of my recent weight gain, could still fit into size 14 pants, so I was happy.

As she was ringing up the sale she told me that a couple of years ago she had lost quite a bit of weight. And, she went on, the secret to keeping it off was that she weighs herself everyday! Music to my ears ~ something I do now, and something I know I will do to maintain my weight loss. We parted best of friends.

Happy Easter! Happy Sunshine! Happy Spring!

194.4 A Simple Pleasure

The other day I was at Costco and had so much fun. For probably 15 to 20 years except for very brief interludes, I have had to shop in the plus size /women's departments in various stores. It was really quite sad and frustrating, especially when we would be at a wonderful resort that had beautiful shops and Jeff would suggest that something in a shop window would look great on me. I loved that he thought that, but I could no more go in and buy something off the rack than fly to the moon.

Shopping at Costco has always meant that Jeff would roam over to the men's golf shirt area and buy a couple of golf shirts. I would feel really bad because for me to buy a couple of golf shirts every now and then meant heading for the specialty shops/department stores for the larger woman or ordering on line, etc., and paying full price. Well, a couple of days ago I went to Costco to buy berries, veges, and a roasted chicken. What did I come out with? The above, plus two fantastic golf shirts, size large, at $11.99 each. I brought them home and you would have thought I had won the lottery. What a simple pleasure!

204.8 My 90th Post!

Not that I'm counting:)...! Actually, blogspot, my blog address counts them for me. It would really be great if blogspot would also remove some of my weight occasionally. Let's say for every ten blogs, a pound would mysteriously slip away. But, I don't think that is going to happen.

I am off to the closest shopping area. Close is relative when you live in the far north reaches of Scottsdale. We do have a Target and an Office Max about 15 minutes away so that is where I am headed. My plan is to walk the exterior of the whole shopping area and the interiors of the Safeway, Target, and Office Max. Variety is good and I am ready for a change in my walking routine. And I may as well confess, this shopping center is also where Chico's is located. I just may have to walk through Chico's, too.

Oh, yesterday I went to my rehab doctor and she couldn't believe her eyes. She hadn't seen me since July when I weighed 222 pounds. She put me through my paces and as usual checked for reflexes in my knees and ankles (cankles:). I haven't had any reflexes there since my first back surgery 6 years ago, and we both laughed as she tried one more time. Actually, I have gotten along just fine without those reflexes and am not quite sure why most people have them. It was a great visit but a little sad because she said she really didn't need to see me anymore. When she said it made her day to see me doing so well, that made my day.