Fat Woman With A Band

Photo by Vanessa Pike-Russell

It’s disconcerting that having a life, that is a social life, is incompatible with making wise food choices. At least for me it seems to be true.

A social life means meeting friends at food and drink venues. I do try and combine a walk with meeting, but it’s not always possible because of time constraints or because there’s more than one person involved.

I try to make sure that I get a walk in somehow. I walk to the meeting spot, or I go early, park my car and then go for a walk and end up back at the restaurant or bar at the meeting time. It weighs less on my mind during lunch or dinner if I know that I’ve got my exercise quota convered and I can enjoy sitting and schmoozing.

The food choices are harder for me to regulate. Even though I know I physically can’t consume the same quantity as I could have before my banding, the habit to overindulge is hard to break. I know all the tips ‘n tricks: order an appetizer instead of an entree, order the light or lunch portion instead of the dinner portion, order steamed or grilled, order salads with dressing on the side, etc.

But last week I lost less than a pound. It’s the least amount I’ve lost since banding, and what changed for me was the number of times I ate out. This week I’ve eaten out a lot again, and I think I’ll show the same small amount. In the coming month I’ve got a trip planned, and lots more social engagements. I’m concerned about not meeting my goal of losing 100 pounds by December 11.

On the other hand, I can’t be a hermit because then I’ll be a crab.

Penny for Your Thoughts by Thomas McKane

This week I finally realized how much money I’ll be spending on replacing my clothes. And it’s scared me a bit.

There are some articles I’ll need to replace because they won’t stay up, e.g., my pants and my knickers. And there are some pieces ‘ll have to replace because they’re too big, e.g., bras. I think I’ll have to get used to wearing some clothing items a bit baggy and loose because I won’t be able to afford buying new clothes at each new size.

My pants were feeling too baggy so I bought the next size down. I’ve worn the new pair a short while and I’ve realized that they’re a bit too baggy, also. I’m going to hold onto them until I fit into a least two sizes smaller, so I can stretch my clothing dollars.

The other thing about shrinking out of your clothes is losing favourite pieces. I know that I’ll stretch out wearing some of my favourite items as long as I can, and that’s easy to do with tops and with sweaters.

In food news, I’ve had meals out quite a lot in the last week. I’m curious about how that’ll affect my next weigh-in. I needed the change, so I’m willing to take the “hit.”

In exercise news, the weather has been glorious so I’ve managed to get out on a couple of longer walks.

And on I go.

Easier to move around. Yeah!

Weight still coming off. Yeah!

Lots of weight still to come off. Not yeah.

Tired of my menu. Not yeah.

These are the thoughts that have been rolling our my brain pan this week.

I’m very glad that as the weather is getting better and I’m wanting to stay outdoors more, I’m moving easier and I’ll be able to enjoy outdoor activities. Win-win.

I’m glad my weight continues to decrease. I expect to hit a plateau soon, or at the very least to slow down. I hope I’ll be able to deal with that when it happens.

When I look at how much I still have to go – well, it’s a bit of a downer. I know, revel in how much I’ve lost.

As for the menu. I’m starting to have more salads at home so that’s helping a bit. The problem is I’m bored with the foods I’ve been eating. Eating out helps a bit, but of course it’s much harder to regulate all the essentials (protein, fiber, carbs, etc.) I’m going to read my cookbooks to get some inspiration.

I’ve just got to keep on keeping on.

Photo by Beth Dannunzio

When one loses weight there’s more than just the joy of seeing the numbers on the scale get ever smaller, there’s also the “non-scale victories.” These victories are a direct result of weight loss. Things like fitting into smaller clothes, or sleeping better, or having less joint pain. Each of these is true for me.

But there are other things, too. Here are three examples.

1. I attend aquafit at the Y at least three times a week. I use the ladder in the deep end of the pool to get out at the end of the class. I used to climb the ladder one rung a time, that is go up a rung with one foot, pause, bring my other leg up to that rung, and then continue to the next. I can now go up the ladder one rung after another without pausing. The pause was about joint pain, and not having the strength to heave myself up and out of the water. Less joint pain, more strength, and less of a body to heave. Yeah!
2. My basement stairs are covered by a trap door. To get in and out requires some agility as it’s an awkward to climb in, and equally awkard to climb out. Last week I had to go into the basement with a service person. It’s been at least a year since I tried to go down myself – the last few times my sister did the climbing for me when I needed a stored suitcase. I didn’t really think about the climb in, but I was concerned about the climb out. It also requires some agility and some strength. I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of the service person. But in the end, I just did it. No problem. Yeah, again!
3. I have a big cushion I wear on my behind. You might even call it a fat-ass. Well my ass has been shrinking a bit, along with my other bits. One way I’ve noticed this is I now sit lower in my car seat, and I’ve had to adjust the rearview mirror. I also fit better in my seat. Yeah!

I’ll share more as I experience them. I wonder if my shoe size will get smaller?