No going back. No backslide. No relapse.
Ha. No way.
Of course I’ll have times I slip up, gain a pound when I’m not paying attention.
But I’m talking about the “big stuff.”
As I reach a smaller size, I am eliminating ALL the previous size clothes from my wardrobe. Most are being donated. Favorites are being cut into patches for the quilt I will make in South Africa. I was going to call it my “fat quilt” but I find that offensive. Fat doesn’t always mean unhealthy, or unfit. So, I am going to call it my “fitness quilt.” Because as a result of becoming more fit, and moving toward the lifestyle I want to have, the weight is coming off on its own, and I want to celebrate and have reminders of what I’ve accomplished.
My friend Jeff recently shared a video on Facebook that I loved. It is a “fat” Russian guy, out-dancing and out-energizing most of the “healthy” people around him. Why do we live in a culture where Winnie-the-Pooh is our favorite lovable children’s character, but a real-life Winnie-the-Pooh (albeit in this guy’s case maybe a drunk Pooh) is scorned, mocked, ridiculed? This is a guy I would want to be friends with.
.
.
I’ve gotten sick of everyone asking “So how much have you lost so far?” and trying to explain that my goal isn’t going to be measured in weight, but in what I consider my ideal pant size (anywhere from 10-12), my cholesterol numbers, and my blood pressure numbers. But most importantly, my success is measured by what I can do with my body.
My goal is to do housework and landscaping without feeling like I’m going to pass out, to haul firewood without feeling like I’ll drop it, and to play like I did when my body still worked as it should.
My goal is to hike trails, complete rope courses, dance up to speed for the entire length “Single Ladies” soundtrack, go horseback riding without worrying if they have a horse big enough for me, plow onto a monster slip ‘n slide down the side of our hill, rock climb and repel, screw my husband like a porn star, and of course, cage dive with great white sharks. These things require lung capacity, stamina, and strength that I have not had for a long time.
So what did I mean above, about the “big stuff?” I mean that this isn’t a diet. It is a lifestyle. I love being strong. I love having endurance, and I love the things I’m able to do around the house now. I’m still not a big fan of graveling the driveway. but I love that I can do it easily, and for however long it takes to get it done.
Are the stats still killing you anyway? 🙂
I get it. It’s dramatic and exciting, and I’ve been told to lighten up about revealing the weight, because some people even find it encouraging, or inspirational.
So fine. Here are “the stats”:
My heaviest weight was 262. My weigh-in last week was 225.5
36 pounds is the official number of weigh-loss to date. (Keep in mind, this is over a two year period of small changes, and new habits I can live with.)
My largest pant size was 26. I am currently a comfortable 20, and a muffin-top 18. 😉
My boob size is none of your dang business, but Kurt says I can assure you that all the strength training has my pectoral muscles in “perfect” shape to accentuate my cup size.
And the BEST PART? My blood pressure at Monday’s check-up was 120/80. This is the lowest it has been in many, many years.
Happy?
I am.
In fact, I think I’m going to put on a speedo, nothing else, and dance like a drunk Winnie-the-Pooh.
Love, Marla
P.S. Have you entered the weekly contest yet? I got you a beautiful, hardcover edition of wild: from lost to found on the pacific crest trail, signed just for you by the author, Cheryl Strayed! Click here to enter.
