"Skinny" jeans

So I've held off getting new skinny jeans but I recently bought knee high boots. Naturally, I wanted skinny jeans to wear with them so off to Salvation Army I went. $5 later, I had the perfect jeans. I have to say the calfs are tight but I think I just have big calfs. My date with Mr. Speed Dating was the perfect occasion to debut the look. I have to say I felt really skinny! My stomach appeared flat! (It's not yet but the jeans were tight enough to create the illusion). Here's a pic. Another example of why, day by day, I am making healthy choices. This is what a girl who eats brussel sprouts gets to wear! I felt like a hottie :)

Post Christmas Weigh-in

I decided that after my undisciplined Christmas I wasn't going to weigh in the first Friday back. So today was the second Friday - time to face "the number." I didn't get a chance to work out last night, Diane had a spare ticket to a Broadway show (Harry Connick Jr.'s show) so I couldn't pass that up. That didn't help my feeling about this weigh-in. I just didn't want to be back in the 180's! So on the scale I climbed and took a deep breath. It is what it is. I couldn't change reality. The number came back... 171.6 - I didn't gain ANYTHING! That is amazing! Just inspires me to continue to work hard. Six more weeks until my birthday!

Coat Closet

So I was hanging my winter coat a few weeks back recalling last winter. Last winter, I finally had to give in and buy a plus sized coat. I had no other option, we need a coat in NY winters and I couldn't wear an XL ski coat to work, just not right for a buttoned up accounting firm. It was definitely a low for me. I was always proud of that fact that I didn't have to shop in the 'Women's' section (not by much though!) So whenever I hung my coat up in the coat closet I tried to cover up the label so people wouldn't see that it said 18W. Mentally an 18 was very different than an 18W for me. I didn't want to go as far as cutting the label, that just screamed I'm ashamed, but really the impact was the same. I was hiding my size. I told myself, 'You don't look like a 16' (well really I was an 18 but people definitely weren't told that!)

This year, I hung my size 10 winter coat up with pride. Anyone can see that number, it's been hard earned! Wow what a difference a year makes! :)

Biggest Loser

So at the beginning of my weightloss journey my sister encouraged me to watch the Biggest Loser. She has mentioned in passing for years that I should watch the show. I'm sure it was a hope that it would inspire me to make a change. I never took the chance - someone I worked with put it very eloquently, "I never watch something that would make me feel bad about myself." So when I decided to take control, she said I should watch Biggest Loser as another form of support/inspiration and I did. I loved a couple people on the show (Olivia, Hannah) and I totally found it more inspiration. I am super behind so today I am watching a bunch in a row (I haven't liked the contestants as much this season so I didn't keep up). Some things they said really resonated with me.

One guy was talking about how people would respond to his weightloss at home. He acknowledged he would have to get used to the shocked expression. People will see you in a different light and it's so true! I have definitely experienced that. For the most part, I really enjoy the reactions (some are slightly offensive about the compliment). I think I blogged about it when I went to my cousin's wedding. I think it takes a couple times seeing me before people adjust to the "new me" - as my friend Sarah puts it, Rebecca 2.0. At this point I think we're at least at Rebecca 3.0 or 4.0, I've made some efforts to 'clean' myself up but not until these last 6 months did anything really stick.

Another girl commented on the milestone of going to the 100's from the 200's. I can't tell you how long I was over 200 lbs. It was just a fact of my life. I will never forget my call with Ana the week I broke 200. I was at my parents for my vacation this summer and she said "how does it feel to never see 200 on the scale again?" I'll never forget that moment. She just knew that this was real, this was forever - stated it as a fact. I am a different person, I can call myself skinny! Regardless of the contestants, this show shows the true story of weightloss. It's a lot of work, a lot of sweat, commitment, and determination but it's a great sense of satisfaction. The ghost that has haunted people for years (decades for some) is finally gone, you have conquered what so many in America struggle with. Today was just a moment that I could sit here today and identify with these folks. At this point if I don't lose another pound I did it. That's all that matters. I am in the 170's (well hopefully, the post Christmas weigh in hasn't happened yet...) and that is something I will forever celebrate. I know what it's like to be in the 230's. The work was tough, the food was not always as good but the reward is so worth it!

Christmas

I went a bit off the wagon. I didn't diary my food, didn't even really measure it. I stayed pretty on track with meals but the cereal consumption was much higher than usual. I justified it by eating out of small cups/mugs so I didn't eat a full serving each time. Christmas only comes once a year. It was way harder than my summer visits to the lake. In the summer, I'm out being active, enjoying the lake. In winter you are cooped up and the food was just calling me.

Back to reality, I won't weigh in till next Friday (1/13). I don't want to know what the damage was. I need at least a week to get myself back on track then we'll see. I just hope I didn't go over 180.... Time shall tell, I just need to be disciplined with my food and committed to my workouts.