Happy Diet-versary!

Today is my one year diet-versary.  On June 27, 2011, I started my New Directions diet journey.  Rather than celebrate with a big piece of cake (which is what I really want, to be honest), I decided that a celebratory blog post was in order.


Even though I did not lose all 100 pounds in one year (my original goal), I think this has been an incredibly successful journey.  That success, as many of you know, has been measured in lots of different ways.  So, my anniversary blog post should acknowledge all those ways that I've measured success.  


Success measurement #1: The stats:
Tracking my weight and measurements has been very useful for me.  Even when I didn't lose weight from week to week, staying focused on this kind of measurement was quite a motivator for me.


Weight:

Starting weight: 270 lbs.

One year anniversary weight: 185 lbs.

Measurements:

Starting Bust: 52 inches

One year anniversary Bust: 44 inches

Starting Waist: 48.5 inches

One year anniversary Waist: 41 inches

Starting Hips: 55 inches

One year anniversary Hips: 47 inches

Starting Neck: 16.5 inches

One year anniversary Neck: 13 3/4 inches

Starting Thigh: 28 inches

One year anniversary Thigh: 23 inches

Starting Upper Arm: 16.5 inches

One year anniversary Arm: 13.5 inches

Total pounds lost: 85 lbs.
Total inches lost: Over 34 inches.


On Friday, I'll get more stats, and maybe some BMI numbers - so I'll post them at that time.


Success measurement #2: Photos
When the numbers on the scale seemed out of sync with how my body felt, I often turned to photos.  They helped me see my progress, in a way that was not possible every day in the mirror.  The photos were hugely important in my journey, and I'm glad we took so many.


Comparing the beginning of the process with where I am today is also pretty amazing.  Check it out.

Starting pictures:

Our wedding day, two weeks before the diet began (June 11, 2011)

One year anniversary pictures:

Yesterday (June 26, 2012)

(Taken with my iPhone, so they're fuzzy and low resolution.)

Facial view:

  

Front view:

  

Side view:

  

This particular exercise is somewhat staggering.  Seeing these images, side by side, explains why so many people don't recognize me anymore.  They need a minute, and then they realize it's me.  This is happening with everyone - not just people who haven't seen me in a year, either.  My sweet husband confessed on our wedding anniversary that I no longer look like the girl he married - and sometimes, he looks over at me, and it takes him a minute to process how much I've changed.  Even my co-workers have made similar statements, and they see me every day.  If I had any concerns that I could re-make my body, they are now at rest.


Success measurement #3:  Clothes


One of my goals at the beginning of this was to be in regular sizes at the end of one year - and leave the plus sizes behind.  Well, here are the stats:

Starting clothes size:

3X or 4X (Plus Size 24/26 or 28/30)

One year anniversary clothes size:

L or XL (Regular size 14/16 or 16/18)

This is big.  Or, really, it's small.  I no longer shop in the plus size section, and actually have clothes that fit me and are somewhat flattering.  I have donated over a dozen bags of clothes to charities as I've gone down in sizes, except one pair of pants that I've kept as a reminder.  My attitude towards clothes has completely changed, and I find myself loving dresses and cute shoes more than ever.  I really look forward to the day when I'm at a size I will maintain, rather than breeze through, so I can have the fun of creating a wardrobe filled with colorful, fun clothes.


Success measurement #4: Moments of Unexpected Wonderfulness


Most surprisingly, this year has been full of unexpected surprises... things I didn't know would be markers of my success, but turned out to be the best things of all.  Some of my favorites are still very simple things: crossing my legs on an airplane, feeling energetic while swimming on vacation, allowing my photograph to be taken in a bathing suit... each one somewhat intangible, but to me, incredibly real.  One of the very best unexpected surprises happened just 3 days ago, and it was a WHOPPER.


Sunday afternoon, Max was packing his stuff before heading out of town on a trip with his school theatre company.  Their play, The Trojan Women, went to the state competition earlier this year, and won high enough marks to be invited to compete at the National Thespian Competition in Nebraska.  This was huge for Max, as this was his first play!  His excitement has not waned in the past few months, so he was particularly thrilled to finally be getting ready to go.  As he was packing, he proudly showed me the custom made duffle bags and hoodies that each student got for the trip.  His name was embroidered on the front, along with the theatre company's logo.  I mentioned that his hoodie reminded me of my old high school jacket, complete with my junior varsity and varsity letters on it, patches from competitions, and my name - just like Max's.  While my letters were for tennis and marching band, not theatre, I completely connected the two - and in that moment, fully appreciated how excited Max was about his trip and competition.  I remembered that feeling so well - I loved band competitions, and could completely relate. 


Then, I turned to my sweet husband and said, "My jacket is 22 years old now... amazing how time flies."  And then, I had a revelation - that jacket just might fit me again.  


I could not wait one second more.  I sprang up from my chair and ran to my closet.  I reached into the back of the darkest corner, and pulled out the red corduroy letterman's jacket.  Holy cow - it was a size L.  Would it fit?  


I yanked it off the hanger, and even though it was 101-degrees outside, slid my arms into the jacket I had once loved, but forgotten about for decades.  And then, I snapped it shut.  All the snaps.  It fit.  For the first time in 22 years, I was wearing my high school jacket - which means that I was back to my high school size once more.


I nearly fell over from surprise and excitement.  


I ran out into the living room and showed my boys, and they both smiled SO big...  This was a big moment, and they knew it.  And, like most of these surprise moments, I couldn't have planned for it at all.  


Instead of feeling sad that I didn't lose all 100 pounds in a year, my moment with my high school jacket has given me the ability to see all the good that's happened.  I was honestly worried that I'd beat myself up about the goal not being reached - but then, life continues to give me what I need at every juncture.  Sometimes I think I'm just lucky - and then, sometimes I think that these moments are actually there for us all.  The trick is that you have to LOOK for them - really look - and then they become real.


This has been one heck of a year.  I got married, became a stepmom, opened a new museum, traveled to some really cool places, and made lots of art.  I also lost 85 pounds and over 34 inches, and made my health a priority for the first time in a long time.  So, happy diet-versary to me, my wonderful family, and everyone who has taken this journey with me.


Now, really, let's go get that cake.

Vacation Success

Usually, when I go on vacation, I worry about going off my diet.  With this particular program, I was double worried - both because of the restrictive nature of my eating and all my Florida food triggers.  So, like a prize fighter before a big match, about two weeks ago, I started thinking seriously about how to do this "vacation thing" without gaining a ton of weight.  And, as with all successes in life, it was all about the planning.


Planning happens for every vacation - flights, cars, hotels - but my planning went further.  I had to get enough product for two weeks, and make sure I knew where I'd be at those mealtimes.  I had to buy clothes for the trip - I had NOTHING that fit me for warm weather.  I shopped for a swimsuit (less painful than I remember!) and shorts, and some lightweight cotton dresses.  Every one of those things was found in the regular clothes section - size XL, 16 or 18. (WOOT!)


Before we arrived, Mom was planning for food, too.  She asked about foods for me and the guys - she wanted to have all our standard fare in the house, especially since the kiddo is still rather limited in what he eats.  I emailed her a list, and she stocked the house with their favorites.  She made sure I had what I needed, too - which was mainly just Crystal Light and lots of water.


On the plane, we slid into our seats and buckled up.  Click!  No extender needed.  I even had to tighten it significantly.  (Can this really be me?)  Then, something truly miraculous happened - I CROSSED MY LEGS.  ON AN AIRPLANE.  Right there - in that moment - I knew vacation would be different this time.  I grinned for 2 hours.


As we drove in from the airport to my parent's house, I was pointing out the window at places I love.  At least 8 times, I heard myself say to my sweet husband, "Oh, I love the food there - it's so good!" or "They have the best salad bar ever!"  Only then did I realize that far too much of my Florida happiness involved food - Five Guys, Sweet Tomatoes, Publix Subs, Mickey Mouse ice cream bars - the list goes on and on.  This was a major realization for me, and I made a mental note to hold onto this the entire time we were there.  My eating life has really changed.


The first two days were easy - we mostly stayed at the house and swam in the pool.  I had three products a day, and felt good about all the water I was drinking.  Max and I played for hours in the water, with me treading water in the deep end for extended amounts of time while throwing a football.  I was in a bathing suit and cotton dresses practically the whole time, which kept me aware of my success - and helped me stay on track.

Mom, Max, Me (and my fanny pack),
Kyle and Rachel.

Monday, we went to Islands of Adventure, to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  I put on my t-shirt and shorts, and felt better in these clothes than I had in YEARS.  I literally have no memories of living in Florida that aren't accompanied by feeling huge and out of shape, so this was a very big deal.  I knew I would sweat (it IS Florida, after all...) but I also knew that I'd be sweating because of the humidity and pummeling heat - not because I was morbidly obese anymore.  I asked my parents for a fanny pack to borrow for the day, since I was always too fat to have one of my own.  When they brought me one, not only did it fit, but I had to TIGHTEN it.  Amazing.


That day, I had two packets of product with me, and was ready to stay on track - which I totally did.  I drank gallons of water (thanks to the brutal heat), and at lunchtime while everyone else had burgers and chicken sandwiches in Jurassic Park, I had a shake.  The diet didn't prevent me from trying a sip of Pumpkin Juice and Butterbeer, but I only needed a taste - not a whole, sugary cup.  (After all, I don't get into Hogsmeade that often.)  I learned a great trick that day, too - I didn't carry my plastic cup for mixing my shakes with me (they get smelly in the heat if they're not washed right away).  I got an empty paper cup and lid, and bottle of cold water, and I made my shakes with ease.  By dinner, we were home and I had successfully stayed on track with all three products that day.  

I have never allowed a photo of
me in a bathing suit before. I
know it's far away and fuzzy, but
it's proof that I wore one.

Tuesday and Thursday were beach days - first at Cocoa Beach, and second at Siesta Beach.  On these days, it was also very easy to stay on track with my products.  I drank lots of water, and felt pretty satisfied.  It also felt GREAT to lay on the beach in my swimsuit, which is something I have NEVER experienced before.  I no longer felt embarrassed, or like I should hide under a long t-shirt - I felt like a totally regular person.  For many fat people, just feeling regular is a big, big deal - including me.  


On Tuesday night, we went to our family's favorite restaurant, La Forchetta, and I had eggplant.  The food there is phenomenal, so I was not going to miss it!  The owners of the restaurant are like family to us, and it was wonderful to see them, and share this place with my hubby and kiddo.  I resisted their bread and pasta like a champ, and enjoyed the meal immensely.  This has become one of my unspoken rules of dieting - if you are faced with food that's amazing, but that you don't get to eat often, you need to eat some of it and enjoy it.  I haven't had La Forchetta's delicious food in years, and it will likely be years before I get it again - so I went for it.  I'm thrilled that I did.


Wednesday we were at the Magic Kingdom, and got soaked!  It rained from Wednesday through the end of the week, but that didn't stop us from venturing out and doing things - nor did it stop me from staying on track.  My only variance: a hot dog on Main Street.  There's one thing I know - in the heat, you have to make sure you have fuel, or your body gets achy and you get crabby-face.  (Ever seen those folks?  Not attractive.)  I had already consumed all my products, but was feeling hungry and a bit weak, so I ate a hot dog.  It kept my crabby-face at bay, and we had a great time.


Friday we traveled home, relaxed, tired and with a little pink in our cheeks.  Again, I had all three products and lots of water.  Sitting in the airport waiting to board our plane, I felt particularly great as the boys had a burger and I had my pudding - I had actually done it.  I had dieted my way through vacation, and it was still awesome.


Before we left, my last weigh in had me at 191 lbs.  Yesterday morning, I got on my scale at home, and it said 188 lbs.  This may be the first time in the history of humankind that someone actually lost weight on vacation.  I don't officially weigh in until this coming Friday, but for now, I am feeling pretty invincible.


This was also the jump start I needed to get through the last leg of the reducing phase on my diet.  Originally, I had hoped to be at my goal weight by June 1, but I'm not quite there yet.  This kind of triumph just means there is absolutely no reason I can't shed these last 20-ish pounds and arrive at my goal weight.  That's kind of a big deal for me, too - because even though I've lost a whole bunch of weight already, actually reaching my goal is still not something I am taking for granted.  I still sometimes wonder if I'll make it all the way to 100 pounds.  But, after this week, I have renewed hope.


If we had chosen to vacation somewhere else - somewhere that didn't involve tons of walking, lots of sweating, gallons of water-drinking, and multiple days in bathing suits and shorts - this may have been a very different blog entry.  If we had gone to a place where there were no friends or family members telling me how great I look, and being so encouraging about my diet, I may have gained a few pounds.  Thanks to the planning, support, and climate, the vacation was a success, from beginning to end.