Friday, November 27, 2009

I've come so far in just ONE year...

One year ago, I completely fell off the wagon...

I remember the day like it was yesterday.

In July of last year (2008), I started a goal of losing 18 pounds in 18 weeks so by Thanksgiving (of last year) I would have arrived at 100 pounds lost. I just went back and re-read that goal-setting blog and I sounded so full of hope and optimism. It was, after all, only "1 pound a week".

But there I sat, at the Thanksgiving table, a year ago, stuffing my face 'til I couldn't move.

I ate all the chocolates that were laying around the house (my mother-in-law makes these yummy treats where she puts a pecan halves on top of a Rollos on top of little pretzel twists, melts them in the oven and when they're cooled, they're yummy little turtle-like delights).

And for the meal, I had double portions of absolutely everything. I remember seeing my mother-in-law sitting across the table from me eating her Thanksgiving meal on a smaller plate (she had lost 50 lbs on Weight Watchers just earlier that year). I laughed inside to myself. Fooey on that! I'm eating a full plat of yumminess and I didn't care if I gained 10 pounds. I even had extra helpings of pie. And of course I took all the casserole left overs home and ate them again when we got home and for days after that, too. And, yes, I did gain 10 pounds before the week was over.

I remember, months later, looking back at that meal remembering that that moment was the beginning of my self-sabotage. I didn't know it at the time, but I panicked at the thought of actually reaching my momentous goal. Read this old post to see what I'm talking about.

But this year... completely different. I feel like a completely different person. Mentally, physically and spiritually. I'm in such a better space, now.

I started off the day by going for a run. I woke up around 6:30, before daylight, and was so anxious to get out there and run. I sat there starring outside waiting for daylight. I finally headed out at about 10 'til 7 and man was it chilly out there. Of course, no one else was either on the roads or on the sidewalks. A quite and confident run to start the day off right.

I got back in time to throw the sticky buns in the oven to bake real quick. Mind you, these were the real thing. My daughter had assembled them the night before (she came over and helped make the casseroles with me) and asked me to bake them for her before we headed over for Thanksgiving dinner.

We headed out to hubby's parent's house around 9. While the turkey was finishing, we watched home videos. We watched my almost 21-year-old's first birthday party. First of all, I loved seeing her so young and precious. Brought back some great memories. But most of all, I noticed that I am much thinner now than I was then. It was so awesome to see myself 20 years ago and know that I'm skinnier now than I was then. I was probably 210-220 pounds in those videos. Now, 165!!

Most people will look at themselves 20 years ago and say "man I looked so good back then, I wish I was that skinny again". Not me, I was so happy to see how far I've come since those days.

Then dinner time. I ate my thanksgiving meal on that smaller plate. I had half and quarter portions of everything. Though there wasn't much empty space on my little plate, I had maybe 3-4 bites of everything. Instead of 1-2 cups of everything, like last year.

At the end of the meal, I sat there completely satisfied. Not stuffed. Not miserable. Completely satisfied. Then about an hour after dinner, once everyone else's stomachs started calming down, we had pie. I had half a piece of pumpkin pie and a half a piece of pecan pie (my deceased grandmother's recipe—my cousin made the pie and shipped it to me).

I wasn't really all that hungry for the rest of the day. I had a Chobani greek yogurt around 7:30 and that's about all I needed for the day.

I hate to be so boastful, folks, but I'm so darn proud of myself. I'm beaming.

Oh, and the best part...

I weighed myself this morning and I actually lost a pound yesterday!

Who loses one pound on Thanksgiving while still thoroughly enjoying everything the day has to offer?!!

What a great day!

How was your day?

.

11 comments:

Shelley said...

It's so cool that you can look back via your blog and see where you were a year ago and what you were feeling. You have come a long way, Cara, and should be proud of yourself!

Ex Yo-Yo Dieter Debbie said...

Hi Cara

What a beautiful blog! I have blog-envy. :) You should be so proud! 100 pounds gone...really incredible. And now you know you'll do great at maintenance too!

bluenotes said...

amazing!! you are such an inspiration! and what a good idea to wake up early and run, starting your day off positive and jump starting your metabolism! I would really love to do that, i am just NOT a morning person at all.

F. McButter Pants said...

Kind of catching up. Your last 2 posts were excellant!

Self Sabatoge! If we could just really believe that we are worth it. That we deserve it!

Thanks for letting me be part of your journey.

Carol said...

You should be bragging about your accomplishments because they're worth bragging about and it lets others know that it is possible! Good job!!

PS - I think one of the most important lessons we learn is how to fail and NOT throw in the towel (and make it worse) but to dust off our knees and get back to it again. You have arrived!

screwdestiny said...

That's great, Cara! You deserve to boast.

Trish said...

Boast away! You ahve every reason to do so.

Congrats on how far you have come :)

Georgia Mist said...

You SHOULD be bragging! That's just fantastic! I am so proud of you! Thanks for sharing your insight.

Josie (35 and Shrinking) said...

Cara, what a fantastic post! You deserve to be boastful for this is a huge accomplishment! Congratulations for coming full circle and I'm so glad you had a great Thanksgiving!

Violet Cream said...

Well done you! I wish I found your blog earlier.

I've been self sabotaging all summer. It's hard to know why the resolution to do it properly sticks, but I'm really delighted you have had a very successful year.

InWeighOverMyHead said...

congrats on your Thanksgiving loss! :)