From Bon Appetit to Backpacker

I've been a bit MIA as of late but today I had a hilarious realization and I wanted to take a moment and share with all of you where I'm at (at the moment) in my journey.

My current magazine pile

A few weeks ago I hit my 100 pound mark at Weight Watchers. I even overshot the 100 pounds to 102 pounds to make my personal total 120 pounds since October 2010! It was a thrilling moment that was unfortunately fleeting. My internal shenanigans started up almost as soon as I stood on the scale and saw the number. I was completely excited and then instantly terrified and convinced that there was no way that I could lose any more weight. My brain went bananas and unfortunately I followed it's completely insane train of thought. After a week of emotional eating I had gained almost 8 pounds. Yup...I'm an overachiever even when it comes to gaining weight!!!! BUT...I was able to catch myself and remember why I'm doing this whole thing and what I need to do to be successful!

This past week I have lost about half of what I gained. (Why does it take so much longer to lose than to gain?! This is one of the mysteries of the world!) I am feeling a bit more sane and am keeping my thoughts in check. I am also going to work on being less extreme with myself. I have no problem going all Extreme Weight Loss Chic and losing 5 pounds in a week but then as soon as that week is over I am exhausted and stressed from all of the effort and feel like I've been deprived. I am working on finding a middle ground so that I will loss weight but still feel like I am not killing myself in the process. I am pretty sure that this will also help my extreme food mood swings stay in check!

And now for the hilarious realization...I have a SERIOUS magazine problem! I LOVE them!!!! I just got the latest issue of Backpacker in the mail today and I tore it open as fast as I could to read all of the amazing tales of outdoor adventure and survival. There was also the sweet bonus of Bear Grylls being the featured  guest editor this month with his own photo spread so that didn't hurt ;) As I was wrapping up the last article in the October issue of Backpacker I realized that I haven't even cracked open my September issue of Bon Appetit. I used to live for my Bon Appetit and Saveur magazines! I would bust them open as fast as I could and then read them over and over again! I could even quote stories and exact issues...I was that into it! But here I am, home with a cold, pouring over my Backpacker magazine and completely ignoring the Bon Appetit. Clearly, my life focus has changed!

100 lbs. GONE!!!!

After 16 months of hard work, new habits, and delving into the emotions that have been controlling my caloric intake, I am THRILLED to report that I have reached the 100lb. goal! The above picture shows you exactly what I have lost! 100 pounds of fat brought to you by years of feeling like I would always be "the moon faced child" but never the pretty girl and by deciding at a pretty early age that food was the only reliable source of relief in my life from the stress and unhappiness I felt.

To be honest, it feels surreal. I still look in the mirror and see all of the imperfections. I have to really really work to recognize all of the changes that have occurred over the past year+ and honestly I need to put them down in writing somewhere...so here goes:

1. Went from not being able to walk all the way around my cul de sac to doing interval training and walking 4 miles 4-5 times a week! The interval training is building up my running skills to run a 5K in May!
2. Reduced my caloric intake from well over 2800 a day to about 2000 a day
3. Shared openly about being overweight with LOADS of people...I never used to talk about it...EVER!
4. Went from wearing a tight size 28 to wearing a comfortable size 18...and I'm talking regular store size 18...not Lane Bryant!!!!
5. I've lost ten inches all the way around (bust, waist, hips...each 10 inches smaller)
6. I have never been able to wear a seat belt in the back seat of cars...NOW I can sit in anyone's backseat safely!
7. Restaurant booths are now my friend! Before...I couldn't even fit in one
8. I've lost an entire shoe size
9. I eat a boatload of fruit everyday! I used to just eat vegetables but fruit has become my new dessert
10. I've learned how to plan for special occasions so that I can celebrate, enjoy the food and feel totally satisfied!
11. I have eliminated several allergens from my diet: wheat, potatoes & peppers
12. I can now seriously see myself hiking up to the top of Half Dome!!!! I have tackled fears and been braver than I ever knew I could be!

I am eternally thankful to my friends who have helped me get to where I am today and who, I am sure, will see me through the last 60 pounds!!!! For those of you reading this who are also contemplating going on your own weight lose journey my advice is...create a circle of key friends that you can lean on, who know you and love you even when you are totally irrational! They are the ones who will talk you out of going crazy and eating the whole chocolate cake and they'll make sure you get your workouts in, even when it's inconvenient for them!

In closing I have to say...

WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did it!!! I did it!!! I did it!!! I did it!!! I did it!!! I did it!!! I did it!!! I did it!!! I did it!!! I did it!!!