The Shape of Me: My Weight Loss Journey

Did your New Year’s resolutions include a weight loss goal?

On January 1, I wrote down the weight I wanted to be by the 4th of July. I plotted out how much I would have to lose weekly and monthly. It was reasonable, achievable. Then life happened. Both my folks got pneumonia and the flu in January and needed nursing care through February – and I gained 10 ponds.

From trips to the hospital I found a flyer on their weight loss plan and went to an orientation. I decided to do the protein shakes/no real food program. Friends and family questioned my resolve to do something as radical as to eliminate food.

I lost 11 pounds the first week, surprising myself.

My life is out of control this year. My folks health and medical treatment is a part of my day, every day. I never expected how time would be freed up by using this plan. No more grocery shopping, cooking – or eating out.

I discovered I was stress eating. I would leave the hospital and turn to food. The mindless frequency of stress eating became apparent and illuminating. I am in the process of changing habits – and it takes time – and patience.

On this very low calorie plan, you enter into a state of ketosis – a metabolic state where your body is using the energy stored in fat deposits. The best thing about ketosis? Not being hungry! It’s not possible to be hungry staying on the plan. You cheat or go off the plan – and you get hungry again. The motivation to lose weight is staying on course.

After 4 weeks on this plan I lost 23 pounds!

The life changing piece is found in blood work and lab results. My numbers were dramatically different. So dramatic, I was taken off blood pressure medications after 15 years of treatment. It does make me wish I had done this earlier, to reduce the impact of  negative results and numbers on my long term health.

At 2 months, I am down 35 pounds. (My 4 year old granddaughter weighs 32 pounds.)

And things have shifted. Work remains to be done toning bat wings and jiggly thighs. The Doctor says skin is elastic and can return to close to what it was before I gained weight.

My body has changed, which means new clothes because nothing fits! ( Another post on my thrifting wardrobe)

To paraphrase an Ed Sheeran song: “Every day I am discovering something brand new, I’m in love with the shape of me.”