Reflections of a Fat Girl

As most everyone knows I have been on a pretty strict diet program since April 1st.  Since then I have lost about 100 pounds.  And even though that sounds like a great deal of weight, and it is, it's not enough.  In fact, some days it feels that it's not even close.  However, I prefer to look at things like my glass is half full.  With that in mind, I'd like to go over some of the major accomplishments that 100 pounds has afforded me.

First and foremost there are the physical changes that even 20 pounds of weight loss gave me.  I can exercise now.  I can get on an elliptical machine and not feel like I'm going to die after one minute of exercise.  I can walk without huffing and puffing.  I can ride a bike without the fear of falling or breaking the bike (yes, I seriously felt that way).

I can finally sleep at night.  I no longer snore.  My sleep apnea is gone, which is great because prior to losing weight, I had to take a nap in my car every afternoon.  I knew it was the final straw when I began falling asleep while driving.  I am rested in the morning and can get out of bed without every bone in my body creaking.  

I think that because of my weight loss I was able to recover from my gallbladder surgery much faster.  I don't even know if I would have been a candidate for surgery 100 pounds ago.  I was able to get up faster following surgery.

Sam and I went to NYC about a month ago for a wedding.  On the way there, we had to take a very small American Eagle plane.  For the last four years, every time we traveled, I had to ask for an extender.  For those of you who are unaware of what an extender is.  It's an additional seatbelt that has to be hooked onto the current seatbelt, to allow for larger people to sit in the tiny airplane seats.  You can imagine my surprise when the seatbelt clicked.  I cried - seriously - I cried happy tears.

The first night that we were in NYC we met a friend for dinner approximately 5 avenues away.  With no way to get there via subway, usually I would have insisted a cab, but this time I suggested that we walk.  I was able to keep up with Sam (he's a fast walker) and walk the entire way without stopping to catch my breath.  Even subways were different for me.  I was able to fit in just one seat.  I have always been embarrassed to try to find a seat on a crowded subway because it would mean that I would take up two seats and most likely people would look down on me.  This wasn't an issue this trip.  I also had no trouble bounding the massive amounts of stairs to get out of the subways.

I have become more comfortable in my own body.  I feel that I hold my head higher, stand a little straighter and smile a lot more.  I feel that I can go out in public and people aren't looking at me, disappointed or disgusted that I am so fat.  It's amazing what a boost that is.  I feel that I'm taken more seriously and that I'm more respected in my job.

Now I still have at least 50 more pounds to go before I feel comfortable with saying that I'm done with the dieting.  I'm also learning to eat better and the best part is that I've become so much more active.  I'm hoping that I can carry that with me throughout my life.  I'm hoping that it will become a lifestyle that I have adopted but only time will tell.

Before I go, I thought I'd give you a before and after glimpse of what a 100 pound loss actually looks like.  No judging on the "before" picture please.  I know I looked pretty bad.