The moment I stepped on the scale and finally saw that I’ve lost 100 lbs was more emotional that I expected. This has been a long journey with many challenges and frustrations. But there have also been some great gains in the journey.
In losing 100 lbs, I’ve gained:
- Ankles. Not Cankles.
- Being able to finally fit into my Mumford & Sons t-shirt that I bought in 2013 (it was the largest size they had and I wanted a souvenir)
- A collar bone
- Being an active participant in family activities
- New clothes (my poor bank account)
- Fitting into old clothes
- Fitting into my sister’s old clothes
- More flexibility (so *that* is what the yoga pose should look like)
- Being able to say I’m no longer pre-diabetic
- Being able to say I’m no longer obese
- Weighing less than my husband for the first time ever
- More confidence
- Wrist bones
- Being able to shave my legs without being a contortionist
- Freedom from worrying about things like seat belt extenders
- And if I will fit in amusement park rides
- Freedom from worrying about being over the weight limit on things like hammocks
- Being able to keep up with my niece and nephew (mostly - the little buggers are fast)
- Being able to climb the stairs without being out of breath
- Race medals. 17 in 2017 is my new goal.
- Being able to make new goals after crushing old ones
- Being able to find tall boots that fit more easily
- Being able to fit into boots that were too small last year
- Having more workout clothes than anything else (and yet I still wear the same rotation)
- Being able to donate clothes that are too big
- Bed space! There’s so much more room in bed
- A concave tummy (when I lay flat and just the ‘right’ way)
- Being able to get dressed without being out of breath
- Freedom to live an active life
- Being a size small for my Fitbit
- New glasses (my old ones were falling off my face)
- A wedding ring replacement (haven’t done this yet, but I can)
- Not always being the first in a group to need a break from an activity
- Hip bones
- The ability to make healthier choices more consistently
- Freedom to shop in ‘regular’ stores - though this feels very weird
- Being a size single digit
- Being too small for my previous “skinny” clothes
- A bunch of DietBet winnings
- StepBet winnings
- The confidence to try snowboarding
- A new snowboard, with DietBet winnings!
- The freedom of being able to say yes (let’s go snowshoeing, running, etc)
- Perspective on previous choices and thoughts
- The courage to try new things
- Being less scared of Jillian Michael’s videos (but no, I still haven’t done one)
- Being able to do a normal burpee although I’m not sure I want to
- New kitchen gadgets to support healthy eating
- Surprise when I catch my reflection unexpectedly
- Being able to look in the mirror and seeing how far I’ve come
- More self-awareness
- Being able to fit into “one-size-fits-all”
- New reasons to feel out of place that aren’t size related, and the opportunity to challenge those feelings
- Being able to wear my engagement ring again (and it’s getting too loose!)
- Being able to call myself a runner
- The confidence to rock jeans
- Rewards that are not food related
- Being asked for diet and health advice
- Having coworkers notice the difference
- Needing a new belt
- Being told I’m looking thin
- The courage to sign up for a Tough Mudder
- An insane feeling of excitement after signing up for the Tough Mudder and after reading the “you might die” waiver.
- The willingness to team up with strangers to do the Tough Mudder
- The drive to re-do the (kids version) Spartan with my niece
- The ability to identify barriers and implement strategies for success
- Being able to borrow clothes from my sister’s current wardrobe (even if they are large on her)
- Priceless moments. Like when seeing me look in my sister’s closet to borrow clothes, my niece offered up her own sweaters. She’s five. And possibly delusional, but wonderfully oblivious to size.
- Being able to go to the zoo and keep up with my niece
- Being able to say “yes” to things that were previously impossible because of my weight
- Being able to haul my nephew in and out of his car seat without struggling for breath
- Being able to keep up with my nephew at the indoor play centre
- Being able to go on the slide with my nephew
- Increased walking speed
- More energy
- Enjoyment out of making healthy choices (especially on road trips)
- Satisfaction out of ordering a salad at a restaurant
- A sense of pride
- Moments when I like what I see in the mirror
- The confidence to let go of social memberships that I am no longer enjoying
- Being able to turn down a “good deal” on chocolate because I know that it’s a bad idea
- Being able to leave food on my plate
- Satisfaction with smaller portions of dessert
- Determination to do another 25 km bike ride
- Being at my lowest adult weight
- A new-old ring. I can finally wear the one my grandmother gave me.
- The discipline to give my husband the doughnut that I was given in error at the drive through (I wanted a doughnut hole)
- Knowing that I can do and achieve more than I think
- Being able to fit into a size medium, consistently - even in “skinny people” stores
- More interest in being presentable when I leave the house. I have make-up now. And sometimes I use it!
- Being able to say “told you so” (in my head) to that one doubtful dietitian
- Being able to fit into ‘normal’ width shoes
- The opportunity to keep working on myself and towards my goals
- Knowing that while I do not see my progress, others do and it does exist
- The chance (and confidence) to meet new people and expand my social circle
- A positive outlook for the year 2017
- The persistence to keep going and/or try again when faced with challenges
- The ability to reflect on challenges and not be defined by the struggle
- An emotional moment of pride and disbelief when I finally reached 100 lbs lost
- The courage to post this