Looking back, looking forward

So much has happened! I just read my "fat" post. Oh, I remember! In late December of that year my friend Barb showed up at my house having lost 20 lbs "so fast and easy," so I joined Weight Watchers with her and started my weight loss journey. In 15 months I lost 85 lbs! It wasn't fast and easy, but worth it. I went to the meetings even though Barb deserted me after about a month. I didn't participate because I don't connect with people, but I showed up every week and weighed in and listened. I think it was mostly the accountability, and knowing I wasn't so alone, that helped me do it. That and the fact that I started exercising. 

In March 2014 maybe, Mel hired a personal trainer for me. He worked with me on weights but I was mostly interested in running. So I very slowly started running. Just a couple minutes in a very slow jog followed by breathless recovery minutes. Slow progress but I burned a lot of calories. On my own I pushed and kept at it, dropped the weights though. Just not as interested. Or maybe more intimidated. Anyway, in November 2015 I ran a half marathon! And it was good. I had gained some weight back. So I walked a bit, maybe a good bit, but I did it. My personal trainer I had lost track of and should have texted him to tell him how I'd progressed, but he killed himself in August. Guilt. But I lost those pounds and went shopping with Mel. I fit into a size 2 jeans at Old Navy! Mel took my picture in the dressing room and posted it on Facebook. It was great, except that during the holidays I started eating sweets and baking again. 30 lbs have come back. Eek.

So today is my first day on the No Meat Athlete Health Made Simple weight loss meal plan. Vegan. Lots of fruit and veggies. I have to lose weight again so that I can wear the cute SMALL clothes I got last summer. Here goes!

Wow, two years gone!

I'm amazed to read that last post. I'm a mess again. Maybe it's the season, but I'd say things have been bad a good long while -- maybe since that last post even. I started running over a year ago. Hired a personal trainer to help me. Also joined weight watchers. Lost 85 lbs. kept running. My personal trainer killed himself in August. Really hard. Joined a training group, made all of one connection, but managed to run a half marathon in Richmond in November. Big deal then. Today it's hard to make myself run. My runs are so hard suddenly. I get out of breath or breathing too hard and I end up taking a zillion walk breaks. Ran with my brother the other day -- his reappearance in my life is another whole long story -- and he inspired me to push harder and run a bit more than I thought I could handle. So I'm still running, but I stopped going to weight watchers in March when I reached my "goal weight." And I've gained almost 20 lbs back -- even with the running. Yes, I'm eating a lot of crap. A ton of sugar. But I gave up Diet Coke and I'm drinking a lot of water. So two good habits established, and I'm still smoke free 3+ years later! So that's my little summary. I'm going to try writing here a lot more (I know, once a year would be more) but yeah, I need to get some stuff off my chest.