Two Great Things

Hello everyone!  I apologize for being so quiet as of late.  It's not that I haven't wanted to check in, I have just been busy enjoying spring.

I set a goal in late March to take the dog and visit all the state parks within 2 hours of my home of which there are TWENTY-FIVE!    Since I made this goal I have visited four.  And I'm loving it!
It's beautiful watching the parks "green up".  It's not very wet here so the trails are dry and it's still can be chilly so there are not many people, which gives the dog and I the sense that we are out in nature alone.  And anytime I feel alone in nature is when I feel most connected to my Higher Power.
Nice.

But I know I could only be doing these hikes because I have found a deeper abstinence which is helping me shed my excess pounds.  And those shed pounds are giving me energy, stamina, and strength to go up and down bluffs along the river, to go five miles at a time, and to catch myself smiling while doing it!  What a great thing!

But I did title this TWO great things didn't I.

The other great thing...When I started regaining weight, I put all the clothes that didn't fit in a big tub.  About a month ago I went through it and tried some things on and about 1/3 of the tub mostly fit but I only took out about five items but that's all that really fit me.
But last night I got out the tub again and tried everything on and EVERY SINGLE ITEM FIT ME!!  Holy crap?!  Approximately 6 pants, 6 jeans, five skirts, about 15 shirts, and 7 dresses!  And 80% of the items are summer-wear which means I have CLOTHES that FIT again!  And I didn't have to go SHOPPING (I loathe shopping).
The clothes are timeless in the fashion sense, are cute, and show off my new figure!  What a great thing to happen at the end a week that was kind of crazy and stressful. 

What's that you ask?  I mentioned a new figure but didn't talk about it??

Well, I don't exactly know how much I've lost because I made a deal with my sponsor to stop weighing for a couple weeks.  But in October I was wearing 18W and barely wearing those.  But everything in the box was either an XL, or a misses 16 or 14!!!!  I cannot believe it!  I knew I had lost weight but since I didn't shop for new clothes I didn't understand the extend of what I'd lost.  So the jump from the "W" to a "misses" means I'm losing my hip and thigh girth, and then to drop two sizes??  Nice!

So that's what's up with me. 

I'd love to hear what's up with you??? 

Drop it like it's hawt!

My stall is over!!
I have final broken below the 220s with my weight! 

I. Am. Giddy.

I haven't weighed this amount in many years.  Maybe 5?   Five years of whining about my increase in weight.  Five years about my fear of my body ballooning all the way back up to my highest weight (320).  Five years of eating and eating and eating.

I know I have to keep on keeping on in order for the weight to continue to fall, but I don't feel fatalistic about the idea of keeping on?!  Being accountable to another person about the food/caloric drinks that go into my mouth has been a life saving event.  I know it sounds hard and it sounds scary, and maybe it was at first.  But I am reaping the rewards which makes all the hard and scary that "my will" keeps carrying on about seem silly and exhausting.

To think that the simple act of planning my meals, and sending the plans to another person has helped me lose 27 pounds???  That's amazing.  Absolutely amazing.

Thanks God for Overeater Anonymous, the program that introduced me to methods I didn't want to try but that actually work.

Easter eating

This weekend is Easter.
I am a firm believer in God, but I am not a believer in "organized religion" or "church".  Therefore Easter for me is a time for family get-togethers, and those usually means FOOD!!!

I am going to my in laws this weekend as they hold their family reunion at Easter-time every year.  My mother in law is hosting, so we have to go and serve.

I prefer when she hosts.  She always does a white linen lunch.  We even have to get out a measuring stick and measure the distance of the plate rim to the edge of the table.  We have to shine all the silver and wipe down all the crystal.  It's work. 
But that work removes me from just sitting and eating.  It's not about the food when she hosts, it's about catering.  About making sure others have what they need.  It's about impressing.  It's about a LOT of things, but not about the food.  And that is just fine with me.

We all receive a basket during this reunion event.  It will be full of chocolate and Easter treats which I do not eat.  Nor do I have the desire (thank you God!).  So I'll bring all that stuff to work and put in the lunchroom for anyone else to eat. 

I am so grateful that I do not have the desire to eat compulsively, that I don't have to fight urges or have conversations (or arguments) in my head.  I am so grateful for the Overeaters Anonymous program and for my comfortable abstinence.

Many blessings to you all this Easter!