June Update & "Normal" BMI Acheived!

I am doing my June update today because this morning I reached goal #2 !!!  I am very excited because now my BMI is finally in the 'normal/healthy' range :) YAY!

I am still following my plan and it really feels like it is becoming a life-style... It is over a year now of making small (and some big) changes a little at a time.  I think the length of time this is taking me is really key to helping the changes be permanent.

I have mentioned this before but I am still getting used to how my body's response to calorie restrictions has changed.  For a long time (over 10 months), I simply restricted calories (as much as I wanted to) and I lost weight.  The equation was simple... eat less=lose weight, eat more=gain weight.  Now when I restrict calories too much, I gain weight.  The challenge for the last couple months has been to get calories up while still keeping sugar, sodium, saturated fat & complex carbs under control.  I am learning a new balance.

As I posted before, I have purged my closet.  This was an emotional experience.  I knew it would be hard but even I am a little surprised at my mental reaction and how long it is taking me to feel OK with the release.  The mental aspects of this whole experience are the biggest challenge.

Stuff I am loving right now...
     *  Subway Orchard Chicken Salad... yum yum :)
     *  Aldi's frozen berries... really good, all natural,
            much less expensive than other stores. (I eat lots of berries)
     *  SoBe lifewater zero has new 'energy' flavors with B-complex vitamins :)
     *  Vitamin Water has zero calorie flavors with NO SODIUM :)
     *  Making homemade chicken quesadilla... Oh my, how yummy!
     *  Making homemade oatmeal instead of using instant packets.
            a fraction of the cost & less than 100 calories per serving
            & less sugar, sodium & no artificial nastiness.

Here is my oatmeal recipe (I might double this recipe for higher calorie days)...
     1/4 cup  quick oats
     1/4 tsp  dark brown sugar
     1/4 tsp  cinnamon
     several dashes all-spice
     1/8 tsp  sea salt
     1 pkt     Stevia in the Raw (or Truvia or Purevia)
     1 cup     water
     1/4 cup  frozen blueberries
Combine oats, sugar, cinnamon, all-spice, salt, stevia & 1/2 cup water in a microwave cup/bowl.  Microwave 1 minute (watch for boil over).  Remove from microwave.  Add blueberries.  Stir.  Add up to 1/2 cup very hot/boiling water while stirring for desired thickness.

Here is the nutrition info...  
(compare to an instant oatmeal packet)

Calories 98            Calories from Fat  20
                                       % Daily Value
Total Fat                    2g     3%
   Saturated Fat           0g     0%
   Trans Fat                 0g     
Cholesterol                0mg     0%
Sodium                  16mg      1%
Total Carbohydrate     20g     7%
   Dietary Fiber            3g     12%
   Sugars                    5g     
Protein                       3g      6%
Vitamin A                (IU) 2     0%
Vitamin C                   1mg     2%
Calcium                      9mg     1%
Iron                           1mg     6%

Weight loss status...

Started June 3 2009  268.0 lbs 39.58 bmi "obese" (body fat 44% "poor")
Today   June 9 2010  169.0 lbs 24.96 bmi "normal" (body fat 27.8% "good")

99 lbs down!

GOALS REVIEW (updated)...
1st goal (lose 65lbs) 203 lbs 29.98 bmi "overweight" ACHIEVED Jan 17, 2010
2nd goal (lose 99lbs) 169 lbs 24.96 bmi "healthy" ACHIEVED Jun 9, 2010
3rd goal (lose 111 lbs) 157 lbs 23.18 bmi (qualify for the 100 lb Club at Curves) by fall 2010
4th goal (lose 121lbs) 147 lbs 21.71 bmi by Dec 2010
5th goal achieve "Very Good/Fit" body fat % (22%-26%)
6th goal achieve "Excellent" body fat % (<22%)

PLANS/GUIDELINES...

1. Never Skip Breakfast! (well-balanced & trying for 1/3 of my daily calories before noon)
2. take good nutritional supplements every day
3. eat 5-9 servings of fruits and veggies per day
4. eat at least 25 g of fiber per day
5. continue Curves 3 times per week
6. Water only when out to eat... and minimum of 64 oz water each day
7. Daily monitoring myself with Fitclick.com
8. Follow Curves Weight Management calorie phases
9. no eating after 7:00pm (with a few exceptions)

Letting Go

I finally went shopping and have clothes that fit and enough of them that I don't feel like I am wearing the same thing everyday :)

I needed to make room in my overstuffed closet to house these new items.  The problem then becomes my hoarding tendencies (Mom's voice in my head), my fear of change and not wanting to letting go of the past.  This kind of problem can be huge for me, because if I get "stuck" on something like this I know it adversely effects all other aspects of my life.

On Monday my mother-in-law, Patty, helped me sort through every item of clothing that I have accumulated in my adult life.  Close to 20 years of wardrobe that is now 8-12 sizes too big.  TRASH - GOODWILL - CONSIGN... three 'piles' that we carefully sorted into.  We ended up with 5 large trash bags for Goodwill, 4 large trash bags for the garbage man, and a small hall closet full of nicer items to be taken to the consignment shop.

Most people think this must be a thrilling process for me.  I think I might be crazy because it is really hard and even painful for me to release so much of my past (it feels like part of me) all at once.  I am forcing myself to do it though.  Even though it feels painful, I know it is good for me.  I could end up drowning in the physical accumulations of my life if I don't release it.  I have released the extra body fat and now I must release the clothes as well.  I must make room for the new me and the new clothes.  That means letting go of the baggage.  Letting go of all the "fat" clothes is really a metaphore for letting go of emotional baggage.