My Christmas Present - to me...

I'm slowly getting back to that healthy lifestyle that I love.  I'm finding it's one thing to say I'm getting back on track and completely another to actually commit to it.  But ... you all know my motto ... I ain't ever giving up!

This past week saw me getting back into a more regular running schedule.  I ran 4 times for a total of 29.5 Kms/18.3 Miles.  My goal this month is to run 55 miles/88.5 Kms.

Yesterday it was fairly nice out, nippy but not raining, and I just decided to grab the dog and run.  No watch, no plans, just run.  That is so freeing.

I had initially thought I'd do a route that was about 9.5 Km, but then things just felt right and I decided to tack on another little route which brought it up to 14.5Km.  It felt AWESOME, but it's been a while since I've run over 10K, so I was feeling it last night.  So was Tia! (this is an older picture, but this is how she spent the rest of the day pretty much)

Something VERY exciting happened for me just before Christmas.  I got back something I've been without (off and on) for many years.

MY WEDDING RINGS!!!!!

Back story ....

I got married in 1992 when I was 19, and teeny.  As the years went by, I had babies, I got lazy, and I gained weight.  My rings got tighter and tighter.  That should have been a sign, right?? 

I battled my weight, mostly unsuccessfully for years.  I remember one method I chose was to only eat bread/starchy carbs.  I figured since I like them so much I'd just eliminate the other stuff and that would lower my overall calories.  WOW, I can't believe I just admitted to that.  By 1999 I was already a well seasoned dieter.  I don't think I ever lost more than 5 lbs per stint and I always found a little more afterwards.

Eventually I gave up on weight loss and had my wedding rings made bigger. :(  That was a sad day, but it still didn't inspire me to lose weight.

In early 2001 I got my act in gear and joined Weight Watchers for the first time.  My starting weight was 160.6 and I was shocked that I weighed that much.  I had never weighed that much.  I set my goal weight at 135.  I was a golden Weight Watcher.  I got to goal in 4 months and shortly thereafter I lost another 5-6 pounds. 

Along the way my rings were too big and I took them off.  I was going to get my rings made smaller again but I really wanted to get to 125.  I told myself I'd have them made smaller when I got there.

Well ... I never got there!  I think the lowest I got was 128.something.  A year later, fall 2002, I was up around 140.  In 2003 I was 155, in 2005 I was in the 160s (over my original start weight) .  And it didn't stop!

I went back to WW's time and time and time again.  Losing a couple pounds here and there but never being able to stick to it.  The good news (I guess) was that my rings fit again, but putting them back on made me feel ashamed. 

Then came the day where they started to get tight again.  There was no way in hell I was getting them made bigger again.  I wouldn't say that was the thing that got me committed for life, but it certainly was part of it.  September 28, 2007 I hit an all time high (or all time low) of 174.6 and I finally got serious.

It took a little while as the weight loss was slower this time.  But eventually those rings were dangerously loose.  This time it was a very happy day when I had to take them off because I knew it would be for the last time.  I told myself then that at 145 I'd have them made smaller. 

So ... just before Christmas I took them in and had them re-sized.  I proudly told the sales clerk my story and it felt so good (she asked, apparently it's unusual to have rings made smaller after years of marriage - 17 1/2 yrs in my case).  I got them back a couple days before Christmas and it was the ultimate present.  I feel so proud to be wearing my rings again.  I feel like I've earned the right to wear them.

They will be my symbol of what I've achieved (thus far) and a reminder of where I've been.  They are proof that I can do anything I set my mind to and that I am capable of anything. 

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