Back in the Saddle Again

Last September I woke up one morning with a burning, shooting pain in my heel and found I could barely walk. After limping around for a week I went to the doctor and found I had Achilles tendonitis. I was fitted with a walking boot and sent home with crutches. I wore that boot for a month, and while I can walk normally most times, it has never fully healed. There is always some level of pain when I walk. The next step would be physical therapy, but I just cannot bring myself to commit to that at this time.

Not being able to exercise like I was used to, combined with the activity decline of the start of school, sedentary colder days, and comfort food, soon had me hiding from the scale altogether. Just before Thanksgiving I decided to bite the bullet and jump on just to see where I was at. Yikes! I had gained 16 lbs. since summer. You can't just throw out good pumpkin pie....and we had had an entire fridge shelf dedicated to pies for Thanksgiving.

Pie for breakfast...

Pie for mid-afternoon slump...

 Apple...

Lemon Meringue...

Pumpkin...

Well, I resolved to get back on track--after holiday feasting, of course. By the time I stepped back on the scale I had gained another 7 lbs. Just a couple weeks before Christmas I managed to lose a couple pounds, but after our last Christmas get-together the scale had blown straight over that little bit of progress. I was an exact 25 lbs. more than I was during the summer and scary close to a "milestone" weight I promised myself I would never EVER see again. Scary close. My "loose coat" was getting snug, some clothes I didn't even attempt to wear anymore. That shock woke me up, and January 13th I dusted off my Nutritionix Track app and climbed back in the saddle for good. 

One of the boys caught this candid shot of an evening snack choice. 🙄

I could bemoan my stupidity for erasing so much hard work. I could kick myself for letting go. But the truth is that the whole time I had in the back of my mind that this might happen. I know myself, and I enjoy food. I always will. Myself went on vacation for a bit and relished every minute of the yummy things I ate. 

You guys, I TURNED MYSELF BACK AROUND before I gained even half of the weight back. That's more than I can say about ANY weight loss I've had in the past. There will be more ups and downs, but I'm confidant each time I'll be able to make that turn around a bit sooner, that circle a bit smaller. And this time is so much easier being back in the saddle than any other time.

Just starting is really the hardest part. If I can do it--again and again and again--so can you!

*12 lbs. lost in the last 26 days! *