First week with food!

Well folks, I was allowed 4 oz of lean meat and 1/2 cup of cooked vegetables this week in lieu of one of my Optifast meals? How did it go? Sort of mixed, actually.



On the one hand, I did lose 2.5 pounds (good), on the other I was really stressed out all week. The holiday did not make it easier. (For my non U.S. readers: It was Independence Day on July 4th--a time of mega feasting in the the ole U.S.A. Apparently we Americans get back at the British by stuffing our faces with potato salad and becoming enormous, gelatinous, global overlords.) So, I couldn't rely on a schedule to keep me sane or even just focus on putting whole food back into my diet. It was rush, rush, rush--coupled with the stress of temptation and disappointing people. (Everyone says that they don't mind that I am not eating food, but it does make people uncomfortable. "Just one bite can't hurt" means they are uncomfortable when you are not eating.)



I got the through the week with only a few meltdowns and a lingering sense of unease about ballooning up to 235 pounds again. I had to do a lot of deep breathing. I've started doing visualizations before bed. I just lie in bed and listen to ocean sounds from my sound machine and visualize me doing different things like running a 5K in 30 minutes or being able to bend over and put my hands flat on the ground.



I think the visualization is helping. Last night I started living a quasi-normal lifestyle again (as I now may have a enough food to actually have a couple of meals a day) and spent 10 minutes organizing my food for today and getting my work and workout clothes ready (I am trying to run a few days a week at my school's track in the morning before school). It seemed like a hassle, but in reality, it didn't take that long. If you add in the time it took me to set up the coffee maker, it took fifteen minutes for me to prepare for a successful, healthy day.



Anyway, I am looking forward to this week's additions of 8 oz of dairy and one serving of fruit. It's yogurt and strawberries for lunch today! YUM!



The Numbers:



Starting weight: 224

Current weight: 176

Goal weight: 160

Goals:

Outer Goal: To look like an older version of Taylor Swift
Inner Goal: Staying focused and organized.

See you next week!