Well what a sweet surprise to find myself part of today's inspiration! A nice way to begin a day that will be rather melancholy for me.

Warning - long post ahead - not a rant - just me being sentimental and honest.

I weighed 197 on the scale this morning. The last time I weighed 197 (ish) was May 25, 2009. I was actually probably low to mid 190's that day. That morning, I was driving my mom home after a week visit - we were about 30 minutes from her house, trying to decide where to have lunch, when a car ran a stop sign (she was talking on her cell phone), t-boned me right where my mom was sitting. Mom died 4 days later. As you can imagine, I was an emotional mess for the next year. At the one year anniversary, I remember thinking that I had made it through the year, it was painful, but I was going to be OK. (Side note - soon after the accident, I started a list of things to be thankful for - there eventually were 23 things on that list - which helped me tremendously).

Then on July 10, my husband of 32 years told me he was leaving. I remember having lunch with a cousin and as I sat there crying, telling her what was happening, she reached across the table, took my hands, and said "Diane, we sat here just a few weeks ago and you told me how much stronger you felt. Maybe your moms final gift to you was helping you find the strength to get through this." And she was right - I had to dig deep and be stronger than I thought possible.

My weight fluctuated but by February 2012 I was at least 235 (I stopped weighing myself at that point). In church one Sunday, they invited anyone to join a team to run the Chicago Marathon for charity. I sat there and thought "I have had to do things I did not want to do, things I never thought I would have to do - that I had no choice and was dragged through. So now I'm going to CHOOSE to do something hard to prove to myself how strong I am." So I signed up - put the training schedule on my refrigerator, very diligently ran all the miles - and crossed that finish line, crying tears of joy, on October 12, 2012, with my 3 adult daughters cheering me on. I weighed 212 that day. From there I fluctuated from 205 to 225, never breaking below 205.

Don't feel sorry for me for those two years of pain. I made it - I'm a stronger, better, happier person. It wasn't easy, but I was not going to let that divorce define who I am, and I couldn't let the sorrow of the accident change my outlook on life. I really am stronger and I continue to take on challenges. However, the challenge of my weight was something I just couldn't conquer. On January 1, 2020 I weighed 225 and joined WW - I lost about 17 pounds, and put 9 of those back on. On January 1, 2021, I joined the UAC, started listening to the Half Size Me podcast, and have a whole new perspective on weight loss, healthy living, and goal-setting. So there you have it - the bottom line is, STICK WITH IT - don't quit - set realistic goals - listen to the very good advice from very wise people on this thread.

Follow-up - I am very happily remarried - thanks to matchmaker friends - who I was rather annoyed with the day she said told me her husband had a patient he wanted me to meet. It took them a year before I finally agreed to meet this guy "fine, I'll meet him and get it over with". We married almost exactly one year after meeting. Henry's wife had died of cancer 5 years earlier and he wasn't eager to date again either. But here we are - he is the kindest man I've ever known. Sometimes we drive each other crazy, but there is such respect and admiration - and I couldn't be more thankful.

Congratulations - you've made it to the end - thanks for letting me bare my soul.

@biketheworld Thank you for that, I was incredibly moved.
25th May
3 x Yes.
Exercise: 60 minutes total: 30 minutes walking with my partner to his Poetry group, as he'd forgotten how to get there, and 30 minutes brisk walk on my own, walking back.
Calories: Bang on target without using exercise calories.
Tracking: Yes, logged everything.
Off to Paris again tomorrow, for my second Covid jab. Train at 5.15, yes, a.m.! Have prepared my breakfast and lunch and planned my dinner - I'll be back home for that ...

25 May

Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? yes
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? yes
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? yes
Pass days used:1

@biketheworld thank you for sharing your history. What an incredible story. It makes our family seem just a little bit closer.

@Dory_42 does your Mom know where she picked the covid up from? I am glad you are able to get help for your sinus issues! And yeah for getting better!

@Chinkiri looking forward to seeing the fabulous palace setting for your second jab. Good luck tomorrow.

Thinking of Maddie today and hoping her procedure is ok.

Summer

MAY 25
T ✅ 25 | C ✅ 4 | E ✅ 16 [> 20 min walk]

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@biketheworld I was very touched by your story, thank you!

@biketheworld - I literally had tears of joy while "feeling" your inspiring journey to that finish line in Chicago by reading your heartfelt post. Thank you for sharing your amazing SV, which is obviously so much more than just that number.

May 25

Exercise: Yes

• 19 mins Yoga
• 45 min Run
• 64 min Walk
• 33 mins Strength (DB Rows, DB Overhead Press, Band Woodchoppers)

Calories: Yes (under)
Tracked: Yes (everything)

Pass Days: 1/3 (14th)

May 25:

❌ EXERCISE: No.
✔️ CALORIES: Yes. 1579/1900 (I've raised this to maintenance level because I won't be able to exercise for several days)
✔️ TRACK: Yes.

PASSES USED: way too many

"Never let your failures go to your heart or your successes go to your head."

@biketheworld Thanks for sharing your inspiring story. It made me cry as well. {{{HUGS}}} on this anniversary of your mother's passing (in 4 days).

Yesterday (Mon) I woke up at 5am with excruciating pain in my lower abdomen that was relentless and would not let up. When my hubby got up I told him about it and he convinced me that I needed to go to Urgent Care or to the ER. I was just about to put on my shoes when I passed out -- I think from the pain (it had actually gotten worse!) AND he was in the process of taking my BP which turned out to be 89 over 45. He said my head lolled to the side and my hands started shaking. He was afraid I was having a stroke or seizure. So he began to shake me and immediately called the squad. After a CT scan, and spending 5 hours in the ER, I was scheduled for an appendectomy.

I was in so much pain for 11 hours leading up to the surgery, and I hadn't eaten anything. I'd had a cup of coffee, but nothing to eat until 7pm Mon night. I had a salad, 4 oz of salmon, and chocolate ice cream! Lol.

Did I exercise for at least 20 minutes? Yes, an 85 minute trail run/walk, and 2 hours strength training.
Did I stay within my calorie budget for the day? Yes
Did I keep track of everything I ate and drank? Yes

Day #7 75 Hard Challenge complete.

I need a pass day even though I walked and did cardio work that cold beer on a humid day was so nice….so until tomorrow I start again

Pass day #1 I think

Yes x3
No alcohol or chocolate today

Exercise:✅
Tracked:✅
Under:✅

SummerSkier wrote: »

@Dory_42 does your Mom know where she picked the covid up from?

She got it from me 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ She picked me up from the airport before we had any idea that I had it. Although we isolated as soon as I had any symptoms, it was too late by then.