So in 2021, I regained every pound and then some that I lost in 2020

However, in retrospect, I'm looking back over this year to try to find a silver lining and I realized that though I did regain my weight, I have succeeded in making some good dietary changes.

1) I don't just go hog-wild on portion sizes anymore. I find that I am aware of how much something is calorie level and stick to smaller portions and less calorie dense options at restaurants and such. I may still be poor at guessing the total calorie count because I stink at judging a portion size, but I'm going for single hamburgers without cheese instead of doubles, when I do get fries, I get a small instead of a large - or even go for a hamburger happy meal at McDonald's for the 100 calorie kids size fry instead of a regular small, and go for a mini frosty or a mini blizzard when I crave ice cream or even just a smaller cone instead of sundae.

2) I'm automatically looking for healthier, lower calories options, such as routinely going for a side salad with a lower calorie dressing instead of french fries, shoot for sauted or grilled or steamed veggies instead of rice or potato with my steak, go for a smaller, leaner steak than a larger, fattier one, and go for grilled chicken instead of breaded. I find myself going for lower calorie snacks instead of candy bars or chips or looking for much smaller options, and I prefer to use skim milk or unsweetened almond milk instead of coffee creamer.

3) I don't drink my calories. I've gotten myself trained to drink unsweet tea or go for alternate sweeteners for my drinks, using 0 or very low calorie drinks instead of higher sugar options. I'm even to the point where I don't like the regular versions - for example: I have found I don't like regular Dr. Pepper anymore; I'm much rather have the diet version!

So while yes, I'm back to eating too much again, I'm not eating quite a much as I was before I starting losing weight and the quality of those calories that I am taking in is much better than before.

I suppose I can call that a win, right?

Well it’s kind of a scale victory but.... I got weighed at the doctor’s office yesterday. I weighed exactly the same as I did in May. But yesterday I was wearing heavier clothes, a sweater and full shoes rather than T-shirt and sandals. So buck nekkid I’m probably down about two pounds? The victory part is having maintained a stable weight over the holidays and 8 months. A totally new experience for me 🤩🥳. Maybe I have some maintenance basics figured out? Time to work harder this year.