What's Your Most Recent NSV

I went thru 2 drive thru fast food windows yesterday. It was a surreal experience.

I have not been at a drive-thru window for months. I used to be a drive-thru binger/stress eater. I'd serve healthier meals at home for the family but in times of stress I'd run errands and stop along the way to drive-thrus, scarfing down junk and disposing of the evidence.

I wasn't even there for me, I was helping out a couple of other people in the local community theater group my son's a part of, they were working hard building sets all morning and I offered to run the errands and grab them lunch.

Sharing my journal entry:

The smell hit me as I was pulling up to the first one... that fast food smell mixture of burgers and fries-- no, not burgers or fries. Grease they cooked burgers and fries in. The smell of grease was overpowering as it was the lunch rush.

Strangely it wasn't as appetizing as I remember it. It stirred memories of comfort and familiarity, but also of over-eating and losing control. I recalled the emotional roller coaster food always put me on back then... the euphoric high that came with the first scent and bit, followed by the low that came shortly after: the disgust I felt for myself.

I looked at the menu, at all the foods I that at one time I'd have braved storms or risked danger to get.

"Am I still tempted by these?" I wondered. "Would I eat them if I let myself have them?" Oddly, the answer came: no. It's not that they didn't look good on some level, but an inferior kind of good to the healthy, wholesome foods I've been getting used to in the last few months. Why would I ever have trouble passing on these? They looked sloppy... excessive... cheap.

The phrase "slow poisons"-- a mantra I began using months ago whenever I was tempted by something bad for me -- came to mind. I used to say it to try and convince myself-- now it came to mind because I whole-heartedly believed it.

I placed the meal order for the acquaintance and got myself an ice water because I forgot my bottle. I thought for a second about treating myself to a diet soda, but I wasn't even really craving it. Why have something I don't need just for the hell of it? I sipped the water-- cool, clean, pure.

"Good choice," I told myself.

I could smell the fries as I pulled back onto the road. Used to be I couldn't resist snacking on fries while driving away from fast food places. I had to admit, now they were beginning to smell a little good, but not good enough.

What would happen if I ate just one? Could I handle it? Not that I was going to try-- but I wondered. It was just so weird being so close to something that has come to be thought of as some kind of enemy, and it sitting there, and seemingly having no power over me.

I went to the next drive-thru. It was also busy, so I sat there looking at the menu, waiting to order for someone else. It still felt weird not getting anything for myself. Weirder still, I didn't want anything.

I brought the food back and set off to take the dog for some exercise on the nearby walking trail. As I walked along side the river, watching the waters swelled from the recent rainfall rush by, I reflected quietly on the experience.

There was a time when even if I had just eaten a big dinner, if I went thru a drive thru, or if someone offered to go, I would have ordered a large meal. It wasn't about being hungry or full, it was about the experience of consuming it.

So what does this mean? Have I changed? Is this new-found resistance ... no, it wasn't resistance. I didn't have to resist it. It was more like, instead of attracting me this time, it repelled me.

Was it a fluke, though? Will I have weaker moments, moments during which fast food will once again be like a siren call to me? It felt good not feeling overpowered with desire and temptation, but I'm slightly scared about how things will go if/when the time comes when I face off with fast food and I am not repelled by it. It's easy to resist that which does not tempt you; but will I be able to resist that which does?

Either way, I'm taking this as a win. It's proof that something has changed-- that I've changed. Even if I don't win every battle, I feel more confident than ever that I can win the war.

I keep having to adjust my car seat because my butt is shrinking, but it appears my arms & legs are staying the same length -- so the steering wheel & pedals keep moving ever so slightly out of reach

Today I was standing in the kitchen prepping food, and I noticed that I didn't need to sit down in order to rest my aching back.

I walk regularly now, and my daily average step count for September was around 6,900. That would have been absolutely unimaginable back in June. I've discovered some beautiful new spots to walk, including a trail right by my house that always intimidated me. Now I walk it a few times a week.

In September I went down another bra size, and now it's already on the tightest hook. Had to order a couple new ones My first clothing purchase since I started losing weight.

@MacLowCarbing That is an epic mindset shift, congratulations! I went to an appointment the other day (a type of appointment that does NOT traditionally feature food) and was offered donuts. Wasn't even tempted. That would have been entirely unthinkable four months ago. Zero interest.

My A1C has normalized! It's now at 5.2% (down from 5.7% in 2020 and 2022). That's pretty much smack in the middle of the normal range. I'm no longer pre-diabetic

I’m finally walking again! Feeling stronger.

Donated the last of the larger sized clothing that was still in my closet. Unfortunately it was all of the fall/winter clothing that I had left. Lots of empty hangers in there!

Making realistic fitness goals.

My collarbones were really visible this morning, then I realised I am really sunburnt! so not sure if it's an nsv

Have decided to try and focus on being healthy rather than losing weight after a rough month

All my jeans fit! I had to go digging as my frequently used pair was in the laundry and I was looking at the two pairs in my wardrobe wondering which was bigger. Tried on both - no issue and the number on the tag was actually smaller than I recalled!

My waterproofs kind of fit too - they’re the type with Velcro openings on the hips to access the pockets in your trousers underneath and if I leave those slits open I can use them without issue.

Still no luck with the hiking trousers though. I get them over my hips but it’s a hand’s width gap at least to button them.

I found some old paperwork from 2004. My doctor had put me on a diet to lose 20 lbs because I was "grossly overweight". I was the exact same weight and size I am now at that time! Basically, I weigh now what I weighed in 2004. I haven't seen these numbers in almost 20 years.

My average weekly step count is now more than double what it used to be!

Surprised myself while doing an apple fitness+ lower body workout with instructor Kyle… had some CrossFit moves I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do and was prepared to go with the modifier if I failed… I tried and succeeded!! I can jump squat and lunge jump.. 🤭 oh my,… my thighs are like jello now. 💪

I did c25k this summer and have been running with an online running group since. Yesterday the company that runs it had their 10 year anniversary and organised a celebratory run in my city (they also have physical groups). It was billed as a light jog where they adapt to the slowest person in the group but I was still hesitant. I almost didn’t go since it was also a bit chilly last night.

But it was a blast! I had no problem keeping up and I had the biggest smile all evening 😃 no idea what pace or distance we went since I’ve purposefully let go of measuring things like that, but I came home happy and that’s all that counts.

This is probably a silly one, but I was able to put all of my laundry in the dryer. This is a victory because I used to have to hang up most of my tops to dry, so they wouldn’t shrink. All of my tips barely fit, and I was afraid of even the smallest amount of shrinkage. Now, everything fits or is too big, so I don’t have to worry about tossing them all in the dryer! (It’s the little things in life, right?)

takinitalloff wrote: »

I walked up three flights of stairs without stopping, or getting totally out of breath. I've been working toward this all summer/fall.

I didn't think about this as a nsv until I read yours, but--
The other day I was on the tenth floor and the elevator was soooo slowwww, so I thought I'd take the stairs a flight or two, then I'd be more patient. I ended up walking the whole way. I'll try UP the stairs next time. I bet I'll be really patient. LOL.