New 40lb Loss Experiences

I’m down 40lbs total since the pre-surgery liquid diet.  I’m now 297, down from 337.  I’m noticing some wonderful changes to my body.  I’m down a dress size.  From 28 to 26 US.  The 26s from my closet are almost too lose, so size 24 is coming soon.  That means that I’ll be able to shop in 5 different stores in my city instead of just one.  However, I won’t be doing that just yet.  I’ll need to stick to thrift stores until my weight starts to stabilize more.  Shopping at thrift stores is totally cool with me.  I’m not very picky and my job is cool with me looking frumpy.  I don’t deal with clients.  I just sit in front of a computer all day.  The last time I lost 70lbs, I told my boss I might look frumpy because my clothes were all loose and I couldn’t afford to keep buying new ones.  She said it was totally cool and of no consequence at work.

There were a few cool things that happened today.  One happened when I had to dash out quickly to get groceries.  I was feeling hungry and didn’t want to go shopping like that.  I had no good protein choices that were quickly available, so I ate three olives and I’ve been satisfied for the last four hours.  I did grocery shopping and picked up dog and cat food.  Three olives wouldn’t have done jack all for my hunger before.  Now I’m good for four hours.  Probably more, but I’m making dinner after this post.  How crazy is that?  Three olives….

Another cool thing that happened today was that I noticed that my walking is different.  My legs are closer together.  I remember having to keep my legs wider to support my wider girth before.  I also had to swing my legs out wide every time I walked to keep my balance.  No more swinging at all.  I feel more feminine and less ginormous.

I leaned on my hip while stopping to look at something at the grocery store.  I made a mental check to not lean on the hip too long or else it would literally feel like it was going to be dislocated.  But wait!  My hip felt fine!  I had trained myself to remember not to lean on my hips too long.  I don’t need that habit anymore.  How nice.

I took a nice walk with one of my dogs after finishing the groceries.  I did my regular 2.2k route.  I could have gone farther, but I wanted to save time an energy for making dinner.  I completed my route in 45 minutes.  I completed it 10 minutes faster than usual.

While walking, I noticed a few nice things.  One was that I was picking up the pace.  As I picked up the pace, I noticed that my heart was working, but the beat felt different.  It didn’t feel like my heart was going to explode out of my chest.  It felt like a comfortable, working beat.  My lungs also didn’t feel like they were starving for air.  They had a nice, deep burning sensation like they were being worked, but it felt good.

Tonight, for dinner (and for the week’s lunches) I’m making a chicken soup with coconut milk, cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots.

I go back to work tomorrow for the first time since the surgery.  All my food is prepped and ready.  It will be my first day since the surgery that I won’t be able to take a three hour nap every day lol.  Oh how I will miss those naps.