As some of you may be aware, I live interstate from my family. The last time I saw them all was at Christmas, my weight high point. When I went over there with Flopsy I had one skirt of mine that fit, a couple of bigger tops, and then a pair of Flopsy's jeans and a few of his shirts. So not only was I pretty fat, I was looking an absolute treat *insert sarcasm* as well, walking around in my boyfriend's clothes.
One of the great fantasies I have been entertaining about losing weight, then, is that I'm planning that when I next visit my family I am going to step off the plane and they are going to all nearly faint, or possibly not even recognise me!!! The latter is unlikely since I was at this weight for many years, but I can dream can't I???
This weekend just gone however, I was faced with a somewhat awkward dilemma. My aunt happened to be visiting my new hometown, and called to see if we would like to catch up. I was initially really happy with this idea, because I do miss feeling connected with my family. After we had made the arrangement however, I started to fret. She would of course go home and report to my family about how I was going, and then she might blow my surprise!!! I agonised for some considerable period of time about this - my first thought was that I could wear my baggiest clothes (my size 15 jeans now) with some layers and a baggy jumper on the top - but still my face looks much thinner.
In the end I decided on the far more sensible option of telling her the truth and swearing her to secrecy. I felt a bit silly opening up this conversation with her where I said "Ummm, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I've ummmm *mumble* lost a lot of weight and...." anyway it went on from there and after the initial embarrassment it all went very well. She promises not to tell, and I can still have my fantasy moment. Phew!
What else can I tell you? The eating thing is still going well on track, I ate out last night and had spaghetti bolognese (I tend to eat not much of the sauce, so I wouldn't have had that much of the mince and it looked to be pretty good quality mince), water to drink and a skim milk hot chocolate afterward. Actually Flopsy and I went out for dinner on Friday night too. I really seem to be managing the whole going out thing quite well.
He and I have also been doing a lot of walking lately. He actually walks to and from work each day which is about a 4.5km round trip. On the weekend though, we have walked about 15kms together going in and out of the city and surrounds in the last couple of days a few times. Because we don't have a car, we often end up walking rather than getting suited-up to go out on the motorbikes.
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I am also feeling as though I have less to write about in my journal lately. I guess it's partly because this new way of living is not so new any more. I think it's also partly because I'm trying to get 'out there' in life a little bit more. However, I intend to try and write at least one or two times a week until well after I am a life time member. As I mentioned recently, I can't afford to get complacent now, and since I think this journal and the responses I've gotten have played a big part in my success, it would be just plain dumb of me to stop before I was well into maintaining over a longer period of time.
What's more, is I know there are actually people who are interested in how I'm going, so it would just suck of me to stop as soon as I got to goal. It's a funny thing, but writing my journal now almost feels like I have a reciprocal role of support with the people who bother to read and email or message me. At the risk of getting a little sentimental, thanks to everyone who reads and contacts me - and take some credit for having played a part in my journey to date. It's a really funny feeling because I know in my first journal entry I talked about having contacted Karen C after reading and being inspired by her journal, and I've had some pretty similar emails myself. I really like this cycle of support and friendship that is created. It may be online, but it's no less a community to me.