Reaching Onederland

Those who have ever had A LOT of weight to lose may be familiar with the word "Onederland." It refers to the milestone of having your weight start with the number 1 instead of the number 2. This morning, I weighed 199.5. I may have just barely squeezed under the bar, but that's good enough for me. It's been a LONG time since I've been the Onederland, and I am happy to be back. I recognize that it's just a milestone on a very long journey, but that's okay.

I met with a doctor to move forward with getting my hernia repaired. He wants me to get down to 180 first, which is the same thing the previous doctor requested. I'm okay with that. My intent is to lose a lot more than that, and I'm headed in that direction already. I have another appointment with him on January 7, and I would be very happy to reach that weight by then. That's a big goal, but I will continue to eat healthy and exercise, and see how close I can get. They asked me if I wanted to discuss the option of bariatric surgery to help me lose the weight, and I was thinking, 'Did I not just lose 30 pounds in less than 3 months? No thank you, I'm doing just fine on my own.' :)

Unfortunately, I have to plan my surgery around some trips. I am traveling to Germany with Cameron and the high school choir on Valentine's Day, and I have an Arbonne conference in Las Vegas in mid April. Finding a day with several weeks after it to heal up is challenging. I am hoping that I can schedule it for just after my February trip, so I will have about seven weeks till my next trip.

Not having a sweet tooth anymore is a real blessing. I can drink my herbal tea without sweetener now, where I used to put a teaspoon of sugar in it. I have had a few bites of chocolate over the past several weeks, and I am very content with the 80% cocoa variety, instead of milk chocolate. I even have some cocoa nibs in my house, which are 100% cocoa, and I have a bit for a treat every now and then. If I do taste a sweet treat, I just have one taste, and it's satisfying. I'm not compelled to stuff my face. It sounds really weird, doesn't it? It's weird for me. A whole, new world. I like it. I look forward to a happy holiday with my family that involves lots more than just baking and eating treats, and then weighing less on the other side of it. I am feeling good, moving better, and shrinking bit by bit. I'm glad I will fit better in my airplane seat in February! It will be a much more comfortable trip across the pond than in the past.

Thanks to all my friends for all our your support along the way. It means a lot. I am truly blessed. <3

New measurements are posted on my Success Log on the right.