I've kept 22.5 pounds off for a whole year!

[Frostym]

It's been a year since dear Jim died. I spent three months in the hospital with him last summer and lost 22.5 pounds in that time. I ate everything I wanted but I only ate three times a day and I walked my feet off in that huge hospital. Of course, stress, almost constant weeping the first month, and a broken heart kinda killed my appetite.

I've been up and down with weight since then. This summer when it was SO hot, I gained back 7 pounds. Then I spent a week with my brother and his wife in Ok.
It was like being at a spa. Both of them are thin and eat practically nothing (in my book). I got used to it and lost 3 pounds when I was with them and have lost another five pounds since I came home. They taught me to give up red meat and cheese. I totally have and don't miss it one bit. The weight has come off effortlessly.

I feel much better. I don't get tired when I eat. My joints hurt 80% less. For two days I haven't needed any painkillers for my knees! Best of all, my mind is much clearer. I can remember long grocery lists with no trouble and keep several strains of business going with all the details taken care of. Best of all my blood pressure had come down forty- fifty points on the top- from 179 over 99 when I left for my trip to a low of 116- no higher than 135 on top and normal bottom levels. To me that's huge! I love this new lifestyle and will never go back to cheese and red meat.

Maybe you should try giving up cheese and red meat for a week. It can't hurt and it may be a life changer like it's been for me. Jingles, prayers, and good thoughts sent to you.

[MJ]

Wow, I don't want to go through what you have to get there but I am proud of you for taking the bull by the horns and making lemonade out of lemons. I want to lower my blood pressure and cholesterol. I have greatly reduced my cheese intake but still eat probably 1/4 c. of 2% cheese a week but I eat 7 wedges of Laughing Cow Cheese every week.

I am so glad you feel better, that is so great. Congrats and thanks for the support.

[Mary Ann]

Ha! Sometimes I think if it wasn't for WW, the Laughing Cow cheese company would go under. To me, it just doesn't have any taste.

I'm so proud of both of you! That's hard work you're doing, but the very best for your health. And with the added load of grief, Frosty, you are amazing. It's been a year already? That seems impossible. Even though I know you know where Jim has gone, the grieving process is such a journey, and a very lonely one at that. I pray that the sharpness of the pain of your loss has lessened somewhat.

[Sheryl]

Frosty, I am so happy for you! Keeping it off is the hard work.

I think that keeping yourself physically healthy must really be helping you overall. It is so much easier to cope with life's challenges when you physically feel better. I heard a nutritionalist refer to being overweight as "malnourished" - because many times eating too much of the wrong things interfers with proper nutrition. Sounds like you are taking care of yourself.

I came over here to post an update on how I am doing. I lost about 25 pounds on Nutrisystem - just thrilled - but am probably needing to do the next thing. It did the job of getting me started, but isn't a lifetime plan. I am so craving more grains and potato. I am happy to be just holding steady with where I am at now, but need to be losing more.

[MJ]

Congratulations!!! 25 is great. So what are you doing for the next step?