The big 5 - 0

When I started this journey last January I thought it was the beginning of something major - but I had thought that before.  I can't even count the number of times I have tried to 'diet' in hopes of improving my self-image and confidence.  I have tried them all - point counting, calorie tracking, nutritional counselling - and although they were all successful in the beginning, eventually I always fell back into my old habits.  Many other January's I had resolved to lose the weight, and the following January would find me in the same spot - if not carrying a few more pounds.

I have been trying to figure out what made this time different.  What was it that finally changed in my head that wouldn't let me quit even when all I wanted to do was lay on the couch.  All I can come up with is this:  nothing changed, I just got sick of making excuses for myself.  I wish I could say that I had some epiphany about how great my life could be if I fixed this one part, but really it was just being sick of being fat.

It certainly hasn't been a quick fix.  I dreamed of losing 2 pounds a week every week, after all that is what all of the diets claim is possible right?  But that isn't the reality of it.  What is real is that even if it comes off half a pound at a time, at least it is coming off - and when you add it all up it is a pretty impressive number...in fact - Saturday marked the big 5 - 0.  That's right - 50 pounds gone - but certainly not forgotten.  For perspective I decided to look up things that weigh 50 pounds, so here they are (feel free to add more):

• A small bale of hay
• A 4 year old child
• A giant bag of dog food
• A small window air conditioner
• 6 gallons of water (almost 23 litres)
• 2 car tires
• 25 pairs of stilettos (just for Mich and Jen)
• 50 bricks of butter
• 5,000 sheets of photocopy paper (or a case of paper!)