2010: A Darn Good Year

In a couple of days, I'll have been following the Medifast program for five months. Prior to that, I had been eating healthily and exercising since the beginning of the year, and had already seen significant progress in weight loss/strength gains at the time I started with Medifast.

The progress continues to be steady (and wonderful.) Just now, I noticed that my "new" black skirt (size 18) has about 4" of extra fabric at the waistline. (Size 16 may be here sooner than I thought!)

Back in the winter, I could not have imagined how much better my life could be by the end of the year.

Some of the wonderful aspects of the wellness journey:

I am rarely incontinent now. Woot! That alone would be worth celebrating with great fanfare.

I feel sexy and flirtatious.

The swelling in my legs is drastically better! Woot again!!

My skin looks younger and healthier.

I look younger and healthier (one friend said 20 years younger!)

I am tons stronger. When I started exercising, a simple action like rolling over in bed was growing "iffy". While I do have significant paralysis in some of the muscles in my legs, many of the otherwise healthy muscles in my trunk and hips were atrophied and weak from under use. Since I have been doing exercises in bed for about 30 minutes each night, my abdominal and back muscles grow significantly stronger. When I started, I couldn't do a sit up. Now, I do 100 each night. I have an exercise routine that I constantly adjust to provide challenge. Once something becomes easy, I add more resistance or increase the repetitions. There's no method to my madness other than doing what feels instinctive and exercising muscles in a way that feels like "work" but doesn't feel like pain.

Back in January, there wasn't one part of my body that I found attractive. Now, I grow increasingly delighted to gaze into the mirror. I love my neck and shoulders. I love my arms. I love my ribcage. I love my slim lower legs and love wearing skirts.

Back in January, I couldn't imagine that I would ever date. It was inconceivable... I felt unhealthy. Shoot, I was unhealthy and couldn't conceive of dating or romance. As I grow increasingly healthy, my attitude is, "Darn, I had no idea that an attractive/strong/healthy woman was hiding in there and, not only is it possible that I might date again, but I'm fairly certain it's in the cards in the not too distant future."

Back in January, I felt very, very disabled. Crippled. Today, I feel strong and lithe, and know that I've really just begun to see how wonderfully responsive my body can be. I can easily imagine that a year from now, I have the potential to be a very fit, healthy, athletic wheelchair user.

A year ago, my body was a runaway train about to jump the track. Today, I am chugging happily along and feeling quite pleased and happy with the journey so far.

Best guess: I've lost about 50 pounds. so far. Way to Go, Lynna!!!!!!!!