WEEK 44: Prepping for the Gauntlet

First, the dirty details.  I am at 260.2 pounds.  That is about a 2.5 pound drop from last checkin.  Of course, that all happened in the last week.  For most of this cycle, I actually had been up a couple pounds.  Friday was the first drop I saw, and then it went down a little on Monday as well.  I just bought a few warmer shirts for the winter.  I was very comfortably in XLT shirts.  If I don't have the tall option, XXL works - but the length is hit or miss.  I went to American Eagle the other day just to see what happened.  There were several clearance XXL shirts that I loved.  They fit great - when I was standing.  But they spread when I sat.  And they were a little too short.  This is the problem with stores like Gap, Old Navy, AE, A&F.  They use a smaller sizing system than they used to - and smaller than other companies.  A XXL at Old Navy may be equal to a XL at Sears.  Kind of frustrating.  That usually means I'm still stuck in the Big and Tall section and their limited options.  Oh well, I can't get shorter.

We have a night wedding this December to go to.  Since it is customary to dress nicer for those, I tried on my suit.  This is the same suit that I had to get altered to be able to wear it to Heather's gala in April.  It was ridiculous.  The shirt was billowing.  I had to pull the pants up to my chest to have them stay up.  The jacket wasn't bad, but you could tell it was too big.  I had lost like 45 pounds since April!  So I'm not sure what to do about that.  I don't know if it can get taken in as much as it needs.  If not, I may have to find a suit deal.  And then hope it still fits come April for this year's gala.

So far, the grand total is 95 pounds.  I really have wanted to lose 100 by the end of the year, but I'm not sure if that will happen or not.  At the rate I've been losing, five pounds in six weeks is a pretty tall order.  I haven't seen that kind of drop in months.  Technically, I don't hit the one year mark until January 18.  So if I don't hit 255 by December 31, if I can do it by January 18 I will be happy.  I really believe that this is the worst time of year to try to lose weight.  It is like a perfect storm of diet crushing.  There is travel, staying at other people's houses, losing your safe routine of foods and restaurants, baked goods, holiday feasts.  It is a real challenge.

For me, this is my favorite time of year.  All year I look forward to Thanksgiving week through New Year's.  It just makes me happy.  I love seeing family, getting presents, eating holiday food, getting presents, the cooler weather, getting presents, the general feeling and excitement of the season, getting presents, and - of course - getting presents.  The food is a very big part of the holiday.  Shoot, in America we almost define these holidays by what is served.  Thanksgiving has become Turkey Day.  There's the Christmas Ham or Roast Beast and Christmas Cookies.  New Year's comes with copious alcohol and buffet spreads - or more ham.

I loved this in year's past.  It seemed like all my favorite foods were located in this season.  Pumpkin stuff, pies galore, turkey, cranberries, ham, cookies, holiday breads, pecan pickups, sour cream cookies, chocolate cool whip cookies, shortbread.  Snacking was accepted.  No one got on your case when you wander through the kitchen and snag a couple cookies.  In fact, if you didn't eat those things, people wondered what was wrong with you.  What other time of year is is perfectly acceptable to give people a plate of food as a present?!?  I remember working at churches and the staff area was always jammed with snacks the entire month of December.  As a teacher, I would get a ton of baked goods.  And then there are the Christmas parties.  We haven't been to those since we moved, but before that it seemed there were several each year.  Those were just a green light to snarf snacks of all kinds.  It was awesome.  Food and holidays go hand in hand.

This year, I now stand at a kind of gauntlet.  I have made it through ten months.  So far, every holiday or celebration I was worried about has been conquered.  I've survived traveling, cookouts, birthdays, Halloween, Easter.  And I haven't cheated with any of my no-no foods.  The next six weeks is going to be the biggest challenge.  I don't think that I will cheat - I have too much invested in this.  It is just going to be hard to watch and know what I'm missing.  I don't think the cheating is the question.  It is the mental struggle.

For example, at our house Friday night is often pizza night.  We either get pizza or make it and watch tv. It is a nice little ritual.  But I haven't been able to participate for ten months.  Usually it isn't a big deal.  There is no way I am eating the pizza.  But there are times when it is very very hard.  I have to go get the pizza or prepare it.  Then I have to cut it and dole it out.  And the whole time I can't have it.  I have to smell it, touch it, watch people eat it.  And then I go to my bowl of leftover beans and rice and whatever meat wandered into it.  It isn't easy.  People don't remember that.

That's what I'm worried about for the holidays.  We have Thanksgiving, a wedding in South Carolina, Heather's birthday, Natalie's birthday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day.  All of those bring with it their own collection of problem foods.  But then there is also the constant presence of the holiday accessories.  Usually if I am facing a tough challenge, once it is over I can just move on.  With this, it doesn't end.  It is just a continuing string of those days.  I know it isn't possible to expect everyone else to forego their holiday celebrations because of me.  So I am going to have to steel myself.

Josiah will come up to me on pizza night or at the movies and ask me if I am sad that I can't have the food or the candy or soda.  I will usually respond with this.  "For most of my life I never told myself no.  I enjoyed those things enough in my first 36 years to last me the rest of my life."  That goes for holidays too.  I have had more than my share of good times on those days.  I have eaten pies, cookies, candies, sausage balls, mashed potatoes, and holiday bread enough to last a lifetime.  Now is the time to do it right - to be controlled.  Yes, it is hard missing out on things.  But I never did before - I never said no.  It is time I learned that.

Be praying for me this holiday season - and for all those people close to you with weight problems.  Understand just how hard it is for them.  Every tray of baked goods that comes into the office, every party, every gift exchange.  They all are stressful.  Each one comes with the battle.  Each time they give in they get crushed with guilt and shame and anger.  And that just makes the process worse later.  I know it is impossible to change the holiday.  People are not going to go for a celery swap any time soon.  But maybe you can be an encouragement to those people who struggle during this season.  Be sensitive to them and find a way to include them - without making it super obvious.  "HEY FATTY!  I brought salad for you!!!"  Not what I meant.  Just be thoughtful.  And if you don't struggle, well there is something else to be thankful for on Thursday.