Time for a check in

It has been 5 months since I started AltShift. It was rough going in the beginning. I had to change the way I thought about food and exercise. I had to change the way I ate. I had to change the way Hubby cooked since he does all the cooking. It was a big deal and a long transition period. In some ways, Hubby still struggles with it, but I have settled into it. It has now become my comfortable place. I haven't had anything sweet in weeks. I don't crave sweets at all anymore. My reaction is even starting to change towards them. I don't look at them and think those would taste good, I look at them and think, yuck. Yesterday we had a staff meeting and they usually feed us lunch at those things. I was kind of dreading what they might offer and was planning how to get out of eating it or only eating a little. Well, turns out they didn't have lunch for us and instead brought donuts. I did not even for 1 second consider having a donut. Not even for a nanosecond. Just couldn't do it. They also had juice and milk and I did consider a glass of milk, but in the end, had nothing. I had walked to the meeting, so after I walked home and order an unwhich from Jimmy Johns. Best decision ever.

But, the reason for this post is that I weighed and measured myself yesterday. 5 months in. I'm so very proud of myself and am feeling so many benefits from this lifestyle. I have energy like I'd never thought I'd have again. Seriously. There are days when I'm bouncing off the walls. I love it. I still get tired around 1 or 2 in the afternoon, but it is not that crippling, I can't go on anymore, tired. It is just the, wow, it's been a long day and I still have more to go, tired. It generally passes fairly quickly and I'm myself again. I'm much happier. I'm not sure why that is, but I am. Things don't bother me as much as they used to. I also feel like I'm coming from a good place in the things I do. I can't explain it, but I would do things because I was bored or tired or sad, but I don't feel like that now. I feel like I'm coming from a place of joy and happiness. Anyway, the point of this is to get my gains (loses?) on paper. So here goes.





Weight

Sept 2017: 227.8

Feb. 2018:  197.4

Loss: 30.4#


BodyFat

Sept 2017: 49.7

Feb. 2018: 46.6

Loss: 3.1% which equates to 21#


Chest

Sept 2017: 49.0

Feb. 2018: 45.0

Loss: 4 inches


Waist

Sept. 2017: 44.5

Feb. 2018: 38.75

Loss: 5.75 inches


Hips

Sept. 2017: 50.0

Feb. 2018: 44.0

Loss: 6 inches

Total inches lost (not all are listed here) = 19.75

Not too shabby. All of my clothes are looser and I'm fitting into things that I haven't fit into in years. I honestly don't remember the last time I was below 200#. It was at least 5 years ago. So I'm feeling pretty amazing about that. Now for the real evidence:

Look at the freaking difference. That top doesn't even fit anymore. It is so loose. Same with the bottoms. I could never get in the pool with those on anymore, they would float right off. I just can't believe it. To look so much better and to feel so much better. Yikes. Why exactly did I wait so long?

Okay, this was a checkup. I may do another one next month or I may wait until April for my birthday. Depends on how I feel.

So that leads me to another thought. Do you know how freeing it is to not think about some things all the time? I no longer think about food 24/7. During all my dieting phases, food was constantly on my mind. When was the next meal? What was I going to eat? Did I have point/macros/whatever to have a snack/dessert/whatever? Oh god, I'm so glad to be done with all that. I don't get hangry. I do get a little tired when I start to get hungry, but it's not that bad. I generally don't think about my next meal until it's getting near time for that next meal. I don't have to think about exercise, except for getting my steps on the weekend. So I have so much less to think about now. I'm so glad I started AltShift and more important, I'm glad I've stayed.