Where Have I Been? Where Am I Now?

Good morning all!  This "use to be" active blogger sure fell off the deep end.  In many ways, really.  From my blog about heading to the Biggest Loser Resort to now.
{http://countdowntobiggestloserresort.blogspot.com/ (great read if you need a kick n the butt)}

If you've been reading my blogs throughout the years, you have seem many upsides and some downsides of my life.  I have picked up blogging with promise of good health only to disappear after a single entry.  And here I am once again...only its different this time...let me explain.



I started blogging at the age of 50, and here I am "58" years old, WOW!
That's 8 years of the ups and downs of Cat and her health!  I have been blessed to have no real issues to talk about.  Of course, my failing feet and the loss of my mom have been serious setbacks for me.

I am professing now that I weighed in at 196 the first week of August!  I was avoiding the scale at all cost because I knew my weight was rising for months yet I let it continue.
Not sure why I did this time, I've come to accept not having my mom anymore. I've had the joy of becoming a grandma 7 times since I started blogging, and 2 of those babies were born in 2017.  I have no real grasp on why I let myself go, "I just did", (sigh).




Now...If you know me, you know I am easily faithful to dieting and have strength in willpower.  But when you try so hard to drop weight and after a month the scale says, oh you lost 2.5 pounds after a month of  kicking butt...well you know...do you quit? do you try something new?  increase the exercise?  What?
In my case,  I have a tested RMR (resting metobolic rate) of 1200 calories, thats only enough calories to maintain.  Without exercise I never lose weight.  Weightloss has always been about working out and watching my calories.

After my successful 60 pound weightloss back at age 50 (all in my blog link above), I gained a lot of it back when I got plantar fasciitis followed by muscle atrophy in my left ankle.  Since, then the struggle has been real to take off any weight, because now I had no way of getting the kind of exercise I needed to go along with such a low calorie diet.

So here I am weighing in at 196 pounds on my small 5.2 body frame. YIKES!

What has changed?  My husband, who really knows my struggles pointed out a friend of his who

lost a crazy amount of weight on a diet. So now I become somewhat intrigued.  I don't know his friend but he shows me before and after pictures of his friend and his now positive attitude.  I immediately google the program, but dismiss it. 
What follows, is our mutual close friend on the same program and he is a changed man!  I mean every facet of his being is renewed!  This is a guy we hold near and dear to our heart, but truth is, he slipped away and we feared for his life, both mentally and physically.  But now, he was alive and well!  He was rejoicing and proclaiming his complete joy in weight loss and good health.  He was now spreading the word, and I could NOT ignore him.  Once again, I was googling the program and I decided to dive right in!
I didn't ask for assistance, I'm a very determined and independent woman and I am all the support I need.  Okay, so I learned, support is great!  I reached out to my friend and he hugged me from 300 miles away!  He was so happy that I joined the program and thanks to reaching out to him, I learned the most important thing for me was to set an alarm to eat every 2.5 -3 hours.  Wow, that has changed my life!  I use to forget to eat till I was starving because I'm a big multi-tasker and rarely relax, this really effects my eating habits.  When I am working on any given project food becomes that thing I grab when my body says "hey feed me!".
Now, I rely on Siri to tell me when to eat, and I eat! Every 2.5 to 3 hours successfully!

If you made it down to here, I commend you on reading this far as I am a bit winded about my newest life changing experience.  First of all, my plan is called Optavia, its super easy to order online, you read the food choices and pick what you want.  It comes in the mail and there you go.  You eat 5 of these very small meals a day, aka "fuelings"  and add one lean and green meal each day.  I have been on the plan 2 months now and know my "go to" favorites.  I always have a few bars in my purse because I'm always on the go and it keeps me eating on schedule. It's super easy and really keeps me grounded and able to satisfy any craving.  Financially, I spent way more money eating out and ordering in then I do now.   Oh and there is no exercise involved which is super important to me, I hope to regain my feet when they are not carrying an over abundance of extra weight. Exercise can be included, you just have an adjusted plan, and a good walk everyday is not essential but great for your muscles!
http://www.optavia.com/

I  had the mindset, that this too will fail me.  When the scale seemed slow, I felt as though the plan was failing me again.  Truth is, I splurged  a few times for my birthday week.  That slowed progress down.  I even told my coach that I was considering quitting because I was feeling that the program was not working anymore.  But I was very wrong, the scale is shocking me as it continues to drop unlike any other program I've been on.

So in this post, I proclaim to you, that as of today, I am weighing in at 176 pounds!  I have lost 20 pounds in 2 months!  I am regular (TMI), I have energy every day and I have no desire to cheat, I eat mac n cheese, brownies, ice creams and so much more.  I am so grateful to have found this program and have ordered my fuelings for month 3, which hasn't started yet, so I guess technically I've lost 20 pounds in less that 2 months.

This is a fantastic plan to help you get back your life, and I really encourage anyone struggling to do it!  There are 1000's of success stories and pictures that go with them, as well as a great support page on Facebook once you start the program.  If you refer friends, they can get a $25 credit for your next order as well.  I'm not telling you that so you can say I referred you, just so YOU know. (I'll take the referral of course lol)

 If you've been looking for real help, I truly believe in this.  I hope I reach out to some of my struggling friends and convince you to try it.  If you do, definitely keep me updated as there is a lot to be said for losing weight and gaining health with your friends.

I am so thankful, I can't even express it enough. Thank you Jimmy for sharing on Facebook your journey, you found me, it found me, and I appreciate the support you give me as well as the support I am receiving from everyone on the plan.

In closing,  I can see my future and I see it in skinny jeans and its not worlds away!