u/believe247365

I’ve been traveling through Europe for three weeks, so I have not weighed myself, but my clothes feel significantly looser. I have enjoyed myself thoroughly, eating whatever I want, of course in moderation since I can hear my hunger cues clearly now.

And of course I have been walking like a mad woman, an average of 7 miles a day. Can’t wait to get home in a few days and get on that scale. I think the best thing about this experience is that I have learned to relax about my food, trust the process, and enjoy life.

Curious, who has come back from a trip (or just a season of saying yes to life) feeling lighter in body and spirit, even without knowing the number on the scale yet? What helped you trust the process instead of white-knuckling it? That’s the new me I want to fully discover.

I took my first shot Saturday, August 1. I have been on this weight loss journey, like many here, for a long, long time.

I can still remember my then 5 year old daughter (now 34) responding to my sister's innocent question, wanting some hints to buy me a birthday gift, "Does your mom collect anything?"

"Yes!" my sweet girl said immediately. "She collects diet books!"

Name a diet, I've done it. I avoided meds of all kinds because I thought it was the easy way out. I have overcome and accomplished so much in my life, so I should be able to conquer my weight struggles, right?

This past month, I listened to the audio version of Enough by Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Ania Jastreboff, and I felt as if someone was finally letting me in on a long held secret: "It's not your fault." The food noise. My body fighting me every step of the way to get me back to my 202-210 set point. Wow.

And though I was seemingly able to win the battle some of the time, ultimately I'd end up losing the war yet again, accumulating more shame and despair underneath the "Miss Sunshine" facade I've mastered. Then I'd pull myself back up by my bootstraps and white knuckle my way to yet another plan. Insanity.

I have done a lot of research to get me here, so I'm ready: hydrate, keep up with electrolytes, protein first, small meals, prioritize sleep, track, plateaus are part of the journey. I know how to do all of it, I've done it a thousand times before, except that I didn't have a tool to help ease the biology that has been secretly fighting me.

The Numbers:
SW 202.8
GW 140
Dose: 2.5

At 60, I have many dreams, goals, and places to go ahead of me, people to serve, and ways to impact the world, and I want to do it with energy, vibrancy, and strength every step of the way, without my first and last thought of the day being about the weight that is dragging me down.

I'm grateful for how far this body of mine has gotten me and carried me for six decades. Now I owe it the best fighting chance to get me through my third act.

I'm grateful for the new tools that have emerged during this lifetime to help those of us who have not slacked off but suffered in silence.

I'm grateful to God, who has never abandoned me and has sustained my hope every step of the way, and for the struggles that have made me kinder and more compassionate to the pain and struggles others face.

I'm grateful to have found this community.

Beginning Set Point 202 - 210