Just Look How Far You've Come

In three weeks time I will have been doing this thing called healthy living for 3 years. In some ways it seems like a lifetime, and in other ways it seems like I started out just a few weeks ago.

This post is to remind myself of how far I have come. Sometimes I am so focused on the mountains ahead of me, that I forget to stop for a moment and glance backwards.

Today I am standing on the side of a very high mountain and in front of me is the final gentle undulating slope to the top. If I look back, I can see that I have conquered probably 98% of the climb and where I started, 3 years ago, is a small distant speck on the horizon.

I am proud that I have lost 23 kgs and I have kept most of it off for 2.5 years (it took me 6 months to lose it). There have been ups and downs, of course, but I am one of the few who hasn't regained all and more of my significant weight loss.

I am a different person than I was 3 years ago, and I want to record and reflect on these changes.

* My skin is clear and pimple free. The odd blemish heals very quickly.
* I have more energy. I wake up in the morning rearing to go. I don't drag myself out of bed every morning or fall asleep on the couch when I watch TV.
* I poop more regularly
* I like looking in the mirror
* I am strong physically and mentally. I never feel overwhelmed by circumstances. Most of the time I feel invincible
* I want (and get) more sex
* I can do backbends, handstands, and downward facing dog. I know what Shivinasana means (even if I can't spell it). I am flexible.
* I am spiritually aware and I practice conscious living
* I have a blog and a community of blog friends who provide support, encouragement and joy
* I am happy and content
* I am no longer frightened of the future
* I can wear almost anything (and almost nothing)
* I listen to my body and I know when to do what it wants and when not to
* I feel better when I exercise then when I don't - I am an athlete
* I haven't had the flu or any other real illness for 3 years
* I seldom have migraines
* I eat vegetables
* I know a lot about nutrition, weightlifting, running, yoga and pilates
* I have run in the Sydney Running Festival
* I have completed a City to Surf
* I have my belly button pierced
* I am a size 8
* My waist is 25 inches
* I have small breasts
* I have gone through 4 pairs of runners, 2 heart rate monitors and 4 ipods
* I have lost weight through 2 Christmases and will do the same this year
* I have figured out the right amount of carbohydrates for optimum performance
* I have figured out how not to be hungry or feel deprived
* I have had a lot of fun

When I look at this list, I am amazed at the changes. I started out eating good food and exercising to lose a bit of weight and get down to a size 12.

And look what happened ... if I had known I would have done this years ago. I can't believe I wasted 40 years of my life being overweight and sad. I had no idea that a relatively small amount of effort would bring about this transformation.

I still haven't reached my goal, there is still a little way to go, but I think this new way of living has finally stuck. I can no longer imagine going back to the bottom of the mountain. I think I might almost, nearly, just about be a naturally thin person. It's now in my nature to think, eat and move like a skinny bitch.

Whew, what a relief!