Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Who Is That?

Something that I have noticed myself since hitting the fifty pounds lost mark is that when I look in the mirror there is a strange person looking back at me. The changes are not terribly drastic, but they are there. Losing inches from the different parts of my body is something that I am very happy about, yet I never expected to see such alterations in my face.

It is thinning, of course, and there is a little more definition due to the loss of extra tissue over the skeletal structure. It’s just plain weird. I look at my reflection and, since the losses have happened over such a short time, see another woman staring back. I haven’t actually had an opportunity to adjust as it’s really only something that I have just become aware of and, honestly, it is enough to give me pause.

I have no intention of slowing my progress if I can help it – and I am certainly not about to give up all together – but finding myself with the beginnings of an entirely new face is a little scary. Sure, getting rid of the extra chins is great and losing the chipmunk cheeks is wonderful. I just hesitate to think about what the end result may be. What if I don’t like the way I look when this is all over and I am ready to start maintaining my new, lower weight? What if I miss the me that was in the mirror such a short time ago?

FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 11 glasses of water throughout the day
- 1 banana
- 1 toasted whole wheat English muffin with reduced calorie strawberry jam and light peanut butter
- 1 cup of broccoli sunflower slaw
- 3/4 cup of creamy seafood salad
- 1 1/2 cups carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, snow peas, celery, and red pepper with fat free rancher’s choice dressing
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with sliced deli turkey, grated cheese, lettuce, dried cranberries, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 3/4 cup fat free lemon chiffon yogurt with 1 cup Force Active cereal

EXERCISE:
- 45 minute walk
- 12 sets of walking up and down stairs (not all at one time)
- 5 push ups
- 50 stomach crunches
- 15 squats
- 15 lunges for each leg

13 comments:

  1. You will not miss that person one bit. Believe me that person was not your friend. Lock the door and toss the key away. There is no reason to keep your loyalty to the that old person. Don't be afraid of the new you because she loves you and you love her.

    I learned to keep my loyalty to the new me and realize that the old me was my distraction.

    Great job on finding the new you and loving her.

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  2. Its the most fantastic feeling when you dont know who that person is looking back at you in the mirror.
    Your blog is such an inspiration to so many people' I love coming by and hearing how well your journey is going...fantastic.

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  3. You are an inspiration to me too. Your face is surely changing to reflect your increasingly healthy lifestyle. Bask in your success!

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  4. I agree with lyric girl. The new you loves you!!! You have made a great achievement and the new you is the reflection of that achievement. Embrace the change and know that you are an inspiration to many out there!

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  5. It does kind of take you aback doesn't it. I've had people I've known my whole life walk past me in the store. Then a few days later, they see me again, realize their mistake and apologize. The lady at the convenience store that I go to alot in the summer hasn't saw me in a few months and didn't recognize me until she saw me going to my car and then came running out and congratulating me. It's crazy. ENJOY IT!

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  6. I don't think there's any chance you won't like the new you! I can see that its disconcerting because its happening so quickly, but (sadly) it will slow down a little and that will give you time to get used to what's happening. And I'm pretty sure you'll like seeing those changes. For me losing any hint of double chin and gaining cheekbones was really quite exciting, and although I briefly thought my face looked a little gaunt and therefore older, it was only until my mental perception of myself adjusted to match what I was seeing in the mirror!

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  7. I know exactly how you feel. At least for me, I havent been a "thin" person since I was in the 6th or 7th grade. I dont even know what it will be like for me at a healthy weight as an adult. I have no idea what an adult version of a healthy me will look like.

    I'm sure you'll just look like a younger more radiant version of yourself. :D

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  8. Hey Girl! Yes, I am experiencing the same thing. I am only now beginning to SEE the changes myself. A coworker who lost a lot of weight herself a couple years ago gave me invaluable advice "wait for your eyes to catch up with your body" - meaning it takes a really long time for US to see the changes ourselves. Our eyes are trained to see what they have seen for so long, it will be a long time til they see the new us. Just in the last two weeks photos of my face scare me! WHO IS THIS GIRL!?!?! Its so bizzare, some photos I am notcing I have a "longer" face. I always thought I had a "round" face. I have a pointier chin from some angles (say what?!) and for some reason I am starting to see more wrinkles? Like you i'm scared that as this continues I wont like what I see? Were my chubby cheeks hiding aging skin? I am only 28, so maybe I am simultaneously aging with my weight loss, but yeah, the unknown is scary. Here is to hoping that for both of us the changes we see and like in our bodies outweigh (haha!) anything we might find that we dont!

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  9. It is scary but overall a good thing. I feel like people get "distilled" when they lose weight-- you see more what they are like, rather than simply their fat. I don't know about you, but the more "normal" or "average" in size I get, the more I feel I don't stand out in a negative way-- I like feeling "normal" vs "family" sized :)

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  10. I like my face better when it's thin. I can do without my chipmunk cheeks. But what's happening now that I'm older is that I see more wrinkles as the fat disappears and there's more sag to my poor face compared to my younger years.
    I'm not scared of the process at all but I'm really looking forward to getting the face back that I remember.
    I hope you love who you see in the mirror!

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  11. I know EXACTLY what you mean....when you've been staring at the same fat face for over 20 years like I have, seeing someone different emerging can be quite disconcerting, and a very scary. I think we're just going to have to get used to it, and I think as we do, we'll like the new Me's...will just take a little adjusting to, but we both know it's for the better. :) I can tell you one thing that I have LOVED discovering....I have hip bones!!! Who knew???

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  12. Once more I am so happy that you are all 'here' with me, walking similar paths! It is so reassuring to know that I am not alone!

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  13. My experience mirrors others as well.

    I have a few more wrinkles then I did when I started in January. I always joked and said I look younger then I am because the fat fills in the wrinkles but I guess there was an element of truth to it.

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