The Planets Must Be Aligned

Not only is this the occasion of my 50th post, but it is also the day that I achieved my first major milestone. Fifty pounds of blubber, gone forever. I feel a speech coming on...

Forget the speech. I am just going to run down some of the things I have noticed and some of my recent realizations. In no particular order of goodness or badness, here are my observations:

• My favorite bracelet is way too big. I need to resize it before I also lose it forever.
• I had to tighten my watch band by one notch.
• I am still increasing my calories to where they need to be, and it's still difficult.
• My resting heart rate is down to 58. And that's after two cups of coffee.
• One of my co-workers finally asked me how much weight I have lost. Being able to say the words "fifty pounds" was so uplifting I couldn't stop grinning.
• I realized this morning that I am able to jog in place. For real. On land. It's a miracle.
• In spite of my constant struggle to eat enough, my relationship with food is better now than ever.
• I am losing weight too quickly, and I am trying to slow down. I never thought this was possible.
• I can actually see the lines of muscles in my legs. 
• I scratched my elbow and realized my arm muscles are also gaining definition.
• My body is shrinking faster than my bat wings. This is very frustrating.
• The fat on my arm is beginning to sag and droop to my elbows. This is very bad. Please stop. Right now.
• The once tiny chairs all around me are beginning to seem a bit spacious.
• There are at least as many days in the last month that I have chosen to exercise instead of take a nap. In the past, the nap would have won every time.
• I realize now that there is no way I could have gotten this far without so much support and encouragement.
• At the risk of calling cosmic attention to myself, I would like to note that there is nothing that will stop me from achieving my goal.
• In another week, my weight will never again begin with a "3".
• I am still reluctant to go shopping for clothes. 
• A year from now I will be wearing cute little clothes from regular stores. I might even wear some with fashionable brand names! The mind boggles.
• When my oldest brother sees me next spring, he is going to cry. It will be a great moment for all of us.
• I have begun planning an international vacation for next fall.
• I can actually envision the day when my weight is described as "normal".
• When our winter events begin at work, I will finally be able to wear my official company logo casual shirt.
• In spite of all my progress, I am still fat. Yes, there is much work to be done, but I am already a quarter of the way there.