totahsam

Today for lunch I went home and had a well balanced meal with lots of leafy fluffy salad.  I decided to try something different.  No dressing.  I’m trying to train my tongue to appreciate natural flavors.   A college friend who was extremely fit (jerk) would eat all of his food that way and he never gained an ounce.  He said he couldn’t stand dressings or salt or other spices that cover up the natural flavors of his food.   So I tried it for lunch.  Great idea.  I really enjoyed the salad without all that gunky dressing.   I think this is going to be a permanent change.  After all, part of weight loss and maintenance is lifestyle changes.  

I also noticed after eating that I had energy.  Usually my food is so full of fat and carbs I tend to get sluggish after a meal.  Not this meal.  It actually felt like fuel for my body.  I feel great!! 

I also got in trouble during lunch.  This morning as I was walking out the door I did a double take.  I rubbed my eyes.  Yep, still there.  Uhh… Why is there a hearse in our front yard?  “Umm… Justin… (that’s my nephew) why is there a hearse in the front yard?” I asked cautiously.   He’s bipolar and little umm.. different.   He beamed from ear to ear.  “Oh, I got promoted!  I’m learning how to embalm.” 

:crickets chirping:

 ”Sooo… does that mean you have homework???”

He laughed. 

“Dude, I’m serious.  Is there a body back there??”   “No Uncle Sam,  he says while rolling his eyes and laughing, There’s no body back there.”  

“Umm.. o.k.”

He just started working for a local funeral home.  He loves it.  I told you he’s a little different. 

Well, while I was home for lunch I was talking to my mom and I told her that her ride showed up this morning. 

“Ride, what ride?” She asks innocently.

“Oh, there was a hearse out front this morning.  Mom, it’s time.”  I said with an evil cackle.

She hit me and then told me I was in time out when I got off work.  She also said that I wasn’t too big to put over her knee and spank.  All I had to do was arch an eyebrow and she laughed.  The Merrill sense of humor is a little sick.

It has been my experience with weight loss that where you carry the most fat on your body is the last place you lose it.  In my case it would be my Buddha Belly. 

Yesterday I got into my car after work and noticed something amazing.  

Warning:  The following information may be too graphic for children and those with weak stomachs.  If you fit into either category please stop now.  Do not read further.  Think of the children….or your stomach. 

I opened the door, sat in the driver’s seat and realized that I didn’t have to hold my stomach in to avoid the steering wheel.   Now to anyone else this would be a “so what” moment.  To those of us that struggle with morbid obesity?  Amazing!  Astounding!  Pretty cool too.

Now mind you,  It’s only a half inch or two but it made me so happy.  Let me give you a little background so you understand my excitement.  

Last year, the day before Thanksgiving, a driver pulled out in front of me and my car was totaled.  I had just made my last payment on the vehicle the month before.  Finally after much hardship and lawyers I got my settlement.   I had to get a new car.  Trouble was,  There weren’t many affordable vehicles that I can drive.  I’m too big.  Not to mention the sales people avoiding you like the plague. 

I finally settled on a Chevy HHR (which I love by the way).  I didn’t think I’d ever love a car like I loved my Altima.  I raise a glass to her memory every now and then.  Oh Bessy.. how I miss thee….

So here I am in a parking lot facing a busy intersection and I’m contemplating my navel.  I can’t even imagine what I must have looked like.  I got back out and back in several times to make sure it wasn’t a fluke.  Sure enough.  I fit comfortably.  No more steering wheel tattoos!  Yay!  Several months ago I was diagnosed with “pre-diabetes”  Stupid cortico-steroids, grrrr!!!  I haven’t had any sodas since.  Just cutting out the sodas helped me lose around 15 pounds.  I didn’t think I’d see a noticable loss in the Buddha Belly region.  After all, that is where I carry most of my fat.   Yay me!

I have a question for you all.  Someone told me yesterday that chewing gum helps with the food craving.  Somehow chewing on the gum satisfies the need to eat when I’m stressed out and need self-medicating.  I had heard this works with smoking when you’re trying to quit.  So does anyone know if this really works or not.  The last thing I want to do is sabotage all the hard work I’ve put in so far.

And no rubbing of the Buddha Belly.