Merry Christmas, Low Carb friends! 😀
I’m spending Christmas alone this year, which is a first. It’s actually kind of nice in a weird sort of way. No pressure, no stress, no expectations.
I do have BIG plans for New Year’s Eve though, which I’m really excited about! It includes a super fun low carb road trip too. 😉 (Alone, this time.)
What about you? What are you doing for the holidays?
So… I woke up 174 pounds today. Ack 😐
I got up and put on my favorite (oversized, lol) comfy PJ’s and made a coffee. I did a little holiday shopping online and ordered some nice sweaters and a cute pair of heels I’ve been wanting for awhile now. The diamond earrings I ordered for myself arrived yesterday too, on Christmas Eve. Yay! I decided to put them on. They look amazingly fabulous with my PJ’s! 😀 haha. Then I logged into MyFitnessPal, boiled some eggs, and decided it’s high time to get back to eating healthy (ie: super low carb).
I’ve gained 15 pounds since the end of August. I weighed 159 pounds on August 27th, and things just went downhill after that. Newsflash: I’m not perfect. 😛 I have no excuse. There are tons of reasons of course (aren’t there always?!), but no excuses. Speaking of reasons, I’ll tell you the short version of the story…
My youngest child left home and started college (hello Empty Nest syndrome!), I got dumped by the man I was madly in love with (twice. yes, twice.), I came down with a wicked respiratory virus that totally kicked my a## for almost a solid month, I wrecked my back and finally got that straightened out only to come down with an excruciating case of tendinitis. I couldn’t even lift my coffee cup 😐 (the horror!). I spent Thanksgiving completely alone (unexpectedly), I broke a tooth – which cost $1100 to repair – which of course happened on a Friday evening (as it usually does) so I spent that weekend eating mashed potatoes and oatmeal…
Let’s see, did I leave anything out?! Probably. lol. You know how life is. When it rains it pours. Fortunately I got an umbrella for Christmas. 😀 lol. The thing is, LIFE HAPPENS… to everyone. To me, to you, to ALL of us. When I woke up this morning and stepped on those scales, here’s the question I asked myself:
Do I want to be FAT when “life happens”, or do I want to look & feel amazingly fabulous while I’m slaying those dragons? Duh. I don’t know why but the image of Lara Croft just came to mind. Yeah. That’s the me I want to be. Definitely!
I stepped off those scales feeling empowered. Instead of letting it tank me even further, I decided it’s time to GIFT MYSELF with “feeling good”. I’ve been off track for way too long now. I lost my mojo somewhere along the way. I stopped blogging and traveling (which I LOVE), I stopped pushing myself, I stopped trying. I just let everything go. But I think 90’ish days is long enough to curl up and ignore real life and walk around this big now-very-quiet house alone wondering what to do with myself. Way too long even, I’m sure.
That’s the power of Christmas.
I could have easily decided to “treat myself” today – and to what end? Is it really a treat to feel even more bloated, gain even more weight, feel even more disappointed in yourself? NO. Instead, I am going to treat myself to the gift of “healthy and happy”. That decision alone made me feel totally amazing, like an instant transformation. 😀 Who knows, I may even break out my Zumba DVD today and DANCE, I’m feeling so good!
It’s funny how the simplest things can change our mindset in a single moment. I still miss my daughter. It’s still been a ridiculously sh*tty few months. I’m still in pain with my arm and my jaw. Yes I’m totally alone for the second major holiday in a row. I’m still “chubby” too. But today is the day I start over.
I miss going to the gym, and I’m tired of my weight fluctuating with the roller coaster of life. It’s time to GET healthy & fit and STAY there!
We have ONE week left in the year. This is it, friends – the home stretch. Are we going to let the curtain close on 2014 feeling down and promising to do better next year? Or are we going to glide into the New Year with a smile – feeling on top of our game and on track to have an amazing year?!
I’m ready to be HAPPY again.
It’s the best gift I can possibly give myself. And it goes exceptionally well with my sparkly new earrings. 😉
Who’s with me??
– Lynn, aka @LowCarbTraveler
p.s. If you’re on Facebook and you haven’t signed up yet, consider joining us in the low carb challenge group. We’re 30,000 strong and it’s a great place to find low carb recipes, motivation & inspiration, creative low carb meal ideas – and to make friends who will support you in your goals as we head into the New Year together. The group is open & active year round, so join in anytime!
Betty Daniels says
I’m with you!! I’m praying for nothing but good things for you in 2015. Life is hard at times…You are a winner and you will get there! I was with you all on the first challenge 2012? I am no where near the weight i want to be ..but I’m going to get there!
God Bless!
Betty
Lynn Terry says
Thank you, Betty! π I so appreciate your comment and kind words. Here’s to an amazing 2015 – for ALL of us. π *cheers*
Shannon says
If anybody deserves it, and can do it, it’s you! Loves, hugs, and Merry Christmas!
Lynn Terry says
Thank you so much, Shannon. I’m really glad we got to meet in person last summer, and hope we get the chance to do that again SOON! I really appreciate your encouragement. If I stop and consider all I’ve been through and everything I’ve overcome already… I know there’s not much I can’t accomplish when I set my mind to it. It’s easy to get blinded by the sheer overwhelm “in the moment” sometimes though. Those are the times friends like you (and hugs!) are invaluable. π Merry Christmas! *cheers*
Diane says
Happy Christmas Lynn, and I hope that you have an awesome gifting day to yourself. Thanks so much for sharing your lows and highs with us. Life does get in the way, and you know what we do have to let it sometimes, but we can’t let it beat us. I’m feeling proud of my eating for Christmas day – not too overboard for me. I had one piece of rocky road and no other chocolate, and I know that the non over-indulgence definitely feels better. I’m looking forward to a great walk today. I’ve been busy packing Christmas boxes for customers and now it is my time too. Thanks Lynn for helping me get back on track.
Lynn Terry says
Thank you, Diane! Every single comment makes me feel even more “not alone” – thank you so much for taking the time, especially today. It made me smile. :+) Kudos on your healthy celebration today, too! Enjoy your walk. π That sounds so nice I just may get out for a couple of miles myself!
Debbie says
Thank you for sharing your humanity with us. Sharing our trials and tribulations helps us not feel so alone. Life is full of ups and downs. Here’s to a happier, healthier 2015 for all of us.
Lynn Terry says
*cheers* to that! And thank you, Diane. You’re right – it really did help. And yes, life is FULL of ups and downs. I don’t want my scales to reflect that anymore, though. π
It’s hard to believe I gained 15 pounds in less than 90 days. It’s not like I was binging, or NOT eating low carb a good part of that time. I just find that post-40 and post-hysterectomy I really have to eat super healthy (consistently!) to even maintain my weight – much less to lose weight. π
Happy Holidays to you!
Laurie says
I agree, everyone keeps PUSHING me to cheat, even though I’m not as strict as most. I said last week that why do I want to gain an EXTRA 10 pounds that I have to lose after the fact? We all know how hard it is to lose 10? Lost 2 last week, but know I could do better, if I was more motivated. Birthday at New year, try to step it up..
Lynn Terry says
Good for you, Laurie! π And an early HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you!! *cheers*
Valerie says
That comment was so close to my own life that I could’ve written it! It’s so nice to see someone else in the same boat and ready to begin the same transformation. Ready, aim, and let’s fire the fat!
Lynn Terry says
I’m so glad you’re on board too, Valerie! π Isn’t it GREAT to feel motivated and back on track??! Here’s to a BIG push this final week of the year. π *cheers*
Suze says
I love your honesty. You are truly an inspiration. I say, “You go, girl. Slay those dragons in your sparkly new earrings.” I wish you all the very best. I think 2015 is going to be your year because you have decided it will be π I will be pulling for you and joining you on your journey to be fit and healthy. Hugs to you. Next year if you are free you are invited to my house for Christmas Eve and Christmas. It is like the Griswold family days, but it is fun and you would be so welcome. Something to keep in mind π Hugs to you.
Lynn Terry says
Thank you, Suze! “slay those dragons in your diamond earrings” lol I love it!! π You really made me smile – thank you for that.
I used to do some traveling to see friends around the holidays. I may do that next year – it’s so much fun! I’m currently planning a fun WARM beach trip for Valentine’s Day and making a list of single girl friends to invite. π
Gia says
Lynn, I hate that you had such a hard time but thanks for sharing with us!! It helps us all to know that we all struggle at times! I have had stomach trouble this whole challenge and haven’t eaten right at all!! So here’s to the New Year and to bigger and brighter things for us all.
Lynn Terry says
Thank you Gia! What kind of stomach trouble did you have?? I find that when I eat healthy – low carb, real foods – I feel SO much better!
Happy New Year!! π
Gia says
Hey Lynn,
I have IBS-C and the raw veggies mainly salads and basically anything I ate was upsetting it!! I seem to be better now so I’m going to start with a modified LC woe.
Thanks for all your encouragement and Happy New Year!!
Gia
Lynn Terry says
Happy New Year to you, Gia! I hope the modifications work out well for you. π Keep me posted!
Tammy says
Hi Lynn,
Happy New Year to you! So sorry this past year has sucked for you! π However, 2015 WILL be better, because YOU CAN make it better! This past year wasn’t a good one for me either – Total different circumstances for sure! I spent Christmas in the hospital with my dad…he went to the ER on Friday before Christmas with severe CHF. It was really bad and it scared all of us. π
Turns out he needs a heart valve repaired. However, with his age and other health issues, the procedure is not a good fit for him. So now, we have him on hospice and back at the nursing home. It’s been rough and very sad…AND I gained some weight too that I’m going to get off AGAIN! ;p
I’m trying hard to stay positive! Thanks for your posts Lynn and sharing your life with us! π
Take good care of yourself, as I will do the same for 2015! =)
Lynn Terry says
Thank you, Tammy! I’m so sorry to hear of your stress and your father’s health issues. That’s tough…
Tammy says
Still hanging in there with Dad. However, starting today I’m focusing on my weight loss and my health. That’s what Dad would want for me. Going to start with workouts in the mornings to help with stress. Thanks again for your amazing blog posts and support concerning weight loss and health tips, especially on the go. π
Lynn Terry says
That sounds like a great idea, Tammy! π