No change in hair color, no makeup other than lipstick in the right photo. And, no filters. I’m so happy to feel better!
We went to our high school class Christmas Dinner on Friday night and it was so much fun to see so many of our friends there. We missed those who couldn’t come or who are no longer with us. Ours was a large class so the more you have to begin with, the more you will lose.
People kept remarking how long my hair has gotten. This time last year, I had fourteen inches cut from my hair and donated to the Locks of Love program. But, when I had it cut, I couldn’t believe how dull and lifeless my hair had become. My skin was blotchy and I weighed a whopping 196 pounds…nearly as much as Mr. FixIt! I wasn’t sleeping well. I had terrible heartburn, even on the strongest acid reducer. When I woke up in the morning, my first steps were agonizing. I’d hobble into the bathroom feeling far older than my impending 70 years.
I didn’t feel good. My gut was a mess. My mood fluctuated and I was often short tempered and snippy. It was affecting my relationship and I will not have that. I had to make a decision to do something about it because it wasn’t going to get better on it’s own. It’s the first New Year’s Resolution I’ve ever stuck with for the whole year.
I started watching what I ate in January. I cut out sugar, coffee, and processed foods. I stopped eating fast food. I lost about seven or eight pounds by March, but I was afraid I’d do what I’ve done so many times before…lose the weight then gain it all back, plus some more. I saw some commercials for Noom. I loved the idea of approaching weight loss through a psychological lens. About the same time, I saw ads for RYZE Mushroom Coffee. The first part of March, I ordered my first two bags of RYZE and joined Noom.
That was the kickstart I needed.
The weight has slowly and steadily dropped off. I added Collagen Peptides and supplemented my diet with an over-50 multivitamin for women. I started taking an immune booster and magnesium gummies at bedtime. And I take a hi-dose probiotic two weeks a month.
I now weigh 164 pounds, I sleep all night every night, I no longer have more than the occasional aches and pains associated with mild arthritis and overuse. I feel better. My mood is stable. My memory has improved. My gut is working right. I’ve stopped taking Protonix because my acid reflux is rarely noticeable.
When the gals mentioned my hair on Friday, I went back to see the selfie I took after my haircut and I was amazed at the difference one year of clean and green eating and exercise can make. My hair is smooth and shiny and strong. There are hardly any split ends and I attribute that to the collagen peptides and Hair Repair Shampoo.
These were all little things that I changed but collectively they have made a huge impact in how I feel. I may not be making Miss Brenda Gantt’s Buttermilk Biscuits, but I can have grits any day of the week if I want them. I may not be baking pies from the Silver Palate Cookbook but I have eaten about 100 pounds of apples this year. And I definitely don’t stop at the bakery every Friday for our “Weekend Cake”!
While I am proud of my accomplishments and I am so grateful to feel better, there is always room for improvement. At first, my goal was to lose down to 140. But my body is telling me it would be perfectly happy in the high 150’s to low 160’s. And I am good with that. The twinkle in my husband’s eye is motivation enough for me!
The new year is coming. If you are interested in trying Noom, you can get a 14-day free trial + 20% off if you use this link https://noom.com/r/JthjXSfaA
And, if you want to try Ryze, you can get it here. https://39ryze.refr.cc/ginnymckinney
I also add a teaspoon of Beyond Brew to my mushroom coffee. It also has mushrooms, but it has a distinct cocoa flavor and I like how it enhances my morning brew. I buy two jars at a time but they last me six months or more. Beyond Brew Mushroom Superfood Coffee – Mushroom Coffee Alternative Low Caffeine – Healthy Coffee Substitute Brewed Cacao Drink w/Prebiotics, & Probiotics – By Live Conscious – 30 Servings https://a.co/d/ir8ESqL
Happy Monday, everyone!
🎄
”Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.“
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV