It's finally working!!

It was time. See, when we went shopping to get "funeral appropriate clothing" when my mate's grandmother died...I had to go with a size bigger than I've ever worn before. And my black pants - the ones I bought just a few months ago - were too tight. I couldn't even zip them. *sigh. So I decided I needed to put on the breaks and get things under control. I suspect I really started putting on weight around the time things with our girlfriend started going south - starting in mid-summer, but really ramping up in August and September. And dammit, I was tired of letting that situation control me - it was time to get control of MYSELF.

I didn't make any big announcements or anything - just made a decision, got the materials, started posting on a support area for my intended plan on the low-carb board I've been on forever. And with my mate's full support and encouragement, I took a page from a friend who's lost over 100 lbs in the last year and a half or so...and decided to go with the South Beach Diet.

It's working.

I'm on my 4th week - did 2 weeks of "Phase 1" (which is the more restrictive phase, to get you jump started and curb cravings), and am now in the middle of my 2nd week of phase 2.

I feel better. My face has largely cleared up (always a good sign I'm on the right track with eating healthier). When we were out of town this weekend, I packed the black pants in case I needed more than one pair of jeans, but didn't have a lot of hope that they'd fit - and they DID!

In total - I've lost 12 1/2 lbs since I started on September 28th. I started out at the highest weight I've ever been - 261lbs. I'm now at 248.5, which is back under my previous "highest weight" but not quite down to where I was when I first met 'Yote yet. But I'm getting there (it's not that far away actually). And I'll get the rest off, too.

I have to tell you, the most motivating thing for me - that has worked better than anything else EVAR - has been my mate's encouragement. He's constantly telling me he's proud of me, especially when he notices that I'm making good choices (like when we were at his parents' house this weekend for his birthday, and his mom had ordered pizza - I hadn't eaten before we went and I needed to eat *something*, so I had one piece -just one piece -and he noticed, and mentioned he was proud of me after). Just knowing he notices, just knowing he's proud of me makes me want to keep making him proud of me - it's a really good feeling. :) I'm proud of me too, don't get me wrong - I'm extremely happy with how this is going (and I'm all excited trying new recipes and facing the challenge of out-of-town eating). I'm not feeling deprived, I'm not feeling punished or stuck because I can't have anything...and mostly, I feel in control again. Instead of having food (and food cravings, and the need to "eat my emotions") controlling me - I'm making the decisions, and I'm in control. And I'm extremely proud of that. But having him say it? I can't really describe how much it lifts my spirits and makes me want to succeed even more. (Part of the D/s dynamic between us, and my desire to please him? Maybe.) Just another example of what a miracle he is in my life. :D

So...it's working.
I'm really happy about this!