Can I have a drumroll, please?

Well, it’s been six months since I began my “quest for thinness in my old age” and I must say it’s been an adventure! But before I reveal the final tale of the scales, I would like to thank all of you who stood behind me through this endeavor, cheering me on and holding my hand. No way could I have made it this far without you. I appreciate all the love, support, and encouragement more than you will ever know.

Like I said in the beginning, this was not just a weight loss process. This was about a lifestyle change that would enable me to feel better about myself physically, mentally, and emotionally. And that’s really what it’s all about, isn’t it—feeling good about the skin you’re in? Even though mine has way more sags and wrinkles than I would like!

Truth be told, I can tell a BIG difference in my overall physical fitness since June. While I may not be ready to run a marathon, with a little help from my puffer I can do a 30 minute workout on the elliptical that goes up to resistance level 7 three times! When I started, I could barely make it through 20 minutes on resistance level 2. At work, I can also walk from my car to my desk without getting winded. I no longer need to pull myself up to get up from the floor (as long as my balance isn’t wonky at the time). Who knew little things like this could have such an impact on one’s quality of life?

I’m also happy to report I still love chicken and eat lots of it! It’s been my staple meat for the past six months, and my reliance on yard bird has become a running joke in my family. Seriously, if you remove the skin and grill, roast, or broil it, chicken is a low fat, high protein meat that is pretty calorie-friendly. The same can be said for turkey and most fish.

As for red meat, truthfully I had pretty much given it up long before I started my diet. I’ve long preferred a grilled salmon steak to a T-bone, and just thinking about eating roast beef gives me the willies. While I can eat ground beef, I’d much rather use ground turkey or ground pork—although the calorie and fat counts are pretty much the same for all three.

My last dieting pitfall was this past holiday week. It was chock-full of bad, bad, bad food, and I indulged shamelessly! And my body can now definitely tell the difference. After plying it with a sordid variety of junk food, it’s now ready for some healthy stuff. Maybe it’s just me, but after giving it up for so long, the bad food really does make me feel bad now. And that’s a good thing, right?!

And now, for the results! Did I reach my goal of losing 40 pounds by my 50th birthday? Well, no, I didn’t. But here’s what I did accomplish:

Pounds lost: 32.4
Inches lost: bust 5.5 -- waist 5.25 -- hips 5 -- thighs 6
Body Mass Index: down 5.4 points
Percent body fat: down 10.3%

I've also gone down 4 dress sizes. My fitness guru friend Jeff believes had I just lost fat and not gained muscle, I probably would have made my goal of 40 pounds. And that’s OK—muscle mass is way more healthy than fat, so I’ll take that trade-off any day!

Remember my before picture?

Here’s me on my birthday:

Even though my six months is up, I plan to continue my quest for 40 pounds, including the added muscle weight. I have a whole closet full of skinny britches I would just love to wear again! My next step is to add some weight training to my cardio routine to help me shape and tone. And the more muscle mass I add, the more calories I will burn at rest. And for someone who would rather play on the computer than exercise, that’s a good thing!

Thanks again for accompanying me on my journey to better fitness in my old age! I hope you’ve maybe learned a thing or two along the way—I know I have.

I wish you all the best, and may your new year be full of happiness and blessings!