Day 365: One Year—Detecto Says "188"

It seems really unbelievable that I have finally made it to one year on the South Beach Diet. From my first post (http://sobediet.blogspot.com/2005/02/first-day.html) I wondered, "will I make it?" Even more incredible than staying on the diet for a year is that I have managed to lose 38 pounds. When I started, I weighed in at 226 lbs—a pre-diabetes, pre-heart attack victim waiting to happen.

Still more incredible, is that even though I am slimmer, I have managed to keep my rather pear-like shape. Lest people think I cannot enjoy my success, let me put you at ease. I am quite proud of myself—which I confess is not a feeling I had very often prior to this project. I am proud that I set out to do something and did it. I am proud that I wrote every day for a year, something I love to do; and that in doing both, I either entertained people or inspired them, or both. Also, that for a few months I gave blog-spammers a joyful place to call home.

When I saw the scale this morning, I literally couldn't believe it. I know that I had been eating less, but when Emily asked me the other day what I thought I weighed, I guessed that I might have put on a pound. I had been sick, and really, I couldn't gauge my own weight anymore. But 188 was shocking. I still want to get to 185, though it looks like it might not be as hard as I thought it was going to be.


Breakfast
1 Cup Kashi (with a little sprinkle of Ezekiel 4.7)
3/4 unsweetened soy milk
a few strawberries
Tea

Snack
Coffee (half decaf)
1 Joy Stick
1 Cheese Stick

Lunch: The Stockyard
Sirloin Tips on Caesar Salad (this description is totally misleading)

Dinner
Trout
String Beans and Leeks a la Emily
a few pieces of dried fruit (feeding to Magnolia)
a few chick peas (emily made 'em).

Emily keeps asking what I would want to do to celebrate. Whether I want to eat some 'special food.' I realize that what I want- what my 'fantasy' is—— is to eat A LOT of food. I know it doesn't feel good, but I do miss the sensation of it. The very "Caligula of Eating" that I used to me. I don't really feel like any specific foods are off limits. Over my year I ate rolls, I ate a few bites of pizza, I ate some dessert, I ate a few french fries, a few deep-fried things and the occasional white sugary treat. I don't feel like it's necessarily a treat to have them, any more than I feel like having a cigarette now would be a 'treat.' It was poison then and it's poison now, but now I've learned to live without it. It's not that I have a uncharitable position toward the whole thing, it's just that I like feeling good, having energy, and buying new pants. Well not the last thing so much.

Lastly, as I did when I hit my first goal, I have to thank the trifecta of women who helped me to my goal— Dr. Parent (who might be giving me the swerve) who started it all; Emily, my wife who cooked up a storm and saved me, and my Mother, the constant (and sometimes lone) blog commenter who supported me throughout with love and Balthazar bread.

And of course, you, if you're reading this now, thanks. It helps so much to have an audience, you wouldn't believe it.