I am normal

Happy Monday!  Waving ‘hi’ to all the new readers – there have been a ton over the past week!

It felt really good to hit the gym today.  I did a power lifting workout!

  • Chin ups:  2 sets of 2, 1 set of 1
  • Squats:  3 sets of 8 with 85# barbell

Superset:

  • Stationary lunge:  3 sets of 8 with 20# DBs
  • Lat pull down:  3 sets of 8 at 60#

Superset:

Superset:

  • Decline sit ups: 3 sets of 10 (hard!!)
  • Dumbbell pliet squat:  3 sets of 10
  • Lower back extension:  3 sets of 10 at 100#

Then I rode the stationary bike for 30 minutes.  My legs were pretty tired, so no running today.

I was pretty hungry for a filling breakfast, so I made pumpkin custard oats!

With the egg whites added, it was just like pumpkin pie with oats!  Nom, nom.

So, when I referenced the other day about how meeting all of the 100+ pound losers last week, I ended up learning something I was not expecting.  I am normal!

We all walk around with the baggage of our entire lives, and that is what colors our view of ourselves.  I cannot erase the fact that I grew up overweight or spent the majority of my adult life as an overweight person.  That is who I was and when I think of myself, that is part of the package.

It really struck me in the lobby of the hotel when we were waiting to go to the taping that you couldn’t even tell that anyone had been morbidly obese just by looking at them.  We all looked like regular anypeople.  I’m not sure what I was expecting.  Maybe because I feel like I have a neon sign above me that says I lost 100 pounds that I assume others will know that about me when they see me.  Even a perfect stranger.  How weird is that?  Even during the taping, it was so hard to look at everyone and really believe they looked like their before pictures at any time, and yet the proof was right there.  After we had gotten moved to the 2nd hotel after taping, I was in the lobby changing into boots to brave the snow.  There was a woman there who asked what we were all there for.  I explained about it, and she said I looked great and you wouldn’t know it.  That really, really made me look differently about myself.  I look normal!

Maybe now I will be able to see that for myself.

I’ll skip over lunch and the snack and present to you my hughjass salad for dinner!

Typical BBQ sauce chicken (told you I was on a kick) with feta and almonds.  I really love that combo.  You can almost see the 3 clementines I had with dinner, too, on the side.  Also note it is getting lighter near dinner time, so the lighting will be improving for pictures – yay!

I finished up work early because we were so busy today.  I ended going shopping tonight and came home empty handed.  Don’t you hate it when you have a mission for something very specific and can’t find it anywhere?  That was me.  I did, however, come home with this:

And I came home to the smell of gumbo.  John started cooking that in preparation for our Mardi Gras dinner tomorrow.  Everyone got their beads??

Question:  Do you think you see yourself as others do?

35 thoughts on “I am normal”

  1. Sandi

    You look fabulous Lori! No one would ever guess you had been overweight, the lady was right. I know how you feel though. I stare at pictures of myself since losing 133 pounds and am amazed that I look normal too. I’m always surprised by my reflection in windows, I feel much larger.
    .-= Sandi´s last blog .. =-.

  2. PTG

    I am 99% convinced that I do not see myself as others do.

    I still see myself for all the weight I have left to lose, and how many things are still difficult for me to do.

    Others see me for what I’ve lost, and how much more things I do.

    Same coin, but different sides.
    .-= PTG´s last blog ..new running gear =-.

  4. Shelley B

    Short answer: No. I don’t know when it will kick in – someone posted a comment on my blog that I was the same size as my trainer’s wife (I had posted a group picture) and I though “no way, she is tiny!” – I can see other people for what they look like – for example, you look very petite to me. But I just can’t see me as a small person yet.
    .-= Shelley B´s last blog ..Guest Post – My Husband! =-.

  5. debby

    Yes I do think I see myself as others do. I think about that and actually ‘practice’ that in my mind a lot. Unfortunately, sometimes I think I see myself as actually smaller than others do…the same problem I had when I was fat…
    .-= debby´s last blog ..Checking In =-.

  6. Jane

    You absolutely look normal, but I completely understand the difficulty in believing that. Every once in a while, when I’m with my sister in a busy place, we play “who do I look more like” with pairs of different-sized women. It’s so hard to know what you look like to other people!
    .-= Jane´s last blog ..This Is Not How I Planned It… =-.

  9. April

    Ahhh!! Stupid Olympics! I can’t watch Dr. Oz because of them!

    I know I see myself differently. I mean, I still wear an 8 instead of a 2 only because I don’t believe i’m a 2 or 4 or a small top.
    .-= April´s last blog ..Bedtime Snack =-.

  11. Jody - Fit at 52

    Great workout!!!

    Love that you are “normal” but I bet John thinks you are way more than that!

    I know I see myself differently than others do… I see fit but not as fit as others see me….. sometimes I even see the young fat kid in the mirror still. Life long journey!

    I am ready to watch Dr. OZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy your party!
    .-= Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Tough Love – Getting Healthy! =-.

  12. Leah

    When I see yours and Diane’s before pictures I still can’t believe that was really you…just like I can’t believe I’ll ever be a thin woman. It’s a hard concept for me to grasp and I’m sure I’ll be thinking like you when I do reach it, “That’s really me??”

    Coming back and seeing your story day after day inspires me to keep going.

    Oh, and YUM..jambalaya…I’ve recently learned how to make it and red beans and rice from a friend who grew up in LA and my family loves it!!!

  15. Ang

    I’m pretty sure I don’t. People are always telling me that they thought I was younger than I am but I think I look older.

    In a bad way I thought my size was okay and my doctor Friday said I simply have to get that weight off me. So I guess I’m a lot heavier than I thought! 🙁
    .-= Ang´s last blog ..Nothing new under the sun….or in the snow. =-.

  16. Amy

    Wow, Lori, what a big lightbulb moment! It is a strange feeling to realize that other people perceive us differently than the way we see ourselves…BTW, I am so excited because my brilliant mom is going to tape the Dr Oz show and skype me later so I can watch you on it via the computer!
    .-= Amy´s last blog ..Training for your first half marathon (or 20 K)! =-.

  17. Lillian

    Just saw you on the show – there’s a great shot of you right at the ending credits!! And, yes, agreed that you look totally “normal” (whatever that is;). I have honestly absolutely no concept of how others see me anymore. I’d bet money that my view is skewed greatly, but probably not so much now as it used to be when I was smaller and got myself to where I am now. It’s amazing how we manifest our own thoughts, isn’t it?
    .-= Lillian´s last blog ..Good Food =-.

  19. Susan

    Oh Lori, I love this post. I think anyone who’s lost weight feels like they have a big sign over their head (maybe because it’s hard NOT to notice when someone is overweight?). I am still taken aback when other people react surprised when I tell them I lost 30 lbs. I just feel like “can’t you tell??” But of course they can’t, because I just look like a normal, healthy person! I guess I just don’t feel like one 😛

    Also, you look gorgeous with the longer, blonder hair!
    .-= Susan´s last blog ..‘F’ is for Balance =-.

    1. Lori Post author

      Haha – the blonde hair is from the flash. I finally figured out why my hair looks so light in some of those pictures!

  20. Kim Zepp

    You look great!

    I bought a can of pumpkin because your pumpking oatmeal (with egg whites) sounds soooo good. Is there any chance you could list your recipie??? I’d love to make it!

    Thank you,
    Kim

  22. Fitcetera

    Hi Lori,
    I’m just finishing watching the show for the 3rd X today!!! 😀
    I caught glimpses of you throughout the show and it looks like you never stopped grinning from ear to ear! 😀
    I told my friends to look for you behind Dr. Oz’s elbow while he was introducing Richard Simmons. lol
    I saw you at the end of the show on stage too. It was so neat to see you!
    I only caught a quick glimpse of Dawn and one of the guys … Zeus Meatball, I think.

    You look nice and slim and happy in your Dr.Oz shirt pic. If I didn’t know your story, I wouldn’t ever think that you had been heavier ever.
    I’m happy that you keep blogging your daily life as a *normal* person … *cough* *cough* 😀
    .-= Fitcetera´s last blog .. =-.

  23. Joanne

    What IS normal anyway? I know I’m not but then when I read other peoples blogs, it’s a shock to see that they worry, want, think, and do the same silly, somewhat off the wall things as I do. Guess we ARE really all the same: Not Normal.

    Great going, losing 100 lbs? What a mission and you did it. Good for you.

    I love Starbucks coffee! Yum!

    As for seeing myself as others do, no way. When I hear what others think or have said about me, it never fails to shock.
    Being a little tough on yourself is a good way to strive for more. Being a LOT tough on yourself is unhealthy and self defeating.
    .-= Joanne´s last blog ..Molasses Cookie Waffles =-.

  26. Barb

    You look fabulous!!! I often wonder if I will ever feel normal….and comfortable in my own skin. I’m working on it. Can’t wait till I have time to watch the show.
    .-= Barb´s last blog ..Yikes! =-.

  27. Larkspur

    You look great versus normal, if you ask me.

    But I know what you mean. Not getting the “BMI blink” anymore– you know when weight is mentioned, and people kind of blink, because they are conscious of the fact that you’re too fat? I don’t get that so much any more, and I bet you don’t get it at all!

  28. Dawn

    Lori, what struck me most being around you is how comfortable you are with yourself. I want that so much for myself but I’m not there yet. You give me hope that I can reach that place. You look terrific in your t-shirt *smile*. I’m so glad I got to meet and hang out with you and your mom.

    Your mom left me a comment on my blog but I couldn’t figure out how to get an email to her. Could you ask her if I may have it and if so send it to me at bbubblyb@gmail.com. Thanks.
    .-= Dawn´s last blog ..New York and meeting new people =-.

  29. Stacey

    I have never heard of a BBQ salad but it looks so good. Do you put any additional dressing on or is the bbq sauce on the chicken the only dressing on it? I must make one for myself!

    Great blog!

  30. Pingback: Don’t Look Down « debby weighs in

  31. redie1

    Wow, I want your dinner! I just linked over here from Debbie’s blog, and I love it! Thank you for reminding us that not feeling normal is actually normal.
    As far as your question, I think most people have a pretty skewed view of themselves. I for one am about 30 lbs overweight, but am constantly telling myself I need to loose 40. In all actuality, I only need to loose 10 more to be healthy.What I see and what others see is widely different, but i’m working on it!

    I can’t wait to read more of your posts!

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