Just as the hill doesn't look so bad after the hike up, the last 12 days have not been as daunting as they seemed at the beginning. No, I haven't experienced the weight disappearing as quickly as some but the whole point of this journey was not to lose weight but to regain my health.
Last week I took care of my grandson twice. He came with congestion and cough, and later in the day on Friday he started complaining that his ear hurt. Normally, I catch whatever he has. Not this time and I didn't even take vitamins to boost my immune system. I'd say that something positive must be happening.
Also, I generally suffer from congestion after a walk around the neighborhood. My environmental allergies kicked in so much in the past that I felt groggy and slow in the morning. Eventually, I gave up neighborhood hiking. I am rejoicing that I can resume with little negative impact.
And, yes, there has been weight loss. By my weekly weigh-in last Wednesday, I had lost 8 pounds. That was a pound a day! Never have I lost so much so easily with so little effort and ill effects. My major withdrawal symptoms were minor afternoon headaches on the second and third days; most likely from abstaining from my morning ritual of tea.
There is progress and for that I am grateful.