Shopping is Exercise....Really?!?

People who don't have a weight problem rarely understand what it is like to be someone like myself. I guess this probably goes without saying, but someone who has been blessed with a wonderful metabolism or doesn't really care all that much about food just can't understand what it is like to have to watch every little thing you put in your mouth.
My wonderful aunt came to stay with me and Nathan for a little over a week. My aunt is 57 and wears a size 10 or 12-- and she likes her clothing to fit big. She is in fantastic shape for any age, but especially for someone her age. She loves to eat, but doesn't gain weight. Her husband is quite large, and her and I have always been close, so she definitely is compassionate towards people who are heavy and/or trying to trim down. BUT she has no idea what it takes for someone like me to lose a pound, let alone 52!
She thinks exercise is walking through the mall. For me to get exercise I feel proud of, I need to spend an hour on the elliptical!
She thinks splitting a piece of cake at lunch is not eating dessert.
And she LOVES to eat out--- doesn't even have to be great restaurants where you can order healthfully, she just likes going out to eat.
Lastly, she's a food pusher. I obviously don't need anyone telling me to eat, but she'll order an appetizer and say, "go ahead, we'll split it. Here, take more." It's so hard for someone like me to say "NO" to an entire week of this!
I did really well the first half of the week, but the second half was a struggle. I succumbed and took half of the Black Forest cake at lunch-- but I only ate half of my half and salted the rest so I wouldn't eat any more. Strategies like this helped.
And then there is the fact that my body rebels now when I overeat! I feel sick if I eat too much-- just nauseous and not at all pleasant. Also, if I'm eating unhealthy foods, I just don't feel GOOD. I get all bloated and indigestion. It's gross-- all I want to do is lie down. I am pleased that my body literally can't take the junk food anymore. I must be doing something right if my body rebels when I eat something fried or eat out too many meals. I found I like feeling GOOD too much to put all that crap into my body.
I love my aunt, but I was happy when her visit ended because I wanted to get back on track with my eating and exercise. Even Nathan felt badly from the eating out! We must be doing something right if we are excited to get back on our plan!
And we've been back on our plan for three full days now, doing wonderful!
My latest weight was 260! Hurray! Pretty soon I'll be in the 250's and closer to 200 than 300!