What can I say about Runesward: Tome 2, chapter 8*? Nothing good, unfortunately. I had quite a build-up to it in chapters 6 and 7 and I'm having difficulties filling the emotional void with Chapter 8. No spoilers but - I feel as if I need something special here, something memorable and I can't seem to do it justice. I've written the opening 4 times now and I'm either unimpressed or just not happy with any of it. It's driven me to eat, for Deia's sake! (See what I did there?)
Some of you might not know, but as my life progressed, so did my stomach. It got to the point I was 90 pounds overweight. No health concerns, thankfully, my heart and blood pressure and sugar stayed good...but I was obese. I saw a picture of myself last summer and...it was not pleasant. You never truly see yourself until you see a surprise picture someone else took that you didn't know they took.
Now, I've been happy to say I was 'overweight' for the past decade or more. After seeing that picture, though, something had to give. That wasn't me. That was some fat dude masquerading as me.
I have an older cousin (4 years older) who was overweight as well - though nowhere near in my league. When I saw him over the summer, he was svelte. He'd dropped a ton of weight and was looking muscular. I asked him his secret...
...and thus, I started on the Keto lifestyle. It is NOT for everyone. Basically, you have to cut most everything that tastes good out of your life - except meat. The one saving grace to this diet is you can eat all the meat you want. All the butter, too. All the eggs (though I can't stand eggs, really). No breads. No pasta. Limited vegetables. No sugar (though, Monkfruit sweetener is your best pal here).
I committed to it in August. I lost 75 pounds by mid-December. I was off the diet for about 2 months and hovered consistently at a loss of 60-65 pounds (meaning I gained 10-15 back and kept it there). I started back on it after my work trip - but I fell off the wagon today, mostly because of this stupid chapter. I just can't crack it.
Anyway, just thought I'd update everyone.
*Chapter 8 in Tome 2 is, over-all, Chapter 37.