New Benchmark: Down 40 Lbs

Ok, so it may not appear again tomorrow, but I officially stepped on the scale and am down 40lbs! I weighed in at 156.6 this morning and I am ecstatic!!! I even ate pizza yesterday which I don't do very often and boy, I enjoyed every last bite :). That means I have lost 4-5 lbs in the last 2 weeks which is about right. I am losing the weight a bit faster since I set the goal for myself and I think it is as a result of splurging less and keeping on track more. With a goal in mind, I seem to be more conscientious about each bite I take and I am able to resist the splurging because I really want to see where I can end up by my birthday on February 13th which is just about 2 weeks away. If I continue at the current rate, I might be closer to 150 than 155 upon my birthday weigh in. What a journey this has been . . .

~C

Before and After

I always love seeing Before and After photos of people who have lost a lot of weight. It is sometimes hard to keep up the motivation when it seems like the weight loss takes FOR-EVER. And as this is an anonymous blog, sort of, I am hesitant to include such photos of myself. However, in an attempt to show the progress from close to day 1 and now, I am posting a few before and after photos. I would include some "progression" photos but the truth is, I have completely avoided the camera for a very long time until now. Tonight my daughter turned 6 and I thought it would be appropriate to have a photo of the "now" since my moment of "clarity" happened when I saw a photo of myself at my stepdaughter's 16th birthday 5 months ago. I have come a very long way since that photo. In fact, I have shed 39lbs of myself since August 10th and I am not afraid of the camera anymore. Here you go:

BEFORE - taken around 2/2010 (after first starting the blog) approx 195 lbs I am in green and below taken around 3/2011

NOW - Taken today, 1/25/2012 - 157lbs

~C

Interesting Weight Loss Tidbits

A co-worker of mine has also experienced a large weight loss in the past 5 or 6 months. I have been lucky to have someone to talk to on a daily basis as we have both been losing weight. We talk quite frequently about it and there are several funny things we have observed. Here are a few of the funny, weird and unexpected effects of weight loss that we have noticed:

1) Our shoes don't fit anymore. Who knew that we carry weight in our feet?! Well, except when pregnant. I was wearing size 10 shoes and have been able to fit into size 9s. Many of my size 10s literally won't stay on my feet. This has also been noticed by my co-worker.

2) I have lost weight in my NOSE. Seriously, I'm not making this up. There is this little spot at the end of my nose that indents slightly where it did not before. My co-worker has a nose ring and she has been complaining for some time now about how her jewelry doesn't fit right anymore. Nose weight - who would've guessed??

3) People who say that "you'll have more energy" when you lose weight are actually right. This one probably shouldn't surprise me but it does. I literally feel like going out dancing every day. I have just started walking around the building with a friend on breaks and I seriously want to start running. In a skirt. In front of all of the smokers. But I manage to refrain. The desire still exists though . . .

4) I sort of hate that these things are true, but here they are: As I have lost weight, I have experienced a huge increase in confidence, sexuality, happiness and self esteem. I am more social, less timid and people react differently to me. It seems superficial, but I also think that when we take care of ourselves (whether it is in the weight category or stress relief or educational category, etc) we experience these benefits.

And my final thought for the night revolves around a strange thing I have been experiencing over the past 4 or 5 days. The strange thing is that I am just not feeling hungry lately. It's not that I don't let myself eat or I try to convince myself that I am not hungry, I just do not feel hungry. And food just doesn't interest me much. I have to consciously think about what I have eaten and make sure that I am eating something at breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's definitely not "normal" for me. Although it makes me think of people like my husband and other "thin" built people who say that they have to remind themselves to eat, or they simply forget to eat. I can honestly say that I have never, ever, experienced this for myself unless I was suffering from a stomach flu. I don't know what is causing this and I will continue to pack my lunches and snacks and make meal plans, but perhaps this is a natural way of my body directing me to what it really needs. Or it could be bad. I don't know what to think about it. I am very conscientious so it won't be ignored but it is an interesting experience for me.

~C

Here's to Hitting "Healthy" BMI

I did it! I am officially considered a "healthy" weight based on the BMI chart for my height. I weighed in today at 158.8 and am below the threshold of overweight. This is definitely a major accomplishment for me and I couldn't be happier. As I mentioned in my last post, I feel emotional about this weight loss. I have always felt like I was a person at the mercy of food and I never knew how to have a good relationship with food. I used it to fill voids in my life and I told myself that I couldn't change that relationship, that it was just how I was. I literally did not know that the relationship could be different. I didn't know that I could change the relationship all by myself, but I have done it.

So, today I am celebrating "healthy." Cheers!

New Benchmark 35 down

Okey dokey, so when I created my challenge for myself, I said I wanted to be at 155 lbs by February 13th which would mean 10 lbs (technically 9 lbs) down from where I was then. I am on track to accomplish this goal as I stepped on the scale this morning and was firmly at 161.0lbs (I was at 164 when I set the goal). So I have lost 3 lbs in 10 days and should be good to lose another one within the next 3 or 4 days as long as I stay on track. Woo hoo!

And there is something else that is very exciting to me as I approach the day when I step on the scale and see another number - 159. When I hit magic number 1-5-9, I will officially be within the "healthy" range for my height according to BMI tables!! I literally cried when I told my mom how close I am. I can't believe that at the beginning of all of this I was in the obese category for my height and I am now within striking distance of "healthy." It is unbelievable to me that I have been able to do this all by watching what I eat. It seems too simple. Too good to be true. Looking back, it seems like it all happened over night but the reality is that this has been a victory that has been won week by week, pound by pound, over the course of 5 long months. I have had to work at this every day for these 5 months. And I plan on continuing to work on this. It feels good to feel good again. I didn't realize what an emotional journey this would be for me - especially as I look forward to 159. Healthy. For the first time in maybe 8 years? I can't wait :o).

Recipes I Want to Try

I didn't know where else to save these so I thought I would post them here :). I am also watching an interesting Netflix video called Fork Over Knife tonight which is really making me reconsider my intake of animal products like milk and meat. I am not sure how I would implement a highly vegetarian diet but I am finding myself thinking less about calorie count and more about overall nutrition. I have added more fiber to my diet - I realized I was not as "regular" as I had been and realized I was missing out on important fiber consumption.

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/01/sweet-and-fiery-pork-tenderloin-with.html#more

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/11/sauteed-brussels-sprouts-with-pancetta.html

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2008/05/grilled-pineapple-2-pts.html

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/11/roasted-parmesan-green-beans.html

~C

New Goal for Myself: 10 lbs in 5 weeks

Since I started losing weight, I haven't actually made any specific goals for myself. I felt like it was probably best to simply make good choices, keep the pressure low for myself and see how things went. Five months later and 32 lbs lighter, I am ready to set a goal. On February 13th, I will turn 33 years old and I can think of nothing more exciting than being able to step into my wedding dress and be able to zip it up and twirl around! I weighed 155 when I got married and wore a size 10. I am not that far off, and if I stay focused, I don't see why I can't make it happen. So, we'll see what happens - maybe I will reach the goal and maybe it will be an epic fail. One way or another, it ought to be interesting to see how I do!

Wish me luck :o)

~C