I know I haven't written for a while because I didn't want to jinx my progress. I've been watching what I eat since the beginning of August. So far I have lost 24 pounds. It has been MUCH slower then I anticipated. Going into this, I thought I could do the same things I did when I was younger and make progress but that's just not the case anymore. I have to work harder at the age of 47 then I did when I was in my 30's. In my mind I'd think I could easily drop 2 pounds a week if I just put my mind to it and that didn't happen. As a matter of fact, I only lost 2 pounds last month. But, even if I lost 2 pounds a month, in a years time, I'd be down 24 pounds.
I guess I'm starting to buy into all those sayings that I've heard about losing weight:
- Time will go on anyway so you might as well try to lose weight while the time is passing
- The only way to lose weight is to work out and watch what you eat
- There is no easy and fast way to lose weight if you want to do it in a healthy way
I would say the #1 thing that has helped me lose weight (this time around) is having the accountability. I have a friend who has recently lost weight. We aren't BFF's or anything, but I've known her for a few years and she offered to help me with my diet. For months we kind of texted back and forth about it and I gave losing weight a half hearted attempt.
In July she started texting me daily. She'd check in every single day and keep me accountable. She called me on my BS and I would start thinking about her when deciding about what I should eat. I think it's important to point out once again that we aren't BFF's. I think the people closest to you will enable you and cut you some slack. Because we weren't that close, she wouldn't do that. She would call me out when I made excuses and keep me accountable. I know that I'm doing the work, but if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have lost this much weight. As a bonus, we have become closer friends. I'd like to think that I am helping her with accountability too.
I have to get it into my head that this will be a battle I will be fighting the rest of my life. Once I'm at my goal weight, the second phase of maintenance begins which I have heard is almost harder then losing the weight. I'm not even thinking about that right now.
I think another reason I'm sticking to it this time is because I was seriously considering weight loss surgery over the Summer. I knew in my heart I could lose the weight myself if it I just gave it a real effort, but it is so tempting to just have the surgery. I am NOT saying that surgery is the easy way out. I'm sure it is a very difficult process but I have some friends on Facebook that have both had the surgery and it looks like the weight is just falling off of them and i was jealous. I have 2 little kids. I didn't want to risk something happening to me and leaving them without a mother. I told myself that i'd give it one more real effort and if it didn't work I'd look into the surgery. So far it is working on my own and at this point I don't think I weigh enough to even qualify for the surgery which is good news.
What is the most amazing thing to me is that I managed to lose 2 pounds in November. Typically in November I will gain 5 pounds because of Thanksgiving. So, even though it's "only" 2 pounds, it's better then gaining 5. I'm hoping to lose weight in December which is just unheard of for me. I can do it though! I feel really good going into the holidays and keep telling myself that whatever junk I'm about to eat just isn't worth it.
I will post after Christmas to update my progress. Merry Christmas and Happy New year!!
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Once again it's been a while since I've written on this blog. However, the reason is much different this time. I am doing really well right now. I've gotten myself on a healthy eating plan and I am making slow and steady progress.
I really hesitate to say this this time I've got it all figured out, but this time I feel like I really do. I am starting week #4 (this week) and I feel just as good as I did in week #1. I think the big difference this time is I have a friend who is keeping me accountable. She's been texting me just about everyday asking me how I'm doing. There have been times when I want to get a double cheeseburger but I know I can't because I don't want to let her down.
I keep telling myself that with each good decision I'm making I'm building a healthy lifestyle instead of just following another diet. I'm not getting discouraged when I don't see a number I like on the scale, because I know it's going to be a long time before I'm at a weight I would consider to be healthy.
My friend is also making me small goals to achieve. In the past I've started a diet and come up with really unrealistic goals. She has given me a goal to lose 10 pounds before Labor Day. I was up to 7 pounds lost before I went away this past weekend and gained back a pound and a half. Even with gaining a little bit back, I will still be on track to lose the 10 pounds by Labor Day.
I just feel different this time. I don't even know how to really explain it, so I won't even try. But I'm optimistic that I will stay on track and get some long term results.
I really hesitate to say this this time I've got it all figured out, but this time I feel like I really do. I am starting week #4 (this week) and I feel just as good as I did in week #1. I think the big difference this time is I have a friend who is keeping me accountable. She's been texting me just about everyday asking me how I'm doing. There have been times when I want to get a double cheeseburger but I know I can't because I don't want to let her down.
I keep telling myself that with each good decision I'm making I'm building a healthy lifestyle instead of just following another diet. I'm not getting discouraged when I don't see a number I like on the scale, because I know it's going to be a long time before I'm at a weight I would consider to be healthy.
My friend is also making me small goals to achieve. In the past I've started a diet and come up with really unrealistic goals. She has given me a goal to lose 10 pounds before Labor Day. I was up to 7 pounds lost before I went away this past weekend and gained back a pound and a half. Even with gaining a little bit back, I will still be on track to lose the 10 pounds by Labor Day.
I just feel different this time. I don't even know how to really explain it, so I won't even try. But I'm optimistic that I will stay on track and get some long term results.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Conversations in my head
This is an actual conversation I had with myself this morning:
Me- You really need to stop this yo yo dieting and start losing weight for good
myself- yes, but it's so hard. We keep doing this over and over and it's all we know
Me- I'm so tired of this though. I want to lose weight for good and stop hating myself
myself- Don't be so hard on yourself. You are doing the best you can
Me- I'm going to start a diet again. Tomorrow. I will start it tomorrow
myself- That's crazy talk. Everyone knows you can't start a diet on a Wednesday. It has to be a Monday
Me- I can start it tomorrow. I can start it any day I want to it's my body
myself- Ok, fine. Start your diet tomorrow, but what are you going to do this weekend? It's Mothers day. You know you are going to go out to dinner and pig out. You only get one Mother's day a year. Do you really want to spend it dieting?
Me- True. That would suck. But I'm just so disgusted with myself. I have to do SOMETHING.
myself- And next weekend you have the women's retreat. You will have no control over what you eat there. There is really no point in trying to lose weight before the end of the month. This time of year is always busy with the kids wrapping up school and all the activities they have.
Me- That is unacceptable. If I don't start now I will never lose this weight for good. You don't understand how miserable I am on a daily basis. My body is sluggish and I feel like crap. I get a good start and lose a few pounds and then something comes up and I gain it back. And I do that over and over and over. Will it ever stop?
myself- I don't know.
Me- You really need to stop this yo yo dieting and start losing weight for good
myself- yes, but it's so hard. We keep doing this over and over and it's all we know
Me- I'm so tired of this though. I want to lose weight for good and stop hating myself
myself- Don't be so hard on yourself. You are doing the best you can
Me- I'm going to start a diet again. Tomorrow. I will start it tomorrow
myself- That's crazy talk. Everyone knows you can't start a diet on a Wednesday. It has to be a Monday
Me- I can start it tomorrow. I can start it any day I want to it's my body
myself- Ok, fine. Start your diet tomorrow, but what are you going to do this weekend? It's Mothers day. You know you are going to go out to dinner and pig out. You only get one Mother's day a year. Do you really want to spend it dieting?
Me- True. That would suck. But I'm just so disgusted with myself. I have to do SOMETHING.
myself- And next weekend you have the women's retreat. You will have no control over what you eat there. There is really no point in trying to lose weight before the end of the month. This time of year is always busy with the kids wrapping up school and all the activities they have.
Me- That is unacceptable. If I don't start now I will never lose this weight for good. You don't understand how miserable I am on a daily basis. My body is sluggish and I feel like crap. I get a good start and lose a few pounds and then something comes up and I gain it back. And I do that over and over and over. Will it ever stop?
myself- I don't know.
Monday, January 26, 2015
January is almost over and I've done pretty well. This past week hasn't been go great, but week #3 of any "diet" is usually not great for me. Some people hate the word "diet." I am not one of them. I am being real and I am on a diet. We are all on diets and I don't necessarily think that a "diet" is a bad thing. For me it's a reminder that I am paying attention to what I eat and I'm not shoving food into my mouth without thinking about it.
I have been tracking my food for the last 3 weeks. I use the ap Lose It and I really love it. There are times when tracking isn't easy so I have to guess the calories, but I would estimate that I can track 80% of what I eat easily. For me, just knowing the calories content in some foods make it easier to not eat whatever it is. For example, I was eating sushi thinking it's a healthy, low calorie food. Ummm, I was wrong. From what I could find, one pieces (not roll- one piece) is between 75-100 calories EACH. Last week I ate 9 pieces for lunch. After lunch I looked up the calories and OMG. Needless to say I won't be eating that much sushi anytime soon. But that's what I mean about knowing the calorie count of foods.
I have also been working out at least 4 times a week for the last 3 weeks. I don't know why it's so hard for me to stay consistent with working out because I feel SO good after I do it. I have a heart rate monitor and watch so I know how many calories I burn with each work out.
I know that some people find it hard to track all their food and count calories, but for me it's the only way I can be honest with myself and know what I'm putting in my body. If I know a piece of candy is 50 calories and I eat 5 pieces, that's 250 calories I am ingesting. When I'm not tracking, I will easily fool myself and think "Oh, it's only a few pieces of candy, it can't be that bad." Even with the tracking I don't track everything so I am probably eating a few hundred calories over what I'm tracking.
I do notice my motivation is starting to fade. The first 2 weeks I was all gung ho and spot on with my food and exercise. Last week, not so much, and now I am sitting here trying to talk myself into working out. I wish this wasn't so hard for me. I wish the foods I eat weren't tied to my emotions. There are people in this world that use food to fuel their bodies and that's it. Wow. I would LOVE to be one of those people. I eat when I'm happy, sad, lonely and every emotion in between and I'm finding it hard to stop doing that. So far, I have resisted wanting to eat when my emotions come up, but if my motivation is fading I'm afraid my resolve to be good will start to fade also.
I really am trying to take it one day at a time and not look too far forward and not look back at all. I don't want to remember that my week last week wasn't great because I don't want those emotions tied to this week. I want to start fresh this week and kick some ass. So that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to kick ass and have a great week. I hope you do too!
I have been tracking my food for the last 3 weeks. I use the ap Lose It and I really love it. There are times when tracking isn't easy so I have to guess the calories, but I would estimate that I can track 80% of what I eat easily. For me, just knowing the calories content in some foods make it easier to not eat whatever it is. For example, I was eating sushi thinking it's a healthy, low calorie food. Ummm, I was wrong. From what I could find, one pieces (not roll- one piece) is between 75-100 calories EACH. Last week I ate 9 pieces for lunch. After lunch I looked up the calories and OMG. Needless to say I won't be eating that much sushi anytime soon. But that's what I mean about knowing the calorie count of foods.
I have also been working out at least 4 times a week for the last 3 weeks. I don't know why it's so hard for me to stay consistent with working out because I feel SO good after I do it. I have a heart rate monitor and watch so I know how many calories I burn with each work out.
I know that some people find it hard to track all their food and count calories, but for me it's the only way I can be honest with myself and know what I'm putting in my body. If I know a piece of candy is 50 calories and I eat 5 pieces, that's 250 calories I am ingesting. When I'm not tracking, I will easily fool myself and think "Oh, it's only a few pieces of candy, it can't be that bad." Even with the tracking I don't track everything so I am probably eating a few hundred calories over what I'm tracking.
I do notice my motivation is starting to fade. The first 2 weeks I was all gung ho and spot on with my food and exercise. Last week, not so much, and now I am sitting here trying to talk myself into working out. I wish this wasn't so hard for me. I wish the foods I eat weren't tied to my emotions. There are people in this world that use food to fuel their bodies and that's it. Wow. I would LOVE to be one of those people. I eat when I'm happy, sad, lonely and every emotion in between and I'm finding it hard to stop doing that. So far, I have resisted wanting to eat when my emotions come up, but if my motivation is fading I'm afraid my resolve to be good will start to fade also.
I really am trying to take it one day at a time and not look too far forward and not look back at all. I don't want to remember that my week last week wasn't great because I don't want those emotions tied to this week. I want to start fresh this week and kick some ass. So that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to kick ass and have a great week. I hope you do too!
Monday, January 5, 2015
Happy New Year!
Here we are at the beginning of another year full of possibilities. Once again most of my goals or resolutions revolve around my weight. It's starting to feel a little "been there done that" but I guess the alternative is giving up and that just isn't going to happen.
Today is Jan 5 and today is the day I am starting once again to get healthy. It wasn't realistic for me to start on Jan 1. We had company in from out of town. Yesterday was my husbands birthday so I figured it would work out better to start today.
The thing is I have pretty much zero motivation to do this. I don't know why. I'm thinking it's because I've done it so many times before and haven't succeeded. It really is frustrating. The older I'm getting the harder carrying all this extra weight is on my body. My right knee is getting worse and worse. There are days when I'm walking around feeling like an 80 year old lady.
I think another reason I'm not feeling very motivated is because a few people I know who have lost HUGE amounts of weight have gained it all back and then some. Maybe in my mind I'm thinking even if I do pull this off, if they can't keep off the weight what makes me think I can? Most of the bloggers I read are having the same issue too. What is going on? Maybe I just need to look for more motivating things to get me going.
But, even after saying all of that, I did work out today and I am tracking my food. I hope that little steps will help me succeed and I think if I succeed, the motivation will come. I'm not going full force and feeling like I'm kicking ass and taking names. But, I'm doing something. Maybe a little bit of "somethings" each day will get me towards my goal.
Today is Jan 5 and today is the day I am starting once again to get healthy. It wasn't realistic for me to start on Jan 1. We had company in from out of town. Yesterday was my husbands birthday so I figured it would work out better to start today.
The thing is I have pretty much zero motivation to do this. I don't know why. I'm thinking it's because I've done it so many times before and haven't succeeded. It really is frustrating. The older I'm getting the harder carrying all this extra weight is on my body. My right knee is getting worse and worse. There are days when I'm walking around feeling like an 80 year old lady.
I think another reason I'm not feeling very motivated is because a few people I know who have lost HUGE amounts of weight have gained it all back and then some. Maybe in my mind I'm thinking even if I do pull this off, if they can't keep off the weight what makes me think I can? Most of the bloggers I read are having the same issue too. What is going on? Maybe I just need to look for more motivating things to get me going.
But, even after saying all of that, I did work out today and I am tracking my food. I hope that little steps will help me succeed and I think if I succeed, the motivation will come. I'm not going full force and feeling like I'm kicking ass and taking names. But, I'm doing something. Maybe a little bit of "somethings" each day will get me towards my goal.
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