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!!
