Here is my story:
I have always felt I was over weight. Even when I was in grade school, which is absurd, because I wasn't. The only times I felt I wasn't fat was my freshman year during cross country and also when I was pregnant. I wasn't "fat" in high school, really. I have always been active, but I did start to gain for various reasons in 11th grade and after (we wont get into that detail of why here). My heaviest was 176 at the end of 2006, based on this "before" picture, I quite possibly could have been heavier. I have taken hold of my eating habits with a determination to be healthier and to feel better about myself.
By early 2008, when I found out I was pregnant, I weighed in at 157. So, in a year and a half, I had lost 18 pounds, just so I could start again after 9 months. We wont talk about how much I gained during pregnancy, but, by Chloe's 1st birthday, I was down to 147! Already 10 pounds lighter than I was before I was pregnant! I had a few hiccups and plateaus after that, but, now, I can proudly say, I have lost more than 35 pounds in less than 4 years! And, I currently have 18% body fat. I'm most proud of this, as I know I will begin to put on muscle weight this summer, and hope to watch this number go down, even though the scale may go up.
Here are a few things I've learned:
- I like food.
- Losing weight slow is much easier and healthier than a quick drop. No one really wants to hear that. I know I wanted the weight off now. It took me almost 4 years. (cut me some slack, I had a baby in there too).
- I don't think there is a "weight-loss secret." Everyone asks "how'd ya do it?" Simple, eating right and exercise.
- I am my own worst critic. My husband is my biggest fan and his compliments make a HUGE difference in motivation.
- I don't know what to say when someone says I look good because they have noticed I've lost weight. I guess a simple "thanks" is enough?
- Running is increasingly manageable with 35 less pounds dragging me down, but I notice a difference with each 10.
- You don't have to exercise to lose weight but it helps one lose faster and makes you feel better.
- This is the 1st time I truly wanted to lose weight for myself. Think of all the reasons you ever wanted to lose weight... Put yourself 1st.
- One pound of pure human fat is 2.13 cups. To lose 35 pounds, I am roughly 60 cups of fat smaller, that's almost 4 gallons. (figure you are only losing 80% fat when you lose weight do to less blood volume, excess fluids, etc...)
- Seeing a replica of what human fat looks like is gross and strangely motivating. Google it.
- When I feel good about myself, I lose weight.
- Losing weight helps me to feel good about myself. It is a lovely cycle.
- Eating a spoon (or spoons) full of peanut butter with some chocolate chips every day is not going to kill my progress.
- I enjoy food so much more when I eat until I feel content rather than stuffed.
- Dessert isn't bad, but consistently over-indulging is, and the scale will reflect it.
- People have pretty odd ideas about how to lose weight and are shocked when my answer is simply: "portion control and exercise that I enjoy"
- I thought walking was for people who couldn't run ( i.e. too overweight or old or broken) and wouldn't help me to lose any wight or increase my fitness. To my delight, walking 5 days a week/4-6 miles while pushing a stroller for 6 months helped drop from 163 to 150 lbs.
- Having a walking/running buddy helps in too many ways to list. (this post is long enough already)
- I enjoy running so much more than I ever did, even than in cross country in high school. I get runner's envy. If I see someone out running, I act like a 4 year old wondering why I can't be out running. This happens on day's I've already run.
- Your husband may ask you from the other room what all the excitement is about when you're doing your "skinny jean victory dance" the 1st time you squeeze into the skinny jeans AND get them done up.
- Catching my husband staring at me from across the room because he thinks I look amazing = motivation.
- I don't feel great about myself everyday. And that's going to continue to be something I work on
- It is a fantastic feeling when you get your 1st non-husband compliment in a pair of skinny jeans because they actually look good now.
- Every woman I know bears at least one insecurity about her body. Even the ones with a body to envy.
- What I see in the mirror is not the same body I see in pictures. I have to work to condition my mind to accurately see whats in my reflection, rather than a woman larger than I am. I think many women have this mental body image distortion. Why is it that we can't see ourselves for how beautiful everyone else sees us as? Darn, we are hard on ourselves.
- There is nothing comparable to when you realize your skinny jeans have now become your "fat" jeans and thus you need to go shopping to buy a size you can't ever remember fitting into.
- Signing up and paying for a triathlon has helped me to stay motivated. No longer am I working on a "lb goal." I am working towards a fitness level and I am so excited to cross that finish line in Burly in July after swimming 1.5k, biking 25 miles, followed with a run of 6.2 miles. I don't care how long it takes me, I am just going to do whatever it takes to finish.
- I enjoy motivating other women to work on their health and fitness.
- It hurts to hear women talk negatively about their bodies, and I realize I used to be bad about it too.
- When I'm feeling down about a "trouble spot" or the size of my thighs or whatever it may be I remind myself of what my body does for me. I can run, swim, ride a bike, carry Chloe around, do every day things, etc. And that is wonderful and helps me to overcome my self-consciousness.
- Being on a 100% strict diet doesn't work. I will binge at the thought. In fact, typing this it just sent me to the pantry to eat. While a 100% diet doesn't work, a 90% strict diet, however, does. Eating naughty 10% of the time? I can handle that.
- Seeing people for the 1st time since I was heavier feels great - they give out lots of compliments. I looked at this "before" picture and can see why I've gotten so many lately, I was heavier than I ever realized.
- Calories in the food your 1 year old feeds you don't count.
- I wish I could help others feel the way I do, but if the only difference I make is on my self and my own daughter, I would do it 100 times over. (hopefully I never have to though, I'm keepin' it off!)
- New workout clothes make me excited to get out. If you are lacking in the motivation department, go shopping for workout stuff that is flattering, and you'll find yourself itching to use them!
Wow, long post. If you've made it this far, wow. I'll have better after picture soon. I have a 1/2 marathon on sat, and i'll share some post run sweaty ones.
Alabama running group: me, brenna, emilee, challis, kaite, christina, and baby girls. Missing is Kristen and kids, Heather, and Megan and baby.
