9 Weeks

4/16: 185 lbs


That is -3 pounds since last week.

I have officially lost 20 lbs since I began in February! I am so happy to finally hit that mark!

My next goal is 178 lbs.  That will take me from "obese" to "overweight".  I'm hoping to reach that in the next 3 weeks.

My energy has been awesome! All weekend I worked outside cleaning, mowing and gardening. Plus I cleaned in our house, heavily! I worked my butt off! And I enjoyed it so much. Our house and yard haven't looked this good in a while. Usually Dad handles the outside by himself, and there is a lot to do out there. I think he appreciated having someone to help him. And I am loving watching the garden. I go check on it everyday. So far we have beans, peas, cabbage, broccoli, corn and squash.

I'm still drinking only water. I'm not even tempted by the Diet Cokes that remain from before I started two months ago. It's so easy to get my 8 glasses when that is all I drink. I try to mix in a glass of skim milk here and there, but it is only occasional.

Diet wise I've been staying near the top of my recommended calorie range. I find it hard to get all the veggies and stuff I need everyday.  Fiber is still a huge problem for me. Even with the supplement I still don't get enough fiber on any given day. So my weight is skewed upward every few days thanks to that...!

I've been doing awesome with my sleep! I've gone to bed before 11 every single night. I guess I've been so active during that day that I just don't have a problem falling asleep at night.

Exercise hasn't been going so good. I've been getting a lot of activity in through cleaning and various things outside, but I still have been meaning to get more strength exercises in. It is just a failure on my part, I can squeeze it in, I just haven't. But I will.

Hopefully next post I will be 183-ish!

8 Weeks

4/9: 188 lbs


That is -1 pound since last week! Yea!

That is -1 pound in spite of Easter and all the Easter candy goodness! And don't think I missed out! I still had jelly beans and Cadbury eggs and Peeps. But I move A LOT more every single day!

I'm going to make this an abbreviated post because Thursday (4/12) is my actual 2 month anniversary of beginning this journey. (Plus it is 1 am and I am beyond sleepy!)

7 Weeks

4/2: 189 lbs

That is -4 pounds since last week! PLUS, I am under 190 lbs for the 1st time in a very long time!

I actually was already down to 189 by Wednesday of last week. I am so pumped. I have lost 16 pounds in 7 weeks. How about that?! Plus, I haven't really suffered like I always thought I would have to in order to lose weight. I still get to have food that I enjoy, I just have to enjoy it sporadically and in moderation.

I've been eating more sandwiches, which has helped some with the fiber problem. I also am taking a fiber supplement every single day. I still struggle to get enough fiber. I don't really have a set amount of fiber I strive for everyday, I just listen to my body; My body tells me when it is, and isn't, getting enough fiber.

I've also been a lot more careful to get enough sleep. I really think that not getting enough sleep was a big part of why I hit a wall last week. I have been keeping myself up and running for most of every day so that is helping me get more sleep. My body and brain are pooped by 11 pm.

Exercise-wise I haven't been doing so well. I only did my strength exercises twice last week, and only really exercise-walked once. But I have been going outside every day. I play with my dog, walk the dog, worked on the yard and even mowed the yard for the first time ever!

I know I am actually a couple of days late posting this update. I have mentioned before about how I tend to obsess. I was obsessing over food, exercise and my weight. So I decided to chill out some. I still track every single calorie, I ONLY drink water and I try to get as much activity as I can each day. But I don't think about it all day long like I was. And I'm letting myself stay between 1400 and 1600 calories each day.

Next Monday will be 2 MONTHS! Two months since I began taking much better care of myself.  Two months since I began feeling better about myself. I feel like even if I maintain 189 until next Monday's weigh-in that 16 pounds in 2 months is nothing to be ashamed of. I would love to get to 185 lbs so that I will have lost 20 pounds in 2 months, but if I don't I won't worry about it. 10 more pounds until I'm no longer technically obese. (I HATE that word, obese...) That will be a nice milestone. I'll just be "overweight." I look SO forward to not be obese anymore!

6 Weeks

3/26: 193 lbs
That is +1 pound from last week.

For some reason, despite keeping my calories between 1200-1500 I had a hard time this week. Friday I weighed in at 195! I don't know if it is the entire problem but let me say one word: fiber! Apparently I have not been getting enough fiber. So I began tracking it on SparkPeople.com along with calories, fat and carbs. It recommended I get at least 25 and I can barely get 14 so I bought a fiber supplement and I believe that is how I got back down to 193 by Monday.

I didn't give up Friday after I saw 195. I was tempted to say "Screw it." but I didn't. I did take the weekend off, sort of. I still only drank water, I still was mindful of what I ate, but I didn't count every single calorie. I added them to my food tracker Monday and I went over a little, but it wasn't too bad. Mainly because I stayed outside most of the weekend. Playing with the dog, helping my Dad in the yard and mowing the lawn! (Haven't done that before!) And this week I'm doing much better at keeping my calories in check. Especially hard with the horrible cravings I'm having! But I'm hanging on!

Well there is my weekly update! I hope next week to post under 190! Wish me luck!

5 Weeks

3/19: 192 pounds
That is -2.5 pounds since last week.

I don't have much to say tonight. I just wanted to update with my "official" weigh-in. I'm pretty pleased. I was really hoping to be at least 190 lbs by tonight, but I'll take losing 2.5 pounds.

I'm getting better every day about keeping my calories in check. 1200-1500 is the range SparkPeople.com set for me. I've been aiming for 1200-1400 and I'm staying in that range. It's getting easier every day. Plus I noticed yesterday that I can't eat as much as I used to, even 2 weeks ago, even if I want. I was starving yesterday because I didn't have breakfast. (Overslept.) Then my Dad grilled out and made hamburgers...Yum! I thought I was hungry enough for 2 burgers--nope. I ate one burger and thought I would be sick. So I stopped at one. That's what I'm going to do from now on, even if I feel like I am starving I am going to get half of what I think I can eat.

I'm still exercising often. My brother-in-law loaned me this ab-crunch machine/thing and I've been using that. It feels like it helps me keep from pulling too much on my back. Plus I have been doing back extensions every night and that seems to be helping strengthen my lower back. Lately I've been trying to incorporate more and more physical activity in my life. Over the weekend I went outside and cleaned. It was heavy cleaning too! (Our yard was awful!) And I clean our house every night still, sweeping every room. I've been playing "Just Dance 2" more often.

I feel awesome! My body just feels so much healthier. My self-esteem is already up. I'm staying optimistic and upbeat a lot more. I have not ever been more confident. It's awesome and I don't regret a minute. My only regret is that I didn't do this years ago!

Physical Changes

From: make-up-not-war.blogspot.com

Well I am finally beginning to see physical changes! 

I am weighing in as of Friday 3/16/2012 at 192 lbs! 

Thursday I looked in the mirror and I finally noticed a change in my face. I mean I have lost 13 pounds, but it has taken nearly 5 weeks for me to see any difference. One of my least favorite parts of being overweight is/was that my jawline is nearly non-existent. I don't have a strong jawline and at 200+ pounds my face seemed to run right to my neck. Drove me nuts! I can finally, faintly, see my jawline! I'm so thrilled! I can also tell a slight difference in my abdomen. My figure is a little more hourglass and a little less...well, circle! 

I am also finally fitting my clothing differently. For years, from around 12 or 13 years old, I wore jeans too big for me. I had horrible self-esteem and hid my body even when I wasn't overweight. Last summer I finally realized what I was doing and went and bought some new, fitting, jeans. I had been wearing 20's when I should have been in 16's. I put on a pair of my 16's today and they are getting too loose. I figure if I lose 5-10 more pounds I will either have to buy new jeans or a new belt! Woo-hoo!

Yes, 192 pounds yesterday. I'm planning on exercising and keeping my calories in my goal range so that hopefully by Monday night weigh-in I can be at least 190! Either way, I am nearly 5 weeks in and I feel SO good. My cravings are decreasing, my energy increasing. I'm getting healthier and I'm NOT looking back!

10 Pounds!

3/12: 194.5 lbs
That is -4.5 pounds since last week.

Holy cow! Those last 5 pounds were awful. I have been struggling all week with trying to exercise and not hurt my back. I have to be very careful until I strengthen up my lower and mid back muscles. I found that back extensions work those muscles and I have been doing a few of those every day.

Food-wise I am doing better with my cravings. I have them better under control this week. I have stayed under 1500 calories every day. I have continued to drink water. Lots of water. I've seen that my body will tell me when I am dehydrated, even though I am amazed that someone who drinks as much as I do can get dehydrated...but it is possible.

My parents really demonstrated their support for me this week. I had talked to them about how much water I am drinking. We have well-water and it hasn't been tested in a while, but Dad said that last time it was tested it was heavy in metals and "stuff". We also discussed the fact that I have been reusing water bottles that probably weren't meant to be reused.  The next day my parents went to the store and when they came home they brought me back a water filter pitcher thing-y and a "jug" for drinking my water out of.

Seriously, the water bottle holds over 36 ounces! I love it though.

Other lessons learned this week: I learned that my brain confuses "sleepy" and "hungry". I stayed up kind of late one night and I soon found myself wanting to snack. I went and got a few Nilla wafers. That didn't put a dent in my craving. I sat and thought for a minute. I had eaten dinner and so the Nilla Wafers should have fixed any craving.  The more I thought, I realized..."I'm SLEEPY!" I'm really glad I learned this, so that later if I have that experience again I know how to address it.

Today is my 1 month anniversary of the day I took the first steps to a healthier me. I'm so glad I did. I feel better than I have in years! I look forward to keeping up with the process.