Weigh Day Friday - Week 12 of 52

Finally the first scale victory I've had in a while! Last week I was retaining some water so I didn't see the pound lost that I should have. This week I really have done well just listening to my body and eating when it is really hungry. I want to work more on not picking up meals that are convenient and definitely do more planning!

Highest weight: 265
Goal weight: 150-160

Week #11 (3/2) - 234
Week #11 (3/15) - 237.2
Week #10 (3/8) - 237.2
Week #9 (3/1) - 238.6
Week #8 (2/22) - 238.6
Week #7 (2/15) - 240.8
Week #6 (2/8) - 238.8
Week #5 (2/1) - 238.6 
Week #4 (1/25) - 242.0
Week #3 (1/18) - 241.8
Week #2 (1/11) - 242.2
Week #1 (1/4) - 241

Loss this week = 3.2
Total loss = 31 pounds

I'm finally up to 31 pounds and 11.7% lost to date! Whoot! Now I'm shooting for that 230! I'm hoping the scale will keep going down and that I'm finally out of this plateau!

Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Weigh Day Friday - Week 11 of 52

This is super late too, sorry!

Well this week I actually saw 235 on the scale for the first time but I ate a bunch of salty stuff and was a little up on the scale so it looked like I maintained. This week I kind of ate a lot of junk (I ate smaller portions though so I didn't go nuts with the calories...I probably ate at the maintenance point) and I had horrible heartburn because of so much processed and greasy food! I will definitely stick to my cleaner eating because it makes me feel better.
Highest weight: 265
Goal weight: 150-160

Week #11 (3/15) - 237.2
Week #10 (3/8) - 237.2
Week #9 (3/1) - 238.6
Week #8 (2/22) - 238.6
Week #7 (2/15) - 240.8
Week #6 (2/8) - 238.8
Week #5 (2/1) - 238.6 
Week #4 (1/25) - 242.0
Week #3 (1/18) - 241.8
Week #2 (1/11) - 242.2
Week #1 (1/4) - 241

Loss this week = 0
Total loss = 27.8 pounds

Still inching toward that 30 pound loss! Definitely should see a loss next week!

Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Weigh Day Friday - Week 10 of 52

Finally the scale was down a bit of a Friday! Yay! Actually it dipped to 236 on Monday morning but them it fluttered around again all week. This week I didn't track my food at all and I'm OK with that. I didn't go crazy in any way, just kind of kept eating what I was before. I'm trying to pay more attention to my body and eat when I am hungry. I definitely think my appetite has decreased a bit.

Highest weight: 265
Goal weight: 150-160

Week #10 (3/8) - 237.2
Week #9 (3/1) - 238.6
Week #8 (2/22) - 238.6
Week #7 (2/15) - 240.8
Week #6 (2/8) - 238.8
Week #5 (2/1) - 238.6 
Week #4 (1/25) - 242.0
Week #3 (1/18) - 241.8
Week #2 (1/11) - 242.2
Week #1 (1/4) - 241

Loss this week = 1.4
Total loss = 27.8 pounds

Looks like I'm inching toward that 30 pound loss! I would love to be 236-ish next week. 

Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Weigh Day Friday - Week 9 of 52

Happy March! I think from these numbers it is easy to see I'm kind of stuck in plateausville! This week I didn't consistently keep track of my calories but I didn't go nuts or anything and I know I was well within my range. I am hoping that some weight training will help get me out of this slump so I started Tank Top Arms March today. 


Highest weight: 265
Goal weight: 150-160

Week #9 (3/1) - 238.6
Week #8 (2/22) - 238.6
Week #7 (2/15) - 240.8
Week #6 (2/8) - 238.8
Week #5 (2/1) - 238.6 
Week #4 (1/25) - 242.0
Week #3 (1/18) - 241.8
Week #2 (1/11) - 242.2
Week #1 (1/4) - 241

Loss this week = 0
Total loss = 26.4 pounds


I REALLY REALLY want to get out of the 230s! I definitely wouldn't have thought it would have only lost 2.4 pounds in 9 weeks! Not sure what else to do that I am not. Eventually I guess it will catch up with me! 


Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Weigh Day Friday - Week 8 of 52

The scale finally went back down and I'm down to my Feb. 1st weight...I've officially lost zero pounds!

Just kidding. Again, it is annoying that I haven't seen more scale progress but I'm not letting it bother me. I'm doing OK on my new Metformin..I've had some occasional mild nausea and I've been really thirsty lately but that is about it. I'm curious to see if it is going to help get my hormone thing under control and/or aid in weight loss.


Highest weight: 265
Goal weight: 150-160

Week #8 (2/22) - 238.6
Week #7 (2/15) - 240.8
Week #6 (2/8) - 238.8
Week #5 (2/1) - 238.6 
Week #4 (1/25) - 242.0
Week #3 (1/18) - 241.8
Week #2 (1/11) - 242.2
Week #1 (1/4) - 241

Loss this week = 2.2
Total loss = 26.4 pounds


Rachel still thinks I'm not eating enough with 1900-2000 calories so I'm going to try to bump it up to 2000-2100. I also am going to incorporate some more strength training to see if that helps.


Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Weigh Day Friday - Week 7 of 52

Well, this week I found out that I had a hormonal imbalance from the blood tests I took for my annual physical. My doctor decided that she wanted me to take 500 mg of Metformin. I started taking it on Wednesday. Tuesday though I jumped up 2 pounds for some reason. Really, I don't care. I was awesome this week with eating and I'm not going to focus on the scale. I hope this hormone thing works itself out soon...I really think this might be a reason that the weight has been coming off so slowly.


Highest weight: 265
Goal weight: 150-160

Week #7 (2/8) - 240.8
Week #6 (2/8) - 238.8
Week #5 (2/1) - 238.6 
Week #4 (1/25) - 242.0
Week #3 (1/18) - 241.8
Week #2 (1/11) - 242.2
Week #1 (1/4) - 241

Gain this week = 2
Total loss = 24.2 pounds


I know I should be measuring and going by inches because I have definitely lost some but I'm lazy and I haven't yet. I signed up for a diet bet in January and it's almost over. Despite my best intentions (really, I have been amazing!) I am not going to win my $25 back because I didn't lose 9 pounds...actually I think I have only lostt one pound officially if you look at the numbers. Oh well. 

There is literally NOTHING that I personally could have done to change this outcome. I have a clean conscious. My body is going through some sort of adjustment but I'm not going to let it stop me from continuing to be healthy. If anything, I think it is going to make me healthier because although I eat fairly clean, it has inspired me to do some research and see if further changing my diet could help sort out my hormones.


Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Weigh Day Friday - week 6 of 52

I got on the scale this morning and it was virtually the same. And I'm OK with that! I haven't been as strict with eating and journaling this week. I went out to eat several times because of my birthday and I can proudly say that I enjoyed myself but didn't go nuts! Really, that is the best I can do!

Highest weight: 265
Goal weight: 150-160

Week #6 (2/8) - 238.8
Week #5 (2/1) - 238.6 <-- my birthday :)
Week #4 (1/25) - 242.0
Week #3 (1/18) - 241.8
Week #2 (1/11) - 242.2
Week #1 (1/4) - 241

Gain this week = 0.2
Total loss = 26.2 pounds

I feel like I am still trying to find my proper calorie goal. I have been doing about 1800 calories a day this week but I used a few online calculators and I think I am going to bump it up to 1900-2000 and see how I do this week.

Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Weigh Day Friday: Week 5 of 52

All month the scale was bobbling between the same two pounds and it was kind of annoying. Yesterday it was down a pound (finally below 240!) so I was excited this morning when I woke up to find it was down some more!

Highest weight: 265
Goal weight: 150-160

Week #5 (2/1) - 238.6 <-- my birthday :)
Week #4 (1/25) - 242.0
Week #3 (1/18) - 241.8
Week #2 (1/11) - 242.2
Week #1 (1/4) - 241

Loss this week = 3.4
Total loss = 26.4 pounds

My weight on January 1st was 242.6 so that means that my total January weight loss was 4 pounds! Yay! For a while I thought it would be zero! I was on WW most of the month but then I switched to counting calories. I actually bumped up my calories to 1800-2000 this week and it seems to have made a difference. I think I will stick with that again this week and see how I do. It is definitely a balancing act! I want to make sure that I am getting enough fuel for my body.

Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Weigh Day Friday: Week 4 of 52

So I did decide to move from WW to My Fitness Pal and have been counting calories since last weekend. I am still going to have my weekly weigh in but I am going to do them on Fridays now instead of Tuesdays. I have been tracking my weight for quite a while on MFP already so I already had the data for the past 3 weeks so I'll put it up here too.

Highest weight: 265
Goal weight: 150-160

Week #4 (1/25) - 242.0
Week #3 (1/18) - 241.8
Week #2 (1/11) - 242.2
Week #1 (1/4) - 241

Total loss = 23 pounds

I weigh myself every morning just to try to pay attention to my fluctuations. It works for me, but I know it drives other people crazy. I was "up" today, but the last two mornings I was 240.8 or so...I think the difference might have been some water I drank when I got up at 4 AM. Anyway, I'm not really concerned about that...I'm sure it will be back down in a day or two.

My biggest annoyance is the trend this month. I have been bobbling around the same 2 pound range all month. I have been AMAZING with eating and exercising this whole month...like seriously amazing...I couldn't have done a better job.  I know the scale says I didn't lose weight but I see that my clothes are fitting better, so I must have gained some muscle and lost fat from somewhere (I know I should measure but I haven't really taken the time to do that yet). Actually, the last 2 weeks I've had a ton of people come up to me and tell me that I look great. That definitely helps! I also feel myself getting stronger and accomplishing more physically which makes me feel awesome too!

Therefore, I'm going to take those NSVs and not going to worry about what the scale says, but I am definitely anxious to see the 230s! I set my daily calorie goal around 1650 but eat between 1600-1800 calories a day depending on how much I work out. I am weary of setting my calorie goal too low and I have been trying to pay attention to my body's signals so I eat only when I am legitimately hungry. I'll see how that works out in a few weeks and adjust it if I need to.

I have to point out that for my WW weigh-ins I just put my net change per week but here I am actually writing my real weight down. The prospect of publishing my weight was scary at first, mainly because I was afraid that I would quit. But, once I published my comparison photo below at the beginning of this month, I felt kind of free. So there you go, that's my weight!

In conversation with some of my friends who are also trying to lose weight, I have also said my number out loud. The most common response was "Really?" I think because I am kind of tall (5'8") that I tend to look 20 pounds less than I actually am. That's good, I guess, but I still want to see the 230s.


Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Moving from WW to Counting Calories

I've been rocking my food tracker but I've become increasingly dissatisfied with WW. I started in October and it was the right thing for me at the time because I was not on a solid foundation with my eating and exercise at that point, but the good new is that now I am!

So I've decided to save my $40 a month and go back to tracking calories. I love having the support here online because there are so many people that I can identify with...unlike WW. I used to use MFP (I still use it to keep track of my weight) and liked it, but honestly I love writing things down on paper now...so I'll figure out in the next few days which way I am going to go - electronic or old school.

I'm pretty excited about the switch. I have to figure out how many calories I have been eating and then decide what my target goal will be for the week. I am also moving toward eating cleaner but I'm not quite there yet. I don't want to live with too much restriction right now and I want to continue my healthy way of life. I definitely don't want to start feeling like I am on a diet because I'm not. 

Until later, happy living!
Jamie

WW Week 13 Weigh-in

Well, last week I went up even though I did everything right. This week I was hoping it would come off but it didn't....yet. I have really been working hard the last few days and know eventually it will come off. Trying to be patient! :)

WW Week 1 START: 10/30

(11/6) Week 2: -2.8 (happy)
(11/13) Week 3:  -0.8 (disappointed...thought it should be more)
(11/20) Week 4: -0.2 (happy..I had a tough week!)
(11/27)  Week 5:  -1.6 (5 pound star!)
(12/04) Week 6: +0.2 (WTH because I had a great week! Earned 27 APs!)
(12/11) Week 7:  0 (Maintained...really?)
(12/17) Week 8: -5.2 (10 pound star!)
(12/24) Week 9: -0.2 (yay, kept that flu weight off!)
(12/31) Week 10: -3.4 (5% award!)
(1/8) Week 11: +1.6 (OK because I know I didn't really gain!)
(1/15) Week 12: +0.2 (Still doing everything right!)

Total WW loss: -12.2 pounds

Next week I should see a loss! I'm just going to keep eating right and working hard. Today was my 30th day straight tracking my food! Definitely an accomplishment!

Until later, happy living!
Jamie

WW Week #11 Weigh-in

Today I was hoping I would be down at least a pound but I was actually UP. I think this can be attributed to two things 1) switching back to evening meetings and 2) retaining water and feeling bloated. But for once I'm OK with being up because being up on the scale doesn't mean that I actually gained weight! I know I didn't! I did everything right - tracked every day (23 straight days in a row!) and I worked out (earned 31 activity points!), so there is no mathematical way those 1.6 pounds are real. So I'll just wait until next week to see my real progress from last week.


WW Week 1 START: 10/30

(11/6) Week 2: -2.8 (happy)
(11/13) Week 3:  -0.8 (disappointed...thought it should be more)
(11/20) Week 4: -0.2 (happy..I had a tough week!)
(11/27)  Week 5:  -1.6 (5 pound star!)
(12/04) Week 6: +0.2 (WTH because I had a great week! Earned 27 APs!)
(12/11) Week 7:  0 (Maintained...really?)
(12/17) Week 8: -5.2 (10 pound star!)
(12/24) Week 9: -0.2 (yay, kept that flu weight off!)
(12/31) Week 10: -3.4 (5% award!)
(1/8) Week 11: +1.6 (OK because I know I didn't really gain!)

Total WW loss: -12.4 pounds


I'm going to keep working hard like I have been and it will come off, at the rate my body wants to take it off. Sure I wanted to see a loss today but sometimes the results don't come exactly when you are looking for them.


Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Progress Photos - January 2012 to January 2013

I already posted this on FB the other day but I thought I would post it here too. It is similar to the one I posted the other day but I managed to find a (small) picture of me this time last year. I don't have many recent before photos because I have tried to stay away from the camera! And the biggest thing is that I wrote down my weight for the first time online...eek! That was scary but a little liberating!

I'm really excited about my progress and think I will post another comparison photo in a couple months. It has been awesome to get such positive feedback from everyone!

Until later, happy running!

Getting Past Limbo

I don't know why every year I want so badly to have a great NYE, but I do. I can only count a few good ones I've had in my adult life and last night definitely wasn't one. It's not that it was BAD, but it just left me feeling crappy and reminding me how long of a way I still have to go. I wanted so badly yesterday to celebrate my accomplishments this past year - losing 22 pounds, starting running again, completing a race a month since August, and generally feeling better about life. In fact, I left the house at 9pm to meet my friends with a positive attitude.

But for one reason or another, I let a pity party creep into my head when I was out and found myself sad at home at 12:30, thinking about all the things I don't have that I desperately want. The worst is I've convinced myself that some of those things I want, like having a happy relationship, aren't possible at this weight so I don't even try for them. I have almost 90 pounds to lose to get to my goal weight, so I kind of feel like my life is on hold right now, in limbo, until I get most of that weight off.

I know that's not a healthy mentality and it's not how I really want to feel, but it's so hard to snap out of that feeling! And by the way of course this happened which fueled the fire:

Needless to say, I promptly untagged myself. What sucks is that (when thinner) I am super photogenic and love taking pictures. As I have put on weight over the years, I have taken fewer and fewer pictures of myself. OR, really I only post certain pictures that I take because I know how to take them myself and pose to look thinner. Sometimes it definitely makes you feel left out of life. I have traveled extensively over the last 5 years and don't even have pictures of myself in some of those awesome places! That's sad...

When I woke up this morning, thankfully, some of those feelings had subsided, BUT some of them were still there and that scares me. I have dealt with depression for a long time and I know feelings like that have the power to push you forward or derail you and throw you back into your little black hole. But I know that I don't want to go backwards. I'm so glad that I have had 5 solid months of commitment under my belt to this new healthy lifestyle and that I'm not one of those people scrambling because it's January 1st. Being where I am now allows me to better brush off that crappy feeling I had last night and move forward. The one positive think I did was didn't waste any calories last night on alcohol and comfort food!

So I'm trying to move onward and upward this year, to get out of my limbo, to have a better body and a better body image, but it is still hard and it is a struggle everyday. All I can do is surround myself with positive people and keep working hard. Eventually I will get where I want to be through determination and dedication, and on the next January 1st I know I will have more to be proud about.

So if you are one of those January 1st people, have the confidence to know that you can do it. I have mine, even if it doesn't shine so brightly all the time.

I wish everyone a happy new year and a most excellent 2013!

Until later, happy living!

Jamie

WW Week #10 Weigh-in

So today I wasn't really planning on going to weigh in but at the last minute I decided to do it since it was the last day of the year and the meeting place would probably be closed tomorrow anyway.

WW Week 1 START: 10/30

(11/6) Week 2: -2.8 (happy)
(11/13) Week 3:  -0.8 (disappointed...thought it should be more)
(11/20) Week 4: -0.2 (happy..I had a tough week!)
(11/27)  Week 5:  -1.6 (happy)
(12/04) Week 6: +0.2 (WTH because I had a great week! Earned 27 APs!)
(12/11) Week 7:  0 (Maintained...really?)
(12/17) Week 8: -5.2 (some of it probably due to the flu!)
(12/24) Week 9: -0.2 (yay, kept that flu weight off!)
(12/31) Week 10: -3.4 <--- Got my 5% award! YAY!
Total WW loss: 14 pounds

Total loss in 2012: ~22 pounds

My weekly average weight loss for the past 10 weeks was 1.4 pounds, but if you look at the last 4 weeks, my average was 2.2 pounds per week. Now that I am seeing better results, I am hoping to have a steady average of 2 pounds a week. Of course, more than 2 would be awesome but as long as I work hard, I'll take what I can get and not be upset!
Until later, happy running!
Jamie

Every Little Bit Counts

I finally committed to getting healthy at the end of July when I got back from Italy, and until now, I have been that pissy "this isn't happening fast enough" kind of person. I don't mean to be, really. I am generally a happy, positive person...but dang...I've been working hard and I haven't really felt like I look different.

But this week, I feel like I found my first results! Finally!

Result #1 - I am finally feeling a little thinner and moved down a size in jeans about 2 weeks ago. They fit perfectly when I put them on and feel really good. Right now I don't dry them in the dryer, but I think I can start to. And the even better news is that I don't think these are going to last me a really long time! I think I will go buy the next size down and hang them on my wall to occasionally try on until they actually fit. My favorite jeans are Gap (outlet) Long and Lean. I'm almost 5'8" and they fit my proportions well.

Result #2 - I pushed myself yesterday at the park (I'm still a little "off" from the flu last week) and beat my last 10K time. Even though it's not "fast", it's progress...especially since it was 44 degrees (but thankfully still sunny) outside! I ended up with a 14:39 pace (it took me 1:30:49 total). The last mile and a half I still tend to get tired, but it's getting easier! I felt much better about it than I did a month ago for the Turkey Day 10K.

Result #3 - The scale at WW is going down and I'm close to my 5%! I weighed on Monday but couldn't stay for the meeting so I went back today. Since I was there, I unofficially weighed and was down 2.2 lbs since Monday! The Monday scale said I only lost 0.2 last week, so I think some of that 2.2 from today hadn't show up yet. So hopefully, I can keep doing well until Tuesday or Wednesday when I go to the next meeting and make my 5%. I think I need to lose 0.2 more in addition to that 2.2 loss today to officially get there.

Result #4 - It is getting easier to make better choices. Not that I am perfect, but I am planning more and really thinking about whether something is worth the points before I just shove it into my mouth. I have gone out to Mexican 3 times in the last month and didn't eat a single chip. In fact, I wasn't even tempted. Sure they taste good, but not THAT good, and they certainly aren't worth those points! Each time, I walked into the restaurant with the resolve not to eat any chips, so I didn't. The only high calorie indulgence I have found so far that was worth the points was a gourmet cupcake Jen B. gave me while back. That was ridiculously delicious. In most cases, I just remind myself that this isn't the last ______ on Earth and at some point in the future I can eat it if I want to. That usually helps.

Result #5 - I am getting better about eating smaller portions. Tonight I went out with my family and was going to order something "healthy" but I really just wanted a burger and fries. So that is what I got! Except I cut the (big) burger in half and ate one half plus only half of the fries. I also sampled a few bites from my mom and my uncle's plates of things that I knew were bad choices for me. But, I wasn't bothered at all that I hadn't cleaned my plate. It felt REALLY good to walk away from that other half of the burger!

Result #6 - I realize that I don't mind being a little hungry sometimes. Those of us aren't skinny generally keep eating so we aren't ever really hungry. I think we might even have this subconscious fear of actually being hungry. But I realized that being a little hungry isn't such a bad thing. It means I am paying attention to my body and only adding fuel to it when needed. I am also working on breaking the habit of eating until I am full...now I focus on eating until I am satisfied and not hungry anymore.

So while I still have a LOOOOOONG way to go on my journey, I am going to remember these small accomplishments and let them help push me towards the bigger accomplishments.

Source: 25.media.tumblr.com via Sean on Pinterest

Until later, happy running!
Jamie

WW Week #9 Weigh-In

Last week I lost 5.2 pounds and I know some of that was because I was dehydrated so I really worked hard last week to keep that off. So I was super excited when I went to weigh in and I was down 0.2! Normally 0.2 would make me mad, but not this week! Overall for the holiday I've done really well, though I need to drink more water.

WW Week 1 START: 10/30

(11/6) Week 2: -2.8 (happy)
(11/13) Week 3:  -0.8 (disappointed...thought it should be more)
(11/20) Week 4: -0.2 (happy..I had a tough week!)
(11/27)  Week 5:  -1.6 (happy)
(12/04) Week 6: +0.2 (WTH because I had a great week! Earned 27 APs!)
(12/11) Week 7:  0 (Maintained...really?)
(12/17) Week 8: -5.2 (some of it probably due to the flu!)
(12/24) Week 9: -0.2 (yay, kept that flu weight off!)


Total WW loss: 10.6 pounds

Total loss in 2012: ~19 pounds


I'm going to try to work out as much as I can this week but I don't have high hopes because I am sans gym and it's cold outside...so I definitely will try to pay attention to my eating!

Until later, happy running!
Jamie