How I dropped 35 pounds

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

I don't keep it a secret that I still have a ways to go on this journey. However, sometimes its worth it to take a moment and really reflect on my progress. I've started this journey to lose weight and improve my health numerous time over my life. What made this time around different?

1. Sense of urgency. Without this, you won't have the jumpstart to your motivation and, trust me, you are going to need lots of motivation up front. It could be a picture that shocks you into action, health problems or a comment from a loved one. Whatever it is, it has to kick you in the pants. For me, it was finding out I was prediabetic. That's all it took.

2. Follow the SP plan. You are on this site for a reason, so take advantage of what it has to offer you. Eventually, you'll modify the SP plan for your needs but make sure you try out the features. If you are only using one or two tools, you are really missing out.

3. Track your food. Use the SP tracker. a Weight Watchers tracker, a notebook and paper. Believe me, it can be a drag and a pain to write everything you bite, but it keeps you accountable. Scientists have done studies that prove that keeping a food journal works. If you're still resistant, start small. Journal a few days a week and work your way to daily,

4. Exercise. It's a must. If you don't have time, then you really don't want to lose weight or improve your health. I don't think I'll ever be crazy about exercise, but I do it any way. Try different things until you find something that works for you.

5. Be consistent. You are building healthier habits so be patient with yourself. Give yourself the time you need to improve your daily habits. Keep working at it, every day. I tell people all the time. I was eating a fast food sandwich almost every morning during the first few weeks on SP. Why? I wasn't ready to give it up. Now, I've gone from 3-4 of those sandwiches a week to maybe one a month.

6. Be patient. I am STILL working on this one! Some weeks you'll lose. Other times, you're completely on program and you gain. Other times, there won't be a change. You won't lose weight in a logical straight line. On a chart, the line looks more like a lightning bolt. And, the less you have to lose, the longer it takes. If you only have 15-20 pounds to lose, a one pound loss in a single week is very good. Embrace it and keep up the good work. I have 32 pounds left to lose. I think these next 10 will be okay, but after that......I'll need to reread what I just told you.

7. Find a support system. Join the SP community. Get your friends to sign up with you. Find supportive family members who can lift you up and not tear you down. If someone is belittling you, and trying to make you feel bad, distance yourself. They are filled with negative energy and that's the last thing you need right now.

8. Reward yourself. You deserve that new outfit, that pedicure. If you don't have money, use your SP points and buy yourself something here! You are building a better you. It's work and it can be vexing at times, but you're here making it happen, so good for you!

Best wishes!

Onward and downward.

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My mind's eye

Monday, July 09, 2012

If I've said it once, I've said it 1,000 times. I am one super-duper impatient woman. When it comes to weight loss, I want to see big changes right away.

But that's not how it works. You don't always see immediate results of your healthier lifestyle when you look in the mirror. The changes don't always register in your mind's eye.

This weekend, a friend took photos of me. When I viewed the photos, I saw a woman who was "slightly overweight" but not obese. I'm in a new clothing size (down to a 14 from an 18), my blood pressure has dropped to a normal range, men are hitting on me again. Yet when I look in the mirror I can't see that I've lost 35 pounds. Ironic, isn't it?

I figure if I can't see it with 35 pounds gone, it must mean that I will need to lose all 67 pounds before I can tell. I also realize that 20 of the pounds I lost, I had just gained. Some people never saw me at my peak weight, so when they see me again, they don't notice a difference. I don't need the outside validation, but I admit that sometimes it's disappointing.

I have a perfect litmus test on Wednesday. I am meeting up with a friend who I haven't seen since last summer although we chat on the phone regularly. I was at my peak weight the last time we saw each other and actually complained to him about it. I told him about a month ago that I've lost weight, but haven't mentioned it since. We'll see if he notices the difference.

I'm focused on reaching my second goal, which is to lose 42 pounds by the end of August. I need to lose seven pounds to make goal. It feels like it's taking forever, GRR!

Okay, enough whining. I am going to continue reading everything I can to help me cope with this long, long, long journey. Although my motivation has waxed and waned, I'm still on program food-wise and even worked out for an hour yesterday. I'm DETERMINED to see this through!

Onward and downward.

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More energy

Saturday, July 07, 2012

Last night, I met up with a few friends for happy hour on Major League Baseball All-Star Game weekend here in Kansas City.

We ate dinner, hung out and just had a nice time. Around 8 pm or so, we purchased wrist bands to go club hoppin' on the party bus. There were about 10 of us or so ranging in age from 30 to 60. I noticed the women in their 50s and 60s called it quits before the bus ride. Most of the women in their 40s took one bus ride and decided around 10 pm that they have had enough. Next thing I know, I'm the oldest one in the group. We must have hit about six or seven different spots. I lasted until about 1 am, then it was my turn to call it quits. Before I restarted SP, I would never have been able to hang so tough. I am so glad to have more energy!


Because I am in my 40s, I hadn't been club hopping in years. It was interesting to see today's party scene for the twenty-something set. Quite honestly, I don't think much has changed since I was in my 20's. Lots of noise, drunk people, skimpy outfits, high heels and general mayhem. I think that when you're young, the mayhem is new and exciting, but by the time you're in your 40's you've seen just about everything. The only thing that stood out in my mind was the stripper pole on the party bus and the loud, uncensored, hip-hop music. Some of the women on the bus had actually taken a pole-dancing fitness class and were showing off their antics as the party bus moved between club districts. Just a wild scene.

The other thing I noticed is that because I was surrounded by much younger people, I felt overweight. Most of the party-goers had slender or athletic builds. Almost no one was overweight except for the occasional best friend at the club. Unless an overweight girls is supremely confident, she is going to shun the party scene because she will be invisible.

Although I had lots of fun, I'm draggin' today. I'm doing good to get my housework done and errands out of the way. This afternoon, I'm going to the major league baseball fan fest. I'm not a big baseball fan anymore because my team, the Royals, haven't been good since I was 20 years old. Still, it's a unique opportunity to take in more of the all-star scene.

Food wise, I'm hanging in there, I stuck to yesterday's eating plan and managed to stay within my calorie limits although I was out and about. Now, I just need to pick up on the exercise. Maybe I should sign up for pole dancing lessons. LOL.

Onward and downward.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ6zr6kCPj8

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Yesterday's Report Card

Friday, July 06, 2012

Yesterday, I was not feeling motivated to do anything. I just wanted to be lazy and eat whatever I wanted.

Considering how unmotivated I felt, I did okay. Just okay, though. I had oatmeal for breakfast, a salad and fruit for lunch. Then I went to happy hour, had one drink and another salad. I tripped up on the dessert a bit, but the good part is that I split it with a slender girlfriend of mine, so the portion was reasonable. For the day, I give myself a C-, because I didn't exercise.

I went about 300 calories over my daily limit, which is okay because when I reviewed my tracker, I had banked a few hundred calories earlier in the week. My 7-day average intake is still around 1,500 calories which isn't bad.

This evening will be equally tough. I'm going to another happy hour. The major league baseball all-star game will be played in Kansas City on Tuesday (7pm CDT), so I'm sure our venue is going to be rockin'. Still, happy hours are hard to do. To stay on track, I planned in advance what I am having and entered it into my tracker. By doing so, I found a way to include some of my favorite, not so healthy choices without long term damage to my program. Its important to me to find a way to balance my need to stay on program with my desire to avoid feeling deprived.

This weekend, I'll venture out and check out some of the free activities going on in town. Kansas City has dressed itself up and rolled out the red carpet for its all-star game guests. I'm looking forward to it!

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Combating the Inner Rebel

Thursday, July 05, 2012

This morning, I woke up in a completely defiant, whiny mood. I didn't want to blog, make a smoothie, write down anything I ate, exercise. Nothing. I just wanted for all of it to go away and for me to be able to just be lazy and do nothing but sit around eating my favorite foods.

So I gave myself permission to eat whatever I wanted today and to not exercise. First order of business; a trip to McDonald's for my favorite morning sandwich. But something funny happened at the drive thru. When it was time to order, I got oatmeal.

All of the rebellious bravado I had just an hour earlier--gone. I gave myself permission to eat the sandwich and I turned it down. What happened?

The only explanation I have is that while I was in line I asked myself a simple question. How will you feel after eating the sandwich?

I reminded myself how hard I've been working and that I've come too far to start backsliding. That mediocrity is not enough when it comes to lowering my blood sugar; I have to excel. I thought about the list of artificial ingredients I'd be consuming and was that something I really wanted to do. In a three-second nutshell my answer to this lightning fast series of questions was "It's not worth it." The sandwich was not worth the angst I would feel, the calories I would consume, or the tricks it would play on my blood sugar.

I wanted something that was part of my plan. Something that would not make me feel bad about my food choices. My old friend, oatmeal, fit the bill.

I don't know how the rest of the day will go, but my inner rebel is calm for now.

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