You are here: Home / Archives for weight loss / weigh-in
Jul 31, 2012

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAALLL!

By ·

(Just say the title in your best Spanish soccer announcer voice for maximum effect.)

So you know how I’ve said from the very beginning that I’d just like to see 158 lbs, which is the very top of the “healthy” weight range for the BMI charts? And that number has always seemed SO far away?

Well, sometimes it’s just better to let the photo tell the story:

OK, so technically I’m 0.6 lbs from my goal, but that’s still in the 158 lb range so I’m willing to count it.

158. One hundred fifty-eight. I can’t believe I finally get to say this, but I made it!

And just in time, too. BlogHer is this week, the conference that helped me jump start my weight loss efforts many years ago through my “Hot by BlogHer” motivation. And this year I’ll be strutting my stuff on the runway during the BlogHer Fashion Show.

I practiced walking in wedges & a dress at the BBSummit last week.

It’s taken so much work to get here. Lots of counting calories and exercise. Actively making the choice to eat better foods and pack as much nutrition into each bite. Even more rewiring of my brain to not seek out foods to pair with every strong emotion.

Most recently, Slim-Fast has been helping me get these last 15 pounds off, and it’s been a huge help. This year has probably been my busiest year on record, leaving me with little time to plan meals or even eat at home. The shakes have been a life saver for these busy mornings – I drink one shake in the morning and I then have the energy to keep going until lunch.

The snack bars have been great, too. I keep snack bars in my purse so if I’m out of the house and suddenly feel the urge to snack, I can have a 100 calorie Chocolate Nougat Gone Nuts bar instead of a 200+ calorie candy bar. Same taste without going overboard on calories.

Seeing 158 has left me with a big question, though: what next? Wow…I don’t know! Being focused on reaching this goal for so long has me feeling conflicted about my next steps. I’m thrilled to be here, and if I had to stay at this weight forever I think I could even accept it. But I’ll admit it’s still not the body I was expecting. Oh, let’s be honest, I’m never going to have that body after two kids.

Maybe at this point my focus will turn to getting stronger and replacing some of the fat on me with muscle. If that results in a little more weight loss, awesome. If not, I’ll measure progress in how well my clothing fits and how I feel. Feeling healthy and strong is far better than a smaller jeans size. I wouldn’t mind giving myself a five pound cushion for the inevitable fluctuations that happen, but I’m not going to hate myself if it doesn’t happen.

For this week, however, I’m celebrating my accomplishment and having a blast at BlogHer. Next week, I can think more about my next steps and decide the next goal I set for myself.

(Oh…and…WOOOOHOOOOO!)

Disclosure: This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Slim-Fast® Summer Slim-Down Challenge. Visit www.facebook.com/slimfast to join the conversation.

Filed Under: photographic evidence, success, weigh-in · Tagged: ,


May 10, 2012

Scale Happiness

By ·

So this happened over the weekend:

Yikes, my scale looks filthy on camera!

Excitement? Yep, I was pretty damn happy. The first time in my adult life being under 160lbs – probably the first time I’ve been under 160 since I was 15 years old. A mere 1.8lbs away from the goal weight I set for myself when I weighed 212lbs and more.

However, I know my body too well. It couldn’t last, and two days later I was back to 161. Still…I saw it. I have proof it happened. Which means I can make it happen again.

If I charted out daily weights for myself, you’d see a lot of little ups and downs. Of course, the valleys have been greater than the peaks, leading to the overall downward trend, but I never let a single weigh-in be the concrete number that I’ll believe in.

I’m frustrated that my weight popped right back up after that short, celebratory scale reading. (I stepped on the scale three times that morning to make sure it wasn’t an error on the scale.) That frustration has turned into determination to see this through to the end and reach my goal.

So yeah, I’m thrilled at seeing 159.8. And I’m looking forward to seeing it again – and numbers lower than it – very soon.

Filed Under: motivation, photographic evidence, weigh-in · Tagged:


Feb 9, 2012

Slim-Fast Women of Wow Update (& Giveaway!)

By ·

Alternate title – 166: So We Meet Again

I’ve been using the Slim-Fast shakes and bars for about three weeks now, so I thought it was time for an update. As you might guess from above, my weight is currently at 166 lbs, which just happens to be the lowest weight I’ve ever been as an adult. I hit this same number late last year, but never managed to get beneath it.

I started the year at 170 (after my holiday hibernation), so four pounds lost in a month isn’t shabby at all! But 166 is a tough number. I was actually at 166 a week ago, then jumped up to 168 out of the blue, and now I’m at 166 again after days of being diligent about my calorie intake.

I’m wishing on a star that this might be the week to officially get past this number on the scale, but I also know that my body seems to have some kind of threshold at 166. Apparently no one gave my body the message that insurance companies and doctors don’t consider me at a healthy weight until I weigh 158.

I have to admit that the past few weeks have been very easy when it comes to food. I have a Slim-Fast shake in the morning before I go to bed (I work night shift, remember), I eat a Slim-Fast snack bar or piece of fruit when I wake up, then I eat a normal dinner with my family. When I go to work, I either eat a low-cal frozen meal or Slim-Fast shake for my “lunch” and have one or two snacks of about 100 calories each. Overall, my daily calorie intake is usually between 1400-1600, which I keep track of by using the Lose It app on my iPhone.

On weekends, we tend to eat out more, but even eating out isn’t a trap for me – I keep to small portions and take the time to enjoy every bite. I’ve found my stomach is smaller now, and so it doesn’t take as much food for me to feel full. And surprisingly, the shakes really do help me feel full despite being liquid calories. (The vanilla one tastes like melted vanilla ice cream – yum!)

With my food intake under control, I have to turn my attention back to exercise now. I’m averaging about one workout a week at this point. If I want to get this weight off, I know I’ll need to move more. I’ve got eight more pounds to go until my goal, and I’m determined to get there.

Giveaway!

Not only has Slim-Fast given me the tools to help me reach my goals, but they want to help you have your moment of wow, too! I’ve got one $50 American Express gift card to give to one lucky reader – use it towards new workout gear, an outfit to celebrate a milestone, or whatever you’d like!

To enter: leave a comment below telling me your favorite type of exercise. What type of exercise gets you motivated and keeps you coming back for more? Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you’re the winner, too.

For additional entries (1 per method – leave a separate comment for each):

– Follow me on Twitter and leave a separate comment with your Twitter username.
– Like Slim-Fast on Facebook
– Leave a comment on one of my Women of Wow posts on the Slim-Fast Facebook page (leave a comment here with your FB name)
– Write on the Slim-Fast Facebook Wall that you entered to win a $50 AMEX Gift Card at Losing My Hind with a link back to this post.

Entries will be accepted until Friday, February 17 at 11:59pm EST. One entry per method, for up to five entries total, US residents only. After that date, one winner will be selected at random to receive the $50 AMEX gift card. Winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to respond or an alternate winner will be selected.

Also, visit these other Slim-Fast Women of WOW for additional chances to win!

Being Alison
Shop With Me Mama
Hollie’s Weight Loss Blog
Blessings Abound Mommy
Yellow Tennessee

Good luck!

Full disclosure: This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Slim-Fast Women of WOW! Program. Visit www.facebook.com/slimfast to join the conversation.

Filed Under: Sponsored-AF, weigh-in · Tagged:


Jan 4, 2012

Let’s Do This

By ·

Alright, new year, new goal. This is it, 2012 – I’ve got big plans for you.

I declare that this will be the year I hit my goal weight.

I’ve steadily lost weight for the past three years, ending each year smaller than the previous one. Since I started tracking my weight again, I’ve gone from 212 pounds to a low of 166 pounds earlier this year. As is usual with my holiday season hibernation, a few pounds did sneak back on, but they won’t be there for long.

A goal weight I’ve always had in my head is 158 pounds. That’s the number provided by the BMI charts as the absolute highest weight I can be for my height and be considered a “healthy” or “normal” weight. I’ve never aimed for anything lower than that because I’ve never been anywhere close to it in my adult life. The closest I’ve come – other than at the moment – was back in 2003, when I was ~170 pounds for my wedding. Even my wedding wasn’t enough to get me to that magic number. (Wait – no negative talk here. 170 was still damn impressive considering that five years prior to that I was nearly 250 pounds.)

But this year, 158 is in sight. I know I can get there with a lot of hard work, sweat and willpower. I’ve come this far already, so I know I have the strength in me to do it.

In 2012, I’m going to make it to 158 pounds and officially be considered normal by BMI standards and insurance charts.

Which is probably the only time in my life I’ll ever be considered normal in anything.

I stepped on the scale today, and the current number is 170, which is a number I’m already pleased with. Holiday indulging for the past three months only resulted in a four pound gain from my lowest weight – that’s a win in my book. It tells me that the lessons I’ve learned from years of doing this are taking hold, and even indulging isn’t the same as it used to be. I can have a piece of pie – or even two – and not spiral out of control into a free-for-all binge. All Charlie Sheen jokes aside, I’m winning at this.

New year, new me. I’m ready.

Filed Under: holidays, weigh-in · Tagged: , ,


Jun 13, 2011

The World is Upside Down

By ·

Ya know, sometimes you do everything right and get nothing for your hard work. And then sometimes you let things slide and find yourself rewarded for slacking off.

Consider last week one of the latter situations.

Despite trying to see the positive side of a plateau, I was still feeling irritated about being unable to make the scale move. That irritation translated into sloppy habits: grabbing not one but two cookies at work, eating fast food more often than I should, and choosing to not log my calories for a couple of days because it was just too tiring to think about.

I did go to my bootcamp class on Tuesday night, where I was completely whipped by my trainer. Not sure if that night’s routine was harder or if my lazy self was getting weaker, but I really struggled through it.

And then, on Saturday morning I stepped on the scale, fully ready to take the beating I deserved for a week of indulgence.

The number displayed was 166.8.

Not only did I finally break the 169 plateau, but I slid down over two pounds. I’m officially at my lowest adult weight ever.

I felt good, too. Looking in the mirror, I could see the two images of myself switching back and forth – still seeing the “fat me” that my poor, troubled brain perceives, but also seeing the muscle definition, the smaller waist and hips, and the healthier version that the mirror is really reflecting. I’m becoming healthy. I’m witnessing my risks for several diseases drop with each inch that disappears from my waist.

(And then I celebrated by eating too much that night and having cake for my husband’s birthday the next day. Eh, you win some, you lose some. No way I’m stepping on the scale again until I’ve had some time to detox from food overload. I seriously doubt I could get that lucky with the scale ever again.)

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Filed Under: success, weigh-in · Tagged: , ,