Let's get naked... Part 2

Because I feel that accountability is a HUGE part of making a life change, I am sharing numbers. Just the weight and clothing size, because that's all I've got right now.

I will be very honest... I'm not just trying to lose weight. If I can lose a few dozen pounds, great. I try not to put too much emphasis on weight and clothing sizes. Especially clothing. Every brand has its own sizing structure for women's clothing, and I've stopped trying to fit into one thing across the board.

That being said, I still want to share those sizes.

Right now, I am in a 14, depending on the brand and article of clothing. Pretty much all my pants are 14, and a skirt or two might be 16. (Worthington from JCP seems to fit a little tighter than every other brand out there.) Shirts are pretty much all Larges. Every once in a while, I come across a medium that is perfect, or will be in a week or two.

Where I want to be, is a size 8-10. I would be super content with that. I know most women strive for size 4, or 6 (or maybe a 2?), but I know my body and I am not meant to be a 4.

When I first resumed exercise and healthier eating on November 12, I weighed 202.6 pounds. Let's be real, November is NOT a good time to try to change your eating habits, unless your goal is to consume more. I had lost 11 pounds in the six weeks before Christmas. Between 5 family Christmas gatherings and a New Years Feast, and all the leftover cookies and mashed potatoes and starches, I had gained 5 of them back. It took me until January 8 to find the courage to log the number in my tracker. On that date I was 196.2. I had successfully managed to undo 6 weeks of work in 2 weeks. I got back on track and was down to 194.4 on January 10 (see what can happen in 2 days when you go from really bad habits to really good habits?) On January 13, I was down to 193.1, and January 17, 191.6. So it's official! I have lost 11 pounds!

202.6 is the heaviest weight I ever reached, if you exclude pregnancy. The bad thing is, I had been 193 for a few months. I did a "3 day diet" and lost 9 pounds, to get down into the 180's. Somehow I thought I was suddenly free and clear and that I would be able to start eating what I wanted again. I ended up gaining almost 20 pounds after having such "success" with this diet. It showed me that I needed to make a real change to my lifestyle and not just look for a quick fix.

My goal is to weigh no more than 165 when all is said and done. I was 135 in high school, but since graduating in 2004 three things have happened: 1) I had a baby. 2) My body grew up. 3) I developed boobs. I totally want to keep the boobs, so I'll be happy with 165. Or maybe 155. I will have to evaluate.

I don't want to set the number too strictly, because it has been almost 5 years since I was under 190 (for more than a week) and I have no idea what my body SHOULD weigh. It's a guessing game, and we'll figure it out when we get closer to that point.

Now you know my numbers. I am so excited about the 11 pound loss in just a few short weeks... It has me feeling great about my progress and it encourages me to stick with it, because I can see the results on the scale, and on me! I feel so much better too, and tonight I RAN A MILE! I have not done that in about 3 years, so this is a HUGE deal.

Let me share with you the great tools that have helped me accomplish that:

This is what www.mynetdiary.com looks like. I used to use Sparkpeople but they wanted $3.99 for their app.
MyNetDiary lets me scan barcodes from my foods, and I can enter info online OR in the app on my phone, which means I can do it at my desk at work when I can't have my cell phone out, and I can check nutrition information at a restaurant so I know what to (or what not to) order. I tested a bunch of calorie counting apps, but loved this one best.

 

 

 

 

 

Part of the reason I love this one so much is because of all the options you have. It is so easy to use, and the home screen (seen here) lets you track all the important information. To start, you just enter your weight, your goal weight, and how many pounds you think you can lose per week. I went with a realistic 1.5 pounds, so my app customized my timeline and predicts I'll reach my goal weight in June, just in time for bikini season. You can also take Before and After photos on the app on your phone, so you can see your progress. It is my most-used app!!! (Also... please note, the information above is from the interwebz, not my own personal account.)

HERE is a link to the Couch to 5K app I use. It gets you ready in 8 weeks, instead of the traditional 9. C25K has helped me out by giving me those really short-term goals... as in, what should I do at the gym tonight? I came into this whole running thing with bad knee pains and no endurance... 6 weeks into the program, I can run a mile, walk 3 minutes, and run another one. It's a miracle worker.  The best part? They also have a Couch to 10K app. AND they are free. AND you can play your iTunes through this app, so you don't have to close this app to switch tracks and hear the music that gets you moving. I love, love, LOVE this app, too!


And last, but not least... something that helps motivate me to get to the gym? Clothes.

Activewear is ADORABLE these days. I just got these compression capris from Old Navy and LOVE them. They are comfy and slimming. Old me would not wear tight clothes, especially tight pants, but these fit and look great. Super lightweight and easy to move in!

Well... I think I have given you more than enough to read... I promise I won't overwhelm you with posts the next few days, but expect something on Sunday or Monday. I have my first 5K on Sunday and my goal is to complete it in under 45 minutes. The forecast says windy with a high of 38 degrees, so wish me luck! I'm excited to share the results!!!