jojoluvsu2
New member
Hello to everyone. Tomorrow I'm starting a different approach to my weight-loss journey, so I figured it would be a good time to star a journal as well.
So I guess to start, a little about me and my weight history. I was my biggest, 180ish pounds, at the end of first year of University. I had just returned from spending a month in Kenya doing volunteer work, where I was the fat "muzungo" (white person) and the topic of many cultural discussions which tore me up inside. I returned home, and my parents let shortly after for a trip to Hawaii for a few weeks, leaving me to a job and my dog. I decided to really do something about my weight. I never wanted to diet before, because I didn't want to discuss anything with my parents about my weight (I still harbor some resentment towards my mom, not that she caused me to be overweight but she certainly didn't help me with my self image, at a time I needed her the most...but that's a story for another day). So with them gone, perfect opportunity. But what to do? Well, the Atkins resurgence was in it's peak, and so logically that's where I went. That summer I lost about 30 pounds, and felt GREAT! I was riding competitively again, could run my dog, and was generally on top of the world. That fall, back to University, and the unsustainability of Atkins hit. Back up 20 pounds by Spring. I worked on a farm that summer, down to 135. Back to school, back to 150ish. Summer again, back to the farm, down to 135 (see a pattern?). Again, one last time, school = 155, end of school/summer = 135. So now, although I didn't return to school (I graduated), I still managed to put on my winter insulation.
Now, for the first time, I'm trying to lose the weight again. And this time is different. I'm actually building a lifestyle that may actually be sustainable. In the past, I've moved to a farm for the summer, 9 hours of physical labour a day, no access to junk food, biking to get to the grocery store etc. So not something that was going to continue once I was back to work/school.
I was looking for a book/program to follow, but something that was going to work into my lifestyle, no weird food or eating plan, but provide a guideline. I know eating vegan for a month would go a long was as far as weight loss, but I'm not going to eat like that for life, so I know the weight would just come on again. So after browsing a few dozen, I chose "Making the cut" by one of the biggest loser trainers, Jillian (for only $15, I think worth it). It's designed for people with 20 or less pounds to lose, with moderate to high fitness levels. It focuses on healthy eating, and intense, smart exercise. Sounds right for me.
So this journal will be my way of keeping track of how I feel about the program, and (hopefully) my fantastic results. Starting tomorrow
So I guess to start, a little about me and my weight history. I was my biggest, 180ish pounds, at the end of first year of University. I had just returned from spending a month in Kenya doing volunteer work, where I was the fat "muzungo" (white person) and the topic of many cultural discussions which tore me up inside. I returned home, and my parents let shortly after for a trip to Hawaii for a few weeks, leaving me to a job and my dog. I decided to really do something about my weight. I never wanted to diet before, because I didn't want to discuss anything with my parents about my weight (I still harbor some resentment towards my mom, not that she caused me to be overweight but she certainly didn't help me with my self image, at a time I needed her the most...but that's a story for another day). So with them gone, perfect opportunity. But what to do? Well, the Atkins resurgence was in it's peak, and so logically that's where I went. That summer I lost about 30 pounds, and felt GREAT! I was riding competitively again, could run my dog, and was generally on top of the world. That fall, back to University, and the unsustainability of Atkins hit. Back up 20 pounds by Spring. I worked on a farm that summer, down to 135. Back to school, back to 150ish. Summer again, back to the farm, down to 135 (see a pattern?). Again, one last time, school = 155, end of school/summer = 135. So now, although I didn't return to school (I graduated), I still managed to put on my winter insulation.
Now, for the first time, I'm trying to lose the weight again. And this time is different. I'm actually building a lifestyle that may actually be sustainable. In the past, I've moved to a farm for the summer, 9 hours of physical labour a day, no access to junk food, biking to get to the grocery store etc. So not something that was going to continue once I was back to work/school.
I was looking for a book/program to follow, but something that was going to work into my lifestyle, no weird food or eating plan, but provide a guideline. I know eating vegan for a month would go a long was as far as weight loss, but I'm not going to eat like that for life, so I know the weight would just come on again. So after browsing a few dozen, I chose "Making the cut" by one of the biggest loser trainers, Jillian (for only $15, I think worth it). It's designed for people with 20 or less pounds to lose, with moderate to high fitness levels. It focuses on healthy eating, and intense, smart exercise. Sounds right for me.
So this journal will be my way of keeping track of how I feel about the program, and (hopefully) my fantastic results. Starting tomorrow