My first (and hopefully last) attempt at a personal metamorphosis.

Well it's been a while. I have not felt a great desire to post progress mainly because I haven't had a whole lot of progress. The cruise I went on was great! Tons of delicious food options. Made both good and bad choices but simply being in an environment where I didn't have much control and also drank alcohol took it's toll. I came back and weighed in around 214. Most of it must have been water weight as it came off pretty quickly. Once I got back down to 207-209 I got stuck for a number of weeks. We all know the dreaded plateau and I tried a few different things to try to break through. The last plateau was 215 and I got stuck there for weeks, too. So I can finally report that the latest plateau is over and I am down to 205. Still not as low as I was hoping to be at this point but progress is progress!


I am a size 12-14 now. Started at 16-18 and it feels good to donate clothing that I KNOW I will not need again. Getting rid of it all gives me closure on how unhappy I really was. I am currently wearing a pair of capris that I bought years ago but still had the tag on them. I had them for years and only now can I wear them. Right now I only have 3 more pairs of pants that fall in this category. It is sad to part with a few pairs of pants that I really love. I'll just need to go shopping soon to find a new favorite pair, that one day soonish I will have to give to goodwill.


Still loving oatmeal. Still getting comments almost everyday from all sorts of people who notice the change. I head home to see my family in 2 weeks and they have not seen me since I started 35lbs ago. I am expecting it to be an emotional rollercoaster as I don't really enjoy a lot of attention. I like to blend in.


I will do my best to update more often, especially when plateaus are not happening. Work should be calming down soon and so I will have more time to focus on the gym and checking in with all of you :)
 
Reached my summer goal that I had made with some of my co-workers about 2 months ago. My goal was to get to 199 and with both good and bad choices somehow I made it happen!


I know that I should feel good about where I'm at but I think I feel the lowest I have since I started. This past week was extremely overwhelming at work and resulted in very little sleep and not eating nearly enough to be healthy. This is the first time I really stopped eating. Once I sat down yesterday morning (my first day off in many) to have oatmeal I realized that my appetite was gone and I ate my oatmeal simply because I knew I was supposed to, not because I was hungry. It was a scary realization and I have spent the last 24 hrs getting back into my normal diet.


In the past week due to everything going on I feel like I've lost touch with who I am. As the weight goes my identity is changing. People treat me differently and I am not always sure how to respond. I think I also am very tired from working too much and so my emotions are through the roof. I drank way too much on Friday and made some poor choices which doesn't help how I'm feeling at all.


The next two weeks will be better! I'm heading home for the first time since November and get to spend time with my best friends and family. I love visiting where I grew up and it always recharges my batteries. Just need to get through today and tomorrow. One day at a time!
 
Hey Alice29,

Good to see you back...but not sure I'm liking what I'm reading even though you have reached your goal weight for the summer...it sounds like your metabolizm is screwed up...when you're not hungry, it's a sure sign something is haywire...it could be from your having eaten too few calories for an extended period and gotten your metabilizm too low...or it could be from depression, which it sounds like you might be experiencing. I'd suggest you need to eat above your calorie level for a couple of days, or even a week... and get back into some regular brisk walking and then go back to a healthy calorie level.


I know how you feel about people's reaction to you...as your body changes, people think your brain/mind has changed too...and it's not really true...but they don't know how to react when they start to see a different person on front of them. I would also suggest you buy your self 1 new outfit that fits your new body and show it off a little bit...find one that flatters your new body and strut your stuff girl! The next thing I suggest is to get some sleep...take a day off work if possible and just rest...from your description, you really need it and deserve it.


Be gentle with yourself...you are the best person to take care of yourself...if you don't do it. no one else will...so go ahead and make good choices today...let tomorrow and yesterday take care of them selves..you focus on today!


Good choices to you,

Sarah
 
Hi Alice!

How was your trip home?? I'm so impressed with all your hard work this year. I hope I can be as strong willed and motivated as you were!


Looks like it's been a few weeks since an update...how did you summer turn out. I hope you received the rest it sounds like you needed AND deserved!!
 
Well it's been a few weeks and I am feeling much better than I was the last time I posted. I learned the hard way that working hard on my weight loss during the busy seasons at work (mostly summer) do not mix. I became so consumed with both that I thought about little else for weeks. It was unhealthy and I have had a few weeks to work my way out of it and reflect.


Vacation was great! I was feeling a bit of anxiety about seeing family and friends who I had not seen since I started my weight loss journey. This might sound a little odd but I definitely come from a place where we never talked about our feels or personal stuff. With that being said I was not surprised that only a handful of people complimented me on my weight loss. Not a single one of those people was a family member. It may sound horrible but I honestly would have been surprised if they had said something. I feel a little sad about it, more that I wish we talked about personal stuff. It also just makes me glad that I live where I do and the people around me are so positive and supportive. As soon as I got home multiple people complimented me and it just made me so grateful for where I am now in my life. Without this positive environment I don't think I would be able to do this.


I tend to not focus on what I eat unless I am at home and in a routine. As I result I put some weight back on while I was away but I don't feel especially bad about it. I'm at 205 right now and have set a short term goal of getting below 200 by the end of this month. I feel positive about this goal and have made a few new goals as far as eating and exercise.


No more baked goods unless I made them. I rarely have time to bake so this should be great! Baked goods include cookies, brownies, cupcakes, etc..


Execise: I started going to a community pool to swim laps yesterday. It is much closer to the gym and outdoors (so great to live in a place where I can swim outdoors year round!). I'd like to go twice a week and swim for 45-60 min.


Downloaded an app for couch to 5k. This is the end of me procrastinating when it comes to running! The program involves walking/running 3 times per week. I feel intimidated but ready to take the leap! I found a 5k nearby in November that has an 80's theme. I will be signing up at the end of the week after I get paid. Now I just need to find someone to run with me!


My christmas gift to myself will be a bike. I live in an amazing area for long distance bike riding and have never owned a road bike. This will be the last piece in my dream of doing a triathlon. Whether its just me or an actual event only time will tell.


Thanks everyone for the continuous support. Through the ups and downs I appreciate everyone in this forum and the support and strength you give me everyday!
 
AHey Alice!
Good to see you back! I'm really impressed with your new goals...a 5k? Excellent! You can do it...I just did one, and it was fine. I'm right there with you on the baked goods...killer for me! You keep up the exercise And good food choices, and you will be under 200 before you know it! You have come a long way, and I totally get your family..my family doesn't talk much about feeling either...now, they did compliment me about the weight loss when I saw some of them back in May, so my guess is those who didn't say anything were jealous!
You just do it for yourself, and their feelings will work the,selves out!

Keep up the great work,

Sarsh
 
Thanks Sarah!


Had a pretty good week. Busier at work than normal so it was hard to make time to prepare good food. So besides a few poor choices it was a good week overall. I'm down 1.5 pounds to 203.5 and feeling good! Completed my first week of couch to 5k and I am very proud!! Three "runs" in a week all about 2 miles. I found a running partner at work who is right around my ability level so that has been great. He is gay and I find that I don't feel as insecure with him as I would with another girl. He's been a great friend for a long time which doesn't hurt either. So about to begin week 2 in an hour and I am determined to do my best with this routine. Feeling very insecure about running but I know it will all be worth it in the end!


I've done pretty well with the baked goods but need to do better with water.


This week I'd like to do 30 minutes of stretching and light weight lifting on days that I do not run or swim. I also need to stretch for 5 min both prior to and post running. One of my quads is in rough shape already!



Everyone keep up the great work!
 
AOh Alice, I'm so proud of you for taking action on that couch 2 5k!! 3 runs already!! You are going to be fine! I find that when I write out my training program, I do much better about keeping up with it..something about accountability! It's going to jump start your weight loss too..the elliptical is good for me, but my body had adapted to it, so now I'm really trying to switchit up daily..and keeping the "long runs" for the weekend, and having a day of rowing, another day elliptical, a day of walking up hill, a day of stairs stepper, etc...I've got my marathon training outlined all the way up to race day! You are going to be fine, and so glad you have a running partner you feel comfortable with...can't say I have one of those yet, so do take advantage of that! Keep up the great work Alice...so proud of you! You help me more than you know...and especially I think of your gardening! I really miss that form of exercise!
Good choices for a fresh new week!
Sarah
 
Thanks, Sarah!


Good week so far. I'm a day behind on my running but I made it to the pool today and did a good 45 min worth of laps. Checking out new fitness apps and will let you all know what I find that is worth checking out! Oatmeal has been extra delicious this week with the addition of fresh blackberries that are from the bushes around my house. Delicious and free! A bunch of my friends have decided to do the 5k with me in November. Just a bit more motivation to make this all happen. Only weighing in on Sundays from now on. I am cutting back how often I step on the scale. The past two months I stepped on the scale more than once per day and know if made me feel very overwhelmed and obsessed in an unhealthy way.


Feeling so much better than I did a month ago. Full of gratitude.


Never forget to be kind to yourself!
 
Crap...I just wrote a nice little post for you but messed up and it is gone.


You're doing great! I'm still where you started and seeing your progress really helps mine.


How great that you have a friend to do the 5k with. I have done lots of runs from 5ks to 1/2 marathons but only trained for one of them! My next 5k is middle of October and I wouldn't exactly say that I'm training for it, but I am running at the gym so hopefully that will help decrease my time.


Have a wonderful weekend!!
 
AHey Alice, good decision on the scale once per week, and runni g the 5k...both are good motivators, but not obsessions!
You are doing great, keep it up!

Sarah
 
Thanks Sarah and PEC for stopping by! Always grateful for your words of encouragement.


Weighed in this morning at 203. Going down slowly but surely. The week as a whole was pretty good. Made good choices when it came to food overall. Had a "cheat" day yesterday but honestly it just felt like eating the amount I would need to to maintain. Maybe minus the fish and chips ;) I'm a day behind on running but I left myself a few extra weeks to complete the couch to 5k program so I'm not worried. I did register for a 5k in November and so far I have 5 friends coming along. I'm hoping these fun runs become a regular habit as it would be a fun way to get in shape, stay that way, and spend time with good people.


A friend who is a runner suggested going to a running store to be fitted for running shoes. She's been running forever and is also a yoga instructor so I really value her opinion. Im going to try to make it to the store today as my schedule is pretty packed for the next few weeks. I figure if thats all I really need as far as gear thats not so bad!


I had to go to a funeral yesterday which was very sad, but helped me come to terms with losing an important person in my life. I saw so many people who I have met once or twice in the past but don't really remember. A number of them came up to me to comment on how great I look. It was really flattering and a bit over the top. I definitely appreciate it but it does feel a little strange given that I'm only about half way to my final goal.


I bought 3 pairs of pants over the past few months that did not fit as a kind of goal. One pair is size 14 but fits small, one is a 12, and one is a 11. The 14 fit snugly finally. I think it's going to be time to do a bit more clothes shopping next month!


Best of luck to all of you in the coming week!
 
AHey Alice,
Slowly, but surely, is the best way for long term success! You are doing so well, and I know exactly how you feel about the compliments,...I still feel really wierd about them, but I'm starting to get more at ease with them...starting! That is a journey too! Getting fitted for shoes is a good decision! I found a brand and model that fit me years ago, and I've stuck with them...thankfully, they make small changes, but overall, they have kept the fit (I wear the New Balance 993)...expensive, but worth it for my overpronating, long, flat foot !
Buying clothes that dont fit know is a great motivator for some people...but gotta say, it has the opposite effect on me...I think it goes back to a diet experience I had as a teen ager...and one of the boys I liked commented that my pants were too tight...so I havnt worn tight pants much at all..not even to motivate me on a weightloss challenge. It's stupid I know, but it's me! You will be wearing those 14's before you know it and feeling great!!

Good choices to you!

Sarah
 
Another week but unfortunately not much as far as progress. I had a tough week at work with my boss having a serious health scare. It all turned out to be OK but was very scary for a few days. So working late everyday resulted in no running, lame. I started feeling very unmotivated by the end of the week and topped it off with a food festival yesterday. Oops! Well I decided on the way home from the food festival I would take my friends advice and go get fitted for running shoes. Overall a good experience but I was and still am a bit skeptical since I have had so many injuries in the past and it's hard to believe shoes could make a big difference. But I'm going to trust advice on this one and see how it goes.


I laced up my new Brooks today and went out for Week 2 Day 3 of couch to 5k. My last run was not good ~ felt really gassy and did not go as far as I had hoped. The run today ~ fantastic. Even though I had not been out for exactly a week it felt great most of the time. I think the shoes effect will be measured in my level or joint pain and soreness tomorrow. I also went 0.25 miles further in 30 min than I have gone so far and my mile time was 40 seconds shorter than my best time so far. Feeling good!


I got an amazing groupon for yoga classes yesterday so I need to just get myself to go for the next few months (it was $49 for 30 classes!).


This week I'm going to get a few runs in and hopefully see some movement on the scale!


Have a great week everyone!
 
Still hovering just over 200 but I haven't felt too discouraged yet! I have a few health things going on that I think may be part of the plateau and I know if I keep eating well and exercising the number will go down eventually!


I was thinking over the weekend that maybe it is time to make some more severe guidelines as far as eating. When I started I really changed my diet and I know that is a big part of my success so far. So I have been thinking of what else I can do to improve my diet (there are a lot of ways, just what changes can I make permanently). I'm sticking with the no baked goods unless I made them. Here are some other ideas I am going to try out:


Switch from mochas to lattes (I have 1-2 per week and always use fat free milk, no whipped cream). This switch will save about 100 calories each drink (up to 800 calories a month which is almost 1/4 of a pound!).

No eating within 3 hours of going to bed.

Drink 16oz of water every morning right when I wake up.

Fried food, sigh. I need to limit this so let's say 2 times a month. I don't eat too much now, but I do crave it!

Soda, another sigh. I only crave this after I have it so I just need to limit this more. I will try having one per week. eek!

Eating out in general needs to be cut back both for my weight and also for my wallet. Twice a week (unless I'm traveling for work).


I'll keel brainstorming but if any of you have ideas feel free to make suggestions!


Still training for my first 5k in November. I'm about to start week 4 of the couch to 5k program. Almost up to running for 5 min at a time. A little nervous about being able to do that. But I have been able to do it so far so the only thing stopping me is me!
 
Nice job Alice. I love your ideas for changing your life. Your ideas seem very reasonable and healthy. I love your latte idea, that seems like a great change. I love my latte's, we even bought a machine and it really saved me of the cost and time of going to a coffee place.

Do you drink much alcohol? It sounds funny but I've really cut back on my wine intake. Wine has a lot of sugars, so now when I go out I'll have vodka-soda. I tend to drink it more slowly and there are a lot less calories in vodka-soda than beer or wine.


Great job on your training! You're doing so well!
 
AHey Alice, I like your ideas for getting off that plateau...plateaus suck! One thing I did after about 10 months into my
Journey was to start counting calories and knowing exactly what I was eating, and finding the max calories I could eat and still lose weight. I use myfitnesspal.com, and it has been a good program for me to learn how much calories I am eating...their website and mobile apps are good and they have a huge database so it's easy to find most anything there and it makes calorie counting not so bad. The other thing I did was to find the calorie intake of my target weight at maintenance level and start eating at that level, and losing weight slowly (sometimes really, really slowly) ...that's where I am now. My calorie level is 1650 cal/day (I'm 5'7, and my goal weight is 143 with a sedentary job and some exercise). I don't add my calories from exercise back in to my calories/day allowed, so anything I burn is a bonus. I've been on this approach for the past 5 months, and while the weight is coming off slowly..it is coming off. Didn't mean to hijack your thread, but thought I would share some of what has been helping me get through the plateaus. Congratulations by the way on your couch 25k...running has helped me off a plateau too...you'll be running that 5 k before you know it!
:hurray::hurray:

Good choices to you alice29!

Sarah
 
Well we're back on track and I couldn't be happier about it. Saw that 1 at the beginning of the scale this morning and hopefully it will stick around this time! At 199.5 and joined the rocktober challenge in hopes of being 195 by the end of the month. Hitting this long time goal only makes me hungrier for my future goals, especially reaching a healthy bmi around 175.


I know so many people gain the weight back but I honestly don't see how I could ever let that happen. This has been too much work so far to consider ever going back. Thanks Sarah for the suggestions. I do calorie count, more when I know I'm being good and I know that defeats the purpose. I realize that it does prevent me from making bad choices and so I need to try to use the app more (maybe 3-4 days per week minimum?). I did say no to problem foods a number of times this week (soda, baked goods, candy) so I know I'm on a better path.


I decided that one of my rewards from long ago (a tropical vacation at the end of my journey which I hoped would be December) should happen even though I won't be done by then. My hope now is to be at 185 by the end of this year, my one year anniversary of the start of this journey. I won't be ashamed of losing 55lbs in a year! I booked a flight so I will be in Kauai for three weeks over christmas. It is an ideal time to be away from work and I am going to use every last vacation day that has built up. Ive been there before and loved it! I have so many ideas of what to do with my time there and I already have one friend coming to join me for a week. Its so great to have something to look forward to!


Thanks for believing in me!
 
YAY!!

you're now in ONEderland!! Congrats and great job. And yes, be proud for your amazing accomplishment of 55 pounds lost in a year. That's wonderful. I'm very jealous of vacation, sounds like a great plan.
 
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