Wishful Shrinking

kayleejburgess

kayleejburgess

New member
I've been a long-time member of the forum but I've been absent for over a year now. Over the past 12 months or so I have completely lost control over my diet and my body. I gained nearly 30 lbs and saw my all-time high at 291 lbs. In November/December, my mom called me to tell me about a diet she saw on Dr. Phil called the 17 Day Diet. I thought it was another fad but I decided to give it a try because anything is better than nothing at this point. My husband and I bought a treadmill that was making a very useful coat rack, but it was definitely time to put it to better use. I bought a wii fit and decided that this year was going to be different! I vowed that on January 1st, I would change my life. And so it began...

Let me recap the last 20 days in just a few words: incredible, life-altering, successful!

I started the 17 day diet 20 days ago praying that it would work! As the days went by, it only got easier. Having a husband who eat cookies and mac n cheese all the time was a little discouraging, but I stuck to my goals and I've now lost 14.6 lbs.

Now before anybody starts chastising me for my rapid weight loss and spouting the "it's only safe to lose 2 lbs per week" rule, I'd like to say that it has made me a whole new person and I'm proud of my accomplishments. I've lost about 5lbs per week and I feel incredible. I'm eating right, I'm exercising for 1 hr 5 times per week. The treadmill is getting used and the wii fit was the best investment I could have made!

I can't wait for the success to continue and I hope to post some new pictures soon! I'm so happy to be returning to the forum! :)

Stats
Starting Weight: 290.6 lbs.
Height: 5'3"

Goals
Goal Weight: 150 lbs.
Goal Date: December 1st 2011

Monthly Weigh-in
January 1st 2011: 290.6 lbs.
Februart 1st 2011: 269.6 lbs.

Before Halloween 2010
View attachment 14408
Before New Years 2010
View attachment 14409

 
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I also love the name of your journal!
Congrats on the weight loss! You know, people say 1-2 lbs a week, but when you've got more weight to lose, I think 5 lbs a week for the first while is totally fine. I'm sure you know things might slow down a bit later on (as often it's water weight for the first while) but keep with it! Sounds like it's working for you! Can't wait to hear about more success to come!
 
Congrats on your loss so far!
Is this 17-day diet something that you can continue to carry out?
A lot of times, even when a fad diet shows instant results at first, it lacks the strength to carry out in the long run.
Make sure to explore all your options, so you aren't left at a loss for your next move.

I've been where you've been, doll, very best of luck to you!
 
Thanks for all the support!

Let me explain the 17 day diet a little more. It sounds like it only lasts 17 days and that's usually why people are skeptical. It's actually a diet done in cycles. 3 cycles of 17 days and a maintenance cycle at the end. Once you finish cycle 3, if you've got more weight to lose, you can return to cycle 1 and start over, go back to cycle 2 or remain on cycle 3 depending on how much weight you have left to lose. If you've lost enough by the end of the 3rd cycle, you move onto the maintenance cycle which is about maintaining the lifestyle change. It's the perfect process for me. The book gives advice on eating out, surviving the holidays, family issues, PMS, and pretty much anything else you can think of. It's been great and I full intend to see this through.

I've tried so many fad diets over the years and nothing as worked for me so I'm hoping this is the one. I've lost 16.6 lbs as of this morning. Tomorrow is my birthday so we're going out to dinner tonight. I'm anticipating a little cheating to celebrate but not enough to make any significant difference.

Again, thanks for all the support! It's a great motivator! :)
 
Well my birthday weekend is over and I managed to survive! I did indulge on Saturday night but I fully intend to work twice as hard this week to get the lbs down! I gained about 1lb over the weekend but I can also attribute some weight to the fact that it's PMS time for me. I bloat like crazy this time of the month and unfortunately it's inescapable.

Hopefully this week goes smoothly. I'm very proud of the success I've made so far. I'll be picking up my birthday gift from my mother this week. She ordered me a set of Jillian Michaels free weights, a stability ball and kettlebell. I'm really looking forward to amplifying my workouts to extend beyond wii fit and the treadmill!

Here's to another successful week!
 
lol, love the thread title :D I'll weigh in with some support and congratulations on the progress you've already made! Good luck and I hope you achieve a maintainable target!
 
Only a pound gained for that TOM? I WISH! I've gained 3 or 4 overnight during that TOM myself. I'm sure by next week you'll be scooting on down the scale again!
 
Tigpuppy said:
Only a pound gained for that TOM? I WISH! I've gained 3 or 4 overnight during that TOM myself. I'm sure by next week you'll be scooting on down the scale again!
Click to expand...

I sure hope so! For me, the pms weight gain comes on slowly so it'll be up a couple more lbs in the next couple of days. It sucks but I know it'll go away in the end!
 
What's your motivation? What made you decide to change your life?

I was on a plane in August,the seatbelt sign came on and I could hardly buckle it. I was ashamed. I couldn't bring myself to ask for an extension so I sat uncomfortably until I could take it off.

My motivation is simple. Everyday I remind myself of the reasons I want to be thin:
1. I want to ride the rides at the carnival and have someone sitting next to me.
2. I want to buckle an airplane seatbelt.
3. I want to tie my shoes without feeling uncomfortable.
4. I want to sit comfortably in a restaurant booth.
5. I want to paint my own toenails.
6. I want to look good in photographs.
7. I want to shop at my favorite stores again.
8. I want to be able to look into a full length mirror and not feel ashamed.
9. I want to have my dream wedding.
10.I want to start a family!

Find your motivation and use it to your advantage!
 
My husband is my biggest supporter and the greatest man I have ever know. I'm very lucky to have him in my life. Especially when he does things like this:
 
Day 27: Nobody said this was going to be easy!

Today has been a weird day for me. I woke up this morning to find that I had gained 2lbs. Maybe I'm retaining water, maybe it was my salt intake. Whatever the case may be, I was a little bit discouraged. I can't even begin to describe the disappointment as I stepped off the scale. I understand that weight fluctuates as much as 2 lbs throughout the day and weighing yourself every day is not generally a good idea but it helps me to see my progress and motivates me to continue working hard. Not weighing myself at all is one of the main reasons I got to this point. Without knowing how much weight I was gaining, I was oblivious until my clothes no longer fit. If I had weighed myself at least once every two weeks, I may not have let myself get this way.

The 17 day diet book suggests drinking a glass of warm water with lemon so it has become part of my morning ritual. Breakfast usually consists of 2 eggs on cycle 1 days or oatmeal on cycle 2 days. I tried my first grapefruit about a week ago and I'm confident that it was also my last. It was just too bitter for my taste and no amount of sweetener is going to help. I also have a cup of green tea with my breakfast.

Sometime between breakfast and dinner, I workout for about an hour. It usually consists of part wii fit yoga, part wii fit strength training and part cardio in the form of treadmill or wii fit. Todays routine was no different. I started my day as usual. I took my supplements and had breakfast. After relaxing for a little while, I found that I was still exhausted as I didn't sleep well the night before. I decided to take a short nap and when I woke up I was a little bit more energized. I got dressed and prepared the wii fit for my daily workout.

Oddly enough, today I found my strength training and yoga to be a little more straining on my back. Nonetheless, I plugged on with a few variations so as to not push myself too hard. I ended on a good note by burning nearly 400 calories. Shortly after my workout, I generally have dinner. Today was ground turkey with a minute amount of fat free sour cream and fat free cheese wrapped in lettuce. Have I mentioned that the 17 day diet has completely curbed my appetite? I hardly have any desire to eat anymore. It's fantastic!

After dinner is down time! I am now nicely snuggled up with my Bichon Frise (whose name is Spencer Reid) getting ready to watch yesterdays episode of Criminal Minds. In a little while it'll be snack time, but for now, I'm stuffed (not literally as the book tells you to stop eating when you are starting to feel full)!

Today feels like a success so I'm hoping for a good weekend! Weekends tend to be my downfall. My husband is home from work and I don't usually find any time to workout. This weekend will hopefully be different! We're picking up our new baby tomorrow and I'm incredibly excited! We've adopted a 1 year old Yorkie and we're really hoping our Bichon will get along with him. I can't wait!
 
Where to begin...
I couldn't possibly be more discouraged. Yesterday was an awful day. I weighed myself when I woke up, as always, only to find that I hadn't lost any more weight. In fact, I went back in my journal and discovered that I haven't lost anything since January 22nd. What a way to start the day. I've been working incredibly hard to reach my goal and it has never seemed so far away. I'm hoping that once my period passes, it'll start to drop again and I'll be in a much better mood.

As the day wore on, my hopes were dashed ever more. We took Spencer to the groomer and had lunch at a BBQ restaurant. I had a chicken garden salad with fat free ranch and got to watch my husband eat a huge bacon cheeseburger with onion rings. So you can understand my frustration there!

Later, when we went to pick up the new puppy, the owners got cold feet and we left empty handed. We're hoping she'll change her mind again and we'll have a new baby in a few days, but it doesn't seem to promising.

So back to the diet. I haven't done anything differently since my birthday weekend and still no change. I've worked out twice as hard and managed my diet quite well. I've been so proud of myself... until I step on the scale every morning and see absolutely no change. My mom thinks I could be losing inches but I didn't take my measurements at the beginning and I don't see any difference anyway.

So here's hoping today is a better day. My husband is going to watch the University of Kentucky Basketball game with the boys today so I'm going to kick it into high gear! It has been almost a month since I started this journey and I don't intend to give up now.

When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt
 
Kaylee !!

I'm embarrassed to say this, but I get teary eyed reading your diary. The note from your husband is wonderful- and he seems like he is supporting you a lot! Your mother also seems like a fantastic source of support!

Ok I have to say this too - Girl, your weightloss so far is FANTASTIC! You are so motivated, and determined! Your hard work to sticking with your diet, and exercise is very motivational! However, I know how you're feeling. Early this week I found out over my 4 weeks of working hard at exercising, that I only lost 3lbs (+1 lbs of muscle)...it was discouraging, and it's hard to mentally get yourself over that.

But you have to remember- you're doing great. Every day you continue your diet, and everyday you do your exercise- you are contributing to your weight loss goals!

You should take your measurements today- because your mom is right. Numbers on the scale are not always the most reliable way to record your weight loss! Even though I lost only 3 lbs, I lost more inches!! Perhaps you can get someone to help you take your measurements! And in a month you can go back and retake them- you might be surprised!! :) (In fact, I would bet money that you'd see a difference!!)

It's hard not to get discouraged, but I think you're pointing out a lot of great things! TOM can contribute to excess weight! And weight can fluctuate so drastically during the day, and depending on your water and salt intake!

But girl- YOU'RE DOING GREAT!! I wish I had your determination!! Keep it up- and whenever you're feeling down, just know that this community is here for you :) :)

*big hugs*

Rock it!!
 
Tik said:
Kaylee !!

I'm embarrassed to say this, but I get teary eyed reading your diary. The note from your husband is wonderful- and he seems like he is supporting you a lot! Your mother also seems like a fantastic source of support!

Ok I have to say this too - Girl, your weightloss so far is FANTASTIC! You are so motivated, and determined! Your hard work to sticking with your diet, and exercise is very motivational! However, I know how you're feeling. Early this week I found out over my 4 weeks of working hard at exercising, that I only lost 3lbs (+1 lbs of muscle)...it was discouraging, and it's hard to mentally get yourself over that.

But you have to remember- you're doing great. Every day you continue your diet, and everyday you do your exercise- you are contributing to your weight loss goals!

You should take your measurements today- because your mom is right. Numbers on the scale are not always the most reliable way to record your weight loss! Even though I lost only 3 lbs, I lost more inches!! Perhaps you can get someone to help you take your measurements! And in a month you can go back and retake them- you might be surprised!! :) (In fact, I would bet money that you'd see a difference!!)

It's hard not to get discouraged, but I think you're pointing out a lot of great things! TOM can contribute to excess weight! And weight can fluctuate so drastically during the day, and depending on your water and salt intake!

But girl- YOU'RE DOING GREAT!! I wish I had your determination!! Keep it up- and whenever you're feeling down, just know that this community is here for you :) :)

*big hugs*

Rock it!!
Click to expand...

Thanks girl! It means a lot and I definitely needed that!! This is the best place to find support! If I didn't come here every day, I don't think I would make it much further!

I also took my measurements today so we'll see how that goes!
 
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Stick to you goal, you will start losing again. That time of month women usually gain a little. Good luck and Good for you on your weight loss so far!!

Welcome back to the forum.
 
Thanks! It's great to be back!

Well....
Yesterday was the last day of my period and this morning I was down 1.6 lbs for a total of 18.4 lbs! Yay! I shall blog about it later!
 
YAY you're doing well. Almost down 20 pounds! your hubby sounds like such a sweetheart and a great support
 
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