August 19, 2011
COMPLETED!
(I actually wrote this post 3 weeks ago when I was at 19 pounds. REALLY frustrating sitting at 19 pounds lost when 20 is your goal).
As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve always had a pretty good self-image. I was active when younger and through to college and have irregularly continued to go to the gym as an adult. It didn’t bother me much to see the scale climb slowly over the years because I remained the same dress size so I didn’t consider my weight gain to be that significant. I was happy and healthy and that’s all I was concerned with.
Starting with the new year, I realized my clothes were getting a little tighter. I chalked it up to “winter weight” and the fact that after having trained for the marathon last year, I was simply still in the habit of eating like a distance runner. My knees still bothered me a bit so working out wasn’t the immediate solution and I had never really had to think about what I put into my body before so any attempts at diet changes were half-hearted at best.
The weight continued to pack on and the number on the scale reached new heights: 163.4. After seeing photos of myself singing Karaoke at my birthday in April, I finally made a decision: I was going to get serious about losing weight.
After announcing it here and asking for suggestions from you guys, I decided to try Weight Watchers. In the beginning, there were more failures than successes. I would try to stick to the points but I was still so hungry! I ended up having to forgo my precious Dr. Pepper (a very costly 4 points) and substituted coffee with Splenda for my daily caffeine fix. (I allow myself one Dr. Pepper on Saturdays and Sundays and it’s one of the best parts of my week).
Things that I thought were “good” for me weren’t as great as I originally thought (a favorite trail mix was 7 points per serving!) so it took me about a month to figure out what I could eat and what I really had to skip. I started grocery shopping a bit more to stock the house with fresh produce (Most veggies and fruits are 0 points) and began cooking Weight Watcher recipes (which has helped me towards my other goal of 52 recipes this year).
Some weeks I lost. Some weeks I gained. Some weeks there were no changes at all. And for the first 6 weeks it was really frustrating. I had lost 9 pounds which was right on schedule for the amount of weight I needed to lose (1-2 pounds a week) but I still pined for pizza, Bojangles, donuts, and all the other wonderful things I really couldn’t have. (You can but after a couple of weeks of burning through all of my weekly points AND activity points through indulgences, I really wasn’t getting anywhere).
Plus, no one was noticing. I wasn’t losing weight to get compliments but it’s reassuring and motivating to have people notice and comment on your hard work. Apparently, I wasn’t losing it in my face and as I was still the same size/wearing the same clothes (albeit slightly more loose fitting ones), so no one could really tell I had lost weight. (As you can tell from the “Before and After” photo below, you actually really can’t tell that much difference. Twenty pounds sounds like a lot but apparently I had it to lose).
It wasn’t until I hit below 150 and sustained it for a week or so that I really started feeling good about myself. I hadn’t been below 150 since the food poisoning incident in New Orleans in January 2007…and suffice to say, no one wants to lose weight that way. For a sustained amount of time, I hadn’t been below 150 since 2005. People started noticing and my stomach had finally shrunk-I was finally full from my daily points.
When I started Weight Watchers, I also began attending Zumba classes at my gym. I’m not really a big class person and even though I had heard a lot of good things about Zumba, I had put off going for the longest time because I worry too much about not doing the moves “right.” It was really tough those first few weeks; the class moves super fast and I felt like I’d never get the hang of the routines. When I was going left, everyone else was going right. I’d go up, everyone else was down.
But, after awhile, I started to feel more comfortable and once I kinda knew the routines, then I could really focus on working out, rather than doing it “right.” Now, it’s a killer workout that I both look forward to and dread the two times a week I go.
Technically, when I put this on the list, losing 20 pounds meant I’d get down to 140 and I still intend to. Actually, I think I’m going to keep going until 135. It is not my intent to try to be skinny; I hate when people lose too much weight and they look strange, like the skin is pulled too tight over their bones, but I was 130 when I graduated from college and I wasn’t skinny then.
Complaints that I can’t really have:
- I’ve lost enough weight that a lot of my clothes really don’t fit anymore. I’m not interested in purchasing a brand new wardrobe and I like the clothes I have. I’m thinking I may just have to get some of my nicer clothes (my dress pants, some blouses, etc) taken in.
- My stomach has shrunk so much so that even when I do have a delicious meal I’d like to enjoy, like some Eastern NC pork barbecue, I can’t eat much before I get full.
- When I do eat yummy foods like Krispy Kreme donuts, they don’t taste as good anymore. I feel yucky after having eaten them and instantly regret choosing the fattening, sugary food rather than the healthier alternative.
- I worry about how I’m supposed to maintain this. I don’t think going back to the way I ate before is the answer although I feel that I probably can re-introduce daily Dr. Peppers and a couple of trips to Bojangles every month. I’ll have to do some research.
But I’m happy. I really didn’t know if I’d be able to lose weight; it seemed like such an impossible thing. And now that I have, I’m just so proud of myself for pushing through, saying no to the office donuts and choosing salad when everyone else is eating pasta.
What are your thoughts about diets and exercise? What success stories do you have that you’d like to share?
Congratulations! You look AMAZING!
Thanks! It was a lot of help to get encouragement from you guys too!
Congrats! Our stories are really similar, although instead of “eating like a distance runner,” I was “eating like a newlywed.” With fluctuations, I’ve lost 18-20 lbs, only a few pounds shy of my goal (also of 135, but I think you may be taller than me). I really am amazed with how successful I’ve been with Weight Watchers – when I actually stick to the plan, it works. And while french fries and ice cream still sound amazing and I still indulge in them, you’re right. I feel way better when I eat fruits and veggies!
Well…I was a newlywed too so that may have had something to do with it. I’m only 5’4″ so I’m not that tall. Congrats to you as well!
Congratulations!! you really can see the difference and you look amazing (although I think myou looked beautiful in the before shot too) and it’s great that you feel so much happier!! well done xx
You’re sweet-thanks for the compliments and the encouragement!
Jessica – congrats! You look great! Losing weight is the main struggle in my life. I am currently dealing with health issues (unrelated to weight) and will be starting an Ayurvedic diet. It’s not to lose weight, but I am guessing I will shed some pounds with it anyway because it is so healthy. Fingers crossed anyway. This post has me inspired!
I did WW as part of my first 101 Things List, and I had some of the the same reactions to my weight loss, as you did.
So, congratulations, for one thing! It’s a terrific achievement. You absolutely should feel great about it!
Well done! thats a great goal to acieve. my diet never changes but my weight is up and down depending on my activity.
Wow girl, you can really tell that you’ve trimmed down. 20 pounds is huge, good for you! That’s an awesome accomplishment. I have a lot of friends who have been very successful with Weight Watchers as well.
Thanks! I guess I can’t really tell b/c it’s me but I can definitely tell in my clothes. My pants are falling off of me!
Point of Order: As your hubby, I am extremely proud of you. However, I have to point out the discrepensy in your post about the 2007 New Orleans Food Poisoning Incident. Do I really have to let people know what really happenned? Or will you continue to let poor McDonalds take the blame for that?
SHOOSH!
Haha! Well now I want to hear more.
Well…I had always said it was food poisoning but upon further reflection it may have had to do more with the fact that I had handled a wild alligator fresh from the Lousiana Bayou and perhaps did not wash my hands carefully enough…
Way to go! Losing 20 pounds is a really good accomplishment. For me, my weight goals are a little different. I have a little bit of fat on me, but nothing that is out of control. My real goal is to put on 10-20 pounds of muscle mass. Currently I’m at about 180, but I was at about 190 a year ago. I’ve been trying to hit the gym more. Maybe I’ll get back to where I was.
Yeah, originally it was getting the weight off/slimming down but now I’m focusing on getting into shape…maybe even getting abs?
I am so amazed at your hard work and dedication! Way to go!
Congrats!!! You look fantastic!!
Congrats!! You didn’t look heavy in the first picture, but I can definitely see a difference in the second. I admire you for your motivation! I’m going to Kiawah in a week and I’ve been trying to be good this month but it’s hard fully committing to weight loss. I’m just going to have to accept my bikini body the way it is
I do that too! At least you thought about it a month ahead, I always try to be “really good” the week leading up, like that’s going to make a difference! Have fun!
Congrats on accomplishing your goal and your other life changes! That’s incredible (and it feels really quick since you first wrote about it, probably not for you though). I’ve started the exercise part of losing weight, but still need to get on board with the diet part. As always you’re an inspiration!
Yeah, I did feel like a long time, especially in the beginning, but I have to admit, it all took a lot less time than I thought it would. Now the tough part: still trying to lose even though I’ve hit my original goal!
Loosing weight is not an easy task at all. Congratulations on doing it. You looked good before and you look great now as well. I know the biggest gain is your sense of accomplishment; plus eating healthier is great for you in so many ways. Way to go!
Jessica, you look FANTASTIC. When I started losing weight and eating healthy it was really hard for me to eat sugary foods too. I think your body gets used to not eating it and realizes it doesn’t even need it, so when you DO start to eat some again you realize how gross it generally is, even if you remember loving it in the past.
Jess! so happy for you ^_^ you look fabulous