For as long as I can remember, I've been trying to lose weight.
Throughout my childhood I've been on diet after diet, gimmick after gimmick.
I'm a pro at starting over.
I have countless "before" photos.
 |
| My heaviest weight pre-pregnancy circa 2011 |
I have zero (0) "after" photos.
Zip. Zilch. Nada.
I never made it far enough to document any "real" progress.
Back in December I started trying to live a healthier lifestyle. I told myself that I was getting a head start on my New Year's Resolutions (which we ended up putting aside after a few weeks).
At the time, I was 3 pounds heavier than my pre-pregnancy weight.
Almost 40 pounds heavier than when I graduated from college- 5.5 years before.
And my highest weight ever.
I gained, on average, a little more than 1/2 a pound every month.
It crept on so slooooowly that I didn't even notice.
Well, I'm noticing now!
My pants re a little tighter. Simple every day activities take a little more effort. My face is rounder.
All gradual changes.
 |
| At my lightest weight circa 2007 |
I wonder to myself- "How did I end up here?"
"How did I let it get this far?"
Simple.
I've been in denial.
I thought I was leading a healthy lifestyle but in reality I was doing the bare minimum.
A fruit here and there, a salad once in awhile, parking my car further and walking a bit more.
But these little things don't really count.
I wasn't paying attention to portion sizes, exercising enough, or sticking to my meal plan.
I let stressful days at work justify poor eating habits because "I deserved it."
When in reality what I truly deserve is a healthy life.
So here's to starting over.
Again.
I'm going to start tracking my food again and getting some kind of exercise in every day.
I've lost the weight before. I know I can do it again.
I hope to be able to document my progress here. Hopefully this will give me some type of accountability.
Along with my progress and personal insight with my weight loss journey, I hope to share information about healthy eating and exercising that I found interesting and/or useful.
Here goes nothing!
Girl, I hear you and I am right there with you! I feel like I spend all of my life starting over - again and again and again. I don't have an "after" photo either, every time I make some progress something happens and I fall off the wagon and have to...start all over again. I just wanted to say I appreciate this post and where you are coming from. Just know, too - you are BEAUTIFUL! :)
ReplyDeletePreach!
ReplyDeleteI sat here nodding my head at every sentence. I'm great at starting things - not so great at finishing them. I've tried so many diets, routines, programs, supplements...waste. I get so excited to start something new then I end up getting burnt out or lazy and then it all falls apart. And of course it goes unnoticed and you say, "Oh, I'll start again next week." Then two months later you notice you've got a little more overhang than usual when you bend down to tie your shoes and you wonder how it got there.
I think for me, I need to set a specific goal for myself. Before I would just say I want to "lose weight" or "exercise more" but that hasn't really kept me motivated in the past. I think maybe setting a more specific goal like run a mile in under 10 minutes or run in a 5K event will help me stay focused more.
I'm in your corner if you ever need support or if you need someone to talk you out of that brownie! Lol.
♥ Duckie.
aaaaaauwe!!! I am right there with you sister!! I don't feel I have ever had an "after" photo either. AND when I start a "new" workout routine, it seems not to last very long, which is devastating because I LOVE working out! Living a healthy lifestyle is so important and somehow it always gets pushed to the "back burner" and you're right -- the bare minimum is not enough. My problem is that ALL I DO is "eat right" BUT I don't work out anymore. It's of course because I don't have time -- but the reality of THAT is that I don't MAKE the time. Truth is, I'm too tired in the morning and exhausted after work -- I don't know what to do EXCEPT for cowboy up and snap out of it. We can motivate each other, and definitely use the blog as an accountability source:) <3 you!!
ReplyDeleteYes, I need to get my (big)butt into gear.
DeleteI remember you always saying that 90% of fitness is in the kitchen (or something to that effect.
Ugh- I totally feel ya on MAKING the time to workout! But my options are after the baby is down and before dinner. Or after dinner. Or wake up earlier. No matter which option- I'm going to be exhausted!
Thanks for always being so supportive of my repetitive "do-overs"!
Go you! Awesome goal. I keep motivated to stay healthy for Sweet P... I want to see him grow up and eventually give me lots of grandbabies!
ReplyDeleteI just graduated with a Dietetics degree (I'm no dietitian,however) so if you have any questions, please just ask! I understand what you're going through. I got into dietetics because I had many issues growing up with weight, and it became sort of a passion for me. Also, the best thing you can ever do is just walk. Walking 1 mile a day is a great start. Good luck, and feel free to ask me anything!
Yes, I definitely want to set a great example for my son =) And live long to see all of his great accomplishments!
DeleteThanks for reaching out and being so helpful and supportive!
Good luck Vanessa! I know that you can do anything you put your mind to and I'm sure this will be no different. Always here to lend support if you need anything!
ReplyDelete