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    My Weight Loss Adventure ~ helpful weight loss

    OnlyOnePath2GoBy No Comments12 Mins Read


    Am I the one one who feels just like the time period “weight reduction journey” is overused?  It is in all probability a good sufficient description for the type of path that it takes to get in form as soon as you’ve got gained a number of weight, however it’s turn out to be such a cliche.  “My journey is simply starting” say the Greatest Loser contestants, or “at this level in my journey, I am studying . . .”  I want we had higher language for this sort of long-term purpose-driven objective.

    However since we do not, I will cheat by calling this publish “My Weight Loss Journey” as an alternative of journey.  I initially needed to share some recommendation and suggestions for reducing weight and protecting it off, however I made a decision to start out by sharing my experiences first.  I’ve determined to place in my precise weights in the place I bear in mind them within the hopes that some will discover it useful or motivating.  I am 5’5 and in response to the BMI desk (not the very best measure of health, I do know), my prime weight ought to be 150.  In order that’s been my objective for years.

    After my first child in 1999, the being pregnant weight got here off fairly quick with out a lot thought or effort on my half.

    Not the very best image of both of us, however no matter

    I took it without any consideration that will be the case sooner or later, however sadly, after my second child and a bout of post-partum despair, I appeared to achieve a little bit extra with every being pregnant that would not come off. I do not acquire a ton of weight with being pregnant itself usually, however it does not soften off like I want it will afterwards.

    After my third baby born in three years, I used to be decided that I used to be going to shed extra pounds.  So I did every thing I believed I wanted to.  I joined an aerobics group.  I walked for miles with three youngsters packed right into a double stroller.   I did not observe my consuming, however I did attempt to maintain the energy down.  And .  . . I stayed the very same weight irrespective of how laborious I labored.  It was very irritating.  

    In 2002, I discovered I had Hashimoto’s, a situation the place my immune system had begun attacking my thyroid.  The thyroid is a tiny gland that produces hormones answerable for metabolism, vitality ranges, and mind chemistry, amongst different issues.  So it began to make sense that I struggled a lot.

    Over the following decade, I exercised usually (cardio movies and strolling principally) and tried to be ok with having good health regardless of being obese.  I used to be busy with a younger household and whereas I wanted I had been thinner, I by no means felt dangerous about my physique.  I used to be in ok form to maintain up with my household, and if I had a couple of additional kilos, so what?  I figured I seemed like a mother who’d had a couple of pregnancies.  I did attempt to shed extra pounds a number of occasions with restricted success.

    After the twins had been born in 2004, I really ended that being pregnant decrease than I might been in years.  I joined a web based health group the place we checked in with our exercises and progress (web boards had been the fad again then), and it saved me in good condition, even when I did not lose something.

    I gained ten kilos within the 4 months after I stop nursing the twins.  I feel I might gotten into the behavior of having the ability to snack on no matter I favored whereas nursing.  I in all probability would have anxious extra, however after 4 months of not nursing, I used to be pregnant once more.  Eliza, our sixth, arrived in October of 2006.

    For the following few years, my weight fluctuated up and down with extra pregnancies.  I might lose 5 kilos right here and there, however nothing constant.  Concord arrived in 2008.

    Operating a Mile

    June 2009
    My first large break for weight-loss was in the summertime of 2009.  With Concord lastly sleeping by way of the night time, I made a decision to hit the health a little bit tougher.  I might been strolling within the neighborhood and on the treadmill, however I began doing brief intervals of operating.  I might by no means been a runner in my life, so it was a brand new expertise and it wasn’t one I really enjoyed at first.  It did really feel nice to be making some progress, although.  Over the course of a few months, I constructed as much as having the ability to run three miles at a time. I additionally misplaced twelve kilos, signed up for my first 5K, and have become pregnant with my eighth baby.  It was a busy time, however apart from the morning illness I used to be feeling nice.
    October 2009, every week earlier than my first 5K
    After Katie was born, my health took a flip for the more serious.  She was my worst sleeper ever and I was drowning.  I used to be principally simply enduring and attempting to shed extra pounds was the very last thing on my precedence listing.  I gained loads after she was born and people months and months of amassed sleep deprivation had been discouraging and irritating.  

    Come January of 2011, I used to be decided to lastly get in form and shed extra pounds, no matter it took.  I made a decision to present myself a few months to attempt it alone after which if I did not have success, I’d join Weight Watchers.

    Effectively, regardless of my finest efforts, I gained weight within the subsequent few months.  However I hated the considered the expense of Weight Watchers and I put it off.

    Weight Watchers & My First Half Marathon 

    In first weeks of March, we went to California.  It was after we obtained residence and I weighed myself and noticed the photographs from that journey that I made a decision it was time to do no matter it took.

    I signed up for a half marathon and Weight Watchers.  Each of them scared me to loss of life.

    My “Earlier than” Image — weighing in at about 215 lbs!

    I used to be extremely motivated on Weight Watchers.  For one factor, I hate losing cash so I had to verify I obtained all the worth out of this system I might.  It additionally helped me understand how you can actually consider my consuming and meals decisions.  I used to be amazed at what number of factors sure “wholesome” objects had been, and I obtained into the behavior of consuming extra fruit and veggies.  I felt hungry loads, however I used to be so motivated I did not care — simply extra loss on the dimensions for the following week.  On the time, this system concerned a day by day level allotment for meals, plus weekly flex factors to make use of nevertheless you favored — on one large indulgent meal or a couple of snacks at a time.  You can additionally earn additional exercise factors for train, and I made it a degree to not use all of the exercise factors I earned.  

    I might been operating since January, however March noticed me build up coaching for that half marathon.  I wrote a few times about it.  The primary time I ran six miles I used to be so pleased with myself.  It nonetheless scared me, however after about eight weeks into my coaching, I even began to enjoy some of my runs.  And all that operating added to my weight reduction.  I used to be shedding 2-4 lbs every week and feeling superb.  
    Early April, Down 10 lbs

    In Chicago with Joey and Katie.

    After 10 weeks, I might misplaced 28 lbs.  It felt superior.  I used to be lastly making constant progress.

    I misplaced one other 7 lbs (35 lbs complete!) and ran that half marathon.  It felt superior.

    Utah Valley Half Marathon, 2011.  Down 35 lbs.

    After which, I had a take a break from the burden loss due to being pregnant.  I did not cease operating, although, and ran my first (and thus far solely) marathon later that yr.  I nonetheless weighed 30 lbs greater than the BMI desk mentioned I ought to, however I used to be content material with my progress.

    My “After Image” — August 2011, Mesa Falls Marathon.
    Nearing the end line.

    Since 2011, I’ve run a minimum of one half marathon yearly, and often a number of of them.  Finally, I will do one other full marathon, however I’ve determined halfs are about proper for me.  The coaching concerned takes a lot much less time, the restoration is best and it simply matches in my life higher.

    Setbacks
    I’ve had some ups and down with weight reduction during the last couple of years.  I gained some weight with Cami’s being pregnant, clearly, however I joined weight watchers once more after she was born, ran a half marathon when she was 4 months previous, and obtained inside ten kilos of my weight objective.

    Summer time 2012.  160!  

    After which, my well being took a horrible flip, I needed to take some treatment quickly whereas they tried to get my thyroid again in stability, and I ended up gaining thirty kilos in two months.  Critically discouraging.

    Progress in Spurts

    In 2013, I began the yr again at 190 (I might gotten right down to 160 the summer season earlier than).  And the burden did not simply soften off regardless of my finest efforts.  I misplaced about ten kilos the primary few months after I was actually attempting laborious to trace and keep inside my energy (I do not use Weight Watchers anymore, as an alternative I used an app referred to as MyFitnessPal).  Then I finished monitoring constantly and spent the summer season shedding and gaining the identical 5 kilos. I saved pondering all of the operating would simply let the burden soften off, however as an alternative, I simply stayed regular.

    January 2013.  So pissed off to be needing to lose 40 lbs AGAIN!
    Thanksgiving Level Half Marathon, April 2013.  Right down to about 180 once more.
    Utah Valley Half Marathon, June 2012

    I feel by this level, my physique had tailored to operating so it did not burn as many energy, plus my physique is basically, actually good at growing my starvation after I do run.  That summer season, I discovered that with some care, I might belief my physique to assist me keep the identical weight, however that I actually wanted to work laborious if I needed to lose.  

    Operating the Wasatch Again Ragnar, June 2013
    Ragnar!
    Summer time 2013, round 175ish, 25 lbs to objective weight

    “Eight weeks to Hawaii” Problem

    Lastly, final November, I made a decision it was time once more to essentially push the burden loss.  My husband and I had a visit to Hawaii deliberate (it was an amazing trip and our first with out a child alongside).  I had eight weeks earlier than our journey and I used to be decided to lose 10 or 15 lbs.  I tracked every thing I ate on the MyFitnessPal app and I began exercising six days every week as an alternative of simply operating 4 days every week.  I did P90X each different day and ran on the off days.  It was the primary time shortly that I might completed weight coaching and it was laborious to adapt to at first.  I by no means did get ok to do all of the ab exercises within the P90X Abs.  

    In any case, with the additional focus, I used to be in a position to pull off a ten lb weight reduction simply earlier than Hawaii.  However even higher than that, I’ve saved up the six-day-a-week train schedule for over a yr now.  I dropped P90X after Christmas, however I’ve completed an excellent number of other forms of train this yr along with operating.

    Kauai, December 2014.  About 170 lbs, 20 lbs from objective weight.

    Making little bits of progress & staying match

    After all, I gained a bit in Hawaii and began the yr round 175.  I have been working in the direction of my eventual objective of 150 lbs all yr lengthy, with various ranges of success and focus.  I’ve discovered that whereas up to now, I might assault weight reduction with focus and energy and lose properly, the nearer I get to my objective weight, the tougher my physique fights me for the kilos.  

    I misplaced ten kilos and ran a 10K in March.

    Rex Lee 10K in March, about 17 lbs from objective weight

    Then I ran a half marathon in Could.

    Do not let that smile idiot you.  I hated this run — I might been sick all week and will hardly sleep for congestion.  I nearly determined to bag the race, however, you realize, all that coaching . . . I completed with a PR of two:15:30 (10:20 ave. tempo), however swore off halfs for the remainder of the yr.
    I took a break from weight reduction (although not from health) for an excellent a part of the summer season, then I used to be in a position to efficiently problem my husband for the ten weeks before my birthday.  My closing weight on our problem was 156, simply six kilos away from my long-term objective of 150.
    Visiting the zoo in June

    Proper earlier than the Moab Journey 5K.  156 kilos, down nearly 60 lbs. from my heaviest.

    I obtained fairly burned out on counting energy and monitoring throughout that final problem and I instructed my husband I will take a break for some time.  It has been good to attempt to eat to my starvation cues fairly than to my calorie allotment, although I confess I am up a couple of kilos after Thanksgiving.  However I am again on observe with good consuming this week and I am trying ahead to a different wholesome yr the place I lastly get to my objective after which work on sustaining it.

    Subsequent week, I will publish a few of the issues I’ve discovered over the previous few years, together with some recommendation for many who are attempting to shed extra pounds.  I hope that is useful and motivating.



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