Lose weight the fun way.

Posted on July 27, 2017

...165 until I'm a "normal" BMI. If I can maintain average of a 4% loss each month, I'll reach that by December 2018. I'd like to go lower, though- I would ideally like my maintance BMI to be closer to 20 than 25. Although, frankly, anything below 40 would be AWESOME.

I don't look different. I guess that's not surprising because I'm so big. I went from wearing a size 28 jeans to a size 22. My old shirts still work (they're just baggier), as do my old pajamas and sweat pants, but my old jeans are falling off. No one has really commented on how I look.

My blood pressure is back to normal. It was always normal, but just in the last year I'd been getting some high readings. Since I started losing it's back to normal.

Moving is easier. I move quicker and walk better. I'm more comfortable. It's easier to find a comfortable spot to sleep.

My binge eating is under control. It's not gone, but it's better.

My overall eating is a work in progress. It's hard to find balance. I strongly believe in mindful eating, and I also think there's a lot of wisdom in intuitive eating. I am most definitely not doing either, though. I'm making sure I maintain a significant calorie deficit on a daily basis, and doing intermittent fasts. There is nothing mindful or intuitive about that. I also need to eat more fruits and vegetables. Again, work in progress.

I am very conflicted on IF, especially the 5:2 style fasts. It's sort of scary how I can just- not eat. Like at all. I don't get particularly hungry. And it does make the scale move QUICKLY. However, I also think it's playing with fire- I can see the potential for that type of over-control becoming addicting.

For exercise, I haven't changed much. I was swimming a few days a week before- and I still am. I was walking- and I still am. I'm afraid of injury, so I'm afriad of stepping up the intensity. I thought I'd step it up when I got under 300, but now that I'm close to that goal I'm not so sure.

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Jane P

07/28/2017 6:36AM

It's funny with weight loss, (I lost over 100 and have kept it off over 4 years now) (and I lost close to 100 pounds back when I was out of high school and a few other times lost 50 - yes, I was a yo yo'er but have finally learned the maintenance game - which is you have to stay on the diet with just a little more calories but all else the same) Anyway, I'd lose a bunch of weight and my body wouldn't change all that much but at some point along the way it would almost change overnight. Like so much was happening inside then all of a sudden, it would be like the outside would just melt away, many inches at a time. Tip though, you want and need to be strength training several times a week. Losing weight (as well as aging) causes you to lose muscle. Muscle is what makes you look toned, muscle is what burns fat, muscle is what burns calories and maintains weight loss. If you lose a lot of weight and don't build muscle you're also losing your ability to keep that weight off (and make it harder to burn calories) It's one of the reasons why many people gain the weight right back and actually are worse off. Muscle is key in the fitness journey (no you don't have to be the hulk, but lift some dumbells and work on those muscles - you'll be so happy you did)

Nicole

I intend to start strength training sometime in the next few months, actually :) . I want to work with a personal trainer at first. My overriding concern with everything is just not doing something stupid and getting injured (which I've done in the past), so I'm trying to be very careful about how and when I introduce new activity. But yeah, it is in the plans.

Ashley

07/27/2017 8:03PM

Good for you! I'm so impressed with your dedication! Keep up the great work!

Nicole

Thanks!

Ari

07/27/2017 11:51AM

Yep, I have 130 lbs until I'm at my goal weight and I'd be happy just to be down 60.

Nicole

Yes- any loss is good! Even a small loss is associated with improved health :) . I'm aiming for a BIG loss, but that's in part because I figure I'll go farther is my goal is bigger.