My Weight Loss Adventure ~ helpful weight loss

However since we do not, I am going to cheat by calling this put up “My Weight Loss Journey” as an alternative of journey.  I initially needed to share some recommendation and suggestions for losing a few pounds and conserving it off, however I made a decision to begin 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 must be 150.  In order that’s been my objective for years.

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

In 2002, I came upon 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 chargeable 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 repeatedly (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 needed I had been thinner, I by no means felt dangerous about my physique.  I used to be in adequate form to maintain up with my household, and if I had a couple of additional kilos, so what?  I figured I appeared like a mother who’d had a couple of pregnancies.  I did attempt to shed pounds a number of instances with restricted success.

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

I gained ten kilos within the 4 months after I give up nursing the twins.  I believe I would gotten into the behavior of having the ability to snack on no matter I appreciated whereas nursing.  I most likely would have apprehensive 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 would lose 5 kilos right here and there, however nothing constant.  Concord arrived in 2008.

Working a Mile

June 2009

October 2009, every week earlier than my first 5K

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

Nicely, regardless of my greatest 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 once we bought house and I weighed myself and noticed the pictures 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 ensure I bought all the worth out of this system I might.  It additionally helped me understand how one can actually consider my consuming and meals decisions.  I used to be amazed at what number of factors sure “wholesome” gadgets had been, and I bought into the behavior of consuming extra vegatables and fruits.  I felt hungry so much, however I used to be so motivated I did not care — simply extra loss on the size for the following week.  On the time, this system concerned a every day level allotment for meals, plus weekly flex factors to make use of nonetheless you appreciated — on one huge indulgent meal or a couple of snacks at a time.  You can additionally earn additional exercise factors for train, and I made it some extent to not use all of the exercise factors I earned.  

Early April, Down 10 lbs

In Chicago with Joey and Katie.

After 10 weeks, I would 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 to date solely) marathon later that yr.  I nonetheless weighed 30 lbs greater than the BMI desk stated 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 at the least one half marathon yearly, and often a number of of them.  Ultimately, I am going to 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 suits in my life higher.

Setbacks
I’ve had some ups and down with weight reduction over the past 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 outdated, and bought inside ten kilos of my weight objective.

Summer season 2012.  160!

After which, my well being took a horrible flip, I needed to take some medicine briefly whereas they tried to get my thyroid again in steadiness, 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 would gotten right down to 160 the summer season earlier than).  And the burden did not simply soften off regardless of my greatest efforts.  I misplaced about ten kilos the primary few months once I was actually making an attempt onerous 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 ended monitoring constantly and spent the summer season dropping and gaining the identical 5 kilos. I stored 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 believe by this level, my physique had tailored to operating so it did not burn as many energy, plus my physique is de facto, actually good at rising my starvation once 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 onerous if I needed to lose.  

Working the Wasatch Again Ragnar, June 2013

Ragnar!

Summer season 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 actually push the burden loss.  My husband and I had a visit to Hawaii deliberate (it was an amazing trip and our first with no child alongside).  I had eight weeks earlier than our journey and I used to be decided to lose 10 or 15 lbs.  I tracked all the pieces 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 would achieved weight coaching and it was onerous to adapt to at first.  I by no means did get adequate 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 stored up the six-day-a-week train schedule for over a yr now.  I dropped P90X after Christmas, however I’ve achieved a very good number of different kinds 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 prior to now, I might assault weight reduction with focus and energy and lose nicely, 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 would been sick all week and will hardly sleep for congestion.  I nearly determined to bag the race, however, , 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.

Visiting the zoo in June

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

I bought fairly burned out on counting energy and monitoring throughout that final problem and I instructed my husband I’ll take a break for some time.  It has been good to attempt to eat to my starvation cues quite than to my calorie allotment, although I confess I am up a couple of kilos after Thanksgiving.  However I am again on monitor 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 am going to put up among the issues I’ve discovered over the previous few years, together with some recommendation for individuals who are attempting to shed pounds.  I hope that is useful and motivating.