On Weight Loss

Before:

Early January 2012, probably about 175-180 lbs – size 12

And about a year later:

Early February 2013 – 155 lbs – size 8

I have been toying with the idea of writing this post for quite some time and I wasn’t quite sure how to write it without sounding like I’m tooting my own horn. I don’t want to come across as some holier than thou fitness guru who eats boiled chicken breasts and steamed broccoli day in and day out. I’m not that person {kudos to those who can eat boiled chicken and steamed broccoli. You have more will power than I}.

Here’s who I am when it comes to fitness and stuff like that:

• I exercise. Every day. I move my ass, basically. No, it isn’t fun sometimes, but I certainly sleep better at night, have more energy during the day, and have a clearer head. And, added bonus: I dropped about two pant sizes {maybe even three because I wasn’t very good about keeping track of my weight when I first started} and about 25 pounds.
• I eat. Also every day. I enjoy my food. All of it. I flat refuse to eat cardboard and instead go for an “everything in moderation” kind of philosophy.
• I don’t go to the gym and spend hours there. I spend about 30 minutes a day in my living room doing things like jumping jacks and pushups and squats and lunges and the like.
• I try to keep carbs and sweets to a minimum, but I don’t deny myself something. If I want a piece of candy, I eat it. If I want a biscuit, I eat it. I make sure to NOT inhale it. I take my time and taste it. I figure if I taste it down to the last crumb, I’m less likely to want to inhale another piece of chocolate or another biscuit or whatever it is. My cousin said something last year when we were traipsing around San Francisco that has stuck with me since. She said, “I like foods that insist that they stay in your mouth for a little while.” She’s very smart. I like those foods too.
• I drink a lot of water {usually about 12 cups}.

So, what spurred me into action last February? The fact that I had a wedding to go to in July. Honestly, that’s what it was. I wanted to look good in my dress and I was tired of being fluffy. So, I started walking every day on my lunch break and I bought a couple workout DVDs {namely, Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred} to do at home after the boy goes to bed. Those workouts only take about 25 minutes from warm up to cool down and they work your entire body.

I also discovered the myfitnesspal app, which helped me tremendously. It’s an app that helps me keep track of what I eat, how much water I drink, and how many calories I burn during each day. I discovered that if I don’t use this app, I eat too much because I lose track. There is something about having the food I eat every day visible to my friends that really helps me think about what I eat. I think that’s called accountability. That being said, no one has ever given me flak about having some ice cream, or chocolate cake, or a donut or whatever – it’s just enough to know that they can see it.

I will occasionally head over to the gym at my apartment complex and take a little jog on the treadmill, just to see how my cardiovascular endurance is holding up. I still try to go for a walk every day at lunch – it’s nice to step away from my desk for a bit and focus on the horizon, rather than a computer screen. And I really like going for hikes on the weekends and I usually drag a couple friends along with me. I think they secretly like the fact that I choose the hilly paths, rather than the flat ones, even though they’re out of breath at the top. I do it because I love them. And I love me, too.

I recently bought another Jillian Michaels DVD – Banish Fat and Boost Metabolism. I did this 55 minute DVD earlier this week. It kicked my ass. I’m going to try to do it a couple times a week – I love a good circuit workout and this definitely delivers. I also bought a Gymboss interval timer so I can try some different circuit workouts that I can create on my own {think bodyrock.tv circuit training type stuff}. I’m ridiculously excited about using it and I can’t wait until it arrives in the mail.

My goal is not to be thin. I want to be healthy and strong and I want muscle tone and I want to be able to do 50 pushups by the end of 2013. I also would like to lose another five pounds, but I won’t be heartbroken if I don’t.

So, that’s what works for me. I know it might not work for everyone {in fact, probably not}. I am by no means an expert, and it has taken some tweaking and A LOT of failing to figure this out over the last year. And I do mean A LOT of failing. But, the results are worth the effort

Side note: I still have that blue shirt that’s in the top photo. I should take a picture wearing it now. *Note to self: Do that.*