Babies changed that a little—never again will my hip bones stick out when I lay down, but it STILL was not where I carried the worst of it—so rolls... ICK.
It made me look in the mirror. It made me look at the scale. And do you know what I saw? A big, fat person that I didn't recognize. My weight had crept higher than it was at the END of my second pregnancy. It was time to do something.
Those of you that have read for a while know it took me a little while to psych myself up, and there was another 10 pounds on before I REALLY got to it, but since New Years I've been a diligent girl... following weight watchers points (except Friday, when I have a few glasses of wine above points—works for me, probably because I get a lot more activity in than the plan calls for—they say do 30 minutes a day—most days I get closer to 90). Any OTHER day, anything I do is within points.
And this morning, naked in front of the mirror, I saw myself for the first time in AGES. It isn't ideal me, but at least it is recognizable me. It's a good feeling. For the 3rd week in a row I am down 2.5 pounds, which feels painfully slow, but at least it is steady, and I crossed the 'half stone'--I've lost more than a stone and a half, which makes the Anglophile in me happy...
Oh, sure, I'm only a third of the way there, but I feel pretty darned good to at least know who I'm looking at.
Weight down 22.5 pounds
Waist down 2.5 inches
Hips down 3 inches
Butt down 4 inches
EACH thigh, 2 inches smaller.
Even my arms are an inch smaller
Can you see how that matters to what I look like? I'm happy dancing today in honor...
13 comments:
Brava, lady.
just one piece of advice from your Favorite Wench (and SomeOne who lost 35 pounds last year): don't obsess over numbers. Go with how you look in that mirror and fit in your clothes. I used to teach aerobics to make extra $$ in college and know for a cold fact that the scale will deceive you once you start replacing the fat with muscle. . . .go lean, don't give up the wine (for anyone), and stay off the scale for 2-3 weeks -- number obsession is one way to discourage your self!
hang in there! (come try Bikram yoga with me--you'll SWEAT 10 pounds off in an hour!)
Great progress! And I agree with Liz...the numbers are maybe less important than how you're feeling about how you look. And it sounds like you look great!
Elizabeth
A data geek has SUCH a hard time giving up numbers!!! it's my LIFELINE! At least though, I am using measurements in addition to the scale, yes?
Heather-Thank you!
ET- My yoga issues are maternally confounded... I'm not sure I can get past them (my mother believes in yoga, so surely it is not valid?) I need to MOVE. I've been doing aerobis, running, jogging, eliptical type stuff forever and LOVE than, but you make my hold a pose, I'm liable to shoot someone, no matter HOW many muscles it uses. (willing to be convinced, but my skepticism and resistance run VERY deep)
Elizabeth-I definitely feel better! That whole bending without the parts of my stomach rolling into each other is HUGE.
Thank you, ladies!
That is so fantastic, Watery/Hart/Monty P (not sure how to address you here :) (But very psyched to have found your blog)
Anyway, I am really impressed with your follow through. I have pretty much resigned myself to never looking at my stomach without some sorrow again. It was never my best area but was OK, but kids turned it into a before picture on the cover of the Enquirer. I refuse to have surgery (again--had one C so I know whereof I speak) so I just have to deal.
However, as of New Years, I've been working out on a new mini elliptical and I love it. So even if I look roughly the same, hopefully I'll be a little healthier or strong or something.
Anyway, congrats again on your progress!! Now, enjoy that wine later on this week...
Jenny-GREAT to meet you! And I respond to pretty much anything... usually Hart or Tart suffice--WT in a pinch... I know it's REALLY hard, but it's good you've made the commitment--you won't be sorry! In addition to the eliptical (which I do for the aerobic) I got an exercise ball for X-mas and LOVE it for core strengthening--working both the tummy and the back seem to be good for all that middle stuff (when I do it regularly, my back hurts less, which is my main middle issue)--but it is so much less distasteful that getting on the floor for crunches.
Life is short Enjoy your life. Go out for fresh air. Breath and the weight will come off.:)
I agree, Lady, wholeheartedly. I enjoy my cupcakes too much to try for super skinny. (Or even skinny.) I actually have fun and feel good on the eliptical--the only reason I took it up. Although I do take my exercise outside, walking or hiking with the fam, whenever I can get it.
How does that ball work, Hart? What do you do with it? (Next blog post, Hart's exercise regime :)
I get outdoors whenever I can too, but living in Michigan, there are about 5 months that at least part of the time it is just too cold to face--I still walk to and from work in it, but the down and leg warmers aren't conducive to my sweaty page for the 'aerobic' stuff--I try to do faster paced 4 days a week (either power walk or elliptical).
The exercise ball is a big inflatable thing--mine came from Sears in the fitness section--only like $12, though it was on sale from there. It comes with a list of exercises--my favorit are the back ones--lay over it, the sort of fly out your arms and arch--to strength the side of our core we never put much effort into. But laying on it for crunches is easier on the back than being on the floor if you don't have a pad and I like the leg ones too. Part of it, is that because it takes balance to stay on while you do your stuff, it works the sides a little too--not just the middle...
And I'd be happy to do an exercise blog, more specifically, but will probably wait for Saturday. Most of my regular readers expect writing stuff, so Saturday is the day I dedicated to fitness, and I am going to try to stick with that...
That'd be great!
Isn't it fantastic to be able to recognise the person you see in the mirror!
Well done.
Bikram Yoga--105 degrees, 40% humidity, 1.5 hours 3-4X a week.
I used to fall asleep in "regular" yoga but as a person who has also done it all (jumping around Jane Fonda style, spinning, running -- Hash House Harriers is my new favorite group!) this thing is nothing like any of that but is brutally effective. . .
just sayin'
hang in!
ETC
I just can't wrap my mind around enjoying yoga in any form... Isn't it still all that hold pose stuff? I have a ton of activities I love, but all of them are in motion.
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