A New Year Begins!

On Monday, July 9, 2012, I stepped on my scale to weight myself, which I had not done in awhile.  I knew I'd gained weight over the spring; transitioning to working full-time and coming off of a medication that helped manage my postpartum depression had led to me seeking a lot of emotional comfort in the fridge and pantry.  My clothes were barely fitting (I'd even had to go to Goodwill a couple of times to buy a pair of jeans that I could actually zip), my face was broken out, and I was tired all the time.  However, I was not prepared for what the scale registered.

246 pounds.

I was horrified.  Since Emily was born, I've fluxed around 230 pounds.  Yet 246 pounds was a number that stuck in my head because that is what I weighed in at the morning Ethan was born... six hours BEFORE I delivered him.  That day, I signed up for Weight Watchers, and it began my most recent weight-loss journey.

This recent weight-loss journey has NOT been what I've expected it to be.  My goal is to eventually get down to 160 pounds, and to make 86 pounds be a little less daunting, I've made smaller goals.  Even with small goals, the weight has not come off like I'd wanted it to.  What I expected to be a sprint has turned into a marathon.  I had thought that the weight would come off easily, and the first few did, as it has in the past when I've dieted (such as two to three pounds a week), but after that initial weight loss, the scale crawled.  Fast weight loss has not happened, and it has been a struggle against discouragement to press on when the scale only reflects a meager loss week by week.  Other things have slammed into my plans, as well.  I had to stop WW in October due to some financial changes to our budget.  This fall I had an evil UTI and the two rounds of antibiotics to treat it flared up my ugly friend, systemic candidasis, which wrecks havoc on my body and causes horrible weight gain, a resistant metabolism, and other yucky side effects.  But from the first of July to the end of December, I've lost 17 pounds, for an average of .68 pounds a week.  Each pound has been a battle, and where I was trying for an even 20 pound loss by the end of 2012, I am very happy with what I've done.

But only losing 17 pounds in six months, while a bit depressing on the fact that it may take me another two years to take off the weight I need to, has been a great start to meeting my goals.  I started this journey not wanting it to be just a fad diet, taking off 30 pounds and a year from now, weighing 40 more pounds, but to be a full lifestyle change.  Healthy habits have and continue to be laid!  The good things that have happened since July:

• I now exercise almost daily, sometimes twice a day.
• I can jog for 9-10 minutes at time now, take a 2-3 minute walking break, then jog again.  Currently, I'm jogging 2 miles 3-4 times a week, and am working up to 3 miles.
• My jean size has gone from a women's size 20 to a misses size 18.
• I've lost inches all over, including three inches from my waistline.
• By doing yoga or Pilates most evenings, the kids join me and thus are having more active time.
• In general, we are eating more simple and more health dishes with a lot less sugar, salt, and simple carbohydrates.
• I have much more energy, clearer skin, sleep better, and seem to handle stress more appropriately. 

Thank you for joining me on this journey, and for joining me on my next step!  I'm trying for 215 pounds by the end of March... wish me luck!