Monday, June 30, 2014

Stress Eating

This week I have discovered the main secret to my weight gain: stress eating!! We are still waiting on word from my husband's interview a couple of weeks ago, and I found that waiting and not knowing whether to start packing or to get things cleaned for summer is super-stressful!

There were a couple of days that I ate whatever I could get my hands on, even though I had eaten all the items on my plan for the day. I just think of something, like a handful of chocolate chips, or a spoonful of peanut butter, and I can't get my mind off it when I'm under that much stress. This is why we do not have sweets in the house right now, and when I do, I don't open them until I'm ready for them to be gone.

I bought some chocolate melts to make a special dessert for my dad's birthday last week, and as soon as I opened them, they were gone. I still had a week until I needed to make the dessert! So I had to go back to the store and replace the entire bag that I had eaten.

I am a little afraid that when I reach my goal weight, whether that is sooner, based on my average loss, or later, as I had originally planned, that I will not be able to control these urges. I wish that the counseling at Slim4Life addressed this psychological aspect of my current weight problem, instead of just telling me to "eat this, not that." Maybe they do address it, and I just haven't asked the right questions. I'll need to keep this in mind the next time I go in.

Knowing that, I am not too upset about my low weight loss this past week. I plan to do better this week, and we'll hopefully find out (today!) whether we'll be moving or not. I still feel great and love wearing dresses and skirts that I haven't been able to wear for a couple of years!

Week: 9 Weight: 242 Size: 16 Pounds to Goal: 57 Pounds Lost: 36!

Monday, June 23, 2014

Week 8, Day 52

I can't believe I haven't even been back on Slim4Life's plan, and I've already lost so much weight! Not to brag or anything (it was definitely not this easy last time around), but I'm right on track for their weight loss goals (an average of 4+ pounds per week), let alone my personal conservative goal of 2 pounds per week.

I know that I can do a better job of staying on plan, unlike last week, where I was off-plan 4 out of 7 days, but I also know in the back of my mind that I can cheat because I'm still nursing and burning a ton of calories each day because of it. I'm sure as soon as I stop, I'll be slowing down, which is another reason I want to nurse as long as possible!

I think it would be great to make it to my goal weight (another 60 pounds) before I stop nursing, and then go back to my original S4L plan, which has tighter restrictions. If I keep on the same average loss I've had so far, I should do that in 15 weeks, which would be the beginning of October. My goal is to nurse them until at least 1 year, which would be the end of October, so there's a little wiggle room.

For today, I'll celebrate another small loss and work on setting myself up for a good week!

Week: 8 Weight: 245 Size: 16 Pounds to Goal: 60 Pounds Lost: 33!

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

"Monday" Update: Week 7, Day 45

I know today's not Monday, but we have been so busy this week I haven't had a chance to even check my email, let alone write!

Monday, our family packed up and drove 2 hours away for a wonderful opportunity for my hubby to interview for a great promotion! If he gets it, we'll have anywhere from a 25-75% raise!! We don't mind moving, either, because we have family in that town and there's a lot of fun stuff to do, especially outdoors.

I did get to weigh in before we left and took photos that morning before we left, and I am thrilled to announce my great news: I've lost over 30 pounds and am at my lowest weight since I started Slim4Life!!!! I have finally broken into the 240's again, and as of Monday morning, I am lower than before I got pregnant! Yippee!!

I still have a lot of work to do to firm up my stomach muscles, which I'm researching and actively thinking about, and I want to work on toning my arms and legs up, but I feel great about the progress I've made so far and am optimistic about keeping going!

One of my favorite things about our trip Monday was getting to walk around the mall with my boys, which we've never done together, and going in a store I have shopped at before, when I was about 230. I haven't been shopping since the boys were born, and even before then, I was huge, so the maternity store was the only place I could fit anything. It's been several years since I stopped in that store, and I was pleased when I walked out to think that I could be wearing their clothes (theoretically; they're very pricey!) in a few months!!

I should be able to shop at "normal" clothing stores as I get closer to my goal weight. I've been almost exclusively shopping (and even worked at) a plus-size women's retailer since we got married, and even though I don't care for much of the skimpy stylings of the other stores, it's nice to know I'll have options.

We are working on paying off debt (which is why this promotion would be HUGE for us), but I do have some plans to use some of my "blow" money on a conservative wardrobe when I reach my goal. I'll most likely be spending the majority of it at consignment shops, but I'm really looking forward to getting fitted for and buying quality (new) undergarments, especially ones that aren't for nursing, when this is all over.

We will be playing the waiting game for at least another week, but by next Friday, we should know if we'll be signing another lease here or looking two hours away. Wish us luck!

Week: 7 Weight: 247 Size: 18 Pounds to Goal: 62 Pounds Lost: 31!!!
One-third of the way to my goal weight in only 7 weeks!!

Monday, June 9, 2014

Week 6, Day 38

It's time again for a another Monday update! While I didn't do as well this past week as I'd hoped, I'm still on track for my November goal, and I still lost weight.

I had a realization this past week: my body has been at or well above 250 for over 3 years now, which means that my metabolism is probably set at thinking 250 is pretty good. If When I make it to my goal, that will be a completely new level for my body to work at that it hasn't had to deal with for almost 15 years! I should be that much more excited to break through this barrier and keep whittling away at my weight.

I've got a tiny goal of making it to the 240's before summer's official start, June 21st. As of this morning, that's only about 5 more pounds, which should be completely doable. I've got Fathers' Day this weekend, which will probably be a meal off-plan, but the rest of the 2 weeks should be fine. I can also almost fit into all of my summer bottoms that I've set out. I can wear them all, I just don't feel great about how I look in all of them. My body just isn't shaped the way it used to be...

I'll keep you posted!

Week: 6 Weight: 254 Size: 18 Pounds to Goal: 69 Pounds Lost: 24!

Monday, June 2, 2014

Monday At Last: Week 5, Day 31

It's another Monday, and another weigh-in! After a great taco salad off-plan last night (we were with family and it was an impromptu meal), I am still down since 2 weeks ago and thrilled! I gained 1 pound over Thursday, but the delicious shredded cheese, Dorito's, and sour cream were so worth it! I am still way ahead of my goal of 2 pounds per week, since this is only my 5th week back on S4L and I've lost 22 pounds already. I know it won't always go like this, but I'm milking nursing (no pun intended...) for all it's worth.

The great thing about going off-plan this time around is that it is so easy for me to just jump back in. Yeah, I have a meal here or there that are off, whether it's by a little or a lot, but the next meal, not the next day, next Monday, or whatever "milestone" I think is a good place to start, is when I get back on track! This is a totally different mindset than the last time I went through the program.

I think seeing such great results so far is also making it easier to want to get back to it as well. When I know I can burn off that extra pound that I've earned, it's much more motivating to want to eat well at the next meal. During my last experience with S4L, it was so difficult to even lose 1 pound at some points, and it took months to get where I am now. I'm not generally hungry, I know what to expect, and I have some favorite recipes to fall back on now that are really working in my favor.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, even though I may have had a tiny setback, I have to look at the big picture and enjoy what I've accomplished so far. I have a long way to go, but there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel, and I can't wait to reach it!

Week: 5 Weight: 256 Size: 18 Pounds to Goal: 71 Pounds Lost: 22!!