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    My Weight Loss Adventure ~ helpful weight loss

    EnergeticHealthMattersAdminBy No Comments12 Mins Read


    Am I the one one who feels just like the time period “weight reduction journey” is overused?  It is in all probability a good sufficient description for the type of path that it takes to get in form as soon as you have gained plenty of weight, but it surely’s develop into such a cliche.  “My journey is barely starting” say the Largest Loser contestants, or “at this level in my journey, I am studying . . .”  I want we had higher language for this type of long-term purpose-driven aim.

    However since we do not, I will cheat by calling this put up “My Weight Loss Journey” as a substitute of journey.  I initially needed to share some recommendation and ideas for dropping pounds and maintaining it off, however I made a decision to start out 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 keeping with the BMI desk (not the very best measure of health, I do know), my prime weight ought to be 150.  In order that’s been my aim for years.

    After my first child in 1999, the being pregnant weight got here off fairly quick with out a lot thought or effort on my half.

    Not the very best image of both of us, however no matter

    I took it with no consideration that will be the case sooner or later, however sadly, after my second child and a bout of post-partum melancholy, I appeared to achieve slightly extra with every being pregnant that would not come off. I do not acquire a ton of weight with being pregnant itself usually, but it surely would not soften off like I want it might afterwards.

    After my third baby born in three years, I used to be decided that I used to be going to drop extra pounds.  So I did all the pieces I assumed I wanted to.  I joined an aerobics group.  I walked for miles with three youngsters packed right into a double stroller.   I did not observe my consuming, however I did attempt to preserve the energy down.  And .  . . I stayed the very same weight regardless of how arduous I labored.  It was very irritating.  

    In 2002, I discovered 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 accountable for metabolism, power ranges, and mind chemistry, amongst different issues.  So it began to make sense that I struggled a lot.

    Over the subsequent decade, I exercised commonly (cardio movies and strolling largely) and tried to be ok with having good health regardless of being chubby.  I used to be busy with a younger household and whereas I wanted I had been thinner, I by no means felt dangerous about my physique.  I used to be in ok form to maintain up with my household, and if I had a couple of further kilos, so what?  I figured I seemed like a mother who’d had a couple of pregnancies.  I did attempt to drop extra pounds a number of occasions with restricted success.

    After the twins had been born in 2004, I really ended that being pregnant decrease than I might been in years.  I joined a web-based health group the place we checked in with our exercises and progress (web boards had been the craze 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 feel I might gotten into the behavior of with the ability to snack on no matter I preferred whereas nursing.  I in all probability would have nervous 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 subsequent few years, my weight fluctuated up and down with extra pregnancies.  I might lose 5 kilos right here and there, however nothing constant.  Concord arrived in 2008.

    Working a Mile

    June 2009
    My first massive break for weight-loss was in the summertime of 2009.  With Concord lastly sleeping by way of the evening, I made a decision to hit the health slightly tougher.  I might been strolling within the neighborhood and on the treadmill, however I began doing brief intervals of operating.  I might by no means been a runner in my life, so it was a brand new expertise and it wasn’t one I really enjoyed at first.  It did really feel nice to be making some progress, although.  Over the course of a few months, I constructed as much as with the ability to run three miles at a time. I additionally misplaced twelve kilos, signed up for my first 5K, and have become pregnant with my eighth baby.  It was a busy time, however apart from the morning illness I used to be feeling nice.
    October 2009, every week earlier than my first 5K
    After Katie was born, my health took a flip for the more serious.  She was my worst sleeper ever and I was drowning.  I used to be largely simply enduring and making an attempt to drop extra pounds was the very last thing on my precedence record.  I gained rather a lot after she was born and people months and months of collected sleep deprivation had been discouraging and irritating.  

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

    Properly, 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 after we bought dwelling and I weighed myself and noticed the images 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 demise.

    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 find out how to actually consider my consuming and meals decisions.  I used to be amazed at what number of factors sure “wholesome” objects had been, and I bought into the behavior of consuming extra vegetables and fruit.  I felt hungry rather a lot, however I used to be so motivated I did not care — simply extra loss on the dimensions for the subsequent week.  On the time, this system concerned a every day level allotment for meals, plus weekly flex factors to make use of nonetheless you preferred — on one massive indulgent meal or a couple of snacks at a time.  You may additionally earn further exercise factors for train, and I made it a degree to not use all of the exercise factors I earned.  

    I might been operating since January, however March noticed me build up coaching for that half marathon.  I wrote a few times about it.  The primary time I ran six miles I used to be so pleased with myself.  It nonetheless scared me, however after about eight weeks into my coaching, I even began to enjoy some of my runs.  And all that operating added to my weight reduction.  I used to be shedding 2-4 lbs every week and feeling superb.  
    Early April, Down 10 lbs

    In Chicago with Joey and Katie.

    After 10 weeks, I might 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 load loss due to being pregnant.  I did not cease operating, although, and ran my first (and up to now solely) marathon later that 12 months.  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 a minimum of one half marathon yearly, and normally a number of of them.  Ultimately, I will 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 during the last 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 previous, and bought inside ten kilos of my weight aim.

    Summer season 2012.  160!  

    After which, my well being took a horrible flip, I needed to take some treatment briefly whereas they tried to get my thyroid again in stability, and I ended up gaining thirty kilos in two months.  Critically discouraging.

    Progress in Spurts

    In 2013, I began the 12 months again at 190 (I might gotten right down to 160 the summer season earlier than).  And the load did not simply soften off regardless of my greatest efforts.  I misplaced about ten kilos the primary few months after I was actually making an attempt arduous to trace and keep inside my energy (I do not use Weight Watchers anymore, as a substitute I used an app known as MyFitnessPal).  Then I ended monitoring constantly and spent the summer season shedding and gaining the identical 5 kilos. I stored pondering all of the operating would simply let the load soften off, however as a substitute, I simply stayed regular.

    January 2013.  So pissed off to be needing to lose 40 lbs AGAIN!
    Thanksgiving Level Half Marathon, April 2013.  All the way down to about 180 once more.
    Utah Valley Half Marathon, June 2012

    I feel by this level, my physique had tailored to operating so it did not burn as many energy, plus my physique is admittedly, actually good at rising my starvation after 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 arduous if I needed to lose.  

    Working the Wasatch Again Ragnar, June 2013
    Ragnar!
    Summer season 2013, round 175ish, 25 lbs to aim weight

    “Eight weeks to Hawaii” Problem

    Lastly, final November, I made a decision it was time once more to actually push the load 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 a substitute 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 might performed weight coaching and it was arduous to adapt to at first.  I by no means did get ok to do all of the ab exercises within the P90X Abs.  

    In any case, with the additional focus, I used to be capable of 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 12 months now.  I dropped P90X after Christmas, however I’ve performed a very good number of other forms of train this 12 months along with operating.

    Kauai, December 2014.  About 170 lbs, 20 lbs from aim weight.

    Making little bits of progress & staying match

    After all, I gained a bit in Hawaii and began the 12 months round 175.  I have been working in direction of my eventual aim of 150 lbs all 12 months 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 effectively, the nearer I get to my aim 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 aim weight

    Then I ran a half marathon in Might.

    Do not let that smile idiot you.  I hated this run — I might been sick all week and will hardly sleep for congestion.  I nearly determined to bag the race, however, you realize, 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 12 months.
    I took a break from weight reduction (although not from health) for a very good a part of the summer season, then I used to be capable of efficiently problem my husband for the ten weeks before my birthday.  My last weight on our problem was 156, simply six kilos away from my long-term aim of 150.
    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 informed my husband I’ll take a break for some time.  It has been good to attempt to eat to my starvation cues reasonably than to my calorie allotment, although I confess I am up a couple of kilos after Thanksgiving.  However I am again on observe with good consuming this week and I am trying ahead to a different wholesome 12 months the place I lastly get to my aim after which work on sustaining it.

    Subsequent week, I will put up a few of the issues I’ve discovered over the previous few years, together with some recommendation for many who are attempting to drop extra pounds.  I hope that is useful and motivating.



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