21 February 2010

Weigh-In....NOT!!


Okay, so like a lot of you, I've been trying to lose weight recently.

Okay, so I really haven't done anything too drastic...I'm just trying to cut back on portion sizes, eat out less, and buy healthier foods in general.

So...this has been since the start of the school year.  
August 2009.

Now, it's February 2010.  You're probably thinking--WOW!  That's 7 months.  10 pounds a month is about average....so 70 pounds.  

YA RIGHT.....5 pounds/month is more like it.  So....that means minus 35 pounds.

YA RIGHT.....

So, here's my predicament:

Do I look skinnier?  NO.
Do I feel skinnier?  YES.
How much weight does the scale say I've lost?  TOTAL: 12 pounds.

TWELVE POUNDS in 7 months.  
That sucks!

I want to do better.  But how?

Do I have TIME to get to the gym everyday?  NO.
Some days, I am only home for 1 hour in between school, work, music lessons, meetings, more meetings, and what-not.  For the past month, I've had to go to physical therapy for my back twice a week.  It's been snowing or raining...and it's dang cold.  Have I felt like going to the gym?  NO.  Do I remind Steven every week that this week is going to be different...that I'm going to make time to go to the gym?  YES.

So here I am.  I still feel LARGE. My clothes fit better, though.  I'm able to wear some pants and skirts I haven't worn in a while.  So...that's good.  Does the scale prove anything, anyway?  Well...I'd like it to say that I've lost weight, too.  I'd like others to notice that I look thinner...that's ALWAYS motivating and encouraging.  But so far--nada.

For now, I guess I'll have to settle with ME being the only one who can see the difference.  Is it just ME, or does this happen to anyone else?

7 comments:

genevieve said...

T, you are hilarious! I LOVE this post.

Okay...

1. I think non-scale victories (NSV in weight-loss blogs) are WAY WAY more important than numbers. Fitting into that cute skirt we all have and miss so much from when we were skinnier...being able to endure that work-out for a few minutes longer without dying...seeing a little bit of definition and toning in the mirror you didn't have before...they're so much more important to me than numbers. Numbers can change for ANYTHING...water weight, Aunt Flo, etc. etc., and when you build muscle, it weighs more than fat anyway. Yeah, it feels great to see the numbers go down, but I am DETERMINED to focus more on those NSVs!!

2. I HATE exercising in winter. I mean, I hate it all the time, but it's such a danged *hassle* these days! Getting dressed and undressed and dressed back again (I swim, so it's extra bad) in socks and sweaters and coats....YUCK. At least when it's warmer I can throw on yoga pants, a t-shirt and flip flops and only have to change out of my suit at the end. BUT, I'll tell you what I just started. I put on my calendar: Swim at the ARC, 11:00--every Sunday. I have been meaning to go to the ARC for MONTHS before I finally did it...and I am convinced it's because I put a specific time down instead of saying "This week I'll do it. I'll go sometime, I swear."

3. My weight is a freakin' rollercoaster, and I've noticed through the years that no one really says anything except when the weight loss is fairly dramatic. I wonder if it's because people are uncomfortable with the topic, and don't want to tell you "You've lost weight!" in case you might think they're telling you you were chubby before. It's such a sensitive subject. I can't speak for everyone, of course, but that's my suspicion.

Anyway, good luck....I am right here with you!

(Speaking of that...one thing that is helping me IMMENSELY is having a little e-mail circle with a couple friends. We check in as much as we want--me and one girl do so every day, the other does it once or twice a week--telling each other how the day went, if we got some exercise in, if we tried any healthy foods that were awesome, if we tried any work-out DVDs that absolutely sucked, and so on. It is really, really motivating to keep going, knowing you'll be telling the group if you got off track.)

:)
~genny

Mrs. Boojwa said...

Yah... I understand how you're feeling. I'd been doing great at losing fat weight bc I'd been doing pretty intense work outs for the last month and a half. I had maybe lost a pound or two. I had a back flare up last week and that ruined my motivation. But just remember sometimes you can't expect to see Biggest Loser type numbers because you aren't working out every waking moment of the day. And just make sure that you pick the calories that are better for you. And if you truly want to lose more weight, you might have to count calories (blech, I know, but thats how the science works).

Although I have to say since I've started the new year eating healthy has been easier as time progresses, mostly because I think my pallet has gotten more adjusted to healthy eating. Like my buddy, brought over a few pints of ice cream last night. I couldn't even get through the top of the carton bc it was making me sick. Just keep at it. I want to be healthy, even though it sucks sometimes. In the long run, you will be healthier, and your husband will probably be healthier, which means you'll probably be around longer. Don't get me wrong, I love my mom, but I wish she would have been healthier when she was younger because she paid for it in the end. You'll feel better in the long run. I promise. :-)

Leon said...

Did you check out the link from my blog I posted the other day? It took you to the pinky promise project started by The Hess? Here, I'll post it. Here. I think she's going to post tips and stuff that other people are doing. I'm trying to be a part of it too, but we'll see. :)

The Ottley's said...

I've never tried to stress about the "number" on the scale, but rather how I felt. ::Shoving another oreo in mouth:: I mean really, when you're married does it even matter?! :) BAHAHA! Keep it up sister! Eventually it'll head the way you'd like!

Reggs said...

Screw the gym!!
Seriously, one day I made the connection. I would kill myself running on the treadmill for 45 minutes and burn 350 calories.
ONE CANDY BAR was 320 calories. Would I rather run on the treadmill? Or just not have the candy bar?
Yah, I no longer have a gym membership.
GOOD LUCK!

Colton Anne said...

Any weight loss is better than none!! Keep up the great work!! And try measuring your waist instead of weighing in. You are probably adding more muscle with working out and that weighs more than fat anyway! Good luck and congrats!!

WrayLynn said...

Hey, Tamara! Hope you don't mind me leaving you a comment. Just want to say that I think you always look great. Good job on losing weight in the past year. That's better than the alternative even if it wasn't as much as you wanted!

If you want a really quick but intense exercise DVD, check out 30-day shred. It is only 20 minutes and really good. You can borrow mine to try if you want. Good luck with the weight loss! I lost 70 lbs after Miles but am struggling with the last 30 here after Brecken and he's almost 2! Ugh. I just am NOT motivated in the wintertime either. I just feel like hibernating.

WrayLynn Williams