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    My Weight Loss Adventure ~ helpful weight loss

    Team_FitFlareBy 12 Mins Read


    Am I the one one who feels just like the time period “weight reduction journey” is overused?  It is most likely a good sufficient description for the type of path that it takes to get in form as soon as you have gained a number of weight, however it’s change 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 purpose.

    However since we do not, I will cheat by calling this publish “My Weight Loss Journey” as a substitute of journey.  I initially needed to share some recommendation and ideas for shedding weight and holding 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 keep 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 one of the best measure of health, I do know), my high weight needs to be 150.  In order that’s been my purpose 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 one of the best image of both of us, however no matter

    I took it as a right 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 somewhat extra with every being pregnant that would not come off. I do not achieve a ton of weight with being pregnant itself usually, however it would not soften off like I want it might afterwards.

    After my third youngster born in three years, I used to be decided that I used to be going to drop extra pounds.  So I did every part 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 monitor 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 came upon 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 liable for metabolism, vitality ranges, and mind chemistry, amongst different issues.  So it began to make sense that I struggled a lot.

    Over the subsequent decade, I exercised usually (cardio movies and strolling principally) 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 needed 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 number of additional kilos, so what?  I figured I seemed like a mother who’d had a number of pregnancies.  I did attempt to drop extra pounds a number of instances with restricted success.

    After the twins had been born in 2004, I truly ended that being pregnant decrease than I would been in years.  I joined an internet health group the place we checked in with our exercises and progress (web boards had been the fashion again then), and it stored me in fine condition, even when I did not lose something.

    I gained ten kilos within the 4 months after I give up nursing the twins.  I believe I would gotten into the behavior of having the ability to snack on no matter I appreciated whereas nursing.  I most likely would have anxious 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 would lose 5 kilos right here and there, however nothing constant.  Concord arrived in 2008.

    Operating a Mile

    June 2009
    My first massive break for weight-loss was in the summertime of 2009.  With Concord lastly sleeping by means of the evening, I made a decision to hit the health somewhat more durable.  I would been strolling within the neighborhood and on the treadmill, however I began doing brief intervals of working.  I would 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 having 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 youngster.  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 severe.  She was my worst sleeper ever and I was drowning.  I used to be principally simply enduring and making an attempt to drop extra pounds was the very last thing on my precedence record.  I gained loads after she was born and people months and months of accrued 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 present myself a few months to attempt it alone after which if I did not have success, I’d join Weight Watchers.

    Properly, regardless of my finest 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 acquired dwelling and I weighed myself and noticed the pictures 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 loss of life.

    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 acquired all the worth out of this system I may.  It additionally helped me understand actually consider my consuming and meals selections.  I used to be amazed at what number of factors sure “wholesome” objects had been, and I acquired into the behavior of consuming extra vegetables and fruit.  I felt hungry loads, 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 day by day level allotment for meals, plus weekly flex factors to make use of nevertheless you appreciated — on one massive indulgent meal or a number of snacks at a time.  You might additionally earn additional exercise factors for train, and I made it a degree to not use all of the exercise factors I earned.  

    I would been working 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 working added to my weight reduction.  I used to be dropping 2-4 lbs every week and feeling superb.  
    Early April, Down 10 lbs

    In Chicago with Joey and Katie.

    After 10 weeks, I would misplaced 28 lbs.  It felt superior.  I used to be lastly making constant progress.

    I misplaced one other 7 lbs (35 lbs whole!) 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 burden loss due to being pregnant.  I did not cease working, although, and ran my first (and thus far 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 no less than one half marathon yearly, and normally a number of of them.  Finally, 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 matches in my life higher.

    Setbacks
    I’ve had some ups and down with weight reduction over the past 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 outdated, and acquired inside ten kilos of my weight purpose.

    Summer time 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.  Severely discouraging.

    Progress in Spurts

    In 2013, I began the 12 months again at 190 (I would gotten right down to 160 the summer time earlier than).  And the burden did not simply soften off regardless of my finest efforts.  I misplaced about ten kilos the primary few months once 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 finished monitoring constantly and spent the summer time dropping and gaining the identical 5 kilos. I stored considering all of the working would simply let the burden 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 believe by this level, my physique had tailored to working so it did not burn as many energy, plus my physique is basically, actually good at growing my starvation once I do run.  That summer time, I realized that with some care, I may belief my physique to assist me keep the identical weight, however that I actually wanted to work arduous if I needed to lose.  

    Operating the Wasatch Again Ragnar, June 2013
    Ragnar!
    Summer time 2013, round 175ish, 25 lbs to purpose weight

    “Eight weeks to Hawaii” Problem

    Lastly, final November, I made a decision it was time once more to actually push the burden loss.  My husband and I had a visit to Hawaii deliberate (it was an amazing trip and our first and not using a child alongside).  I had eight weeks earlier than our journey and I used to be decided to lose 10 or 15 lbs.  I tracked every part I ate on the MyFitnessPal app and I began exercising six days every week as a substitute of simply working 4 days every week.  I did P90X each different day and ran on the off days.  It was the primary time shortly that I would accomplished 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 in a position to 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 accomplished a great number of other forms of train this 12 months along with working.

    Kauai, December 2014.  About 170 lbs, 20 lbs from purpose 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 the direction of my eventual purpose of 150 lbs all 12 months lengthy, with various ranges of success and focus.  I’ve discovered that whereas previously, I may assault weight reduction with focus and energy and lose nicely, the nearer I get to my purpose weight, the more durable 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 purpose weight

    Then I ran a half marathon in Could.

    Do not let that smile idiot you.  I hated this run — I would been sick all week and will hardly sleep for congestion.  I virtually determined to bag the race, however, you already know, 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 great a part of the summer time, then I used to be in a position to efficiently problem my husband for the ten weeks before my birthday.  My remaining weight on our problem was 156, simply six kilos away from my long-term purpose of 150.
    Visiting the zoo in June

    Proper earlier than the Moab Journey 5K.  156 kilos, down virtually 60 lbs. from my heaviest.

    I acquired fairly burned out on counting energy and monitoring throughout that final problem and I advised my husband I will take a break for some time.  It has been good to attempt to eat to my starvation cues relatively than to my calorie allotment, although I confess I am up a number of kilos after Thanksgiving.  However I am again on monitor with good consuming this week and I am trying ahead to a different wholesome 12 months the place I lastly get to my purpose after which work on sustaining it.

    Subsequent week, I will publish a number of the issues I’ve realized 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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