Weigh-in for 3/22/2014

Last weigh-in (2/28/2014) : 144.2 lb

This weigh-in (3/22/2014) : 142.4 lb

Change : 1.8 lb lost
 

Total weight loss since Izzie : 58 lb


I've finally done what I've said I was going to do at the start of the month - gotten back on track.  In less than a calendar month, we have Valentine's Day, both kids' birthdays, their parties, and then my birthday.  That's a lot of chocolate, cake, and eating out.  It gets me every year, and now that the last party (of ours at least) is over, I am gearing up to drop the few pounds I've gained and get back into fighting shape for summer!

This week is when I finally buckled down.  Seeing the number on the scale get up to 145.4lbs a week ago scared me and gave me anxiety, thinking back to Germany.  Granted, this time I gained 5lbs in a two month period, whereas I was gaining 5lbs a month in Germany.  I am down to one nursing session with Izzie now, so my daily points target is back to the lowest that anyone can have at 26.  It took careful planning and tracking to hit that each day, but I chose more filling options, making me less inclined to go looking for a little something sweet after I'd already eaten a meal.

We are down to 8 weeks until California and the day we get back home is the first weekend of the pool being open, so this is the home stretch before "summer." I say it like that because there's still snow on the ground and below freezing temps, so who knows when of if summer will get here this year.  My goal was to be under 140lbs by then and I am confident that I can do that now that my mind is in the right place.  I would need less than 0.5lb per week to reach that goal.  I've been stocking up on clothes for the kids and Andy for the trip and am dying to dive in and splurge on new clothes for me since I have almost none for me at this size and the ones I do still have tags on them.  Summer is by far my favorite for clothes and I'm going to have a blast!  I finally look like I always thought I did in my head and I'm going to enjoy it :)

Weigh-in for 2/28/2014 ~ Starting a Household Challenge

Last weigh-in (2/1/2014) : 141.0 lb

This weigh-in (2/28/2014) : 144.2 lb

Change : 3.2 lb gained
 

Total weight loss since Izzie : 56.2 lb


It's been a rough month.  Historically, February is a rough month for me and weight loss.  There has only been one of the eight Februarys I've been on Weight Watchers that I've lost instead of gained.  I don't know what it is, maybe that winter starts to get to me at that point, combined with Valentine's Day and the past four years, Brady's birthday.  The only February I lost weight, we were living in South Carolina and it was so warm I was sunbathing daily, so there seems to be a correlation with weather and weight loss (something I've noticed from past patterns as well).  It is harder for me to maintain or lose in February than it over Christmas.  

This February, I had gym access, but of course, Izzie has had a runny nose for three straight weeks and can't go to the day care like that.  That means I only make it on the weekends, so in addition to the eating which hasn't been the greatest, I didn't have the workouts to help battle it and keep it in check a little more than I did.  I tend to get to a point once I'm off track, where I let go and start eating things I normally wouldn't because I know I won't eat them when I get back on track.  That only makes it worse.  We had Brady's party, Valentine's Day, and a trip out of town in the span of two weeks and the eating out got to me as well as the cake.

In terms of upswings, it's not that bad.  4lbs gained in the course of 6 weeks.  I've had upswings that have lasted several months and been as much as 15-20lbs.  I am choosing to kick myself out of it immediately.  Even if I can't go to the gym during the day, I will make myself go when Andy gets home from work.  I have to start tracking religiously again (something I haven't done in months, maybe before Thanksgiving).  This will become very important now that I'm weaning Izzie and will be completely done breastfeeding by the end of March.

Andy and I are both unhappy, so we decided to buckle down together.  Andy is in a wedding in early May, and we leave for our 11 day California vacation in mid-May.  We want to look and feel good when we get there.  We have committed to weekly weigh-ins (going into WW for me every week to keep me honest and on track, rather than once a month).  We have 11 weeks until Cali and have set goals.  Andy wants to lose 20lbs (putting him at 200lbs) and I want to get under 140lbs (4.4lbs away).  We have both laid out rewards for if we reach our goals and I think we'll have to consider a punishment if we don't so we have even more incentive.  Wish us luck!

August 2013 Measurements

 Hips

•  Last month (7/13/2013) - 43.25 inches
•  This month (8/17/2013) - 42.5 inches

Waist

•  Last month (7/13/2013) - 32 inches
•  This month (8/17/2013) - 31.5 inches 

 
Thighs

•   Last month (7/13/2013) - 22.75 inches each
•   This month (8/17/2013) - 21.75 inches each 

Arms

• Last month (7/13/2013) - 11 inches each
• This month (8/17/2013) - 10.5 inches each

No weigh-in this week because we had to leave town unexpectedly and I want to get a few gym sessions in before I step on the scale.  Two weeks left to lose 2lbs!  Since measurements don't change drastically in one week, I decided to do those this week to give me an idea of how things are progressing since last month.  I've lost 4lbs since the last set of measurements five weeks ago and I was pretty pleased with the results, considering two of those weeks were spent either on vacation or out of town.  In the back of my mind, I always wonder what they would be like if I'd been in the gym the whole five weeks, but I can't dwell on that.  I can only look forward.

My hip measurements are now exactly in line with the weight from two years ago.  I usually focus my workouts on the lower half of my body, so I'm very glad to see the hard work paying off.  The waist measurement is still from over 10lbs ago (last time), but Brady was just turning one, so it's definitely coming off faster this time around.  I was most pleased with the thigh measurements this month.  I was just about 150lbs when my thighs were last this size.  This is the first time the measurements have been better now than at a lower weight and that's exciting because I know when I get to that weight again, the measurements will be even better!  I can definitely tell a difference in the way clothes are fitting.  Two months ago, we attended a funeral and I was wearing size 14 dress pants and they weren't exactly comfortable to sit down in.  We attended another funeral this week and I was wearing size 13 dress pants and they were extremely comfortable.  Those who have worn both know that juniors and womens pants are cut very differently, so I was happy to be in a junior cut as well.  It was also nice that several people who had seen me only seven weeks ago (and 8lbs up) noticed and complemented me on my loss in such a short time.  I sometimes don't even see that much change (since I see myself in the mirror every day), so it's really nice when other people notice.  Once I get to lifetime weight again, I won't be fretting as much about the week to week weigh-ins, but will be focusing on the measurements more as they are what control the clothing sizes.

Weigh-in for 8/3/2013

Last weigh-in (7/19/2013) : 161.8 lb

This weigh-in (8/3/2013) : 161.6 lb

Change : 0.2lb lost

Germany weight loss : 6.4lb of 19.8lb gained

Amount needed to get back to WW lifetime weight : 6.6 lbs


I'm not shocked about such a small loss over the span of two weeks.  The previous weigh-in was one day before we went on vacation for a week and I ate what I wanted.  When I got back and stepped on the scale, I was only up 1lb (a miracle that give full credit to breastfeeding).  I spent two days in the gym making sure I took it off.  I would've been happy with a complete maintain but happy that I even got a tiny loss.  Now that we're back home, I can focus on my workouts and tracking so that I reach my goal of getting back to the lifetime weight by the end of the month.  My clothes have been getting looser and others fitting better, so I will be excited to take my measurements in two weeks.

Taking the Bikini Plunge

A week before leaving for the beach, I had said that I wasn't going to wear my bikini at the beach.  I was at a lower weight than I'd worn them before, but didn't feel so great about myself.  I took them with me just in case.  A few kind words about my parents about how good I was looking (fully clothed of course) and I decided to take the plunge.  I only have one where the bottom was big enough so I did still wear my tankini as well.  Above is a shot of me lounging in that.

I know it's not great, but I take comfort in the fact that I've seen people who are quite a bit heavier than me wearing them and if they have the confidence, I sure can too.  My legs have never been great, and for only being four and a half months after having a baby my belly could be a whole lot worse.

 Two years ago, I weighed almost the exact same weight (down to 0.2lbs difference) and I was way more comfortable in my own skin.  It was, however, 17 months after Brady was born and all the skin had shrunk back into place.

I feel a whole lot better about things when I compare what I looked like after having Brady to now.  I wouldn't have even considered donning a bikini four months after he was born.  I was even wearing an XL tankini top.  On the left I was 183lbs four months after Brady at the beach, and the left is now at just under 162lbs.  Even though I started heavier this time, I made sure not to let the gain get out of control and have been working hard since being cleared for the gym.  I can be proud of myself for that.  Next year, I would like to be down 20lbs more than this year, which should be totally attainable if I hit my goal of 148lbs by Christmas.  I want to not have to be self-conscious and wondering what other people are thinking of me.  I've been obese and I should be proud that I can show off my transformation in progress.

Weigh-in for 7/19/2013

Last weigh-in (7/12/2013) : 163 lb

This weigh-in (7/19/2013) : 161.8 lb

Change : 1.2lb lost

Germany weight loss : 6.2lb of 19.8lb gained

Amount needed to get back to WW lifetime weight : 6.8 lbs


I am very happy with this number today as we get ready for a week at the beach.  Two years ago when we left for the beach, I was 161.6lbs, so I'm ecstatic to be almost exactly the same.  The first two years on program, I tracked at the beach and even went to meetings.  In over seven years, I've learned that you can indulge for a week and it won't kill you as long as you get back on track when you get home.  This is for the rest of my life and if I never got the chance to indulge once in a while, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to stick with it.

July 2013 Measurements

Hips

•  Last month (6/18/2013) - 45 inches
•  This month (7/13/2013) - 43.25 inches

Waist

•  Last month (6/18/2013) - 33 inches
•  This month (7/13/2013) - 32 inches 

 
Thighs

•   Last month (6/18/2013) - 23 inches each
•   This month (7/13/2013) - 22.75 inches each 

Arms

• Last month (6/18/2013) - 11.5 inches each
• This month (7/13/2013) - 11 inches each

I think my favorite measurement to watch go down is the hips, which has always been my problem area.  The lowest I have ever gotten my hips was 40.5 inches, so hoping to push through that when I get back to pre-Germany weight.  Although I love watching the hips go down, it's likely the waist that's what will keep me from donning my bikinis at the beach in a week.  They fit and I have worn them at higher weights before, but the "mommy belly" is still shrinking back to normal.  It's not bad when I'm standing or laying down, but sitting down, there's some pooch and I'm a bit self conscious about it.  Maybe next year.  A small victory was that I was finally able to wear those size 12 bermuda jean shorts comfortably.  That was a goal I set for my self to do before the beach and I did it!  

I'm finally starting to get to a point where my measurements are lining up with the weight.  The last time I was at these hip measurements I was 163.4lbs (163 now), but the waist measurements are still off as I was 174.4lbs.  I'm starting to look at it another way, though.  That was when Brady was 9 months old, so my belly and waistline are shrinking much faster, no doubt a testament to my hitting the gym on a regular basis for the last three months.  It does a lot for my self esteem to be getting into a more comfortable weight range and wearing some of my clothes again.  I really hated wearing bigger clothes after Brady, I just didn't feel like myself.

Weigh-in for 7/12/2013 ~ Back at Brady's Pre-Pregnancy Weight!!!

Last weigh-in (7/6/2013) : 165.8 lb

This weigh-in (7/12/2013) : 163 lb

Change : 2.8lb lost

Germany weight loss : 5lb of 19.8lb gained

Amount needed to get back to WW lifetime weight : 8 lbs


My jaw hit the floor when I stepped on the scale this morning and I did the biggest happy dance ever!  I couldn't believe the number I saw and even stepped on again to make sure it wasn't a glitch (which I have had happen before).  I don't know what I did this week because if I did, I'd be repeating it every single week to get the same results!  I can't believe I'm now at Brady's pre-pregnancy weight, something that took me 16 months to achieve after he was born (and Izzie is only a little over four months old).  I have only 6lbs to go before I'm free at meetings again and get free etools.  I have until the end of August and it seems so doable now.  I have one more week before vacation and I would like to drop at least one more pound to make up for anything I might gain while relaxing by the beach.

June 2013 Stats & July Goals

Starting weight : 172.4 lb

Ending weight : 167 lb

Change : 5.4 lb lost (average 1.2lb lost per week)

This time last year : 168 lb (4 weeks pregnant)


This is the first time in a long time where my ending month weight is lower than the prior year (at least 18 months), and that's very exciting.  This month was great.  I hit the 5lb goal that I set for myself and went below my pre-pregnancy weight.  Doing that in less than four months is a huge boost to my self-esteem as it took four times as long after Brady.

July is vacation month for us, which means I will only have three weigh-ins.  I want to be back at the buffer of lifetime (157) by the end of August so I took the weight (10lbs) and averaged it over the number of weigh-ins until then (8).  It came out to 1.25lbs per weigh-in.  That's just around the average per week for the last two months, so it seems doable.  So for July, the goal is 4lbs.

Weigh-in for 6/1/2013

Last weigh-in (5/23/2013) : 172.4 lb

This weigh-in (6/1/2013) : 170.6 lb

Change : 1.8lb lost

Total loss postpartum : 29.8lb of 32.4lb gained 

Amount needed to get back to WW lifetime weight : 15.6 lbs


I won't lie, I'm truly shocked with how great of a number I got this week.  We were home for four full days with an event almost every single day.  There was eating out, ice cream, cake, and many other sweets.  I only got to the gym once in the short week at home.  I'm slowly inching closer and closer to pre-pregnancy weight and that's so exciting with Izzie turning three months old tomorrow.

The last time I took a look at a comparison between postpartum weight loss with Izzie and Brady, Izzie was two months old and I was the same weight as when Brady was six months old (a four month difference).  Now that she's about to turn three months old, I took a look to see when I got to this weight after Brady.  I was this weight the day he turned 1!  That's now a nine month difference.  Seeing that sure makes me feel better about the Europe weight gain because soon I'll be tackling that instead of pregnancy weight.

Although it feels great to have clothes getting looser, there are things where my mind and my body differ.  I was at 175lbs when I bought my first bikini and felt like I looked great.  I was trying on bathing suits a few days ago because the pools are open and I was ready to take the kids, but didn't know which suits would work.  I was able to get on many of the tankinis I wore when Brady took swim lessons as a baby and also the one I wore last summer.  I knew my bikini bottoms wouldn't fit, but I had larger ones from when I first started wearing them.  I tried one on and thought that maybe I could be comfortable wearing them at the beach in about seven weeks if the weight keeps coming off at this rate.  Later that day, I wore one of the tankinis to the pool and felt terrible about how I looked in it, so the thought of putting the bikinis back on this year got pushed to next year.  We'll see how I look and feel in seven weeks.

April 2013 Measurements

Hips

•  Last month (3/23/2013) - 48 inches
•  This month (4/13/2013) - 47 inches

Waist

•  Last month (3/23/2013) - 37.5 inches
•  This month (4/13/2013) - 36 inches 

 
Thighs

•   This month (4/13/2013) - 24.5 inches each

Taking measurements is just as important as weighing yourself because results tend to show differently based on activity level and diet.  In my mind, the measurements matter more than the weight because I'd rather fit in smaller clothes than see a super low number.

I've often mentioned that measurements and weight don't go hand in hand as you can put on weight differently each time you gain.  I am seeing this with my most recent gains via Germany and pregnancy.  The last time I was at these measurements was when I weighed 189.6lbs, almost exactly 10lbs higher than where I am now.  The last time I was at my current weight (179.4), my hips were 45.5 inches and my waist was 34 inches. 

Since my hope is to be below pre-pregnancy weight before the beach (where I was also comfortable in my bikinis), I not only have to hit the weight but the inches to be completely comfortable.  The summer I was at that weight and wearing my bikinis, my hips were 42.5 inches and my waist was 30.5 inches.  In order to get to those stats, I need to lose 4.5 inches off my hips and 5.5 inches off my waist in the next three months.  Hopefully, being back in the gym will help me meet that goal.
 

Back from the Beach

We are back from our week-long beach vacation. It was a bummer to leave, but it was good to get away from the temptations that come with a vacation mind-set. Although, I have regrets about things that I ate and drank, I take comfort in the knowledge that this type of vacation only happens once a year and next year there will be no beach vacation due to us being in Europe until late July. The next time we head to Virginia Beach, it will be summer 2013 and Brady will be 3! Hard to imagine.

Tomorrow, I will be back in the gym and it's taking all my willpower not to step on the scale. I plan to on Monday morning after a day of good eating and a killer workout. I'm sure my cardio endurance has died in the past week, but the good news is that it comes back quickly. I'll post an update on my current weight on Monday and my official weigh-in will be Saturday. I've seen myself lose 4lbs in 4 days after a bad weekend trip, so I'm hoping I can pull something like that off again and get a net loss, but I doubt it.

Bathing Suits

There is no time when a person is more vulnerable than when they're wearing a bathing suit. Even the most conservative bathing suit shows more skin than most people show on a daily basis. For me, as a child, wearing a bathing suit was second nature and I never thought anything of it. I was a swimmer through middle school and wore my racing suits with pride. With those suits, it was the tighter the better.

When I reached high school, things changed. I was done swimming competitively, and tankinis were the newest thing in bathing suits. I was too self-conscious to wear a two-piece before, but the tankini was the perfect medium, since I could now get different sizes for the top and bottom. Back then the bottom was bigger than the top for me and now it has been reversed.

A whole year after my weight loss journey began, I felt confident enough to bare my stomach. My weight had always been more towards my legs than my stomach, but you have to feel good about yourself to put yourself out there. There are still always times when I look at skinnier people than me and think that I shouldn't be wearing it. The summer right after I had Brady, I was still up 20lbs and still had the baby belly, so when we went to Myrtle Beach, I was back in the tankinis.

I knew we were going to the beach this year and even at the beginning of April, I was up 10lbs from where I am now. I knew that I had to get drastic if I wanted to get back in the bikinis. If I didn't, I'd have to buy new suits, because my post-Brady tankinis were made to fit me when I was breastfeeding. Fortunately, my efforts paid off and I got back into my suits, but I was still self-conscious. I would go to the pool and see skinnier women who were all covered up and I could just hear them thinking that I had nerve. Plus, after a baby, my stomach has never been the same, even if I'm below the weight I was before I got pregnant.

It's not so bad standing . . .

Or from the back . . .

But sitting, it's not so good.

Rip Currents - The New Exercise Fad

Last night it stormed, so today the sea was especially rough. There were such strong rip currents, that we would be pushed at least half a mile down the beach in less than 10 minutes out in the water. We were careful to keep Brady in the shallow water, but I went out twice with my dad. We had to hold hands, and even then, I was struggling to keep my footing against the strong rip currents. My thighs were working hard trying to move against the current and not get pushed down the beach, but it was futile. It was impossible to try to stay in place and waves were hitting us from all directions. I was thinking that this would be amazing exercise if it wasn't so dangerous. I don't think I have to feel bad about what I eat today ;)