It's July 6th, and the start of yet another semester

So it's time for my next goal to start.  My goal for this semester is to lose another 40 pounds, and I've already lost 3 of them, so it's 37 pounds to go in 106 days.  Today I got so many compliments from my classmates and professors, and that was so gratifying.  I want to keep working toward my goal, though, and not lose track of what I'm doing or why.  I'm losing weight so I can be healthy.  I want to be healthy again, not fat like I have been for so long.  I don't want to be the kids' fat mommy.  I don't want to show them how easy it is to be complacent with being fat simply because it's easier.  It IS easier, but that doesn't mean it should be done.  Eating right is just as easy as eating junk food, and working out isn't that hard, it's just work.  As long as I keep in mind that it's not hard, it's just work, I should be fine.

I did it!!!!!

It's been 109 days since I started doing this, and there were several times when I thought I'd never make it, but today when I stepped on the scale, I made my goal of losing 50 pounds!  I've lost 17.36% of my body weight.  I didn't do it by going on some crazy diet or working out 8 hours a day.  I ate sensible foods, in moderation, and I worked out 30-45 minutes 3-5 days a week.

I'm living proof that it can be done!

Here's my next goal:  I want to lose 40 more pounds by October 20th.  That will be a total of 90 pounds in 235 days.  That's 126 days from today to lose 40 pounds.  I'm taking the next week off of training, and then I'm right back at it.

3 pounds and 7 days to go

I have 3 pounds to go to reach my goal, and 7 days to get it done.  I'm sitting here, just hoping that my efforts will result in success and not in failing to reach my goal on time.  I know that I've done an amazing thing, and that I have every right to be proud.  And I won't be less proud if I don't quite make the deadline for losing 50 pounds.  But I really really want to.  Whenever I've set a goal for myself, I've always achieved it, with the exception of losing weight.  I've never succeeded at losing weight, and I want to so very badly.

Today my trainer asked me what my reward would be for meeting my goal, hoping it wasn't a night out a Claim Jumper's.  Well, they're totally yummy, but my reward is for something much neater.  It was so amazing at the doctor's office to step on the scale and NOT have to slide the bottom weight thing over so far.  Usually I've had to put it in the 260 slot, and then move the top slide thing almost all the way to the right.  This time, it wasn't like that.  The bottom weight was at 240, and the top weight was barely away from the left.  I'm so much looking forward to not having that bottom weight even in the 200s.

Anyway, that's my reward.  Totally silly, and totally meaningless to most people.  But to me, it's so amazing that I was almost in tears at the doctor's office.

Day 100

It's been 100 days since I decided that I wasn't going to remain fat all my life.  Since then I've lost 46 pounds!  I've done it by eating well and exercise.  I'm amazed at some of the changes and thrilled by others.  I find that I don't even like the foods that I was enjoying before I started.  Most of the junk food that I "loved" was really disgusting.  I really like salad, although I do vary it regularly so that I don't get totally bored by it.  I am surprised that I don't even like drinking sodas any more - I never thought that would happen.  I'm amazed at how much more attuned I am to my body.  I know more about myself than I ever thought possible.  I'm totally stunned at how much I'm able to do with my trainer, and how much doing crunches hurts my abs!  But despite it all, this is my new life.  I am going to graduate from OT school, not just wiser and more capable, but fit and healthy...a whole new woman.  That's my goal, and I'm determined to be successful this time.

The Worst Weight Loss Plan Ever!

Last week, I was on the worst weight loss plan ever!  Sadly, I was sick as a dog, and I wasn't able to keep anything down.  I lost 3 pounds in 1 day.  I've regained 1 1/2 pounds of that, so I'm not dehydrated any more (which is good), but I've not been able to walk since Wednesday because I've been so sick.

I finally got a picture together of me at 288 pounds in December 2009 and me at 248 pounds May 16th.  It's been a lot of hard work, and the work's not over, but it's great to actually SEE the progress.

Here's some stats:  I've lost 43 pounds since March 1st.  I've gone from a size 28 or 4X to a size 22 or 2X.  My BMI has gone from 46 to 39.  It's kind of embarrassing admitting my weight and size in such a public manner, but the reality is, I can't hide my size.  I can't hide my weight.  Hiding the actual numbers never worked for making me appear smaller, so hopefully by shining a light on the reality of the numbers, it'll be easier to make them less embarrassing.

If you're reading this and thinking that you can't manage to lose weight, get off the couch and just start.  That's what I did, and I'm on my way!

Milestone Weight!

I've been losing weight for 72 days now, and while I haven't been blogging every day, every single day I'm aware of what I eat, and what impact it will have on my body.  I try very hard to not eat things that are unhealthy, but once in a while I slip.

This morning when I got on the scale, I hit a major milestone.  Today I weigh 250 pounds.  I know...It's still a lot, but I'm on my way.  I haven't been this weight in over 6 years.  I've lost 38 pounds in 72 days.  I'm losing almost 1/2 a pound a day.

I went to Kohl's the other day because I had $40 in Kohl's cash and I wasn't going to waste it.  I decided to purchase clothes smaller than I have in years, and I'd just wait to fit into them.  My own little goal outfit.  I came home and I decided to try them on...just to see how far I had to go until them fit, and they fit then!  I don't have a picture of me in them, but I plan on taking one this weekend and I'll be sure to post it.

For everyone who is supporting me on this quest...thank you so much.  Every comment, every look, every hug...they all help keep me motivated to keep going.  For those of you who watch the Biggest Loser, I've lost 13.19% of my starting weight.

For anyone who thinks they can't do this...you can!  It's honestly so much easier than I thought it would be.  I'm so glad I finally made the change I've always wanted to do.

Week 7

Well, it's week 7 and I certainly haven't posted on here in a while.  I guess that's what happens when life gets busy.  Here's the good news.  I though I had started my weight-loss journey at 286 pounds, but I actually started at 288.  That means that since I weighed in at 259 today, I've lost 29 pounds in 7 weeks.  I went to the doctor last week for a check up and when the doctor learned how much weight I've lost, she actually came in and shook my hand.  I don't think I've ever been so proud of a handshake in my life.

She also told me that when I saw her last, my blood pressure had been at 130/90 and that day it was 106/77.  Quite a change.  She asked me what I was doing and when I told her, she was impressed.  It's not a crazy fad diet, it's not a lose-weight-quick scheme, it's just healthy sensible weight loss.

I'm going to the AOTA conference next week, and before I would have just eaten every meal in a restaurant, but I decided to use my head and I booked a hotel room with a kitchenette so that I can prepare my own meals while I'm there.  I'm sure I'll go out for a few meals, but I don't have to go out every meal.  I can purchase salad and chicken at a grocery store and eat well without breaking either my diet or my budget.

If anyone out there is reading this and thinks that this diet is something they can't do, believe me, it's so easy.  I never feel hungry, and I'm losing weight at such a healthy rate.  I'm so proud of myself for finally finally doing something about my weight.