Weekly Weigh-In: Another Big Milestone!
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Happy Wednesday! It’s Weekly Weigh-In time. Here’s hoping you saw the results you’d hoped to see on the scale this week.
Can I confess? I was a little disappointed when I first stepped on the scale this week. I lost, but it was only a pound.
Then, I got a little perspective. One, I got a whole tub of butter’s worth of fat off my body in only 7 days!
Two, I just hit a big new milestone: I’ve lost 80 pounds! Eighty! Can you picture 80 tubs of butter all lined up? Next time I go to the store, I may just stand there and count how many tubs of butter are in the dairy case just to get a visual of what I’ve really done.
I’m less than 15 pounds from my goal weight now! I’m so excited! I never thought I’d be here. In all my attempts to lose weight before, I’ve never been so close. The big difference this time? Well, the biggest difference is that I didn’t quit.
I totally think that anyone can do this. The key factors are:
1) Be willing to make the changes. No, it’s not always going to be easy, but if you look at the changes you’re making as lifestyle changes, not temporary fixes, and you make changes that you truly can live with for a lifetime, they start becoming second nature.
Look at each choice as an opportunity to change your life. I love this quote from my pastor:
Commitments never result in anything; consistency does.
2) Don’t give up. I can’t stress that enough. If you quit, your diet didn’t fail. Your weight-loss effort didn’t fail. And, really, you didn’t fail. You just quit. As Jillian Michaels is very fond of saying:
Keep doing the right things and eventually your body has to respond.
3) Quit eating crap, start moving, and quit making excuses. I’ve seen this on at least two different blogs in the last week or so. Both of the bloggers had lost significant amount of weight. Both were very blunt. And, both were right. (And, just in case you’re dying of curiosity, one of them is here – profanity warning – and I honestly can’t remember where I saw the other one.)
A lot of people want a magic pill. They want a quick fix. When people ask me how I’m losing weight, I can tell that many of them are disappointed when I don’t give them the name of a weight-loss pill they haven’t tried or a program they haven’t joined. The truth is, losing weight is hard work.
There’s another truth, though. Anyone can do it. Really. You missed all the times I tried and failed quit before. I didn’t blog them. (Actually, I may have blogged one or two of them way back when.) It just takes a willingness to change, determination to keep at it, and consistency.
I can’t wait to hear your success story!
(Oh, and guess what? I’m wearing shorts as I type this! I can’t even tell you when the last time was that I wore shorts. Even better? They’re my 16-year-old daughter’s shorts! Yeah, they were too big on her anyway.)
It’s your turn! Did the scale reflect your efforts last week?
Do or do not. There is no try.
Kris Bales is a newly-retired homeschool mom and the quirky, Christ-following, painfully honest founder (and former owner) of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She has a pretty serious addiction to sweet tea and Words with Friends. Kris and her husband of over 30 years are parents to three amazing homeschool grads. They share their home with three dogs, two cats, a ball python, a bearded dragon, and seven birds.
I am so very happy for you! Not only are you losing weight, but it sounds like the mental part of this journey is there too! You quickly turned the thought of "only 1 pound" around and were able to feel proud of what you had accomplished in a week! AWESOME! I totally agree with your 3 factors. It is hard work, but anybody can do it!!!! Again- I am so happy for you!!!
Great job! What an encouragement you are to those of us who are just starting this journey, again 🙂 This week I lost 2.2 pounds so I'm down 4.2 pounds. Yeah!
Way to go on the weight loss! Less than 15lbs from your goal, wow, I can't wait to be at that place!
In the last three weeks I have lost 9lbs! I am so excited.
Thank you for the good reminders about why I'm doing this in your post today. I needed that (which I am guessing you suspected). 😉 The scale most definitely reflected my efforts this week. I had no gain, no loss. Exactly the same as last week. I'm disappointed, but also relieved, since I know that I did not do the work required to lose this week. I am NOT quitting though, I'll be back next week with better news. 😀
An aside, if I can lose more than 1lb next week, even 1.5lbs, I'll see the lowest number I've seen on the scale since the babies' were born. I've gotten down to 153.5 several times (in short attempts at weight loss) but never stuck with it longer than that. I think that will be my goal next week.–153. The lowest I've seen since mid-way through my twin pregnancy, sometime in the spring of 2008.
Wow, congrats on breaking the 80 lb mark! I was pulling for you this week hoping to see that on your ticker tape! 🙂
I gained 3.5 lbs this week…yes, doing the walk of shame this morning. But like you've said before, it wasn't because the plan failed, it was because I didn't do the plan. My parents came to visit a week ago today and we've been partying like it's 1999! And by partying, I mean eating too much, too often, and too late at night, hitting all our favorite restaurants and not exercising…I snuck a peek at the scales Monday, so I knew it was coming. So Mon & Tues I got back on the elliptical and the plan, cramming like a senior the night before semester finals! But it didn't make up for the 1st 5 days of the week…
It's so simple on paper…like yesterday I had a second slice of pan pizza…it was 400 calories, and at the end of the night I was 400 calories over. It took me 36 minutes on the elliptical to burn that off, but I went to bed in the green on MFP…how much easier it would have been not to eat that 2nd slice! The 5 minutes it took me to eat it cost me 36 extra minutes on the elliptical.
So I'm disappointed, but not discouraged about the journey. It's especially disappointing because I didn't just gain…I didn't lose, so it actually feels like I gained more than 3.5 lbs! I look forward to reporting much better progress next week!!! Congrats again on the milestone and breaking your record at the race! How awesome!!!
oops, sorry, that was me on my Mom's laptop!
good grief, I'm having computer user issues here! The comment from momvarvell is actually from me…I'm on her laptop & she was already logged in to twitter! But she says congrats, too! 🙂
Thanks, Jill! I hadn't thought about it that way with the mental aspect, but
you're right. I guess my mind is starting to catch up. Thanks for mentioning
that!
Way to go! 2.2 pounds is awesome!
You're doing incredible! That's a great rate of weight-loss. Way to go!
You can do it, Erin! Just be consistent with making good choices. Here's
hoping you see 153 next week!
You know, those gain weeks really stink. However, I can't help but think
that they have some value when they force us to look back and honestly
assess what went wrong. Having spent 36 extra minutes on the elliptical, I
bet next time you'll think twice about whether or not you really want that
second slice of pizza. It also impresses me that you did the extra time on
the elliptical. Many people would have just taken the extra calories and
been done with you, so you're making progress in the mental aspect of
weight-loss. Keep that attitude and you'll continue making progress on the
physical side, too.
And, thanks for the congratulations!
LOL Tell her thank you, too. 😉
I love your blogs! They both resonate with me. I discovered that I am a runner in the hands of a personal trainer in preparation for my second pregnancy (little did I know I was preparing for twins). I lost 30 lbs and gained amazing quantities of appreciation for what my body (and spirit for that matter) was capable of. The twins are two and I have 15 lbs left to lose (of the 70 that I gained with their pregnancy). I am working on my own now, counting calories with MyFitnessPal and going to the gym five days per week. I have worked back up to running two miles straight through (now that I have allowed myself to slow my pace down). I feel really good about my commitment to working out, both running and weight training and I know that my low 130's plateau is on the food side of things. When I am prepared and have the right foods on hand I do really well, when I am on the run or with other people and unable to calculate the calories I invariably choose to splurge. Hmm, emotional baggage-y something goin' on there! I am working on acknowledging and moving past slip ups without hammering myself for them. My desire is another pregnancy. In the journey between this moment and the hope of that "moment," I would like to lose the final 15 lbs and run my first 5K. Keep it up!
So exciting to hit that 80 lb mark. I have just started my journey and have lost 6 lbs in the last two weeks. I am nervous for the day when the scale stops moving as in the past that has really discouraged me and I am sad to say I have given up all too soon. But this time I am determined it will be different. I have a good support system in the works and I have been blogging my journey as well which helps with the accountability factor. I would totally feel like I let my blog readers down if I didn't keep going. It's amazing the positive feedback I have gotten so far. I don't know what took me so long to get real about this issue. And I so appreciate reading blogs like this that don't mince words! I need that!
I loved reading your reply, Elise! I found it so encouraging. I love reading
about people who are making their goals happen, who have such a drive and a
clear vision of the end result. It motivates and inspires me. Thank you!
Way to go on losing that 6 pounds! I can hear the determination in your
voice (or, you know, something like that since I can't actually hear your
voice). I believe you! This time is going to be different for you becuase
you've got the right attitude. I can't even begin to tell you what a
difference the possitive feedback from the blogosphere has made for me this
time around. Y'all are a huge and very important part of my support system.
Thank you!
When you hit that inevitable plateau, don't give up! Email me — or leave a
comment — and I'll share some of the things I found out. The biggest one,
that was such a surprise to me, was that my body had simply gotten more
efficient. The workouts that had been so effective for me in the beginning
weren't enough anymore. While it was a bit frustrating to have to increase
my workouts, it also was kind of a boost of confidence to see the proof that
my body was getting stronger and fitter.
I can't wait to watch your progress!
THAT is amazing – way to go Kris !! What great perspective !!!!
Thanks, Stef!
WHAT A MILESTONE! That's just wonderful! Is it weird that I don't care to say "congratulations" as if you won some sort of weight-loss lottery? You're winning a WAR here, so I say ROCK ON, SISTAH!
I lost .6 pounds this week. BAH. I was going for 1 pound loss, so I'm a bit disappointed. I did put in the work and tracked my intake this week, and for whatever reason it just didn't show. But I'm still in it!
I love it! I think "Rock on, Sistah" is an incredible sentiment and I'll
take it with a big, happy smile on my face. Hey, as long as you put in the
work, tracked your food, and know you have nothing to feel guilty about,
bash on regardless (a "Cathy" expression…you know, the cartoon chick?). As
Jillian is so fond of saying, "Keep doing the right things and eventually
your body has to respond." Sometimes your body just has those rebellious
moments. Frustrating, yes, but surmountable.
Such good stuff Kris! All so true. Anyone can do it, but it is hard work!
Congratulations on reaching such a great milestone. 80 pounds! That is awesome!
Thanks, Stacy! It is hard work, but the end result is so worth it.
Oh wow!!! What a great attitude! You are right…it is hard work. Thanks for the encouragement to keep at it. And thanks for linking up to wlwed!
That's awesome, Kris! Way to go! Thanks for all the little tidbits of wisdom and reminders about how to keep it going in your post.
Hurray for 80 lbs lost! That's great news!
I stayed the same this week and I have mixed emotions about that.
I know I wasn't trying my hardest and when that happens I can tend to slip into "I don't really care" mode. And I have 2 bbqs coming up this weekend! It takes a lot of mental preparation for these kind of events, right? "I will NOT eat everything on the table!!"
It is hard when you can't control your food intake as much as you're used to
being able to. It's good if you have an idea ahead of time what's going to
be on the menu. That way you can plan the rest of your daily calories around
the meal or take substitutions, if needed. I generally take my own hot dogs,
if they're going to be on the menu. Oscar Mayer's turkey dogs are just as
good — okay, almost as good — as regular hot dogs to me at a fraction of
the fat and calories.
Also, be sure to get an extra or a bit longer cardio workout in that day if
you can, since you know you'll be consuming extra calories. Have a plan in
place so that you can enjoy the cookouts without paying for them on the
scale next week. You can do it!
Being only 15 pounds from your goal weight is so EXCITING! I am so happy for you.
I am looking forward to the day when I am only 15 pounds away from my goal weight. I've got a long ways to go, but each day that I stick with the plan, I am one day closer to my goals.
Congratulations!
That's exactly right, Honey! Each good choice brings you that much closer to
your goal. It's such a surreal feeling to be this close. It sometimes
surprises me how much this means to me. I had two separate instances
today — both involved interacting with someone and would previously have
made me so self-concious because of my weight — where I found myself
thinking, "I'm so glad I'm not fat anymore!"
Now, I know I'm still overweight according to all the charts, but I also
know where I came from and how much losing weight has affected me mentally,
as well as physically. I know what it's done for my self-esteem. You WILL
get there and you'll be so happy that you struggled through all the hard
parts required to successfully lose weight.
Wow! Congrats!!
You are doing amazing. I am getting hard on myself as of today. Read more on my post: https://createcorner.blogspot.com/2011/07/week-3-4-12-week-sprint.html