Happy Progress Report

Yesterday both of my girls were in drop in daycare, so I decided that I was going to go to Old Navy and try some things on that I didn't get a chance to when I was there this past weekend with my mom.

Suddenly I got a bug up my butt and along with my shirts, I grabbed a pair of size 20 jeans (the largest size they carry in store) and ran off to the dressing room. I tried on 5 shirts, and to my surprise, I could go down a size. I put off trying the pants because I was afraid I was going to be discouraged...

THEY FIT!

This, my dear non-readers (because no one does lol), means that I have dropped two pants sizes and one shirt size in the past four months. Progress is being made. :)

Slow Progress and an Interesting Theory

My ambition has been somewhat halted due to a back injury. The neurologist doesn't even want me to lift my kids, much less exercise. However the change in eating habits seems to be making a difference. I have dropped from 273 lbs. to 258 lbs. since my first post here a few months ago. I will keep doing what I can and I will achieve this goal.

Changes I've made thus far:

• Diet soda instead of regular. Eventually none.
• More water and unsweetened tea.
• More vegetables without all of the additions, meaning no dip or few toppings on a salad.
• If I have to have it, it's light/low fat/nonfat or low sugar/sugar free.
• Eating on a semi-schedule. Less food more often.
• PORTION CONTROL!

I did read an interesting article the other day which has helped me a lot. There is a doctor (sorry, I can't remember her name offhand) who believes that part of the reason heavier people are so is because they are wired that way. She said in an interview that she has noticed in her research that people who are overweight or obese have such a hard time losing weight and making lifestyle changes because their brains think being hungry is a crisis, while those who tend to be on the thinner side can feel hungry, but their body knows that hunger is not a permanent state. Hunger signals in the brain disappear after a certain amount of time, and then the body forgets it was hungry for approximately an hour after the signal has expired.

So I tested it. I knew feeling hungry went away. I mean, how many times have I been working all day, then get home to realize it's past dinner time but I haven't eaten anything that day? Many. I think I have turned her theory to my advantage. Every time I feel the need to eat I sit there and wait for my body to determine not only if I'm hungry or bored, but how hungry I am. The faster the signal goes away, the less hungry you actually are.

I will continue on my quest to lose this cupcake.

Inspiration

"I'm all over that like a fat kid on a cupcake!"

Today I have become oddly inspired... and by O magazine no less. I am not an Oprah fan, but sitting in the auto shop lobby waiting for my car led me to pick it up. Inside was an article about 5 women who collectively lost 676 pounds. All but one started out larger than I am, although many of them were not that far off. It got me to thinking. 

I am currently six months post partnum and in that time I have already lost quite a bit of weight. Now, I have plateaued out around the fifty pound mark and it's time to take action if I want to reach my size goal of being a 16. I may even decide to go lower if I can comfortably maintain that size... If those women can do it, then so can I.

All of these decisions brought a thought to the forefront of my mind. There are two little girls in my life and I certainly don't want to be that mom. I know I will never be the hot mom, but I definitely don't have to be the fat one. It is more than that though... My last pregnancy brought gestational diabetes along with it. While that has since resolved itself, my chances of developing Type II in the future have increased. I hated being sick while I was pregnant and diabetes is not something I would want to deal with on a daily basis. I want to be healthy for myself and my children.

I am no longer satisfied with being the fat kid. Let's do this...