An After and Before photo comparison, which was a bit more difficult than I'd realized. Not until I scrolled back through my phone photos did I realize how few full body photos there were of me, because I had spent some years unconsciously hiding from the camera. So I had to back five years to find these, which I think were taken when I was in the mid 130's, about 20-25 pounds heavier than I weigh now.
In hindsight, do I think the last six months were worth the effort? Yes, absolutely I do. More than how I might now look to others, is how I feel. I have carried around a load of body self consciousness since I was 17 years old, weighing about 120 pounds, and my dad offered to buy me a new outfit if I lost 10 pounds.
And thus the seeds of a lifetime of self loathing about my physical shape began. I've gone in and out of dieting pretty much my entire adult life. At this point, I am finished dieting for the most part, but maintenance will not exactly be a walk in the park. I still need to make a daily calorie plan, and I still need to make sure my head is in the game. However, if my head is aligned, staying with my daily plan is decently easy at this point. My brain appears to have become accustomed to consuming less calories over the course of the day. It's only if I walk into a food venue or event without a plan that I struggle, so I make it a point to not let that happen. I now always have a game plan, plus I always carry a small packet of almonds in the event I deplete unexpectedly.
So here is what I hope to be the final record of my completed weight loss journey.
AFTER
BEFORE
Thank you for bearing with me while I documented my journey here. The public sharing of my weight loss efforts helped tremendously - I really wanted to earn a 'Gold star' each week by posting a lower number than the week before!
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Questions about my weight loss journey? Feel free to ask me anything!
Good for you. I am in recovery and will be for the rest of my life from eating disorders ( bulimia and anorexia) which were made worse by abusive relationships. So I don't talk much about my weight since I have almost killed myself before with my eating disorders. Still, I celebrate those who don’t have the issues I have with food. I have damaged my organs and have health issues because of it. Still, I celebrate normal
ReplyDeletePeople who have lost weight! Great job! Cindy in the South
I have so much empathy for your story and struggles, Cindy. While I have touched on bulimia, I have never ever come close to anorexia, and anorexia is something I have the utmost respect for, with regard to those who struggle with it.
DeleteI hope you are able to continue the positive path you appear to be well on now.
Hi There.. I follow your blog faithfully and now see that it is private. I would love to continue following you. I am a retired female (wife, mom and grammy) living in upstate NY and LOVE the content of your blog and the beautiful scenery of California (never been there :-()
ReplyDeleteI am also motivated by your weight loss journey... thanks for your consideration
Maureen
Hi Maureen, I took my blog private temporarily in order to clear off some old posts. It's now been de-privatized, but will be a bit more quiet going forward as I limit my posts to my weight loss journey, efforts to keep the weight lost off going forward, and my monthly goals and movement.
DeleteSo perhaps of less general interest, but a good tool to help me to remain focused on living my best life.
I appreciate your kind words, and I hope you continue to find some value here even if there's a bit less to consume. 🙂
Hi Tamara, congratulations. You look fantastic. I admire the dedication and effort it took to get your shape back. I have gained ten pounds in the past year - traveling and abandoning my healthy routine for months at a time isn't good. Anyway, I now find myself with a mushy middle that I struggle to eliminate. What suggestions can you offer for exercise that might help that situation? I eat a low-calorie diet, minimize (but do not eliminate) alcohol, and do moderate workouts that include tennis, treadmill walks, and light weights about three times per week. I've seen no improvement. Best of luck with your maintenance plan.
ReplyDeleteHello there Suzanne🙂 So the first thing I would suggest is using an online calculator to understand what your maintenance calories are for your current age, gender, and weight, vs your weight loss calories. I used the Mayo Clinic's website to do this, and to my shock, discovered that my maintenance number was the same as what I used to base my DIETING number on in my younger years. Age, it slows down our metabolisms in a shocking way. Then to lose one pound a week, reduce that daily number by another 500.
DeleteIn my case, my one pound a week dieting number was 900 calories a day. Initially, yep, I laughed at that number, but yep, that was the only number that effected weight loss. And modest weight loss - one pound a week - which was incredibly hard to accept and execute, but when I did, it worked, and the weight slowly came off.
I am now at the low end of my BMI number (again, based on age, gender, and weight), and I feel lean everywhere, including my stomach.
Thanks, Tamara. The last time I lost weight and achieved my goals, I was dieting at 900 calories per day. That was about 5 years ago. One pound per week sounds safe and doable. I have gotten through the first week with no ill effects, so it looks like a plan. I weighed in at 132 this morning, with a goal of 120. Wish me luck.
ReplyDelete