There are two main reasons I am choosing to go public with my weight loss journey.
*2 other very good blog friends of mine are doing the same thing, and I can work with them and we can support each other
*Going public means I have that much more accountability and support
Why now? I just had my 3rd child. I am pretty sure we are done having children so I want to take this much needed break from being pregnant to get back into shape. To be quite honest, I never really was “in shape.” I have been 5’4 since I was a freshman in high school and I remember hitting 120 lbs in high school. Then in college I got up to 140 lbs. I was hovering right around 150 lbs on my wedding day. Right before I got pregnant with Lucy I was losing weight and excited about it – I got back down to 142 lbs!
According to all the BMI index charts, I need to be between 120-140lbs to be healthy for my height.
I am currently 154 lbs.
Which means I am going to aim for a 30 pound weight loss.
How am I going to do it?
Not by some fad diet or anything. Plain and simple – calories in/calories out, incentives, and support.
Eating healthier
I am cutting out the junk food I’ve allowed myself to eat lately (fast food, potato chips, cookies) and replacing them with healthier options (fruit, veggies, healthy cookies).
Drinking Water
I started to drink way too much Pepsi and Dr. Pepper. I am going to start drinking more tea and lots more water. Water flushes my system and keeps the “I’m bored” hunger (that might also be thirst) away.
Exercise
I am going to keep my exercise goals doable. I’ll just get more active – dancing with the kids, taking walks outside with them, running around the park. I also set a goal with Josh (I love incentives!). If I walk every morning before he leaves for work, and keep this up for 3 weeks, he will allow me to get a membership to a gym. Working out could be my time to pray and refocus without kids constantly distracting me. I am also going to walk around the mall with a friend of mine on Mondays and Fridays while Lizzie is at preschool.
I’ll be posting on here once a week. My scale here at home is actually broken, so I will have to go to a friend’s house to weigh in. That will keep me from those daily scale stalkings that do more bad than good. I hope I have good news to report and that I can actually lose this last 30 lbs! If I keep up my morning walks then I can get to a gym and tone up with weights! I can’t wait to see how I feel after 3 straight weeks of my blog-supported lifestyle change. If you also want to get the body shape that you want, you may try the Emsculpt Neo method for more fat reduction and muscle growth or QWO in Commack, NY and an anti-cellulite treatment in Medford, NY to get rid of cellulite.
I am doing the same thing, but I’m not brave enough to post a picture! Thanks for sharing. And keep up the good work!
Thank you Cass!! Good luck to you too. Please let me know when you hit milestones so I can cheer you on. There is something so empowering when friends encourage each other. I also read that you are more likely to be more successful with weight loss when you do it with a friend – hence the blog post here. 🙂
Awesome for you for setting goals and getting healthy! You can do it!!
Thank you Katy! I am getting excited and I really hope this excitement lasts for at least 2 months. I don’t expect these 30 lbs to just fall off and I need a lifestyle change, not just a drop in weight. Thanks again!
Good for you! I know it takes a lot to post that Before pic, but just think how proud you will feel when you post the After! Can’t wait to see it, girl!
you can do it annie… lots of people loose weight when they just cut pop out … that one thing … can do it. i’m with you all the way. Hey if you ever me to play w/ the kids whle you walk i can do that on my days off. grandma would love that….. 🙂
Yay for jumping on the bandwagon! You can do it!! 🙂
Annie, are you still nursing? I want to lose weigh too, but I’m scared to do much as I’m afraid my supply will decrease. Would love to hear your thoughts!
oh yes, still nursing. You can lose weight while nursing. Actually nursing helps burn calories LOL The key is drinking lots of water and eating the right foods. If you do a “starve yourself” diet your supply will decrease. But if you do the weight loss thing right – eating tons of fruits and veggies, not a lot of crap, exercising more and drinking lots of water – your supply should be just fine.
That is also why I said my 30 lbs will come off slowly – maybe 3 months. I won’t be doing those “eating only one food group” things. I’ll be eating when I am hungry. The key is what you eat.
Oh and I cannot count calories. I suck at that. I’m going to eat when I am hungry – just eating the right stuff now instead of what I have been.
Good luck Annie! I look forward to reading about your journey, I know that you can do this!
And I so badly need to do this. All of you ladies are giving me some inspiration. 🙂
thank you Marianna! Your support means so much to me!
I need to lose about 30 lbs as well. This was our first baby but I can’t handle being this weight until I’m pregnant again!
I am nursing and it seems to be making me hold onto weight but I lost a few pounds this week so I’m hoping it’s getting the idea that I DON’T need an extra 30 cal just to breastfeed.
GOOD LUCK!
good luck, you can do it!!
Congrats on your first step! By far the easiest and healthiest way I lost a bunch of weight was cutting out grains and sugar. By keeping my carb intake to 50g a day and my protein/fat intake way up, I was able to burn my bodyfat for fuel instead of the carbs, lose weight, and keep it off. 🙂 I actually am still going, and I just posted my own before and afters on my blog if you wish to take a peek.
This comment made my morning, thank you! I loved your before and after photos. They showed me exactly what I am striving for. And I WILL hit that 120-130lb mark! Thank you again for the inspiration!
I was a similar weight pre-pregnancy and only 5’2. I can feel your pain. However, I think you look good. I guess to compare the 2 of us, you’d have to realize that I’ve been gutted 3 times already, and we’re not done having kids. When they cut through your muscles for a C section, well that’s one set. When you have emergency surgery for your appendix, that’s another set. And a hernia repair.. that’s another. I know I complain about it a lot, on my blog, on social networks, and wherever anyone else is complaining about their bodies…but seriously.. I have to say, compared to me, you look REALLY good. You don’t have all those chopped muscles in every single direction that never really healed correctly to deal with. Not saying it’s going to be easy, but you’ll have the rest of your life (and hey you showed your belly so I can see you have no cuts there– c section you might have had.. I don’t recall)… to trim up and tone down. I’ll never really get that chance because of all the surgeries.. and the fact that I herniated last time I tried to exercise anything more than a walk. It’s like I’ll be stuck in the fat little body forever. I’m starting to be at peace with it. It’s frustrating, though. I know so many people who are already WELL within their target zone– complaining about how fat they are– you know, those 5’10 and 120 lbers that I want to smack? Argh.
I say, you go girl. I may not read your posts, ’cause honestly, they’ll just depress me. I wish you the best, though!
Thank you Jill for your honest comments and encouraging words. I can always count on you to say it like you see it 🙂
Your comment really is what is holding me back from doing something like weight watchers. I don’t want to walk in there and think people are thinking “what is SHE doing here? she’s the size I want to be!” But the fact of the matter is, this is not healthy for me and if I don’t make a lifestyle change I will get more depressed, gain more weight and stay unhealthy. (and obesity runs in my family. I am going to stop this before it gets there).
I am so sorry to hear about your hernia. I can’t imagine how frustrating and aggravating it must be to not be able to work out! I have had 3 c-sections. I am not doing anything strenuous, I am scared of hurting something.
Good for you! Posting a before pic certainly does add accountability.
Changing small habits in your “diet” and making them lifelong changes you can pass on to your kids will make a world of difference, as will adding the exercise to tone and shape.
Stay strong and let’s all get beach bodies!!!!!!!!!!!!!! woo-hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!
good for you! I plan on doing the same thing, just not blogging about it because I’m a sucky blogger lol. I was looking at old pictures of me after Brighton was born and I look awful! I was actually losing weight when i got pregnant with this baby and I’ve gained less weight this time around so i’m hoping it’ll be easier to take it off after the birth. We’ll see. I’m also staying home this time and i have a neighbor who likes to walk down to the park alot. it’s about 1/2 a mile each way. i’mm join your challene in a few weeks!
I totally understand! I can’t really go to a gym I have 5 kids I’m homeschooling. The option that worked for me was I got Jillian Michaels 30 day Shred. It sells for about 7$ or less at Wal-mart. It’s only 20mins so totally doable in my schedule. Plus there are 3 levels so I can start at the lower one and work up. It took me 2 1/2 mons to loose 10lbs, but I lost 3inches on all my measurements!
You can do! Being held accountable definitely makes you think twice about your food choices and your exercise excuses. Great work!
OMG, you are the sweetest thing to include me in your post. You already look better than me and you are just starting, so I see amazing things in your future. It is tough and sometimes you will get sidetracked (like me this last week). In the end, if you power through, you will not be sorry! Can’t wait to see what progress you make.
Thank you Kathleen! You are inspiring me so much in your posts. I would totally do the 30 day shred except: 1) I live in a tiny house and will wake up the kids if I work out while they sleep 2) I have too many tiny kids under foot to work out while they are awake. So walking outside in the morning it is.
I am getting frustrated this week because I have really tried and haven’t seen results. I know, logically it takes longer than a few days for results to show but I want instant gratification dangit! hehehehee I’m going to stick with it. I have given myself little rewards if I reach certain goals. I can’t wait to update everyone this Sunday night!
You’re going to do great! Water, water and more water is one thing that I have to agree on, it keeps you feeling hydrated and less hungry! I’m kicking my butt into gear too and getting back into a routine to lose these 15lbs that creeped up on me over the winter.
Congratulations on deciding to take the step into a healthier lifestyle!
I totally kicked the Pepsi habit. (I drank diet, but it still isn’t good for you.) To replace it I drink carbonated water. It’s the bubbles I love. 🙂 And I get generic carbonated water often for 89 cents a bottle and BOGOs! So it’s cheaper than alternatives, too!
Thank you Erin! I tried carbonated water and it is not for me. It isn’t the bubbles I like so much as the sugar and caffeine mix. I’m a sugar junkie. Cookies, breads, pastas and sodas are my drug. Was it you that said not to do a total overhaul or I will burn out and binge? Anyways, it is really good advice. I have made small changes and after a few days made a few more small changes. I went all week without a pepsi of any kind and then last night had 1 can. YAY! I’m eating more whole grains too. This is going to rock when I start seeing changes!
I’m about the same I need to lose 30-35 lbs myself. I was doing decent this week but had Chinese yesterday. I’m waiting for my Nutrisystem to come in hopefully this weekend.
You CAN do this!
I have been actively working at my goal for over a month now and am really happy with how I feel and the results so far. I have been using My Fitness Pal to track my calories and exercise, which has really helped me recognize what’s in the foods I am eating – and what’s not.
My real crutch is coffee, which has lots of calories when I add my sugar and milk. I’ve found that iced coffee is my trick since I can have a 16 oz glass for about 65 calories – which is totally doable! I’ve also found a new love in un-sweet tea, which helps me up my water intake too.
I’m also posting weekly updates on my blog (as well as randomness on instagram & twitter) and would love to lend my support to you as well. You can totally do it!
I love My Fitness Pal! I have got to get back to using it, I really do. It keeps me accountable and I see results on that app before I see them IRL too.
Oh and I know what you mean. I totally take in way too much calories from my coffee creamers and sweet tea. Baaadddd plus it dehydrates me. But oh how i Love them!
Thank you for the encouragement!