Here comes the part where I need to dig deep, put on my big girl panties, and cowgirl up. I will own this 1.6 pound loss, and try to be happy about it. I am the only one who can make things change if I want to lose faster. I have been thinking about a plan this morning to make that happen. First, I am going to amp up my water consumption, I have kind of slacked the last couple of weeks on that. Funny, when you retain water, the remedy is to consume more. Next, I am going to find something active to do that my lame ankle can handle. I miss my exercise and is yet probably another reason I have slowed down a bit. No more excuses, I will simply adapt. I also reevaluated my calorie consumption, when I started, calorie count said that I needed about 2100 calories to run my large body. I only ever consumed 1500-1600 a day as it was hard to eat that much once my stomach had shrunk. I plugged in my new numbers and now it says I only need about 1600 calories a day. Makes sense, it takes more gas to fuel a big car than it does a little one. So, I am going to lower my calorie intake a little more. This is where it gets fun, and I mean that, because I get to play with my food again and learn what works in a lower calorie budget.
I apologize for being a bit negative at the beginning of this post, but, it was how I was feeling. The purpose of this blog was to give an honest and accurate account of what my journey is like. I feel that if I had held back I would only be painting a picture of how easy this was. The truth is, it isn't always easy, sometimes it is disappointing, and sometimes it is hard. But in the end I know it will ALL be worth it. I do have some good news, I have lost quite a few inches over the last month. I haven't got all the measurements down yet but when I do I will post them here: Weight & Measurements I am trying to decide how brave I am. Last month I used a drawing to illustrate my measurements. I have had a few people say that I should use a picture of myself. I think it's a great idea but am not sure if I am ready to be that out there yet. I have a lot of loose skin and that might be kind of embarrassing... Do you guys think its a good idea?
Well, it is time to get started for the day, I hope you all have a fabulous weekend, and will leave you with this:
I am a strong woman,
I will put all excuses aside and remember
that I AM CAPABLE!!
Goals to Achieve:
1. Drink more water.
2. Find exercise I can achieve even with a hurt ankle.
3. Lower my calorie intake.
4. Be happy and proud of ANY loss, and don't focus so much on the slow down.
Great job so far! Maybe the fact that you haven't been able to exercise will help you get through the plateau once you are able to get back to it again. They say that a change in routine can be good for weight loss…or at least that's what my husband says, lol. :o)
ReplyDeleteI think you may be right, all I can do is hope :). I refuse to give up!
DeleteI so understand not wanting to get those images up there for all to see - I'm the same.
ReplyDeleteWe have to ask ourselves though is this a kind of denial on our part? Not accepting ourselves?
Would it help if we put those images up knowing that it doesn't matter how bad they are because we're going to improve?
Hmmmm, maybe we should let someone else try it first and let us know. lol. Till then I'll sit on my pictures.
Thanks for sharing.
I am pretty sure you just hit the nail on the head LOL. It is a bit of denial on my part at least. You also may have helped me decide, the whole point of this blog was complete honesty with myself and others, good, bad, and ugly. Afterall, I'd only be hiding it from myself, others can see what I don't want to anyway... It is what it is, and I am who I am. I also think that you're correct in that, it really doesn't matter how bad they are because they WILL improve. Besides, maybe it will inspire someone who is overweight but not yet to this point and scare them straight LOL.
DeleteGood job on the 1.6 pounds lost! Every little bit helps.
ReplyDeleteI understand being unsure of putting pictures online. You're actually braver than me because I'm not secure enough to actually write how much I weigh. I only talk about the pounds lost/gained and how many pounds I have left to lose until I reach my goal weight.
Oh Brandie! If you only knew how much you did for me this morning, you would have been thinking about that instead of being a bit down. You see there is a time and purpose for everything, and maybe your purpose this week was a bit different than it has been. Maybe, just maybe, inspiration was the reason for losing a bit less weight! (And I mean only a bit! )
ReplyDeleteBecause you showed that facing disappointment with courage and determination is the way out of despair. You looked at your options, you made plans, you decided that you would not, could not back off from your challenge! I, for one, am proud of you, and so glad we "met!"
By the way, you are one of the prettiest young women I have seen in a long time. And you know what? If you are pretty now, that means you have always been pretty - inside and out! And seeing my blogs on your "Blogs I follow" list really helped me this morning. I have been concentrating too much on my blog "stats," and not enough on the big picture. And the big picture is that I LOVE writing, and photography. I love what I do, and I will always do it, whether anyone reads what I have to say, or looks at another photo1
Also, I will tell you that when I was in the midst of losing the about 100 lbs. that I lost 2-1/2 years ago, you might be surprised next week to find that you lose more than your average. At this point in the game, your loss begins to fluctuate, and not necessarily plateau. When I reached my goal back then, I said that I would not celebrate until 5 years had gone by without a change of +/- five pounds. Well after two years, I started the gaining, and have put on 20 pounds in six months. It is a terrible feeling, mainly because I don;t know exactly why, except that I have been going through so many bouts of insomnia, which I understand makes weight gain a lot more possible, and weight loss or maintenance becomes a lot more difficult!
But, because of your blog, I am looking at my options, facing the challenge, and I am determined to take off that 20 I have gained. So, keep me in your prayers, as I will yours! Never underestimate the power of intercessory prayer! It has quite literally saved my life more than once, and given me boosts seemingly "out of nowhere" when I most needed them.
As to whether or not you put up any other pictures of yourself - I say go for it! You are braver than I - because I have never liked photos of myself, so it has been hard for me to find a photo I liked enough to put up! On my blog I have used photos of myself as a child, myself from my engagement photo (35+ years ago), and many different photos of flowers, or my current smiling Australian turtle - a photo I got, quite by accident, last September while visiting Cypress Gardens in South Carolina. The last time I put up a current photo of myself was for my 60th birthday last year - so if you want to know what I (sort of) look like, check out my post for April 15, 2011!
Now, perhaps you'll understand how wordy I am, and how I write - which is just on, and on, and on. . .I am currently challenging myself to keep all of my posts down to 1,000 words or less. Some days I am more successful than others. learning to self-edit is my hardest job right now! I wonder if I have kept this comment under 1,000 words? Anyway, thank you again for all you have done for me. I'm looking forward to being good friends in the blogosphere for a long time to come.
I wish you, always, the abundance of enough. . .
Paula,
DeleteI am going to reply to both posts here, I am sorry it took so long to get this one up. I have my comments set to moderate and was not able to get to the computer as much yesterday. I absolutely love your comment and did not find it wordy at all.
I appreciate deeply the words you had to say. They are coming to me at a time when I need them the most. Like I said in the op, I knew the days of a slow down were coming and really thought I was quite prepared, but it felt a little different to have it take place. All of the words of encouragement I have received on here from you and others, has pushed me further into not giving up. I have simply come to far for that :), and my life depends on it.
A big congratulations goes to you as well, to lose 100 pounds and keep it off. As for the recent gain, you are aware of it and that is most important because now you can do something about it. I know you can, because keeping it off as long as you have is probably the hardest part and you did it. I also believe in the power of prayer and will absolutely keep you in mine! Thank you for keeping me in yours.
I love your blogs, and think that it is amazing that you write and are into photography, those are two of my passions. I am in no way as good as you are at it, but I enjoy doing it and love to look at others work. I am proud to have you on my favorite blogs list. Please don't feel like you have to limit yourself on your words, if you are doing it for you then it really doesn't matter how long it is. The words come to you for a reason, and the people who are meant to read it will enjoy it and perhaps find some inspitation in your words. I know I have! I tend to ramble somedays so I can be a bit wordy myself LOL.
It is still a good loss!!
ReplyDeleteI know we all want to hurry it up and it just doesn't always work that way.
It probably is the lowered exercise since your injury. I'm pretty sure it will go down faster when you're all healed up!
Suzi, thank you as always for the encouragement. I am sure you are right. I have a new perspective on it today (hopefully I can keep it LOL). I am confident that soon I will be back to big changes, and if not, slow and steady right?
DeleteHi Brandie! I wrote to you an EXTENSIVE, long and wordy comment this morning, and I don't see it here. Did you get it, or did I lose it somehow? There is frequently a communication problem between wordpress and blogger, so maybe that's what happened. Anyway, I'm right there behind you cheering you on!
ReplyDeleteYou rock hard! Your journey is inspiring to watch. I can empathize with the 'disappointment' with a 1.6 pound loss. But I have a picture on my phone of what 1 pound of fat looks like. I found it on pinterest and I always refer to it when I think I lost 'only' 1 pound. It can be frustrating when our efforts don't yield an immediate result but perspective can be a gift. Have a POWERFUL week, Allegra
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful comment Allegra, thank you. I need to find that picture you are talking about. I have seen pictures of 20 but have never seen a 1 pound piece of fat. I am sure that would help me gain the perspective I need and feel a lot better when things are slow. I am so happy you stopped by :) .
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