I did it! Today, I am officially under my personally mandated "fat limit" of 170 lbs. I weighed in at 167.7 and I'm pretty thrilled. Now, I know, to many of you this still probably seems like a ridiculously high amount, but I'm 5'9" and to me, it's getting back into normal range. Even my BMI is now officially "normal" instead of "overweight."
During my pregnancy I put on more weight than is recommended. I began the journey at 158 lbs and ended at a whopping 217 lbs. At no point during the pregnancy did my blood pressure become an issue and my midwife reassured me every time I asked that my weight gain wasn't a problem.
I think in retrospect that at least part of my weight gain was psychological. I carry additional weight pretty well and because I have a large frame, I really did not look pregnant for a LONG time. I cannot tell you how many times people asked incredulously, "You're how far along?" or "You're due this July??" No, next July, genius, I have the gestational period of an elephant. Come on! After so much of this, I think subconsciously I began to eat more just to try and puff up a bit. Also I think there was a bit of, "well, I obviously don't look pregnant, so a little Ben and Jerry's shouldn't hurt..."
The road to getting back into shape, or at least something resembling it, has been a long one, and I know next time around I will try much harder to not put on as much weight. I'd still like to lose about 15 lbs, but I feel a real sense of accomplishment today! Yay!!
a girl, a guy, a tomato, a bean, and a bear
Showing posts with label weight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weight. Show all posts
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Thursday, December 11, 2008
With me it's all er nuthin'
If you are or are acquainted with a musical theater geek, you know what it is to randomly burst into song at any given point during the day. Musical theater geeks will agree with me that for an amazing number of life events, there are correspondingly appropriate musical lyrics, just waiting to be applied.
In today's example, I call on the musical "Oklahoma" and quote Will when he sings,
With me it's all er nuthin'.
Is it all er nuthin' with you?
It cain't be "in between"
It cain't be "now and then"
No half and half [sweets eating] will do!
Ok, he says "romance." No half and half romance will do. For me, the problem lies elsewhere. I have a sweet tooth like you can hardly imagine, and it gets me into trouble. I could go WAY back to tell you about all my history with food, but suffice it to say, I've struggled with my weight in the past, and it's something I will probably always work on, making sure I stay within the normal range.
After working my way out of childhood obesity, I set for myself a max weight limit, so that I would be sure to never slowly creep my way into obesity. Of course with my pregnancy this limit was cast aside, being only 15 lbs over my ideal weight.
I put on much more than the recommended pregnancy weight gain--60 lbs to be exact, and I've been working really hard to chisel away at the excess over the last 4 months. So far I've lost 37 lbs, and today for the first time I fit into jeans I wore pre-pregnancy. I'm thrilled to say the least.
I made it through Thanksgiving with out too much temptation, but the Christmas season is threatening my resolve. I was doing a bit of baking to send Justin Christmas cookies, and naturally ate some myself. Okay, more than just some. Like my Oklahoma lyrics, I have a hard time saying "when" when it comes to sweets, and finally had to cut myself off. No more baking for me, or I risk wrecking a fair bit of my progress.
I've decided I can do baking on Christmas Eve and Christmas itself if I desire, but not before, and whatever I haven't eaten by the 26th, I'll have to give away.
Is it bizarre I have to regulate myself in this fashion? Probably.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday
Today was Thursday. I couldn't think of anything else to make today particularly stand out. I managed to workout and went out to check the mail. I've been feeling a little blah lately. I can feel the winter blues start to creep in with the continually grey skies, chilly temperature, and limited daylight.
It's been a real struggle lately to do my daily workout. I know I'm making progress; I've lost 35 pounds since Evelyn was born (I'd gained 60), and even though I know that's awesome progress, I can't help but fixate on the 25 left to lose. My knees are a little achey from doing jumping jacks and sometimes I feel so Groundhogs Day about it all. I'd been feeling much better about my body, but I think I've turned some kind of corner. I've stopped feeling light in comparison to my pregnancy weight and have started feeling heavy, remembering what it once was to weigh my pre-pregnancy weight. Even as I type this I want to slap myself for being so "glass is half empty."
That being said, even when I get down about stuff, it's amidst this incredible sense of joy. I am SO blessed and when I stop to remember that, the grey skies don't look so bad anymore.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Weighing in
Why is it that working out makes you feel SO good after you've done it, and yet it is SO hard to get up and do it?
It's been one of my goals here in the early life-with-baby months to try and do a modest handful of things for myself every day. My list, not in any order, includes these things:
1. shower
2. get dressed
3. extra bonus points for hair and make-up
4. work out
5. leave the house at least once (taking the dog out does not count)
6. draw, or do some sort of creative activity
It is amazing how such a simple list can become very difficult to complete. I am a list maker and planner by nature. I think I do it more out of comfort nowadays than necessity. There was a time where my schedule was so packed that if I didn't write everything down, I would surely forget something. These days we're much more "relaxed," but I still have the urge to plan. I am trying very hard to resist this urge nowadays, because the result is usually a complete joke. The minute I think we've found a pattern or dependable routine, and thus plan some activity accordingly, it's as if Evelyn KNOWS and behaves differently just to get my goat. Because I cannot plan, I'm left to fly by the seat of my pants. I have my mental list, always at the ready, and must be ready to jump when Evie provides an opportunity to complete a task. Sounds like it would work, right? (We're ignoring the part where Evie is setting all the rules. At this point, it is easier this way. Believe me.)
The only trouble with this brilliant system is sometimes I don't feel like doing whatever it is I need to do at that golden moment of opportunity. It is much more appealing, say, to eat candy than it is to exercise, and when the weather is as it is in Baumholder much of the time, it is much more appealing to do ANYTHING rather than go outside. And then some things just become a vicious cycle; there is little motivation to get dressed when your only fitting options are still of the maternity variety, and feeling like a cow in your zipper-less pants does not particularly encourage you to workout, which of course, is the only way to get to the magical land of Zippered Pants. Most days, however, I somehow find a way to get all, or nearly all of those 6 "to-dos" done.
I am making progress. (I need to keep telling myself that.) I have lost 23 pounds since giving birth have about 40 to go. Hmmmm....maybe I should just leave it at "I have lost 23 pounds" and not mention the other 40. I am starting to feel more fit and I'm trying to remember that I need to be patient (and kind) with myself in this process. I didn't gain the weight overnight, and it won't go away that quickly either. In the meantime, I think I seriously need to look into some clothes that require more than one step to put on. Convenience is one thing, but somehow zippers, buttons and laces can make you feel a little bit more human when you're covered in spit-up.
It's been one of my goals here in the early life-with-baby months to try and do a modest handful of things for myself every day. My list, not in any order, includes these things:
1. shower
2. get dressed
3. extra bonus points for hair and make-up
4. work out
5. leave the house at least once (taking the dog out does not count)
6. draw, or do some sort of creative activity
It is amazing how such a simple list can become very difficult to complete. I am a list maker and planner by nature. I think I do it more out of comfort nowadays than necessity. There was a time where my schedule was so packed that if I didn't write everything down, I would surely forget something. These days we're much more "relaxed," but I still have the urge to plan. I am trying very hard to resist this urge nowadays, because the result is usually a complete joke. The minute I think we've found a pattern or dependable routine, and thus plan some activity accordingly, it's as if Evelyn KNOWS and behaves differently just to get my goat. Because I cannot plan, I'm left to fly by the seat of my pants. I have my mental list, always at the ready, and must be ready to jump when Evie provides an opportunity to complete a task. Sounds like it would work, right? (We're ignoring the part where Evie is setting all the rules. At this point, it is easier this way. Believe me.)
The only trouble with this brilliant system is sometimes I don't feel like doing whatever it is I need to do at that golden moment of opportunity. It is much more appealing, say, to eat candy than it is to exercise, and when the weather is as it is in Baumholder much of the time, it is much more appealing to do ANYTHING rather than go outside. And then some things just become a vicious cycle; there is little motivation to get dressed when your only fitting options are still of the maternity variety, and feeling like a cow in your zipper-less pants does not particularly encourage you to workout, which of course, is the only way to get to the magical land of Zippered Pants. Most days, however, I somehow find a way to get all, or nearly all of those 6 "to-dos" done.
I am making progress. (I need to keep telling myself that.) I have lost 23 pounds since giving birth have about 40 to go. Hmmmm....maybe I should just leave it at "I have lost 23 pounds" and not mention the other 40. I am starting to feel more fit and I'm trying to remember that I need to be patient (and kind) with myself in this process. I didn't gain the weight overnight, and it won't go away that quickly either. In the meantime, I think I seriously need to look into some clothes that require more than one step to put on. Convenience is one thing, but somehow zippers, buttons and laces can make you feel a little bit more human when you're covered in spit-up.
