Left: Before, 230lbs
Right: Current, 150lbs
Question:
your blog has really inspired me how have you done it.
Asked by Anonymous
Answer:
First off, what works for me is not necessarily going to work for anybody else. Secondly, the short answer would currently be calorie counting, recording all my food, and exercising more, but nobody ever seems to like that answer. :P
So here’s the long version, which contains both things I’d recommend and things I wish I hadn’t done. :P
How I’ve “done it” has been a long journey full of a lot of experimentation. I’ve tried to lose weight before, but this is the first time I’ve lost more than 5-10 lbs without gaining it back shortly after. When I first started actively trying to lose weight back in February, “walk more” was my idea of exercise, and I gave up soda pop, potato chips, and fried foods for Lent. I have no idea how much I lost by the time Lent was over because after I got my starting weight and measurements, I didn’t weigh again until July or August. But I sure did feel better, just by making those small changes, and I didn’t really introduce those foods back into my diet as regulars like they had been before.
At a few points over the course of the next few months after that, I did the whole Special K thing. It worked for helping drop those pounds, but I really don’t think I was eating as many calories as I should have been at that time. 1,000-1,100 was typical, but then I’d have days where I’d eat 1,800-2,000 because I was starving and just couldn’t take it anymore haha. I also took energy/diet pills, and those just made me feel like my heart was bursting out of my chest constantly. Tried those green tea pills as well, and I passed out a couple of times after taking them on an empty stomach. So those are NOT something I’m advising anyone take. They do nothing at best, and can have awful side effects.
In August, I did a high-protein, low-carb, very low calorie diet, but I totally would not recommend it at all. Very low calorie diets (VLCD) are not advised, and quite frankly, I really didn’t lose much more than I could have on my own, plus I felt tired and cranky all the time! Plus, I am obnoxiously sick of fish at this point and never want to eat it again haha. I was a pescatarian (like a vegetarian, but eats fish), so when the diet called for meat, that’s all I would eat, but now if I never eat another seafood product for the next billion years, I’m down with that. So that was a total no go as well.
So back to that calorie counting and exercising! That’s the main gist of what I’ve been doing since about May, but the way I do it has been changing. I went from eating a lot of packaged, processed foods to cooking more of my own from fresh, whole ingredients. The actual amount of calories I eat has changed over the months too. I use caloriecount.about.com to figure out roughly how many calories I should be eating a day— which changes as my weight goes down. The calories that I needed to lose at 230lbs are much higher than what I need to lose at 159lbs, so I adjust my intake every 10-15lbs or so.
A recent addition to the calorie counting has been monitoring my sodium intake and my carb/protein/fat ratio. I stopped using shaker salt completely a few months ago, but loads of foods still contain it, or have it added. It’s really helped to keep down any water weight, so it’s been a good thing for me. Also, I’m not looking to go low-carb, low-fat, or high-protein, I’m mostly just making sure I’m within normal ranges for all of those macronutrients. My exact ratios change from day to day, but as long as I’m in the green, I’m good.
Two other things that are helpful are:
1. Planning out what I eat before I eat it. Sometimes I’ll get the whole day planned out the night before, or the morning of. That way when I’m hungry, I’m not digging through the cupboards, trying to figure out the counts of things. I already know what I’m going to make.
2. Recording my hunger level before and after a meal. This really makes me think about whether I’m hungry or not when I eat, and helps me to not overeat.
As for exercise, I still do a shitload of walking. I haven’t been doing as much during the week since school’s started, but I try to go 4-6 miles a day on weekends and days off. I’m going to do a half-marathon in January, so I’m gearing up to train for that. I occasionally do workout tapes from Jillian Michaels or Leslie Sansone as well, and I weight train a couple times a week.
So yeah, that’s a general idea of what I have done and what I’m currently doing. If you have any other, specific questions, you’re certainly free to ask. :)
159lbs.
The Happs
Third week back at school and I must say that I’m feeling pretty great! I haven’t been doing as much “official” exercise as I usually do (which is usually 3-5 times a week), but I get in a good 1-2.5 miles four times a week, walking from my car to the MAX station when the parking lot is full and back, and walking from the Pioneer Square MAX stop to PSU (even though I could just take the green line, if I’m not running late and it’s not pouring rain, I like to walk).
It wasn’t an accident or because I have no time that I stopped going on my usual 4-6 mile walks or doing a workout tape, I actually took a break from the “official” exercise in hopes of making my knee stop hurting, and it finally has! I went for a 4.9 mile walk the other night and it felt sooooo good, no knee locking up halfway through and making me trip haha. So I’ll be going on more of those walks again soon. :)
Had a bit of a craycray day on the 3rd. I ate like. An entire box of Cheez-Its and a bunch of ice cream and a shitton of other junk food. That was also the day I did the AIDS Walk, and that day started out really well with my usual breakfast and then some yummy fruit at the walk, but then I just kind of went insane lmao. It was a good learning experience, though, because there are times in the past where I’d eat like that everyday, and I always felt like such shit, but oh, I never knew why! I felt so sad and headachey and bloated that day, but I don’t feel guilty. Because now I’ve had that experience, I’ll really think twice about doing something like that again. It’s one thing to eat like that all the time and just become accustomed to it, but when you’ve been trying for healthier eating habits and just assault your body like that out of the blue, it doesn’t react well at all.
Anyway, like I said, feeling good right now! The size 10s fit a lot better (most days) right now, and I’ve still lost some weight despite not working out as much, so huzzah. :D
Weight Loss Stats Dos
02.18.10: 230 lbs, size 18, 44”, 37”, 47”
08.17.10: 180 lbs, size 12, 41”, 34.5”, 41”
09.27.10: 168 lbs, size 10/12, 39.5”, 33.25”, 39.5”
Lost since last check in: 12 lbs, 1/2 dress size*, 4.25” (1.5”, 1.25”, 1.5”)
Total loss: 62 lbs, almost four dress sizes*, 15.75” (4.5”, 3.75”, 7.5”)
*The size 12 clothes I have are too big, and they’re too big when I try new ones on at stores, but the size 10s are still a little snug. According to the sizes, I’m just half an inch away from them fitting so much better. We’ll see where I am next month. :)
Progress Pictures
I think there’s a difference, and it’s not the obvious tan that I didn’t have before. XD
First Happy: Weight Loss Stats
You know what makes me super happy right now? My current weight loss stats.
02.18.10: 5’4”, 230 lbs, size 18, 44”, 37”, 47”
08.17.10: 5’4”, 180 lbs, size 12, 41”, 34.5”, 41”
Total loss: Still short, 50 lbs, 3 dress sizes, 11.5 inches (3”, 2.5”, 6”)
Those are a few days old but haha, I don’t measure myself all the time, that would be pointless and silly. It’s not really the exact numbers that make me the happiest, it’s how I feel! I have more energy lately, I actually enjoy exercising and don’t feel like I’m torturing myself, and the compliments I’ve been getting are really only adding to the joy.
