Today I would like to take a look back thru the ups and downs of my weight. This will not be easy for me, but I think it is necessary in order for me to move forward.
All thru high school, I never had problems with my weight. I easily maintained a healthy weight of about 130-140 (even though I was never in any sports and wasn't very physically active.) I graduated in 1999 at a nice weight of about 135!
When I started college, though, I gained a good 10-15 pounds from eating out a lot and partying. Then, a year later, I started dating my husband and continued to eat out way too often. I gained at least another 10-15 pounds during the 2 years we dated. In August of 2002, I was at 160 pounds for my wedding. I was in a size 10 wedding dress and didn't feel too bad about myself or my weight.
I got pregnant right away (October 2002.) By January 2003 (when I miscarried), I had gained a little bit of weight from the pregnancy. I took the miscarriage really hard and never lost the weight and probably even gained more.
July 2003 I got pregnant with my first born! I started that pregnancy at about 170 pounds. I was up to about 197 when I went into the hospital to have him. I breastfed him for about 9 months and was able to easily make it back down to close to my pre-pregnancy weight. As soon as I stopped breast feeding, though, the weight started to creep back on. I was quickly back up to 180 pounds and hovered there for a couple years.
All thru high school, I never had problems with my weight. I easily maintained a healthy weight of about 130-140 (even though I was never in any sports and wasn't very physically active.) I graduated in 1999 at a nice weight of about 135!
When I started college, though, I gained a good 10-15 pounds from eating out a lot and partying. Then, a year later, I started dating my husband and continued to eat out way too often. I gained at least another 10-15 pounds during the 2 years we dated. In August of 2002, I was at 160 pounds for my wedding. I was in a size 10 wedding dress and didn't feel too bad about myself or my weight.
I got pregnant right away (October 2002.) By January 2003 (when I miscarried), I had gained a little bit of weight from the pregnancy. I took the miscarriage really hard and never lost the weight and probably even gained more.
July 2003 I got pregnant with my first born! I started that pregnancy at about 170 pounds. I was up to about 197 when I went into the hospital to have him. I breastfed him for about 9 months and was able to easily make it back down to close to my pre-pregnancy weight. As soon as I stopped breast feeding, though, the weight started to creep back on. I was quickly back up to 180 pounds and hovered there for a couple years.
September 2006, I got pregnant with my second child! I was still at about 180 pounds at the beginning of that pregnancy and gained another 25-30 pounds during that pregnancy. Putting me over 200 pounds at the end! Once again, though, I breastfed him for nearly 9 months and I lost most of that weight. I made it back down to about 185 pounds. When I stopped breast feeding, though, once again the weight came right back.
It was not until I weighed myself in December 2008 and the scale said 199 that I realized I had a problem with my weight! I talked to some friends of mine about putting together a weight loss plan and they were there to help hold me accountable. I started eating healthier (more veggies and less sugar, more water and less soda) and rode my stationary bike about every other day for about 30 minutes while the kids napped. I did really well with that for 3 months and lost a total of 18 pound!
It was not until I weighed myself in December 2008 and the scale said 199 that I realized I had a problem with my weight! I talked to some friends of mine about putting together a weight loss plan and they were there to help hold me accountable. I started eating healthier (more veggies and less sugar, more water and less soda) and rode my stationary bike about every other day for about 30 minutes while the kids napped. I did really well with that for 3 months and lost a total of 18 pound!
March 2009, I found out that I was pregnant with my third child! I started that pregnancy at about 180 pounds. I continued to eat really healthy (until the last trimester), but had stopped the exercising. I was just over 200 pounds when I went in to have my daughter. I breastfed her for only about 6 months, but was able to get my weight down to about 175 pounds! I swore that I was not going to let the weight come back on! I was going to eat healthy and get back to my exercising!
Well, life happened and I was too busy to exercise. I had to work at home for my husband's business and take care of the kids. Stresses came and I would snack. So I gained the weight. :( I yo-yoed around for the next two years. I would notice a weight gain and not like it, so I would start exercising and eating less snacks and lose some weight. But that would never last more than a month or two. I really wanted to get back to losing the weight, but could never stay motivated.
Well, life happened and I was too busy to exercise. I had to work at home for my husband's business and take care of the kids. Stresses came and I would snack. So I gained the weight. :( I yo-yoed around for the next two years. I would notice a weight gain and not like it, so I would start exercising and eating less snacks and lose some weight. But that would never last more than a month or two. I really wanted to get back to losing the weight, but could never stay motivated.
Well August 2012 I was tipping the scale at 198 pounds! I knew that I needed to make a lifestyle change and fast! My hubby had found an elliptical on sale and had bought it for me. So I now had a stationary bike and an elliptical to workout on when the kids went to bed. I went back to the basics that I knew. Calories in versus calories out. I ate less sugars, drank less sodas, ate more fruits and veggies, and tried to drink my water. I exercised (mainly on the elliptical) 2-3 nights a week after the kids had all gone to bed. I made it down to 188 pounds by October 2012 and felt like this was going to be it. I would lose ALL the weight this time!
Unfortunately with holidays and busyness I had found myself back up to 193 pounds by the middle of December 2012. I was not going to let Christmas get the best of me though. I made it back down to 189 pounds in two weeks! That was where I started the new year...189 pounds and ready to lose the weight this year! Once again, though, I struggled through January and February and found myself back at 193 pounds :(
Through the ups and downs of those months I had read and reread "Made to Crave" by Lysa Terkeurst. This is a wonderful book and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in finding their "want to" in weight loss (or giving up any physical temptation!)
Unfortunately with holidays and busyness I had found myself back up to 193 pounds by the middle of December 2012. I was not going to let Christmas get the best of me though. I made it back down to 189 pounds in two weeks! That was where I started the new year...189 pounds and ready to lose the weight this year! Once again, though, I struggled through January and February and found myself back at 193 pounds :(
Through the ups and downs of those months I had read and reread "Made to Crave" by Lysa Terkeurst. This is a wonderful book and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in finding their "want to" in weight loss (or giving up any physical temptation!)
In February, a couple of my friends had been talking about starting a Zumba class and some had talked about running a 5K. March 2013 I jumped on board! I joined the Zumba class which is every Tuesday and Thursday night and I began the C25K program. I run every Monday and Wednesday morning and again on Saturday. I am eating healthier and healthier every week and still working on drinking my water. In April, I decided I needed to also add some strength training, so I am doing Bob Harper's Pure Burn every Tuesday and Thursday morning.
As of April 19th my weight is down to 183.6 pounds! That is a nearly 10 pound weight loss since March 1st!
As of April 19th my weight is down to 183.6 pounds! That is a nearly 10 pound weight loss since March 1st!