Cindy

If you’re looking for an upbeat blog, you’ve found it. I can’t describe my joy any other way than ecstatic! But, first, I need to say ahead of time that this blog will not even come close to expressing the joy and excitement I am experiencing because of some annoying cold. Thankfully, it has only stolen my voice and some of my energy but not my attitude.

If you’ve already read this one, I’ve had to repost it because it got lost in cyberspace.  I really liked this particular post and was disappointed to find that the link to it was “broken” so here it is again. 

I was talking to a buddy (WonderWoman) the other day and telling her about my latest shopping escapade. When I finished, she said, “you need to blog about that.” I wish that I had had the time to do it that day but I have some things to add to it today so all is well.

I don’t know about you, but because of my weight, I have HATED shopping for years!!! Well, I was trying to find some warmer clothes to wear the other day and realized that none of them fit me anymore. So, I decided it was time to go for some smaller clothes. Most of my winter clothes were size 18, 20 or 22. I had already given those away and was having to wear short sleeves and shorts. I live in the mountains…it’s getting cold!

Anyway, I went shopping. I usually avoid the mall like the plague because the few places that have “plus” sizes are too expensive. I decided to go to a few shops around town and then hit the mall. I found a couple of shirts at the shops around town and bought them. Then, I went to the mall and well, let me tell you about this store. We have a store called Christopher and Banks (for “normal sizes”) and C.J. Banks for plus sizes. Of course, the first place I go is to CJ Banks. Isn’t it funny how they rarely have cute clothes in plus sizes? I figured, aww what the heck, I’ll look in Christopher and Banks. I found some cute things and took them to the dressing room to try on. I was almost to the room when I asked the attendant/sales clerk to wait so I could get a size larger in the skirt. I actually told her that I was dreaming if I thought I could wear the smaller one. Just on a whim, I decided to try the smaller one on first and get it out of the way. It fit!!!! I couldn’t believe it!! Well, at that point, I was on a roll.

Want to know what size it was? Just a sec, I’m getting there. Ladies, we all know that skirts and dresses are not an good indicator of true size, right? So, I went looking for jeans. Now, there’s how I can tell if I’ve really lost weight. Mind you, I’ve been wearing 18 and 20 for about 3 years now. I went to the dressing room, laughing at my audacity, with a size 14. I nearly jumped right out of them from excitement when I saw that they fit!

I got home with the shirts and wasn’t really comfortable with how they fit. I don’t have a female nearby to advise me so I took them back to the store and asked the sales clerk to help me. I went in and tried on the shirt that I’d taken home and when I came out she gave me an emphatic, “NO NO NO. That’s much too big!” If only you could have seen my face. The shirt was an extra large, I had stepped down from a double X. Unfortunately, the large was just a tad bit too small. Barely, but since I’m used to wearing my tops big, I wasn’t comfortable with it. I hope to go back in a month and try it again.

Okay, for part 2 of my blog…the healthy weight range. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I am not a big fan of the BMI charts because they don’t take into account muscle mass. But, I figure, that’s not my real problem. I’m not overweight because I have too much muscle mass. I mean really, let’s be honest here, it’s fat! Well, my mom was here this weekend for a visit and we were looking at some old pics. I showed her my “in progress” pics …the ones in the brown shirt…and she was shocked. She told me I need to update my pics because I’m not that big anymore. After that morale booster, I decided to check my BMI. I am THRILLED to report that I am now in the “healthy range”!!! I’ve worked so hard to get here and plan to keep working hard till I get to or pass my goal. Granted, I’m just inside the healthy range, I’m still in it! I want to get to the middle of the range because though I’m happy with my progress, I know that this is still not the ideal weight for me personally.

Okay, I know that it sounds as though I’ve been bragging but I don’t see it that way. Yes, I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I’ll post some new pics later this week just so you can see it too. But, it’s not been easy. I’ve worked hard at changing my view of food and eating. I still struggle with my food sometimes and sometimes I give in. But, when I give in, I make up for it by working out more or harder. I’ve posted this in hopes of motivating or encouraging someone else. I want you to know that IT CAN BE DONE!!! In the past 3 or 4 years, I never dreamed that I would see size 14 jeans on me again. At this point, I’m working toward size 12 and dreaming of size 10! Push yourself to reach your goals. If you want some help, ask!! But, if you want someone to say, “it’s okay, just start again tomorrow” or “don’t beat yourself up” , don’t look to me. You won’t hear that from me. It’s brutal honesty. I’ve beat myself up several times during this weight loss stuff because I needed it!! I don’t put myself down, don’t take it that way. But, if I needed a butt kicking, I’d give it to myself or look for someone who would kick me back into place. That’s what it took for me to do this. That’s how I view weight loss efforts. You have to kick yourself in the rear or you’ll just keep slacking off on the workouts or eating whatever you please. I can tell you from experience, you won’t lose much weight that way!!!

THE END (finally!! That was really long.) Thanks for reading.

I was reviewing my weight history again today after weighing in and realized a couple of things.  I’ve never been a big fan of BMI charts, maybe because I was “obese” for so long.  But, now, I’m looking at my BMI with nearly every pound I lose and loving the fact that it’s going down!  I’ve long since left the obese category and am closing in on the “normal weight” range.  I’m only 1.6 points away and I LOVE watching that number shrink.  It may be going slow but who cares?  It’s going down steadily and that’s what I care about!

Okay, so I got a little disappointed last week after weigh in.  I knew I hadn’t lost but I had also gained 2 lbs.  I know it was partially TOM related but it was also laziness related.  Well, I just wanted to let you know that after a swift kick in the rear by myself and a buddy or two (one in particular whom I think gets some sort of sick pleasure out of giving me a guilt trip  ), I came back full strength.  I lost that 2 lbs that I’d gained plus 2 more and am well on my way to the finish line for that little mini challenge I posed to myself.

In case you missed that post:  I have 1.6 points to drop on my BMI or 12 lbs to reach my “ideal weight” range.  I’m closing on my house in 5 weeks.  I want to drop that 12 lbs by then.  That’s two weeks of 3 lbs loss, and 3 weeks of 2 lbs loss.  I know I can do it if I stay focused on my goal!!  I’ve actually typed up a chart and printed it.  It’s now on my fridge and I get the pleasure of tracking and seeing my progress each time I go to the fridge.  I know it sounds a little “corny” but it is actually helping me.  All the other visual things I’ve put up have been useless but this, well, this seems to work.  It reminds me of my goals and keeps me true to them.

I know we’re all in this for the benefits of weight loss:  healthier bodies, more energy, looks, etc.  And, I know we all “want” it pretty badly.  But, what I’ve learned about myself and a few other buddyslimmers, there’s a difference in the levels of that want.  Like I said, we all want it but do we all want it bad enough to work for it?  If you’re not willing to work for it and work HARD, you may as well sign out and go on with your life ’cause you’re not gonna reach goal without the work!  I have to say I WANT IT BAD!!!!!!  So, I’ve committed to working my tail off this week and really sticking to my food plan.  Oh, and what’s my food plan??  I don’t do diets.  I can’t.  Not for any medical reasons but because I know me.  I won’t stick to it if I can’t do it for life.  So, I’ve been watching calories and fat grams.  I’m a numbers person.  I’ve done a lot of research and used a lot of formulas to determine how many calories and fat grams I should consume each day and how many I need to burn each day.  My “plan” allows for a little wiggle room so that I can indulge in a treat every now and then.  If I don’t have that freedom every once in a while, I’ll go hog wild one day and probably gain 10 lbs in one sitting.

Back to the reason for this blog.  I’ve looked at my weight vs. ideal range and my current BMI vs. ideal range.  I’m almost there!   Just 12 lbs or 1.6 points and I’ll be in the healthy range.  That has got me so PUMPED!  I’m ready to get there!  I’ve not been in the ideal weight range for over 5 years and it’s time I got my body back and my health!!  I have no plans of stopping once I lose that 12 lbs.  I want to be closer to the middle of the range, so, I’ll need to lose about 30 lbs total to hit the middle.  But, when I break it up into smaller bits, it looks so much more doable!  For now, I’m concentrating on just getting in the range.  I’ll worry about the rest when I get there!

It’s true, I did slack off while I was out of town.  This time I wasn’t around any exercise equipment so I really couldn’t exercise.  I have a 3 year old and an 18 month old and no babysitters out of town either so I couldn’t even go walking.  Actually, there was no real safe place to walk as I would’ve had to take both kids with me and my daughter would have had to walk.  She’s so slow, there wasn’t really much point.  Okay, enough excuses….I have been “off” for 6 days and am going back to it full swing in the morning.  Last week I was able to do 8 miles a day for 3 days in a row.  Maybe I can make up for some of this time off by doing that 6 days this week.  That’ll get me 48 miles in a week, I usually average about 30.  Hmmm….technically, I only need to make up 12 miles….hmmm…I’m thinking here…..
Okay, here’s my plan for the next 9 days… I’m going to give my very best effort and try to go for 8 miles every day.  I absolutely HAVE to make up for time lost!!

Are ya with me?  Oh, one last thing…I went back to my old “home town” sort of…we spent 7 years in Charlotte.  A lot of my old friends made comments on how much weight I’ve lost!!  Man, it felt GREAT!!  I’d estimate that I got compliments from AT LEAST 20 different people on my weight loss.  Talk about a swollen head!!  But, it’s also great motivation…I can’t wait to see some of them in November!!  Okay buddies, I need your help to get as close to goal as possible by November so keep me honest and motivated and I’ll do the same for you!

I’m writing this blog in blue because that’s how I’ve been feeling lately.  I really messed up this past weekend but a good buddy (thanks Kait) reminded me that I just have to get back on track.  So, I had an off weekend, big deal.  It’s time to put it past me.