Weight "Loss" Update #8

Not feeling as guilty as I probably should about this, I guess b/c I'm telling myself that since I had the flu I'm excused....BUT, I didn't lose any this week.  In fact, I GAINED 1 pound!  AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH...

In my defense, the CFO's idea of cooking is asking whether I want Chinese Take-Out or McDonalds, so you can imagine my weight loss efforts were somewhat sabotaged this week.  :)

Oh well, I'm back on the bandwagon and I'm resuming my good eating habits this week...oh, after that piece of pumpkin loaf from Starbucks this morning...

Weight Loss Update #7

You might (or might not!) have noticed that I didn't post a weight-loss update last week.  Was this because I was still sick and didn't have the energy?  No.  Was it because I was so busy with life that I forgot or didn't have time?  No (especially since you'll notice there are several craft projects posted since then!!!).  I was because it was my first week not to lose any weight.  I plateaued.  Is that a word?  I chickened out and didn't post it.  But now I'm over it.

I'm especially over it because I lost a pound this past week.  Woo hoo!  I will admit that I still have not begun a regular exercise program, but I DID walk one evening with my neighbor.  It's a start!  I would say that the exercise program would start this week except that once again, we're sick.  The Mess Maker had to have picked up a germ from preschool because it started showing up Saturday.  And, of course, I got it too.  This time it REALLY feels like the flu...not sure.  We're going to the doctor tomorrow to get the Mess Maker checked out.  Hope it isn't that super-fun H1N1 monster that's been going around.  Wish us luck...

Weight Lost This Week:  1 pound
Total Weight Loss:  74 pounds

Weight Loss Update #6

Okay, this was a weird week for me. I started getting sick Tuesday evening and it really kicked in on Wednesday. I felt like I'd been steamrolled onto my driveway. ZERO energy (especially to prepare nutritious, wholesome meals for three hungry family members). When this type of situation occurs, or when I have something to do and can't prepare dinner, the CFO says he'll cook...which always involves loading the Mess Maker into the car and heading to the nearest and quickest fast-food joint. :) So, we ate a lot of "not-so-diet-friendly foods". In fact, if you actually saw what I consumed, you'd be completely convinced that I fell off the diet-bandwagon altogether. BUT....I didn't. I still watched portions (most of the time!) and tried to eat as good as I could given the circumstances (um, the take-out and fast-food circumstances).

Regardless of the less-than-nutritious-food consumption that occurred this past week, somehow (and I'm honestly still trying to figure out how) I still managed to lose weight. And no, I haven't started my regular exercise regimen yet...hopefully when I get to feeling 100% again, my treadmill will start getting some much-needed use!!!

Weight lost this week: 2 pounds
Total weight loss since the end of March: 72 pounds

WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Weight Loss Update #5

Weight lost this week: 1 pound
Total weight lost to date: 70 pounds

Not bad, but not great either. I'm happy to have lost anything at all, but I'm obviously seeing the weight loss slowing a good bit. I know, I know...time to incorporate regular exercise. Not sure what it's going to take before I actually start doing this!!! :)

I love to swim...but getting in a regular bathing suit (you know, one without a cute skirt or shorts to hide my butt & thighs) in front of my neighbors in order to swim laps just isn't appealing to me. : () We have a treadmill so why don't I use it? Not sure...I think I need to get some sweet music on the iPod and just go for it.

So that's it for this week...hope to have some exciting weight loss news next week!

Weight Loss Update #4a

Drum roll please.....I have officially lost a dress size!!! (That's one size down from my pre-pregnancy size)

I decided to try on a smaller size pair of shorts today (one of only a few smaller-sized things I still own) just to see how much I had to go... I must say I am shocked...can't remember the last time I wore "that" size! Will I tell what "that" size is? NO WAY!!!! But just know that it's one less. :)

Woo hoo...maybe it's time to ditch my daily uniform of stretchy work-out pants and t-shirts?!?!?!?

Weight Loss Update #4

Total weight lost this week: 2 pounds

I'll take it! It was a REALLY rough week emotionally so I am excited I lost any at all...let's just say there was some non-diet food consumption going on!!! :) But, I'm back on track and hoping to keep up the momentum...

Total overall weight loss since baby #2 at the end of March: 69 pounds

Weight Loss Update #3

Compared to previous weeks, this turned out to be a slower week in terms of weight loss...seems that the baby weight came off a little faster. Nonetheless, I lost 2 pounds!

And one of my friends wants to start walking/biking with her kids and my kids a few times a week...woo hoo! This might be just the motivation I need to start working out on a regular basis...it's not as bad when there's someone fun to chat with!

Total weight loss since the end of March (post baby): 67 pounds

New Weight Loss Goal

It's time for setting a new weight loss goal now that the baby weight is gone...hmmm, what should it be??? I obviously can't do the 10% goal b/c then you would know how much I weigh!!! :) So, I must be more creative...

Since I have about 55 pounds I'd like to lose to get to my "goal weight", I think I'll set mini 10-pound goals. 10 pounds seems so much less daunting than 55! :)

So there it is: 10 pounds at a time. And since I'm down one more from my pre-baby weight, only 9 more to go...woo hoo! Now I need to think of a nice reward for reaching these mini-goals...any ideas???

Weight Loss Update #2a

This was a big week on the weight loss front...I finally shed those last "baby weight" pounds. Woo hoo!

Total weight loss for this week: 3 pounds

I have GOT to start working out on a regular basis...I'm hoping that the Noise Maker will start sleeping better at night (although after last night, I'm not thinking that's going to be anytime soon!!!)...then maybe I'll have enough energy to stay awake and move my body...

I'll keep you posted! :)

Weight Loss Update #2

It hasn't been quite a week since my last update, but I just had to share my news. As of today, I did it.....

THE BABY WEIGHT IS GONE!!!

Woo hoo! Can you tell I'm excited? :) My goal was to lose all 65 pounds by the time the Noise Maker turned 4 months old, and I still have a few days! Can't believe it's gone, but soooooo happy it is! Now it's time for new goal-setting...

Weight Loss Update #1

When I started my "diet" (aka lifestyle change) on June 1, it was just over 2 months since I had the Noise Maker and I had lost 33 pounds on my own. Not really sure how, as I definitely was not eating well, and I know I didn't give birth to a 33 pound baby... Large? (9 lbs, 4 oz) Yes. 33 pounds large? No!

Anyway, so I started the diet 32 pounds over what I weighed before the pregnancy. At the time I started my blog a couple of weeks ago, I was down 25 more pounds. That left me with 7 more pounds to go before I was my "pre-baby" self. Now that you're up to speed....

Weight loss for the past week is...........4 pounds! Woo hoo! :)

Only 3 more pounds to go before I'm back to my old self. Although at that point, my "self" will be redefined and I will set my new weight loss goal of losing that extra bulge that I can't blame on pregnancy!!!

More updates to come... :)

How the diet works...

I've had several inquiries about how I'm losing the weight, so I thought I'd share my "program" with you.

When I was pregnant with the Mess Maker, I gained 65 pounds. It took almost an entire year to shed those pounds, but I honestly wasn't making a whole-hearted effort. So after gaining 65 pounds again when I was pregnant with the Noise Maker, I decided I couldn't wait that long to get rid of the buldge! Plus, I had some extra weight from before I ever had kids that I wanted to get rid of as well. So, when I received a flyer in the mail from my primary care physician announcing her new weight loss program, I decided to talk to her to see what it was about...soooo glad I did!

The program is a comprehensive weight loss program that is medically supervised. The goal is to provide a safe, effective program with the emphasis of improving overall health. After an initial physical and blood work, I was given a folder with bi-weekly lessons to complete, with dietary information and a food journal in which I was instructed to record everything I ate. Most importantly, it included information about the Glycemic Index.

The Glycemic Index refers to how fast the body can break down carbohydrates into glucose (sugar). Foods with a high GI are broken down faster than foods with a low GI. Typcially, the longer it takes the body to break down the food, the better it is for you. My physician gave me three lists: one for low GI food choices, one for medium, and one for high. I was told to eat only from the low GI food list for the first two weeks (which was quite an adjustment!). It basically eliminated all processed foods from my diet. After that, I was able to gradually introduce some medium GI foods, but not more than 5 times per week. And the high GI foods are not supposed to be consumed more than 1-2 times per week, if at all.

In addition to the GI program, I was given an appetite supressant and and exercise program. I will admit that exercise isn't my most favorite pasttime and I haven't been incorporating it like I should. But I consider this a work in progress...and I'm staying positive that small, gradual changes will lead to big results in the long run!

So that's it in a nutshell...so far, I'm enjoying trying to new foods and challenging myself to modify recipes so they meet the low-GI guidelines. I'll keep you posted on my progress! :)