March/April weight loss challenge

[girlonbike]

I'm so happy to report that I am finally seeing a change in my body! I feel so much stronger and healthier. I think I've lost around 20-25 lbs since last summer. Here is my before and current picture

amazing! thx for sharing, you anspire me

[Catrin]

145.6...painfully slow this time but at least it is continuing - I keep telling myself that it is due to all of the lean muscles that I am building

[Veronica]

Change is hard.

It has taken me 43 years to figure out that I should just not eat potato chips. C'mon potato chips, they are so good, crunchy and salty... it doesn't matter how many I eat, they always make me sick later. It doesn't matter what kind they are... I get sick later. But, I love to eat potato chips.

43 years to finally say, "That's it. I am done eating potato chips. No matter how tasty they are, it's just not worth wanting to barf two hours later." I had this epiphany April 2 after potato chips with a sandwich at lunch.

I guess when it comes to food, I'm a slow learner.

Veronica

[martinkap]

148 lbs.

Thanks for the chart.

[GLC1968]

Yay, Limewave - you made your goal! Good job!


I'm taking a pass on today. I did weigh myself, and it wasn't pretty...and it SHOULD be, so I'm going to give my body one more day before I share a number for the week. If I was on the biggest loser, I'd be leaving the ranch. Damn.

That said, I agree that thinking about it being a whole year before you get to your goals is depressing. At my current rate of loss, summer will come and go before I'm at my 'goal' and that's kind of a bummer. BUT, I'm working VERY hard right now to focus on the small little changes. I like how eating this way makes me feel. I like watching my 'muffin top' vanish. I like feeling a little hungry because it means that my body is accessing my fat stores. I like that I can now use a new hole on my belt and that all my pants feel mysteriously longer. I'm looking forward to all the changes headed my way and I'm going to focus on each and every one (no matter how small) instead of looking towards my end goal. It's about transforming my life - not my body. My body will just be coming along for the ride.

[Catrin]

143...again....sigh

[Jones]

Thank you everyone for your support, it truly helps. The one think I really don't want to do is stop "paddling" I have done that before and the weight comes flying back on. I also need to focus more on the good thinks that the weight loss so far has brought. I used to suffer from constant acid reflux and now it is completely gone except one time I really over ate, but at least I recognized that I over ate. I never noticed over eating before. I do feel much better now and I move much better now, oh and I have hip bones now.
Thank you again for all the encouragement, I will weigh in tomorrow.
Jones

[azfiddle]

112.0 again. This last 2 lbs is stubborn! Plus, I am banned from my bike for a few weeks due to an injury and I don't use up as many calories swimming a few times a week... but maintaining is almost as good as losing at this point.

Just to echo some previous comments- if I think of it as "dieting" or giving up something, I just cannot be successful. If I think about what I am gaining by eating healthy, and how much better I am feeling, I have a lot easier time. It has been a slow process for me, 38 pounds in 16 months, but I'm almost there, and feel so much better now.

For what it's worth- here are some things that have helped me be successful:
I journal everything and pack measured amounts of food to take for lunch and snacks at work- it really helps. I've learned not to let myself use birthdays, holidays, meetings, parties etc as an excuse to indulge, because then there is an endless series of over-eating opportunities. Sometimes it gets a little old, but overall, my cravings for processed foods are down a lot, and I am enjoying the flavors and textures of less processed foods- fruits, vegetables, whole grains etc. much more. I still enjoy chocolate (in small quantities)