I wanna be a BIGGER LOSER!

I kept another private blog for my first bit of weight loss journey.  But frankly, I'm trying to simplify.  And for the 7 people that read here...well, if you read cause you like me or you just need ammo to make fun of me...no matter.  LOL!  So I'm just going to "weigh in" so to speak on my weight loss challenge with my bil here.  It's an accountability thing.

I started March 16th of last year and to date am down 28 lb. from where I started (though I've been maintaining the same for about the last 4 months with no loss).  My original goal was to lose 50 lb. by December, when Scott and I had our 15th anniversary.  Well, obviously I didn't make that.  But being healthier has been a way of life since I started.  It's really not a diet.  THIS IS HUGE!  I still eat all the things I've always eaten...just in moderation, with portion control being key and eating regularly instead of not eating till 2 o'clock and inhaling anything that isn't nailed down because I'm starving. 

I started in March by tracking my calories at sparkpeople.com and that was a great tool for me.  I measured out portions, tracked the calories as well as protein, fat and carbs.  I did high protein low card in the beginning.  I realized pretty quickly that my VERY irregular eating habits and low protein diet were probably a pretty negative factor --causing my metabolism to be all kinds of out of whack.

There were no pills, no shots (don't think I didn't consider it), no trainers (I wish) I really just thought...I'll see what I can do on my own then I'll go from there.  And to my surprise I started dropping weight all by myself.  WOW!  I proved to myself that I could do it.

A couple of months in I realized I was going to have to get active and start exercising.  I thought I hated exercise.  As I get older I'm realizing more and more I have NO attention span!  LOL!  Adult ADD they call it.  I generalized exercise...but I think now there's probably some kind of activity that fits everyone...you just have to discover what it is.  I started walking but soon tired of that monotony and it was boring.  I wanted to make more impact in less time.  So I added some jogging intervals...and wow, was there a dramatic difference.   I kept it up and I ran a 5k the week before Thanksgiving.  WOW.  Me and probably anyone I know would have thought pigs would fly before Janna ran a 5k.  But I did. 

Weight loss is all about proving to yourself what you are capable of...proving that you can do it.  The side effects...you get healthier, you take more pride in yourself, you lead a more active life which means you are a better mama and literally your whole outlook can change.  Isn't being fat so PSYCHOLOGICAL!!!  I know it is.  

I love inspiration...I love reading about other's successes.  There's the fabulous Donna Downey who inspired me, I just read Jenn Bertsch's story this morning.  WOW!  These are both gals I met years ago and loved seeing their transformation that leads me to believe I can do it too!!!  Now, I don't expect to wear a 2, like Jenn...but being fit, trim and lean...I think I could handle that at ANY size.  I guess at my trimmest...I might wear a 10.  But I really can't even fathom that?  Hmm?

Tim and I said...our challenge could be to get back to our high school weight...yes, this is quite a lofty goal, his was 225 (of lean mean muscle of course :) LOL and mine was about 170...what I weighed here my junior year of hs:

I was dating S at the time...but of course he was too cool to go to the prom with me (I don't blame him ;) LOL!  I'm pictured with my beautiful friend, Kelli.  Alas we compromised with a 25lb loss goal.  I think for me...this is totally attainable.  (and yes, we know it is for him to since he is 5-6 years younger than me and well, A MAN!!!)

So yesterday I did some food shopping...tracked my cals and protein and got my strategies all lined out.  I'll share some of strategies in another post.  Gotta get moving for now!

I'm excited.  :)

Comments

[Kris]

Great to hear your story Janna! I'm in need of a good weight loss to but have had a hard time motivating myself. I'm going to be following you & get inspired by you as well.

Go Janna!

[Misty]

Thanks for sharing your story Janna. You look fantastic!

[Steph]

i read. i support!

[Kay B.]

Janna, you look fantastic! I saw Dr. Don colbert on a couple of different shows this week. He has a book called "I Can Do This Diet" I have ordered it, it sounded good. He did talk about Plateaus and the reason people hit them. Keep up the motivation!

[Allie]

Cheering for you Janna! I need to get back 'on the wagon' myself. Was doing so well before the holidays!

[Jonnelle]

You go girlie!
I am with you on the adult ADD and exercising! I get bored with the same exercise and eating the same foods, so dieting is ridiculously hard, but I will wear a bathing suit this summer that doesn't resemble a mumu!!

[Martha Galvez]

Hi Janna,

I am so glad I am not alone! I lost 75 lbs before I had my daughter with Weight Watchers and I just joined back, we should check on each other to stay motivated...Good Luck!

[Jen]

Good for you Janna! I am on a similar journey and it is inspiring to read about other people making it happen. I love how you say this isn't a diet, it's changing your lifestyle. Love it. I feel the same but have a hard time explaining that to people.

I should dig out a high school picture to inspire myself (and to think I thought my 160lb self back then was so big... it was just perfect for me... I'm no chicken-boned girl!)

[Kari M]

That is so awesome! Congratulations! I, too, have a similar story - I NEVER thought I could lose weight, and decided that if I didn't start I definitely wouldn't, so I didn't have anything to lose. Started small, walking, then intervals of jogging (amazing! the weight drops really quickly when you are jogging - and it doesn't have to be much, I did 2-3 intervals of 2 minutes each in the beginning, but it gets so much easier!), making small changes in my eating habits. And what you said, I realize now, is so TRUE: being fat is psychological! I've lost 40 lbs so far! I figure that even though it took a year, who cares? If I hadn't tried I'd still be fat now, a year later.

Anyways, great job! Keep it up!