The one year mark for my weight loss journey has been an exciting milestone to reach because I don't think I have made it past 10 years 10 days before I would abandon any attempts and let the tears fall into whatever food was comforting me in the past. And I long lost count of how many false starts that I have had with weight loss.
So what was different this time around?
This time I stopped shooting for perfect. In the past, I would lie to myself about the need for never touching the "bad" food that wasn't "allowed" on my diet. But I would also feel the intense draw of the addictive sweets and forbidden fatty foods while I mashed veggie sticks in my mouth, holding them in part to work up desire to swallow, as well as make sure that there wasn't room for that cupcake sitting on the counter. But in private, I would readily turn to foods to provide the "good" feelings that I missed out on from poor goals or relationships with others. Avoiding developing either via binge eating become a habit that only supported the maintenance of the pink stretch-marked belly and the thighs that forever tried to eat my shorts.
The shift that occurred that was the most impactful in the success of this time was knowing that only I would be able to put in the work. There are many futures that are possible for me, but only I am responsible for where I end up. So when I began to learn the hard facts of calories in/calories out were the basic approach, and that our bodies actually run better off plants and healthy fat ratios and excessive processing and particularly sugar intake had been the missing link in our understanding of the constellation of issues that plague our global health community, I had to apply that knowledge.
March 2017: Beginning gluten elimination
As I shared in the series introductory post, I began my weight loss journey in February 2017 by reducing added sugars and processed foods. After one month, I had seen a very modest but concrete loss of 4 lbs to reach 211 lbs. But when I looked at my pictures, I looked even more bloated than last month. I had been lurking on the r/loseit subreddit where people gave the advice of utilizing measurements in concert with pictures to maintain motivation when the scale stalls.
| Location | Circumference (in) |
|---|---|
| Thigh | 26.5 |
| Bicep | 16 |
| Butt | 48 |
| Butt crack | 47.5 |
| Waist | 41.25 |
| Stomach | --- |
| Bust | 42.5 |
| Neck | --- |
| Forearm | --- |
| Wrist | --- |
DISCLAIMER The locations of my measurements were likely not perfectly consistent nor entirely level so I have been watching the general trends. But here's an idea of where I tried to measure.
I welcome any advice for better measurement protocols but I may just have my partner be an extra eye for the next set.
March 2018: First goal weight reached!
I was not ready to pick a goal weight until several months along my path but I was fortunate to meet my first weight goal of 175 lbs on the dot! As I alluded in earlier posts, I didn't keep the same approach throughout and my measurements became a bit more spread out once I felt like I was in the swing and knew that my approach was providing results. So from November 2017 to March 2018, I wasn't watching the scale that ebbed with carbohydrate water weight, as well as “shark week” for the ladies. So I was not really sure where I would end up but I landed right on my first goal weight by a happy chance.
My goal for this next month will be to focus on getting half of my big meals (I've settled into one/two meals a day with an occasional snack) to be plant-based. I will share my pictures, weights and measurements next month and am happy to share any personal information about my personal routine, but urge you to consider and research your own health when making significant changes to diet and exercise routines to make your own choices on what's best for you.
Are you already a #loserin2018 ? Feel free to share your own information about how you have achieved success and help our global community grow healthier in the comment section!
And remember, the steem work makes the dream work! ;*