Long Overdue Update

I haven't been feeling like blogging lately but that doesn't mean I've given up my weightloss efforts.  So I wanted to post a long overdue update. 


WEIGH IN

Since my last post in early January, I am down 10.7 pounds and down 112 total.  Incredible!  After I met my 100 pounds lost goal, I will admit I did ease up on the eating right and exercise and my loss stalled out for about 6 weeks.  But I got back on the wagon and in my past 5 weeks or so have dropped the 10.7.  This just goes to show that what they tell us is true....weightloss surgery is only a tool.  It does not solve every problem or relieve you of the responsibility to make the right choices.  Because the fact is as time goes by you will be able to eat more.  And when you eat junky stuff like chips, cookies, ice cream, you can eat alot more of that kind of stuff than you can lean protein and vegetables.  No, I can't pack those things away in the quantities I used to but clearly I can eat enough of them to keep me from losing.  And I feel fairly certain if I tried, I could gain weight even though I have a small stomach now.  I am doing most of the work at this point, with some support from my surgery.  I'm the one making the right choices (or not) and exercising my body (or not).  The surgery definitely helps with portion control and cravings, but I'm still the one doing the work.  I'm about 9 months out from surgery now and still no regrets.  I would do it again in a heart beat.


MEASUREMENTS
Since I last posted measurements in December, here are the results:


neck - -0.25/-3.0 total
bust - -3.5/-13.0 total
waist - +0.5/-12.5 total  (WTF???)

hips - -1.75/-9.25

I have a lot more measurement points than this, but I don't want to bore you with them.  In total, I am down 63 inches.  I have to admit I am very frustrated with my waist measurement.  I mean, really, UP half an inch over the course of 2 months?   I always get annoyed when I hear people asking how to spot reduce fat.  I'm like "Come on!  Every knows you can't spot reduce."  But now I am feeling desperate about my fat belly and find myself thinking "what can I do to shift this belly fat?"  I know, I know, you can't spot reduce.  It's just the frustration talking.  I must be patient and trust the process.  Changes are happening.

FITNESS

I'm still working out 3 times a week with my trainers at Fitness Together and am getting alot stronger.  One of my current fitness goals is to leg press 410 pounds because I want to be able press more than my trainer...who is a guy.  What can I say?  I'm feeling competitive.  My goal is to get there before Memorial Day.  I am currently able to press 300 so I think I can do it!

For the past 5 weeks I've also been doing the Couch to 5K training program 3 days a week on my day off of FT.  I can't believe I am RUNNING!  I've never been a runner.  Ever.  I mean, seriously.  EVER!  But running I am.  In fact, I did a 10K yesterday.  I didn't run the whole thing, I did walking/running intervals.  But I did start the race by running 21 minutes straight with no walking.  That is the longest period of running I have done.  After that I completed the race doing walking and running intervals the rest of the way and finished with a time of 1:25:33.  My goal was to finish under 1:30 so mission accomplished.  And I got a snazzy medal to show off for my efforts!

By evening, I was whooped!  My hamstrings and butt were so sore so I soaked in a hot tub and ended up snoozing hard by 9:00 that night.  I slept for 11 hours!  So, yeah, the 10K whooped my butt.  But I whooped it's butt too, so I guess we are even. 

All in all I am still doing well.  Feeling really happy with my progress!

Measurements - 12/1/11

Just realized I didn't do my measurements in November.  I have lost about 7 pounds since my last measurements.  The results are:

•neck - 0.25" (-2.75 total)


•bust -0.5" (-9.5 total)


•waist - -4.0" (-13 total) Very happy with this!  I carry my weight here so am ecstatic to see such a drastic change.  My waist is now 48".  Started in the 60's.  I have a 60" tape measure so it wouldn't even reach all the way at first.  Happy with this progress.

•hips -.5" (-7.5 total)


Great results.  Can't wait to see what January brings!

Measurements - 10/1/11

A little late getting my October measurements posted.  I'm down about 12 pounds since my last set of measurements. Super happy with these results.  I'm definitely getting smaller!

•neck - 0.125" (-2.5 total)


•bust -1.5" (-9 total) Down to a C cup from a D.
•waist - -2.0" (-9 total) WOOHOO!!!!


•hips -2" (-7 total)


Rock on!!!

Measurements - 9/1/11

I'm down about 9 pounds since my last set of measurements.  Better results with the tape measure than I expected:


•neck - 0.5" (-2.375 total)
•bust -1.375" (-7.5 total)  Methinks the girls are starting to shrink too. 
•waist - -2.0" (-7 total)  WOOHOO!!!! 
•hips -1.25" (-5 total)


Not too shabby!

Measurements - 8/1/11

I'm pretty disappointed with the results of the tape measure this month.  I am down a little over 11 pounds in the past month but my inches haven't changed much to speak of.  In fact, some measurements went UP!


•neck - 0.125" (-1.825 total)


•bust -0.125" (-6.125 total)


•waist - +0.75 (WTF?!?!?!?) (-5 total)


•hips -1" (-3.75 total)




Meh, not loving these results.  But am confident I am headed in the right direction. I'll get there.  Must be patient.

Measurements - 7/1/11

Happy 4th everyone!

Just a quick post to share results of this month's measurements.  I've lost just over 17 pounds since my 6/1/11 measurements and my measurement changes are:


•neck - 0.25" (-1.75 total)


•bust -2.25" (-6.0 total) (still not seeing shrinkage to the girls so must still be the back fat.  I'm all for that.)


•waist -3.25" (-5.75 total)


•hips -0.75" (-2.75 total)






I do a ton of measurement points - each thigh, calf, arm, wrist. Won't bore you with all those details, but I will say that every measurement point is smaller than it was on 6/1/11.

Measurements - 6/1/11

Every time I pass the mirror in my dining room I think to myself  "I look smaller."  Part of me thought it was just wishful thinking, until I took my measurements the other day.  I compared them to the last set of measure measurements I took in December when I was weighing around 354 pounds.  The results show that I am, indeed, getting smaller.

Here's the changes:

• neck -1.5"
• bust -3.75" (don't think the girls are shrinking yet, but my back fat seems to be melting...a good thing.)
• waist -2.5" (I've set a personal long term goal of having a 29" waist.  It's been 29 before.  A long time ago.  But I'll get there again one day.)
• hips -2"

I do a ton of measurement points - each thigh, calf, arm, wrist.  Won't bore you with all those details, but I will say that every measurement point is smaller than it was in December to some degree.

I am feeling good physically and hopeful in my heart.  And it's been a very long time since I have felt either.

Measurements - 7/1/10

As another way of tracking success and body changes, I am going to start recording my measurements on a monthly basis. Starting numbers as of 7/1/10 (shudder):

bust - 59.5

ribcage - 54.75

waist - 56.25

abdomen - 61.5

hips - 60.5

neck - 17.5

right arm - 16.0

left arm - 16.0

right wrist - 7.375

left wrist - 7.375

right thigh - 29.5

left thigh - 29.5

right calf - 18.5

left calf - 17.75

total inches - 452

36-24-36?? I Don't Think So!

Holy crap. In the process of doing some online shopping for a suit of some kind to wear for an interview I took my measurements for the first time in a long time. Wow. It is NOT pretty.

Bust - 57.5"
Waist - 60" (that's 5 feet!!!!!!!! I am as big around as some people are tall!)
Hips - My 60" tape measure didn't reach. I would estimate about 62"
Thigh - 30"
Upper arm - 17.5

This must change.