Determination
I’m not sure if I mentioned this, but I got to run yesterday. And, I’m pretty sure I get to do it again tomorrow. Yes – I am a lucky girl. And if you’d told me 5 years ago that I would be begging a physical therapist for permission to run, I would have asked you to share some of your crazy sauce, because you obviously had more than you needed.
I am bound and determined to lose my last 10 (minimum) pounds. My weight loss has not been the yo-yo journey some experience. It has been steady and slow (oh my god it has been slow). I don’t want to rejoin Weight Watchers. It was fine. I think it helped when I really needed the help. But now? Not so much. Now I can’t just count points and have it work for me. I’m not sure what changed, but I know I can’t do it anymore.
Six years ago, I weighed 64 pounds more than I weighed yesterday morning (and 59 pounds more than I weighed at the doctor’s office yesterday). Six years ago I was a size 18/20. (Also, I am 5’2”.)
At my heaviest, although my boobs were bigger
The first 40 pounds came off like magic. All it took was spending a great deal of time with someone who was relatively active and didn’t routinely overeat (hi architect!). After losing 40 pounds, I felt pretty good about myself. Which was good, because at that point, the weight stopping coming off. I was still dropping inches & clothing sizes, but not pounds.
Wedding Amy (although I wore more clothes to my wedding)
Between fall 2003 & spring 2007, I lost no weight. In spring 2007, I was a size 12. At this point, I no longer really thought of myself as “fat” but I knew I wanted to lose a little more weight – I wanted to be a faster runner, mostly. Between June and October, I lost 25 pounds. And then, once again, it stopped. I dropped one more size after the weight loss stopped, but have not lost a pound in almost 1 year.
Now - more or less (my boobs are bigger)
It’s not that I’m unhappy with my size, but I know that the extra weight, while significantly less than I was carrying six years ago, can still have an adverse effect on my health. There are a couple of relatives who have diabetes, and I believe some with high blood pressure and/or cholesterol.
Also, I totally believe that 10-15 pounds will get me under a 9 minute mile over 10K, and that would be cool. Slow, but cool.
This is what I'm aiming for, smaller boobs & all
So – I am DETERMINED. I have joined Glam’s Muffin Melt-off, with the goal of drastically reducing my muffin top by the end of October. Other than not eating five-pound burritos at Chipotle (which I do about once a year), my plans include bringing my lunch to work every day and continuing my menu planning (tonight – Moroccan Stew).
Also, I am finally able to exercise a bit more, and am taking advantage of that (cautiously, of course). If I am good, I will be able to run again tomorrow. Tonight, I am getting off the MAX a few stops early, for a nice 1.5 mile walk. Thursday, I am going to Crazy Weights (HTC – will you be joining A & me?), and will probably, if I am not in any way sore, do a little elliptical after. I haven’t figured out Friday yet. Apparently waiting for me to get done with yoga is not the architect’s favorite Friday date night activity, and I’m not sure I’d have a ride, besides, I think I’ll give that a go on Saturday morning. I have a lot of yard work this weekend (I’m just over 50% done with the (not quite as) big (as the city of Portland’s) dig to expand my garden. Who knew it would be so much work to dig out 348 cubic feet of dirt. I dug for about 1 hour on Saturday & 1.5 hours on Sunday (not including rest breaks), and I’m still only about 50% done! At this rate, it will be December before I plant my garlic! But – great source of exercise – not so much cardio, but my blisters are getting hella-strong.
What are you doing to stay fit as it gets darker, colder and (in the Pacific NW at least) wetter?
Also – stay tuned! A contest on Thursday! I have a fun item to give away – should interest all you runners, body image bloggers, etc. out there!
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