In The Middle Of A Busy Week

A misconception I used to have is that as my kids got older and left the home, I would be less busy.  So far that is not true.

This week my granddaughters will be here four times, we are in the last few weeks of school, we have our year end evaluations on Friday, and I have wedding work today.  

Tim and I are taking my parents out for dinner tonight, since their birthdays are May 5th and May 15th. We are taking them to a nice Irish pub we like, that they've never been to before.  My mom always says that you don't need to buy us gifts, so we decided that dinner out on us would be our gift to them this year!

Yesterday was the warmest day we've had and the evening was perfect weather.  While Tim and the kids washed cars, I did some repotting of some plants, and cleaning out old pots to get them ready for new plants.

I need to get plants for the deck now that I am sure we are past a freeze!  Of course with the weird weather we've had, as my Grandma Lily used to say, "You just don't never know!"

I've gained a bit of my weight loss back, but I am really working to eat on plan, as I really want to kick back into weight loss.  I need to get consistent in working out as well.

Happy Wednesday!

Weight Loss Update

This week I saw a photo of myself from Lindsay's wedding three years ago.    I started eating the Trim Healthy Mama way that fall.

This is me two and a half years later.

I eat on plan 90% of the time, and I have not weighed in ages because it goes up and down all the time.  However, I continue to lose inches everywhere, and while I'd love to be like some gals who lose 100 pounds in a year, I am 53, have thyroid issues, and hit menopause a few years ago.  So the fact that I am able to lose weight at all is amazing to me.  I continue to be encouraged by the changes in my body.

I've not consistently exercised for two reasons - 1. my back and 2. I'm lazy.  I know the exercise will also help my back, so that is an area I need to work on developing it into a habit.

I've lost between 45-50 pounds, and am down about 4 sizes in clothing.  I am going to re-read the book because I think that while I am eating healthy and on plan, I am eating too many crossovers for my body to continue losing.  I'm reminding myself that it didn't take me a few years to pack on all that weight and that I am on a journey.

Weightloss Update

Frankly there has been no more weight loss, other than the few pounds that go up and then go down, again.  However, I am encouraged that I'll be able to maintain my weight loss, once I get to where I want to be!  I've been doing a great job! (wry smile)

Since mid August I've been at this place, and obviously I have more to lose.  I know that several things have been going on, like the busyness of planning two weddings, and Tim starting his business.  I have eaten more cross over type meals due to convenience.  This does not help weight loss.

I sometimes feel frustrated because "I could be down more pounds," but at least I haven't gained it back!  And though I have not lost inches in the hip/lower belly area for a while, I have lots inches everywhere else!

Today I will begin to do some toning exercises, and some deep stretching exercises.  It's time to strengthen this core that has been allowed to be lax and that has been stretched through carrying 6 babies.  

I do have degeneration of the facets on the back side of the spine, in the lower portion of my back.  This is painful at times so I am trying to be careful to not cause more pain.

The other thing I am doing is making meals from the cookbook, which ensures that I am eating 'on plan.'  This is very helpful.  However I feel as if my biggest need is to plan ahead.  Make snacks and treats ahead and keep them in the fridge or freezer for easy access.  That will keep me from choosing something not on plan or something that doesn't help with weight loss.  

Emma gets married in 7 weeks.  Hopefully I'll be trimmer, through toning and weight loss by then!   

 

Almost My Birthday

That's tomorrow, but for today, I'm putting on my new raincoat and heading out for groceries!

 My new raincoat.  Its navy blue.

I've got warm, comfy boots, a tunic and leggings on as the high today is going to be 55 degrees and breezy with rain.  I'm all set now, though yesterday I didn't have a coat at all.

Since losing 50ish pounds, my jackets were way too big and given away during the summer.  I still need to find a wool pea coat.  I've seen a navy blue one and I am thinking of getting that.  I used to have a read wool coat and I LOVED it, but I was limited on what color scarves I could where with it.  The navy would be neutral, and I love the color.

I'm also trying out different styles of clothes.  I used to love a really classic look, and I still do, but I am liking a nicer casual look, too.  I feel youthful, so I want to be comfortable in my clothes, but I don't want to look like a teenager either.  When I was heavier I was very self conscious about what I wore, and now while wanting to maintain my dignity, I am willing to try something new.  Like leggings and long tunics.

I am getting a haircut today also.  It should have been done before the wedding last month, so you can imagine how straggly my hair is!  My hair stylist,  Julie, manages my baby fine, curly thinning hair very well.

I'm still not sure what the plan is for tomorrow.  We've had rain, rain, rain this week and with Hurricane Joaquin headed up the East Coast, likely, we'll be having more!  So outdoor activities are out!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Trim Healthy Mama - Weight Loss Update

I mentioned in my last update, in late June, that I had reached 45 pounds lost.  That was about 6 weeks ago.  I weighed myself Sunday morning and I had lost 2 1/2 more pounds!  Woo Hoo!  I am so close to the goal I have for my first year, which is 50 pounds!

I am 5'1" and when I started my journey I was wearing a tight size 24.  Currently I am wearing size 18 in bottoms and misses size xl in tops!  Amazing!

I went shopping this week for a dress for Nate and Kayleigh's wedding.  I found a dress that I really liked, Mom and Rachel thought it looked great, too.

I tried it on for Tim when he got home and he saw that I was tugging to keep it in place at the shoulders and said, "I think you need a smaller size."  WHAT??!!

I bought a size 18, which had blown my mind, I would never have thought that I could fit in a smaller size.  So I went back the next day but they didn't have a size 16w to try.  I was so disappointed, but I saw they had a 14w and had the thought, "Go ahead and try it on.  Why not?"  

With trepidation I went and tried it on, thinking that it was not going to fit.  

You know what's coming don't you.

It fit.  I took pictures and texted them to my mom.  "What do you think?"  "I think it looks great!," was the response.  

Do you know what I did?  I bought a size 14w for my son's wedding!!!!  A size 14w!!!  That's just crazy!

I am still hoping to be at 50 pounds lost by the time their wedding rolls around.  That is around the one year mark for being on the Trim Healthy Mama eating plan.  

I really had wanted to have lost a lot more by now, but you know what?  I've seen my body getting healthy.  I'm wearing smaller clothing sizes because my body is smaller.  I'm seeing my Mama also losing and getting healthier!

I am so THANKFUL to the Lord for His grace and help.  I am thankful for the nudge to give this way of eating a try.  It works.  Seriously, if I can do it anyone can!

Weight Loss Update - Trim Heathy Mama

I've not posted a weight loss update since the end of March.  I was at 40 pounds lost then.  After that I lost 3 more pounds during April and then May hit.  Oh my.  I ate off plan quite a bit - more like eating to maintain mostly, but I really hit a plateau.  My second one since starting THM in September 2014.  I went up a few pounds but never more than four.  

When June came I got back on track.  I was happy to see the 43 pounds lost again, and then on Sunday I weighed and saw that I have lost 2 more pounds for a total of 45 pounds.

I am delighted!  It has been challenging at times, but I am learning a lot about sticking with the plan and trusting God in it.  I have a long way to go, but I know this is a way of eating for life.

  You can read about my weight loss journey here, here, here, and here.

45 pounds in nine months.  I was hoping to be further along at this point but I am learning to accept what is and to be thankful!  45 pounds in nine months is awesome!

Purging My Closet

This has not been done for a while, and though I am no clothes horse, my space is full.

Part of the issue is that my mind can't quite wrap itself around the fact that I can't wear most of these clothes.  They are too big.  It's that whole mind catching up to new reality thing.

But as I got dressed today in a t-shirt that now is quite roomy, I decided it is time.  I know that I'll probably keep a few things, but the majority of it, well, its time to go.

I'm looking forward to a more tidy space, too.

What are you doing today?

It's A Funny Thing About Weight Loss

Somehow, even though I have now lost 43 pounds, in my mind I still look the same.  I guess the mind has to catch up with the body.  I told Tim the other day that I felt thin, but when I look in the mirror I still see so much weight that needs to be lost.  

I took a couple of selfies last evening.  I noticed something looked odd.  My glasses seem too big now.  What do you think?

I'm in need of an eye exam anyway, so I am thinking I need some new frames.  

This is how they looked on me when I got them in 2012.

Looking between the photos is kind of freakin' me out!  Tim says it's partly the perspective of the angle of the camera.  That is very likely.

It's weird to get a glance, a real look at my weight loss. There is a lot to adjust to mentally.

One more fun thing, then I'll stop yakking.  I had some clothes in my closet that I had kept even though I couldn't fit into them.  I recently pulled a few skirts out and decided to try them on.  They fit comfortably.  One I haven't worn for 6 years!  

I'm wearing it on Sunday.

Trim Healthy Mama: Weight Loss Update

Drum roll, please………

Today, I hit 40 pounds lost!  Woo Hoo!

This is a milestone for me.  I'm so thankful.

My last update was two months ago.  8 pounds in two months.  In my mind, that's slow weight loss.  For the last two weeks, the scale hasn't really moved, I've been hovering at 37 pounds lost.

I kept reading about the plan, and checking to make sure I was not doing crossovers.  I then read an article by a Trim Healthy Mama gal who had met her goal weight.  She mentioned a few things that could slow your weight loss.  I made a few changes. 

The first is that I started to eat more.  Yes, you heard that right!  I realized that I needed to eat more and add some snacks to get my metabolism burning!  So, I've been doing that.  The other thing I did was buy some Milk Thistle (Silymarin) for liver support.  Your liver processes all the fat that is in your body, not just the fat you eat.  It sometimes needs help so it doesn't get stressed.

I just said to my Mom yesterday, sometimes I can't even tell if I've lost any weight.  She said, "Oh, yes, you have!"  I think this was because I haven't dropped many clothing sizes.  Some gals lose 10 pounds but drop 4 sizes in clothes.  I am continually learning to not compare!

Okay so here in my progression in photos, I'm wearing the same sweater in all of them.

 Maybe 7 months before starting THM

 At 15 weeks on THM I'd lost 27 pounds.

This morning 30 weeks on plan.  40 pounds lost.

I don't know if I'll keep using this sweater.  I have it pulled back at the waist so you can see that I actually have one - the sweater is pretty baggy on me.  You can see it bunched up in the front, too.

A huge blessing to me is that a lot of friends and family have seen what's happening to me and are now doing the plan.  It is helping so many people.  My mom was having to see a risk specialist at her heart doctor's office and after her blood work and visit last week, the specialist said, "You don't need to see me anymore!"  Her numbers were all great!  Mom said that she talked about this eating plan with the specialist and it is really so close to how they want her (with some blockage in an artery) to eat!  

I am giving thanks to God for this whole plan!  It works, I am thankful to Him for the changes that it has made in my life!

Weight Loss Update

My last update was on December 15th.  I was at 27 pounds lost.  By Christmas I had hit 32 pounds lost!

Since then I have basically been maintaining that number and not by choice.  I had dipped down into 33 pounds lost, but it went back up to 32 and has bounced between that and 31 pounds lost for the last three weeks.  

Sigh….

I have been eating on plan, chose to not eat on plan on my anniversary (but that was only one meal!).  I have eaten a few crossovers, but not every meal, so I should still be losing, but I am not.

I have lost a few more inches though.  I'm trying to incorporate exercise now, and that may help.

I am planning to eat this way for live, but when you have significant weight to lose, like I do, you don't want to have long plateaus of no loss.

So there you have it.  I had hoped to be at 50 pounds lost by now, but I'm not.  However, last year at this time I had no hope that I would ever lose anything at all.  This 32 pound loss has given me hope, that I can lose what I need to lose, and then maintain it!

Weight Loss Update

I have lost 27 pounds in the last 15 weeks, following the principles of Trim Healthy Mama.

I'm amazed by that.  At times it's been frustrating when the scale didn't move for two weeks, or like this last week.  But I keep on with my eating plan.  Am I doing it perfectly?  No, but I am trying and I am losing so that is a very good thing.

An issue that I have been working through this week, is that I feel like I still look the same as I did nearly 30 pounds ago.  When you have a significant amount of weight to lose, it can feel like you will never get there.  

I have had to look at the fact that some of my clothes don't fit me anymore and to look at 'before' photos.  The sweater I wore to church yesterday is big on me, but I still am significantly overweight.  This is where I find I just have to give it to the Lord and trust that I will lose the weight - Hey I've lost almost 30 pounds!  I had hoped that I would be almost 40 down by now but the weight loss has slowed a bit, and yet I am still losing!    I know that I can eat this way for life and that my weight will never be an issue again.  I am going to read through the book again.  I feel like I did somethings in the beginning that helped me that I have stopped doing, so I want to get back to those things again.

I'd appreciate your prayers, for encouragement, and to keep on!  I have to remember that this weight did not get put on all at once and that my body is healing and losing a bit at a time!  I am thankful for this plan!

I'm going to take a brave step here and let you see a mortifying photo of myself from this last year.

Now, this morning in my bathroom mirror wearing the same sweater.  Warning!  I'm the worst selfie taker in the world!

I needed these as a reminder of how far I have come, and that I will be able to lose all the extra weight I'm carrying!

Praising the Lord, here at the cottage, this morning.

THM Update

I just wanted to pop in here and give an update on how the Trim Healthy Mama eating plan is going.

I find that some days unexpectedly the scale goes up.  I know that his can be water weight and hormonal changes but I hate to see it.  I hate to feel like I am losing the same 5 pounds over and over.

I am a member of a Facebook group that is such a help and encouragement.  People post questions, updates, things they are struggling with.  So it has helped me to see that my journey is going very well and these kinds of things are normal.  Sometimes when you're not losing there is still healing going on in your body. This is Trim HEALTHY Mama after all!  Being healthy is the ultimate goal.

So I started full on with this eating plan the first week of September.  10 weeks of learning to eat in a healthier way.  I have lost weight most weeks but a few weeks the scale just sat there or went up.

But this week I've lost again, and I am now officially at 20 pounds gone!

I'm very excited and thankful.

Weight Loss Update

Quick update -

I've lost 15 pounds.  I'd love to have 20 gone by now, and I thought I might with the cold I had, as I wasn't eating much.  But I think I didn't lose more because I wasn't fueling my body.

Anyway, 15 pounds in 8 weeks is good, and I am happy about it.

I also have lost 3 inches in my hip area and 3 1/2 inches in the waist.

I'm smiling today!

Weight Loss Update - Trim Healthy Mama

I started trying some of the THM eating plan the last week of August, though I didn't really know what I was doing.  My first full week was the first week of September, and when I weighed myself I had lost six pounds, then one more before we left on vacation.  We were gone for 10 days and I ate on plan for the most part the first half of vacation, but then I wasn't able to cook my own meals so I didn't do the plan well.  Came home to a gain of 4 pounds.  Boo, I thought!  

But I picked myself up and started right back on plan.  I started to lose again, and now six weeks in I've lost 12 pounds, plus those I gained back on vacation, so 16 pounds really.

I don't see it in myself yet.  Do my clothes fit differently?  Maybe?  All I know is that every few days the scale moves downward. 

I am amazed!  I'm not exercising yet.  I have some degeneration of the facets of the spine way down low near the tailbone that causes a lot of pain, so I have to be careful.  I'm going to start with Ab work, which will actually help my back by strengthening my core. This should also help to tone the belly which is where I store fat.

I know that I may hit a plateau or two or three along the way, but this is the first eating plan that has ever really worked for me.  I have hope now that I can lose this weight, become healthier, more active, and still enjoy good food!  I know I'll be able to maintain it as well.

There are support groups on Facebook which are encouraging and helpful. I have found tons of recipes on Pinterest, besides the ones in the book.  On the cover of the book it says, "For women of all ages & stages!"  It's true!

If you want to learn more, feel free to email me or ask a question in the comment section.  I moderate comments so if you comment but don't want me to post it I won't.

Believe me if I can lose weight, anyone can!