Week three of Tammy’s freakin’ Make A Change Challenge was just ok.  No, I’m not bitter.

I did get some exercise in by walking several times last week.  On Friday, I went on a field trip with my son at which I was in charge of walking around the zoo with five 2nd graders all day.  I figured that alone would earn me at least a five pound loss. 

Although there was no beer or pizza this weekend (yay!), there was a yummy breakfast at my sister’s and a barbecue at my brother’s-in-law on Mother’s Day.  Mother’s Day was actually a really nice day.  It was much more low-key and much less high-maintenance that in previous years.  Hanging out with my hubby, kids and mine and hubby’s siblings is always a good time.  I’m not nearly as angry in general as I was at this time last year so didn’t feel any animosity towards my mother.  Last year, thankfully, I was in North Carolina, alone, so no one had to deal with my wrath.  I’m happy to report that I think I’m over it.

Enough stalling.  My results this week?  Two pounds.  Lost.  Whew!    This is a 1% loss for the week.  The grand total is a pathetic 2 & 1/2 pounds.  In three weeks. 

My original goal was ten pounds by Mother’s Day.  Clearly, I failed miserably at even coming close to this goal.  I’m going to console myself with the fact that at least I lost something and didn’t gain anything either. 

I’m not going to set a new goal today.  I’m leaving for my girl’s spa getaway on Friday in Hershey Pennsylvania, of all the impossible-to-lose-weight places on earth, and also quitting smoking the same day. No way am I returning from that any slimmer.  I’ll set a new goal next week.  In the meantime, I will be exercising and watching what I eat up until we leave and keeping my fingers crossed that I don’t come back 10 pounds heavier.

Thanks for stopping by!

“Perhaps you have a lumpy ass because you are preserving your fat cells with diet soda”
— Rory Freedman (Skinny Bitch: A No-Nonsense, Tough-Love Guide for Savvy Girls Who Want to Stop Eating Crap and Start Looking Fabulous)

Before I get to the super secret guaranteed weight loss plan, some background…

I’ve struggled with my weight my entire life.  I’ve probably lost and gained hundreds of pounds over the years.  Then I had 2 kids in 2 years, one via c-section.  Then my thyroid stopped working.  After that I pretty much gave up. 

Looking at home movies this weekend slammed home for me, once again, just how much I had given up.  YIKES.  I will not disclose my weight EVER but suffice it to say, at my heaviest, I was well into double-digit sizes that I am not proud of. 

There are so many reasons/excuses.  The thyroid thing.  My age.  Stress.  I’m a stress-eater.  There are some other psychological theories too.  One is that the extra weight allows us to be invisible.  I’m sure this was true for me.  These were all contributing factors to my letting myself go.   All of these things are helpful to know about myself.

Having said that, none of these things are insurmountable road blocks to losing weight and keeping it off.  None.  Not even hypothyroidism.  I take medication for that.  Big deal. 

A few years ago I finally got my shit together and got serious about losing weight.  I wasn’t happy with how I looked.  I was responsible for how I looked and had the power to change it.  It was as simple as that.  I dropped a total of 50 pounds.  I lost about 40 of those pounds within a 4-5 month period.  I got down to a size 6, which I don’t think I had ever been, even in high school.  I felt GREAT!  I learned to LOVE (and I mean truly LOVE) shopping again.  I also got my sense of sexuality back.  Who feels sexy when you’re worried about how you look?

In the past year, I have not been vigilant and have put a little of the weight back on.  I’m nowhere near my heaviest, but also further from my optimal weight than I’d like to be.  That all ends today.  I’m going to do what I did before.  Are you ready for the super secret plan?  Here it is…

Exercise regularly, eat healthy foods and practice portion control.  It’s seriously that simple.  That’s all I did.  All of these expensive fad diets and weight loss plans are nonsense.  All of these excuses for why we can’t lose weight are also nonsense. 

So, I hit the gym this morning.  I am not in the shape I was a year ago due to my lack of keeping up with it.  That’s ok.  I pushed myself and had a good workout.  I’ll get back to where I was soon enough, one day at a time.  It felt GREAT!  I can’t wait to feel that awesome muscle burn tomorrow and do it all over again. 

Thanks for stopping by!