The Biggest Loser Midterm Update

So, I try not to make a huge deal out of this since many of you just come by the blog to see the kiddos and what they are up to, but, several of you have shared with me that you are keeping track of my weekly weigh-ins on the right side of the blog. I thought this Tuesday I would just share a little about the journey thus far and how things are going since we are officially halfway through the Girl Scout's Biggest Loser Challenge.

I have weighed in 9 times and have 9 more weigh-in's to go before the competition ends on November 30th. After 9 weeks, I am proud to say that I have lost 19 pounds! This has not been easy for me. I have had to completely shift my diet and eating habits. I have given up a bunch of yummy foods (and drinks!), but I know it will all be worth it in the end. (Actually, it already has been worth it).

A little history: After giving birth to Jake, of course I lost a big chunk of my pregnancy weight right off the top. However, I actually got cocky (and lazy) and thought "oh, I am breastfeeding! the weight will just melt away!" Not true. In fact, I lost about 30 pounds after having Jake and then GAINED 10 back....while breastfeeding. I read a few articles and chat forums on the internet about weightloss and breastfeeding, and it is actually true that some women do NOT lose weight faster/better when they breastfeed. And, unfortunately, I was one of them. Crap. I had thought this was gonna be easy. At the rate I was going, I was gaining about 2-3 pounds a month. I knew that if I didn't do something, I would just say "oh, hell...whatever...I'll just wear elastic pants." But then this competition started at work (started by a co-worker who had just been released from the hospital after having blood clots in her lungs- and she's YOUNG!). We all decided that whether you wanted to lose unwanted pounds or just live a healthier lifestyle, then this would be an awesome experience for everyone.

So, I paid my $5.00, joined the competition, and I decided that I would go the old fashioned route: diet and exercise. Unfortunately, since my schedule does not allow for much exercise, I knew that would really have to be strict about my diet. I started using a calorie counter on my iPhone- My Fitness Pal- and use it to journal everything I eat and to also to look up food information (especially when we are out to eat). Chad and I also have been having fun looking up what we used to eat and how, in one meal, we were probably eating almost a day's calorie allowance. There has been a lot of education for both of us (and Chad is seeing results, too!).

So, basically, I have gone from consuming about 2500-3000 calories a day to right at 1700. When I am running out of calories, I don't eat that extra nighttime snack or just eat something like a green salad with fat free dressing. I drink lots of water and have given up teas, sodas, juices, etc. I get my calcium from fat free yogurt or a small glass of skim milk. We measure our cereal now. I count my Cheez-its. I don't finish my children's plates. If I know I want to indulge one meal, I just make adjustments the rest of the day with my other meals. We eat the Diet Soda Cake with lite Cool Whip as a snack. We try not to eat past 8pm. And we are avoiding fast food at all costs. Brooklyn doesn't even miss it, and Jake will grow up knowing what a "vegetarian night" is.

And because of these simple things? I didn't break a sweat or run out of breath trying to pull on a pair of jeans this morning from two years ago. :-)

I call that success.