Stick with it Saturday...er, Sunday 5/6/12

My friend, Karen, and I have been encouraging each other on our weight-loss journeys, so when she told me about the "Stick with it Saturday" posts over at Sam's Noggin, it was a no-brainer to join in.

My struggle with my weight isn't anything new.  I had 4 babies in 5 years (1995-2000), and really didn't lose weight in between.  I just started each pregnancy at a higher weight. Sigh. But in 2001, I used the Weight Watchers program to drop 50 lbs in 6 months.  I wasn't going to meetings, but my aunt had gotten me the materials.

I felt fabulous!  I was thinner than I had been at my wedding, albeit with a baby pooch of a stomach.  Size 10 jeans were comfortable, not even snug.  I was thrilled.

And so I relaxed.  Didn't exercise every day.  Stopped counting my food points.

Big mistake.

Over the last 11 years, my weight has gone up and down.  I've never lost as much as I did in 2001.  Never even come close to getting back into that size (with vanity sizing, we're probably talking today's size 8).

Almost exactly 2 years ago, I was at my highest non-pregnancy weight.  I was horrified.  Don't get me wrong--I have a very healthy self-esteem.  My husband thinks I'm a goddess.  Jesus created me in a fearful and wonderful way--but I was SO uncomfortable.  I lived in sweatpants.  I hated dressing up.  Something had to change.

And so, in May 2010, I started Prevention Magazine's Flat Belly Diet.  Let me tell you--it works!  I lost 30 lbs. in about 5 months, and was feeling wonderful.  And then, due mostly to relaxing a bit, not counting every calorie, not exercising as much....I plateaued for oh, 15 months.  Seriously.  I think I lost 60 lbs in 2011, because it was the same 5 pounds, over and over.  And then 2012 hit.  And, I don't know--I think I was just tired of being on a diet. (I know, I know, it's a life-style change, yada yada---the fact is, to get to the point where you're maintaining--you're on a DIET.) And between January and April, I gained about 6 pounds.

Only 6 pounds.  No biggie.  Right?

Not right.  Those six pounds felt like forty. I felt swollen.  Again, something had to change.

I'd been considering the new Weight Watchers Points Plus program--my best friend has been following it, and doing amazing (she's a shadow of her former self & looks incredible).  I liked the idea of being able to eat as many fruits and vegetables as I wanted, and they wouldn't 'cost' me anything.  There's something discouraging about making a huge salad, or having a giant bowl of steamed veggies, and having to COUNT those calories.  ??  Hello?? I'm making the GOOD choice?  Why am I being punished for that??  Because let me tell you, at the end of the day, if I have 100 calories left, and I have to count them no matter what I eat---I'm going for the cookie, not the apple.

Last week, I took the plunge.  My best friend's mom gave me some current WW materials, and I started up.  I was curious, though--how would counting WW points, but eating whatever fruits and veggies I wanted, stack up against the straight calorie counting I had been doing?

I've been using www.myfitnesspal.com for a couple of months to track calories.  So, last week, I continued using that, and writing down my WW points.  Wow!  Before WW, I was struggling to stay at or below 1600 calories per day (what FBD recommends).  Last week? I averaged 1380 calories per day, and I don't think I was hungry once.  I ate more fruits and veggies than I have in a month, and it was great!

I've lost 5 of those 6 pounds that I had gained.  One more pound, and I'll be back to the 30 lbs. lost point.  Then--well, fact is, I still have to lose at least 25 lbs.  But I feel renewed.  I feel like I have this brand new outlook, and I'm feeling so positive about it now.  It's not going to happen overnight, but I'm moving in the right direction now.

Easter 2012--Getting there!

Are you looking for some encouragement?  Head on over to Sam's Noggin, and check it out!