Weekly Update: Well How’s About That? November 19, 2010
Well the scale surprised me yet again this week. I had the full intentions of working out a few times this week along with finally getting the closet re-org. done, but then reality hit and it just hasn’t happened yet.
I have been fighting off a cold all week. I only got one good work out in this week. And that clothing sort? Yeah, it’s the project that just won’t get done.
I’m pretty sure my thyroid has been doing its crazy dance this week. I go in on Monday back to the doctor for a check on my thyroid. I am looking forward to hearing what he has to say on my progress with my weight loss.
So with all that has been going on this week and with my weight yo-yoing back and forth like a spastic two year old on a sugar rush I have to say that I was anticipating a gain this week.
Imagine my shock and surprise when I hoped on to the scale and found out that I have hit another baby milestone! This morning I crossed over a line that I better not cross back over unless I am about to pop out a kid. This morning I say good-bye to the 220’s forever!
It really is amazing to see how far I have come in such a short amount of time. I only wish that my pants could reflect better the change. I am still only down one size and not all 16s fit yet. But then, that goes back to yesterday’s post doesn’t it? My pant size doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I am getting healthy.
So now to the results for the week:
- This Week: 1.1 pounds down!
- Total Weight Lost so far: 23.2 pounds!!!!
Not too shabby if you ask me! Especially when you factor in that I wasn’t expecting any results when I hopped on to the scale this morning. So dear friends and readers how have you done?
What A Twisted World! November 18, 2010
Body image issues. I don’t know a single woman who hasn’t struggled with them at least once in their life. For most, it is a chronic poison that seeps into our every thought and action. Why is it that we ladies find it so easy to forget the beauty in the form that God gave us?
We are so surrounded by poisonous images that we have almost become numb to their effects. I love the Dove commercial because in a few quick seconds it brings to light how twisted our culture is. The images we are surrounded by have been edited to the point that most of the time the images we see can get so extreme that the images aren’t even possible in a healthy body.
To make matters worse, the plague of body image issues and warped senses of reality is getting younger and younger. This past week I was working with the 3rd grade girls that I disciple, and it was uncovered that even they have issues with their bodies. Third grade! It breaks my heart.
But those who are surrounded by the eyes of girls beware! It is not just the media that infect our girls. Those young minds look up to you and see you as their example of beauty. They watch us stare into the mirror and find faults with ourselves. They watch us beat ourselves up and convince ourselves we are fat. They take that and reflect that back on themselves.
Another danger for them is our diets. Impressionable minds make it even more important to not only eat right but to eat right for the right reasons. In losing weight it is so easy to slip into the weight game. But let me tell you, focusing on the pounds and the dress sizes gets dangerous. If you focus on only on where you need to go next and not the achievement in how far you have come so far, you will lose sight of the positive and it will eat you alive.
Before I could successfully go on this diet I had to stop and find the beauty in my body the way it was. I had to come to terms with the fact that I was beautiful the way God made me no matter the size that I am. And while I may be enjoying the fact that I am slimming down, by no means is that my focus for what I am doing.
I have been asked so many times what I am doing different. My response, I am not on a diet. I made a lifestyle change to help control the symptoms of my hiatal hernia and my thyroid issues. The weight loss is just a pleasant side effect of the change. The difference is I am focusing on my health. I want to get healthy. I want to put a stop to the nausea and other symptoms that have been making my life unlivable. I am not losing weight to improve my image. I am beautiful the way I am now.
When I forget that I turn back to the bible, and I remember what I am always telling my girls, “You are a creation of God. The bible tells us that God sees all of his creations as beautiful. God never makes mistakes, so who are we to argue against God?”
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.”
Palms 139:14-15
“So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.”
Genesis 1:27
For those out there who struggle for one reason or another with the beauty in themselves, I send out a reminder. You are not alone. And for those trying to lose weight, whatever you do, don’t go on a diet. Diets are temporary. Eventually you will go off of it and go back to the habits that caused you to gain the weight in the first place and before you know it you will be back at the starting point. So I challenge you, don’t diet, change your lifestyle! Step up and make a permanent change. And WHATEVER you do, don’t lose weight for the sake of getting skinny or looking better. Lose weight for your health, not beauty because you are beautiful just the way you are!
Weekly Update: Where did my week go? November 12, 2010
Well folks, we have made it to another Friday. If you are like me then you are standing here scratching your head wondering where the heck the week went! My week has been interesting to say the least.
Last Saturday we got a wonderful wake-up call. It was the dealership we have been working with asking if we could make it down because he had finally gotten us an approval for a loan. So after dropping everything I had planned to get done (Sorry closet, I’ll get to you eventually.) we ran out the door and then proceeded to deal with car stuff all day long. I have found myself surprisingly sad to let go of the beetle. I knew it was coming and I really do love the new car, but in a way I felt I was officially selling away the last of my youth.
Health wise, I feel like I have been a bit on a roller coaster as far as my thyroid levels go. Did you know it is possible to be both hot and cold at the same time? Or how about this conundrum, your body is suffering from both diarrhea AND constipation AT the SAME time! I mean how does that work out?
Weight wise I found myself spiking up almost a pound at the beginning of the week. I found a stock pile of jeans and skirts that are size 16s, and I got really excited. That is, until I tried them on. The frustrating thing is, I would have sworn I remembered the New York and Co jeans running slightly larger than the gap ones. Apparently I was mistaken. Well, no worries. They should fit soon.
On the bright side, my favorite red top that I have been working to get into before the holidays is just a hair’s breath away from fitting! That alone has me so excited you cannot believe. I was devastated last year when I couldn’t wear it.
So what are the stats this week?
- This Week: 0.2 pounds down.
- Overall Weight Loss: 22.1 pounds down!
Considering that I had a spike earlier this week and that my thyroid couldn’t decide which direction it wanted to go in I am more than happy with the 0.2lb loss for the week. To be honest, when I stepped on the scale this morning I wasn’t expecting much at all. I am just pleased that I was able to recover from the backslide so quickly.
How has your week been my wonderful readers?
Oh Provera! How I Hate Thee!!!! November 9, 2010
For those that are fortunate enough to be unaware of what Provera is, let me explain. Provera is a drug that is derived from the female hormone Progesterone. Female hormone imbalance, abnormal uterus bleeding, and contraception are some of the many reasons a doctor might prescribe it to you. In my case however, it is being used to force start my period. You see, with all of my health issues lately, we have been having a hard time regulating my periods. Apparently, it is unhealthy to go more then 3-4 months without a period. Thus if I hit the magic number of months without a period and I am not pregnant I have to go on Provera.
Let me tell you ladies, if you think Aunt Flo is cranky on a monthly basis, you haven’t seen anything yet. I think the following skit from SNL describes it best.
I go on this rant about Provera now because unfortunately, it was recently that magical time where I must allow Provera to drag dear Aunt Flo’s royally pissed off butt back over to do her job. So I got the added delight of battling the extra weight Provera can pack on along with the mother of all periods. Did I mention that a few of the side effects of Provera are Acne, Breast swelling and tenderness, & water retention? Think PMS on steroids. Oh lucky me!
And for all those out there who get to join in my fun; you have my utmost sympathy!
Weekly Update: Whew! I made it! November 5, 2010
So for a week that started out with Halloween and a car that has been falling apart on me, I have to say that I am quite proud of myself. I started the weekend off last week having to throw all of my wonderful plans out the window so that we could deal with my stupid car. It’s not easy to follow my diet when there is no food in the house and you are stuck on car lots all day long. It is days like this that knowing what restaurants are friendlier to your diet come in handy.
What really surprised me this week though was my reaction to sugar. At lunch on Saturday I took a quick sip of my husband’s coke. I haven’t had any coke since I started my diet back in August. One small sip and I found myself actually gagging on the over sweetness of the drink! Even the Halloween candy is turning too sweet for me. Me, the eternal chocoholic, found candy too sweet for my tastes! To be honest, I don’t know whether to feel sad or proud at that. I guess I feel a bit of both.
So now you ask the big question. How did I do this week weight wise with all the added stress and extra candy lying around? The answer, not too shabby in my opinion!
- This Week: Down 1.3 pounds!
- Total loss over all: 21.9 pounds!
So my wonderful friends, how did your post Halloween weeks go? Any casualties along the way?
Weekly update: Good for the weight loss, Bad for the thyroid October 30, 2010
I had a pretty good week this week weight wise. Hit the first 20 pounds lost mark. Unfortunately the thyroid decided it didn’t want to play nice this week. I have been feeling exhausted and down trodden this week. Life has also kept me insanely busy and I haven’t been able to weigh myself like I need to. but over all I have lost around 4.4 pounds for the week. not bad at all.
How about you fine folks? How has your week gone?
The Graceful Skinny 