*GULP* oh boy…it’s been a while. Actually, it’s been over a year!! Yes, I’m still at it, I’m still chipping away at that number on the scale. I had actually started to write a blog post several months ago but got so frustrated (and embarassed) that my weight hadn’t changed that I never posted it. I thought that there really wasn’t anything new to share and I didn’t want to sound like a cry baby with my boo-hoo ” the scale is not moving” posts. I had hit plateau…like a major year long plateau. At one point I had gained back about 5-6 pounds of the previous weight I had lost despite the hours and hours at the gym and work out classes, eating properly…I felt defeated. REALLY REALLY defeated. There were nights that I would lay in bed and get so emotional thinking, is this it- is this how I’m supposed to be?
Plateau, plateau, loss, gain, loss, loss…….see that spike up at the end…..yeah, that was Mexican night! Haha! In other words, you can see how I’ve fluctuated along the way! Sometimes It can be really discouraging but when you see it as a whole, it’s really not so bad (well now that it’s moving hahaha)
I started weighing myself every day…yes everyday. I know I know, everyone says only weigh once a week or once a month…but honestly, for me personally, weighing in every morning helped me learned what foods or drink were causing my fluctuations. I could tell which foods/drinks would make me retain more water, etc. and I started to learn a pattern which helped me to make better choices along the way.
When I started, I was realistic, I knew I wasn’t going to lose the weight overnight-as they say, it didn’t go on over night (although it felt like it). I guess you can say, these past 2-3 years have REALLY been an eye opener on society in general- especially the medical field….and health insurances-but that’s a whole other topic. I’ve learned a lot more on how society views weight loss. I mean, if you’re fat or have any amount of extra fat it’s HAS to be because your a lazy pig who doesn’t want to get off their ass and exercise. *sigh* If you only knew……oh and if one more person tells me that muscles weights more than fat, I’m literally going to ninja kick you. Losing weight is personal…so very very personal.
Back when I started to “get mo-healthy” I remember thinking of a number that I thought “if I could JUST get to x-lbs, I’d be so happy” it was kind of my like my 1st goal weight. Despite over a year of plateauing….this was taken on the day I made it to that 1st goal weight! I’ve made a new goal now….but damn, when I tried on the bridesmaids dress I wore for my BFF’s wedding several years ago…..and almost peed in my pants! It may have taken me a while to reach my first goal-longer than I had hoped, but I never gave up! Boo-Ya!
So what’s new? Well….after multiple doctors appointments, visits with nutritionists, etc. etc. I FINALLLLLLY got in to see a specialist. I met with my endocrinologist and after lots and LOTS of blood work, and weeks and weeks of different dosages, I was able to get all my levels where they needed to be. Shortly after, the scale started to move again…in the right direction. I literally wanted to cry tears of happiness because it wasn’t all in my head, I wasn’t lazy, I WAS trying hard enough! While watching my calorie intake coupled with the fact that my body was finally working properly, I had lost the 5-6 pounds I had gained, PLUS 9 more pounds for a total of 88lbs lost since I had started. It look me longer than a freakin year to figure it out, wanting to give up, feeling defeated, having people who “all of a sudden” became health experts tell me what “I should be doing” and being bombarded by those MLM companies to try their shakes, etc……the scale moved.
Had my latest Dr’s Appointment….I’m down 13 pounds since the last appointment a month or so ago! Thank you baby Jesus!! After one full year of plateauing-it feels so good.
So if you’re reading this and you are on your own weight loss journey, I encourage you to go to (run to) a specialist and get blood work done. Your body could legitimately be working against you. I’m not niave, I realize that I may hit another plateau, that as I get closer to my goal weight it will begin to get harder, there will probably be days that I “eat my feelings” and have too many calories, <insert some other self sabotage method> but with everything I have gone thru these past few years, it’s going to take more than that to make me give up.
I’ve got roughly 11 more pounds until I can say that I’ve lost a total of 100 pounds….and it’s so close I can taste it. My goal is to loose a total of 120 pounds but hey, I can’t complain if I “ONLY” lose 100. haha.
so I realize that this is NO BIG DEAL to some of you…but for someone who was 88 or so pounds heavier its HUGE. As we like to call it in the weight loss world NSV (non-scale victory) You guys, we went out for lunch……I can cross my legs under the table AND there’s still some room! Oh the things I’ll never take for granted again! Hahahaha
Most importantly, for the love of god, surround yourself with funny and supportive people. Trust me, you’ll need someone to make you laugh on your bad days! I’ve just been very fortunate to have some amazing friends! Go thru your social media, weed out the “debbie downers”, people who just don’t give off positive vibes and send them off on the bitter bus.
….and just for the record, no I haven’t used any MLM companies, nor do I plan to. I am determined to reach my goal so that I can that I did it ALL BY MY SELF!
Want a little encouragement…here are the ones I wrote previously:
Big Macs, Whoppers and Diet Coke
Bye Bye 50 Pounds
What No One Tells You
Silver Sneakers, Halloween Shopping and the “Secret Code” | Weight Loss Journey
I will lose 100 pounds!
You Are The Sum of Every Choice You Make
It Was Bound To Happen
Seat-belts, Swimmies and Oreos | Weight Loss Journey
I love following your weightloss journey and your photography. I don’t blog so I use instagram for my weightloss so I am not bombarding my friends with my gym check ins and quotes. I have at least 5 people that have friended me from the gym so they could sell their products, advocare, herbalife, ace, Level, ect. and everytime I tell them I want to reach my goal and be able to say I did this not I used such and such product. Because the reality is that those products MAY have helped but really you changed your diet and killed it in the gym but instead of giving yourself credit your giving it to a product for a sale. So happy that you broke your plataue. You looked great before the weightloss but your happiness radiates through you now.
You definitely inspired me! After losing 70, I’m stuck in a plateau now. Following what your saying, I’m going forward full steam ahead!!!
I am SO glad I ran across your blog! I’ve followed you since you refused to photograph those mean girls :). I had forgotten you had blogged about your weight loss. I lost 75 lbs. last year and this year, I have totally hit a plateau and gained a little back. I feel like I’m doing everything right, and I’ve considered going to a specialist. Thanks to you, I’m going to work on that now! thanks for sharing your journey. You are so inspiring!
So what was wrong with your Levels? How did you find out you needed to go to specialist? What questions are important to ask? Thank you! You look (and I’m sure, feel) incredible!!!
So fabulous! I also struggle and seeing people who struggle and succeed is totally inspirational. You look amazing and yay for saying no to shakes, pills and anything that isn’t natural!