If you have been following me for awhile (or even just a little bit) you probably know that I have been on a weight-loss journey. This journey has been more of an overall transformation that reaches beyond the number on the scale. I am working towards becoming the best version of my self and living my life out loud and to the fullest. Aren’t we all?
Lately, I have been catching myself when these thought patterns begin to sink in. I try to flip the message and thank my body for carrying me this far and I reassure myself that I can do it I just have to keep going. I say these words gently because tough love just has not been very effective message wise.
Today as I was moving along on the elliptical I thought back to where I was a year ago… And damn! The honest truth was that I was dangerously close to 200 lbs! I have worn my extra weight like armor for over a decade. The weight gain did not happen overnight, but I have definitely been on the heavier side of things since late 2012 when I stopped being vegetarian.
I had some success with weight-loss in 2014, but I do not think that I lost it in a healthy way. My meals consisted of a protein shake for breakfast. A protein shake with a cara cara orange for lunch, and special K cereal for dinner. I also was very active teaching swimming lessons, coaching swim team, and working out during my lunch break. It was nice to get results, but that lifestyle was not sustainable.
I also had a nice little stint of weight-loss this past fall and in November – early December I was the lightest I have been since probably 2011 (the unhealthy vegan days). This time around I was intermittent fasting and following keto guidelines plus doing some strength training and zumba or dance fitness almost every day. The negative side about this lifestyle was that I was super stressed, got very sick, was forgetting to eat, and was not able to sleep most nights.
I am not bashing IF and keto I just think it is important to go about it in a healthier way than I did. It was sad for me to gain some weight back over the holidays, but I had a feeling it would happen since I stopped being strict keto.
I have been working out consistently since early February and thought that I would share my progress with you!
These pictures are one month apart. The pic on the left was in early February and the other pic was last Wednesday.
I weighed myself for the first time since January and was a little disappointed to see that the number on the scale has not moved a lot. I reminded myself that I am working on losing weight in a healthy way and improving my body composition.
I hope you are having a great week and are continuing to pursue your goals! Thanks for joining me for this update and I will see you again soon!