I thought it was about time to post an update on my new workout and eating progress. Well, its has been 6 weeks and things are going fairly well, but not at all as I expected. You can get caught up with my new plan
HERE. I have learned so much about my body and all of the crazy things I've done to it. I originally started this new plan with the intent to increase my energy levels and reduce my body fat. It has become a lifestyle change and potentially finding my passion in life.
Here's a brief history of my weight loss journey complete with pictures. Let the embarrassment begin!
I never had a problem with my weight as a child. I wasn't especially active, but I ate whatever I wanted and stayed a healthy weight. My favorite foods were Lucky Charms, Kraft mac n cheese, spaghetti, cool ranch Doritos, Nerds candy and bologna on white with mayo. The average child and pre-teen diet I suppose. Don't worry, my Mom and Nana always insisted I eat my vegetable and fruit too.
Go Redskins!
I played softball and soccer.
Once I hit puberty, I stopped growing taller and started growing wider. I knew nothing about working out, calories, and a balanced diet. I ate pizza, raw cookie dough, canned and frozen foods, and lots of fast food. I had fun doing it, but I also hated my body. I refused to wear shorts in the summer time because I was embarrassed by the way my legs looked. Shopping for clothes was no longer fun. My friends loved me anyways.
My best friend growing up and myself
My high school graduation
College began and I was on my own. There was no car to get fast food. There was no kitchen to cook my own food. I was petrified of gained the 'freshman 15'. I worked out a little bit with my roommate, but was still just floating along for the most part. My meals consisted of pizza, chicken salad sandwiches, muffins or bagels, and other junk. Now, I was drinking too. There was plenty of alcohol in my life. I was probably pushing 150 pounds and living freely.
Always with a beer
I moved home after my first year and started working while commuting to school. I kept drinking and partying. I ate out all the time. I was working out here and there; Pilates and some light cardio. This trend continued until I met my now husband. He went to the gym regularly and I joined the gym too. I would work out occasionally and stopped eating out, partying and drinking as much. I lost about 15 pounds.
Yet another beer
I had just started dating my now husband (2006)
We bought a fixer upper when I was 24. I was working full time, out of college and our house was a disaster zone for a few months. I gained back all of the weight plus five more pounds. I was a size 14 and back to hating my body. I no longer worked out regularly (if at all) and we ate out a lot.
Me at my biggest
The company I was working for started a weight loss competition. I was relatively new to the company and was excited to get involved. It started in early January and lasted until mid March. There were weekly weigh ins with prize money for most weight lost based on percentage. The grand prize was $500! Yes, I was motivated!
I dropped the weight fast
I did a little research and found out my RMR (resting metabolic rate) was about 1200 calories for my goal weight of 120lbs. I put that as my base and started to count calories. I added in the calories I was burning working out. The local gym became my new home away from home. This is what my routine looked like:
3 nights a week of an hour of cardio-20min elliptical, 20min crossramp, 20min bike.
1 day of spinning-60 min class
3 days of light lifting
The weight was falling off and I was regularly winning the weekly weigh ins at work. I was sticking with my calorie goals like glue. My not yet husband was deployed at the time so, I had lots of free time. I started reading fitness magazines, doing online searches, and became even more strict with my eating. I ate a lot of egg white omelets. Three months in, I had won the contest, but that wasn't enough. I was addicted to seeing the number on the scale drop. There was also a catch. I only got half the money up front. I had to keep the weight off to get the rest.
No abs yet, but lots of weight lost
This is where good goes bad. My man returned home to a 25-30lb leaner woman. I felt great about myself, but I wanted more. I increased my cardio to 6 days a week. I did strength training during my lunch break. My metabolism was a high powered machine. I felt like a rockstar. My goal weight was long gone and I began to set lower goals, push myself harder, and eat even more of a strict diet. I feared events that involved food. Eating out was scary and I was usually hungry. My life revolved around my next low calorie meal or my next workout. I was dedicated. I was taking my dedication too far.
One of the best nights of my life. I said Yes :)
We were now getting married. My new favorite method of dealing with stress was cardio. I started doing more at higher resistance for longer period of time. My workout now looked like this:
6 days a week of 90min steady state, intense cardio mix of spinning and/or elliptical.
7 days a week of strength training at lunch and after my cardio.
I hated my rest days because it meant I had less calories I could eat. My goal weight was long gone and I was about 110 pounds. I loved being so thin, but it payed its price. I lost touch with friends because I never wanted to go out. Why go out and eat a bunch of food when I could have a healthy meal at home with my fiance? A lower weight meant new clothes and a lower size. Others around me saw I was taking it to the extreme. I got called anorexic looking, boney and other names behind my back and to my face. I took it all as fuel for my next workout and lost 5 more pounds.
Holding baby A. He was so tiny
My bachelorette party
I had so little body fat and could eat anything without gaining much.
Then, life got complicated and very stressful. We came back from our honeymoon. I was insanely happy with my new husband, my job, my lower weight and lack of insecurity. Two weeks later my husband deployed. Two weeks after that, I was layed-off. My weight plummeted to about 100 pounds. When I was bored, I went to the gym or worked out. I stared binge eating at night and punishing myself at the gym the next couple of days. My metabolism was officially destroyed. I had to stop lifting due to a shoulder injury. I had amenorrhea and wanted a baby. Life was not all I wanted it to be. We started fertility treatment once my husband safely returned. I was at my lowest of low. My energy levels were shot. I pushed my body hard through every workout. Food was guilt and just a number. I stopped enjoying the little things outside of my workouts. My stress levels were though the roof. I loved the body I saw in the mirror. I was no longer that over weight and insecure girl. I was in control of my body. and could push it to levels I never thought possible. Wanting a baby became more important than all of that. I cut my workouts to 4 days a week. I increased my calories, but it wasn't enough. Then, by some sort of miracle, we got a positive pregnancy test. We were going to have a baby. Now, what I wanted no longer mattered. I was carrying the biggest love of my life and this baby needed me.
4 weeks pregnant
