What's Your Secret

I get asked that question a lot!  My mom passed on December 27, 2009 and I made a vow to myself that I would get healthy.  My mom suffered from heart disease and I don't want to walk down that same path.  I had gotten heavy, my heaviest (non pregnant) at that time.  After returning back to Texas from my mom's memorial service I weighed myself and said I was going to change.  In January 2010 I weighed in at a very unhealthy 198 lbs.

January 2010, 198 lbs

All spring I fought tooth and nail to lose about 10 lbs.  It wasn't easy.  I relied just on working out.  It wasn't enough.  I even entered a race, the Muddy Buddy, which I completed with my friend Sabrina.  6.8 miles of trail running, biking and obstacles.  I still wasn't losing weight like I had hoped, or like I easily could before having kids.  I went to the doctor at the beginning of June and he gave me some shock therapy.  He told me that my blood work was not good.  My triglycerides were high and that my insulin was off the charts.  If my glucose hadn't been normal, he would have diagnosed me diabetic.  He told me in order to really lose weight, I needed to start being accountable for the food that went into my body.  I was told to start on a 1200-1400 calorie diet and he wanted to see me back in two months.  He also told me this right before I was going on vacation.

Muddy Buddy, May 2010, 191 lbs

I followed the diet very well and with the help of a book and a food scale, I was able to do it (listed at the bottom is both that I used).  I kept The Calorie King book with me at all times with a small notebook and would look everything up and keep a diary of what I ate.  It also helped me figure out what was REALLY worth the calories.  I couldn't believe how wrong I was when guessing the calorie count of certain foods or even what a portion size was.

End of August 2010, 163 lbs

I flew through weight loss so easy once I really truly became accountable for what I was eating.  I also created a notebook of healthy recipes I found that I liked.  I rely on this often for my meal planning.  It was in November that I hit a brick wall with my weight loss.  I couldn't seem to get out of the 150's.  I told myself that I would be happy if I could make it through "eating season" without gaining weight.  I was successful with that and maintained in the low 150's.

March 2011, 146 lbs

It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I realized I had been slacking on watching what I was eating.  I had given up the food journal after 4 straight months of writing everything down.  I still don't write everything down, but I am aware.  I realized the thing I needed the most to lose weight was knowledge and accountability.  So, I started watching my portion size and started cooking a little healthier again and I was shocked when I stepped on the scale and finally busted out of the 150's and now weigh in at 146 lbs.  I have lost 52 lbs in 14 months!  I can now fit into all my old college clothes...some of which are 10 years old!  I know this has absolutely nothing to do with my creativity, but the changes that have happened with my body and mind have helped give me more energy to pursue all my creative endeavors.  I also want to tackle making myself a piece of clothing or two, since I don't have a lot to choose from.

If anyone has any questions about my weight loss journey, please feel free to ask. 



Linking up over at Momma Go Round for her Real Momma, Real Style because this is the most fashionable I have looked in a long time.