Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Weight Loss Wednesday

I like the idea of a daily theme, but I have been a little too lazy to figure out a weekly schedule for my blog. So today is Weight Loss Wednesday, and maybe in a week I will do another Weight Loss Wednesday or maybe not.

I always like Wednesday, because every letter in my name is in Wednesday. I still spell it by thinking to myself "Wed-nes-day". I could make each Wednesday Wendy's Day and write all about myself, but it is always Wendy's Day around here, so I'll try weightloss (is it one word or two?) for today.

I really like the kind of people who get pregnant and just gain enough weight to get a bit of a bump, and then are back into their old jeans in a few weeks. I also hate those kind of people - that is so unfair. I am not that kind of girl. I am the kind of pregnant girl who gains a bit too much weight, and since I'm short, the weight settles all over - my arms, my face, my hiney, even my feet. Then I lose some weight, but never all of it. When I start to wear real clothes again, something strange happens and I start to gain more weight. The pattern continues again with getting pregnant, getting sick, losing 10 pounds, gaining 40# and so on.

I was able to lose the baby weight and then some after Emily (baby #3) was born. But then I got pregnant with John. I didn't get as sick as I had with the girls, and I gained enough weight that I outweighed Nathan at the end of the pregnancy. My doctor would say during each visit: "It looks like you had a healthy weight gain this week." I think he meant I was getting fat.

Since I was able to lose the weight after Emily, I thought I would be able to do it after John was born. Wrong-o. For 2.5 years I tried. I really wanted to lose the weight but I just. couldn't. do. it. And all around me were these cute little moms. All the little girls in the squadron wives group are the kind that barely even wear maternity clothes and then look all hott when the baby is about 2 weeks old (I'm not kidding - at a recent meeting a girl came in a tight sexy black dress carrying her <1 month old, I thought maybe she was the nanny. I was wrong.) And the ladies at church are young and cute with slender legs and cute skirts. I wanted to be like that, but I needed help.

This time last year Nathan was getting ready to deploy and I was feeling fat. I wore a size 12 and I had the "muffin top" effect, where my belly rolled over the waistband of my jeans like the top of a cupcake. Yuck. But I had a plan.

This is a little embarrassing. Please don't make fun of me to my face. Really. This is hard for me. Okay, here's goes:

The day after Nathan deployed (he left the day after Christmas last year, so on Dec. 27th) I walked into my first Weight Watcher's meeting. I felt silly. I mean, only old ladies go to Weight Watchers, right? But I did not turn and run out the door, I paid my money and got weighed. And I just have to say that there is something very motivating about having a stranger weigh you. We don't have a scale, so I didn't have any idea of what I weighed, and I remember thinking it actually wasn't too bad.

146.4 pounds. I am short, just under 5'2" and 146 is a lot for me, over the weight range for WW, but not actually obese. So I read all the stuff, and started counting points and tracking my eating. I lost 5 pounds in the first week. Then 5 more before February. I set my weight goal at 125 pounds and I figured I could get there in just a couple more weeks. I felt great. My clothes fit better. My neck looked better. I was starting to be able to fit into my "real" clothes. Then my weightloss slowed down. By Spring Break I had lost another couple pounds, weighing in at 133.

I went to visit my parents and help my sister shop for a wedding dress. Everyone made a big deal about how great I looked and I felt terrific, but I didn't tell them about Weight Watcher's. I am such a liar. I was just embarrassed - I mean, I should have been able to lose the weight on my own, and I didn't want to admit that I needed help. Sorry Mom. I didn't tell Nathan either.

I worked really hard and lost 5 more pounds before Nathan came home in early May. That was fun! I weighed 127 pounds. I went shopping for cute girl clothes. Nathan was suprised. That's all about that.

I still had 2 pounds to lose before I was at my goal, but I was stuck. With Nathan home I had to start fixing real dinners, and I had to figure out how to eat again. I am a competive eater - if he's still eating, I want to eat. If he's having seconds, I want seconds... I stopped losing, but I was really proud of myself for not gaining 5 pounds - I've done that before.

I didn't gain, but I also didn't lose. I spent the summer going up and down from 125.5 to 128 pounds. I considered changing my goal to 127. But I gave myself one more month. And finally, in September, I made it! Hip Hip Hooray!

I weigh about 125 pounds. I feel comfortable here - I could lose another 20 pounds and still be in my weight range, but I think this is just right for me. I feel way more confident and less frumpy. I wear a size 4 or 6 dress, and I have had a lot fun shopping for my new self. My next purchase will be a swimsuit for Hawaii.

Two weeks ago I became a Weight Watcher's Lifetime Member. Go Me! That means I need to weigh in monthly, and I can go to meetings for free as long as I stay within 2 pounds of my goal. I need the on-going support so I am planning to attend meetings atleast once a month, and I want a bathroom scale for Christmas so that I won't let the weight creap up on me.

So that's my weightloss story for today. Next time I will discuss favorite weightloss sites and tips. Thanks for not laughing.

9 comments:

Amanda said...

Wendy, Like I told you today at McD's you should be proud of yourself. Don't feel embarassed about going to WW. You look great and you said you feel great too. That is what matters. You give the rest of us hope that we can overcome the muffin look. That is exactly how I look and feel, I just never knew how to describe it. :D You are awesome!!

Mary said...

I knew your secret and didn't tell anyone! I am so proud of you and glad you feel so good. I think that is the most important thing!

I got weighed the other day and am 17 pounds from my pre-Rand-pregnancy weight. I can't believe that some people only gain 20 pounds when they are preggo. Seriously! I too gain all over. People say I don't "show" much until later in my pregnancies, but really the weight is just spreading evenly to my whole body.

I have worked a long time to feel comfortable in my skin and honestly never felt better than I did the months right after having Lindsey, weight and all, which, come to think of it, may be why I was able to lose the pregnancy and pre-pregnancy infertility weight with relative ease. I hope it happens as nicely this time around.

For some reason, our family seems to have some strong emotional issues surrounding body image. I remember being in high school and it eating me up that you, my older sister, weighed 5 pounds less than me and I was only 110 for heaven's sake, and a good 2 inches taller. I am working hard to try not to say (and feel) unkind things about my body, but especially in front of Lindsey. I want to pass on good habits and good feelings about our bodies to her. So much of her life has already been focused on her teeny body that I worry it could become an issue later on.

Sorry, I wrote a novel. Again, good job for being healthy and working so hard! Keep it up, you are a great example!

(p.s. I jogged 2 times so far this week. Go me)

Deanne said...

Awesome! Way to go Wendy!!! And congrats on dropping 3-4 dress sizes, that's amazing!

I should mention that I am one of 'those ladies' that gain mostly in the front when pregnant and are able to wear my jeans within a week or so. HOWEVER....that was not the case after I had Isabel (#3). It took me a good 6 months to get into my pre-fatto clothes, and even now some 'things' are not what they used to be (and I know never will be). *sigh* It's the cost of motherhood, yes?!

I agree with Mary (or should I call her 'M'?) we need to be careful how we talk about ourselves and the emphasis we put on the outward appearance. They get enough negativeness once they are older.

I wish you all the best with your continued efforts to maintain your wieght and healthiness. Enjoy your new swimsuit body! :)

Anonymous said...

Wow Wendy! Congrats on acheiving your goal!!! I thought you looked so hot at the wedding. I thought to myself, dang I want to be a cute cool mom like Wendy is! Really. I can't wait to hear your weightloss tips!
Love Anna

Jessica said...

Wendy, I don't think you need to be embarrased about going to Weight Watchers. I know lots of young moms that have gone there and love it. Plus, if it worked for you that is awesome! I am definitely one that gains weight all over during pregnancy, and it sticks around like glue. It has gotten harder and harder to lose with each one. Also, having four pregnancies almost back to back has sure helped me to pack on a bit of weight, which I am desperately trying to lose now, before we decide to have another baby (then I will gain it all back and then some....sigh).
What has been working for me is that I started going to a gym and I count calories. The weight loss is painfully, excrutiatingly slow, but just enough to keep me motivated. Plus, I tell myself that since I am still nursing, hormones are getting in my way, who knows if that is true.
Anyway, way to go on acheiving your goal!

Suzanne said...

Great post! While reading it, I felt like I was looking in a mirror.

I have had a very difficult time losing the weight from my pregnancies. The only time I lose weight easily is the 1st Trimester of pregnancy when I'm incredibly ill. (About 15 lbs.) That's the one time I shouldn't be losing! I tend to pig out in the 2nd trimester because my appetite is finally back. One month I gained 12 lbs! Isn't that horrible?

I am also a competitive eater. If there is no food in front of me, I'm fine. Once it's there and others are eating, I can't seem to stop. I always want my "fair share" of the ice cream even though my body needs a lot less than my hubby's.

I'm still trying to lose, but it seems to be an uphill battle lately. Good for you and all your effort! :)

Donna Boucher said...

Good for you !
Thank you for sharing your story. It takes time doesn't it!!!
Your heavy weight is my goal weight! really!

But that is okay.

Lifetime Member...I never made it. Although I went to WW between all of my children. It worked with all of them....except Katie Gracie.

Enough about me.
You look beautiful and you should be very proud of yourself!!!

Lana said...

YEAH!!! That is awesome.

I need to follow your example, thanks for sharing that story, really, thanks.

Super Happy Girl said...

Weight Loss Wednesday: I agree with everyone, you should be proud.
A lot of people just go into an never ending circle of "I'll start Monday...ok, next Monday, ok next".
So go you big time! YAY!
I have never thought that Old ladies go to WW ;-)