by EM2WL | Aug 15, 2012 | Testimonials, The Journey, Transformations
I reached a big goal yesterday and now it’s time to pay it forward! My weight loss journey began this past January, 5 months after my daughter was born. The pounds didn’t “melt off” as promised from breastfeeding alone and I was unhappily stuck 40 pounds overweight. In the past, I had done quick bouts of the South Beach diet or Jillian Michaels 30 day shred to lose 10 pounds or so before summer vacation or my wedding. I know there are many people out there with more to lose, but 40 was a daunting number to me and there were many, many days I thought I would never feel right in my skin again. It affected my life by ripping at my self esteem on a daily basis. I was jealous of my thinner friends and tortured my husband by constantly fretting over the way a t shirt fit. On January 1st, I set two goals for myself; By my 30th birthday in May, I would be at my pre-pregnancy weight and by my daughter’s 1st birthday in August I would be at my wedding weight.
I started by getting back on the South Beach wagon and starting the c25k running program. This was a dangerous cocktail. I hate running, but I believed along with everyone else that it was the golden ticket to weight loss. Combine that with removing sugars completely from my diet and you have one cranky lady on your hands. A personal trainer friend of mine suggested cutting down to 1200 calories a day instead of just eliminating foods. It was “healthier” she said. HA! I managed to stay at 1200 for months, patting myself on the back for all the brilliant ways I could manage to stay under. And yes, I lost weight doing this. When I pouted my way through a 5K in March, I had lost nearly 15 lbs. I never experienced any of the health based side effects of a very low calorie diet, but I was constantly frustrated. I was annoyed that I had to omit healthy & delicious avocado from my sandwich. I was irritated that if I wanted to enjoy a glass of wine I had to skip dinner. I felt ridiculous looking up food calories under the table at friends houses. And – Lord have mercy! – If I had a “cheat” day, (oh joy, 1500 calories instead) I would beat myself up over it for days. Once I hit that inevitable plateau, my frustrations only magnified. All of this sacrifice was for nothing, why even try?! 4 weeks into the plateau, the same PT friend suggested I join MFP to log my 1200 and get back on track. That was in April and I became hooked.
Lucky for me I meet a fabulous pal right off the bat who was also losing baby weight but was miraculously eating 1800+ calories a day and looking great! She directed me to the em2wl group and I spent the month of April lurking, researching and re-reading the stickies over and over again. It made sense, but it was scary. I upped my calories to my BMR the first 2 weeks of May and – GASP – didn’t gain a million pounds. I moved up to my TDEE cut in mid-may just in time for a vacation. I could eat and enjoy myself again – it was so freeing! I lost a few pounds initially and then bounced around while I figured out my sweet spot. I did reach my first goal of getting to my pre-pregnancy weight before my birthday during this time.
Calories conquered, it was now time to show the scale who was boss. I rewrote my second goal. Instead of focusing on the phantom weight I was when I was skinny fat and had never birthed a human being, I focused on simply fitting in the wedding dress, at whatever weight that happened to be now. I ditched the scale and picked up some heavy weights and got to work. I didn’t pay attention to the scale, I just worked out, logged my 1800 calories and focused on getting as close to my macros as possible. Two months later I was down 6 lbs and 8+ inches all over. That takes this journey to present day.
Yesterday, a week ahead of schedule and 10 POUNDS heavier than when I got married, I zipped into my wedding dress and did a victory lap around my living room! My body is different from when I first wore it – my hips are slimmer but my shoulders are broader. There is still work to be done but I am happy to say that I reached my goal and em2wl was an invaluable resource. I have learned so much about what my body – and mind – needs to be happy & healthy. The science is there, you only need faith in yourself that your goals are achievable, and you must be sure to set the RIGHT goals! And when faith failed me, I had a community of like-minded individuals that could give advice and encouragement. Without them, I would have given up a hundred times. I now want to work towards the body I’ve always dreamed of by focusing on healthy, performance based goals and letting go of what the scale tells me. Thank you to Kiki and Lucia and EVERYONE who shared their stories. And a special thanks to Jennie T. who put me on the path to begin with!
by EM2WL | Aug 12, 2012 | Testimonials, The Journey
Hi,
My name is Kelsey Evans and I’m from Manchester in England.
My weight loss journey began back in February 2008 when I decided I wanted to lose a bit of weight for my big summer holiday in July 2008. I joined mycaloriecounter.com and began eating 1200 calories a day as I weight 141 lbs and my height is 5ft 6inches. The weight dropped off really quickly at first as I was also working out 5 times a week at the gym doing 45 minutes on the Cross-Trainer.
Before I went on my holiday I was so scared of putting weight on I began to purge when I went over my calorie goal. Once I got back off holiday in July 2008 I kept binging and purging until around September 2008 when I drastically dropped my calories to 500 calories a day! I stayed eating at that low calorie goal, whilst binging and purging if I went over, until October 2009. My friends had started to notice my low weight and spoke to be about it whilst we were out for Halloween, I broke down in floods of tears. I knew then that this was serious and it was an Eating Disorder not just about losing weight. I was so thin my periods stopped.
I told my mum about my Eating Disorder in March 2010 (I had been eating at 1200 from October 2009 to March 2010). My mum took me to the Doctor where I got weighed. I had dropped down to 7st 10lbs. I had a BMI of 17.5! The Doctor said if I carried on the way I was going I would be hospitalised. The Doctor told me to order a book of the internet which was a self-help book for people with Eating Disorders. I wrote down every day what I ate, I wasn’t suppose to count calories but I did at 1200 per day as I was terrified of putting on weight. This carried on until September 2010. After I got back from a long weekend away, thinking I had put on too much weight, I dropped back down to eating 500 calories a day until November 2010.
November 2010 was when I really made a change in my life! I broke down to one of my friends on my friend’s birthday and I just told her exactly how I felt. It was so liberating to be honest and open that I ditched the calorie counting and ate whatever I wanted until June 2011. My weight went up to 121 lbs and I was happy I felt nice and toned and I was doing swimming, cardio etc. In June 2011 I started the Atkins diet to lose a bit of weight for my 3 week trip to America in August/September 2011. I didn’t lose any weight but I toned up a lot!
When I got back from America (and Rome in October 2011) I had put on a lot of weight I was 151 lbs, the last time I weighed myself was in June 2011 so in 4 months I had put on nearly 30 lbs!!!
However, I dropped to 141 lbs pretty quickly as I think a lot of that weight was water gain. I have now been at 141 lbs for the past year nearly which is when I decided to start Eat More to Weigh Less.
I decided to do the RESET starting on 1 June 2012 and I finished on 30 July 2012 (8 weeks). I felt so bloated and uncomfortable! I can’t really look at pictures of me when I was at my thinnest and I won’t let people take pictures of me now because im still getting used to the extra weight.
I was 141 lbs when I started my RESET. After RESET I am 144.8 lbs. I have only put on 3.8 lbs which is awesome!! Feels like a lot more though.
I have started my CUT today (30 July 2012) doing 4 weeks at TDEE -10% (with a full TDEE week every 4 weeks). I will then drop down to TDEE -15% for 4 weeks (with a full TDEE week every 4 weeks) and then to TDEE -20% (with a full TDEE week every 4 weeks). I will stay at TDEE -20% until I no longer see any results and then I might have to change things up a bit. My goal is to get down to a UK Size 10, and at 126 lbs but I’m focusing on my photos which I took on Sunday. I am going to keep taking photos every 4 weeks before my full TDEE week and go off what I see on the photo rather than on the scale!
I also want my next NSV to be 20 full manly press-ups in one go (I can currently do 7). I will keep you updated on my weight loss each week now I am on my CUT.
I just want to say thank you for all your help. EM2WL really has changed my life, I love my voluptuous bum and my new C boobs (used to be a B). I don’t want to lose those hehe xx
by EM2WL | Aug 5, 2012 | Testimonials, The Journey
Maintaining a healthy weight is a struggle for me that began in childhood. As early as grade school I felt that I was the fat girl in the class. I was ashamed of my body and the fact that my mom had to take me to the “pretty plus” section of the department store to buy my clothing. I think one moment that has stuck with me for years was the moment when in late grade school a friend told me that her mom had said, “Crystal would be so pretty if she lost weight.” I listened to my grandma telling me how I was “big boned” every time she came for a visit. Needless to say, early on I equated being thin with being pretty and valuable. I tried various diets throughout my pre-teen and teen years. I was not an overly active person, taking on the sedentary lifestyle of my parents. I did make a few feeble attempts at sports during those years though and that kept me at a size 12 for most of my teenage years.
During college my weight dropped a bit, never as much as I wanted it to. But all of the walking to classes, cooking for myself, and attending gym classes helped to get some weight off. However, I could never get the weight to stay off. It always seemed to come back so quickly. And every time I lost weight, the amount I gained would take me to a higher weight than I had been previously.
When I started my first job post college I was still far from a healthy weight. I had the opportunity to work with a personal trainer for a bit during that time. I learned a lot about strength training and combined that with high intensity interval training. As far as nutrition, the only instruction I was given was to eat one carb and one protein every meal and to eat six meals a day. The weight started to come off again. I became strong. I was elated that I could do push-ups, lift weights, and run – things I’d never been able to do before. I felt so wonderful. I enjoyed getting to wear clothing that I thought was off limits for a body type like mine. I started to feel more confident. It’s amazing how I felt at that time. It seemed that the whole world was more positive and kinder towards me. I was wearing a size 6 clothing, which was a dream come true for me. During that time I also became engaged to my high school sweetheart. Shortly after the engagement I had to end my personal training sessions. I continued to work out and keep my carb/protein ratio intact. I moved back to my hometown to plan my wedding there. I was busy with the wedding planning and working full-time. I dabbled in my workouts, but was not consistent. Despite my best efforts to “eat right”, continuing to try to eat less and/or the right foods, the weight started to come back on. I was so frustrated with my body for failing me and starting to gain. Luckily I’d only gained back about five pounds by the time my wedding day came. So in spite of the recent gain, I felt wonderful and beautiful on my wedding day.
After the wedding came marriage, a new job, moving to a new location, and many other changes. Despite my efforts to work out and eat right, even a venture into the Atkins diet, the weight just kept coming back to haunt me. Before I knew it I was up 10, 15, 20, 25, and so on pounds. This of course led me to a weight higher than I’d ever previously weighed. The gain stopped at about 180 and hovered. We joined a gym. I joined weight watchers. I’d lose weight for awhile and feel proud of my weight watcher’s accomplishment only to “fall off the wagon” and experience yet another gain. Each time I gained more weight, I felt defeated. I truly feel like I was trying so hard during this time and yet our culture tends to say that if you’re overweight it’s because you’re not trying and you’re lazy and unmotivated. This did nothing for my confidence or my issues with my body image. This went on for years. I had two babies in that time. The first one was a happy surprise. The second baby did not come so easily. The years of yo-yo dieting were taking its toll on my body. My hormones weren’t cooperating. All of a sudden everything was out of whack. Finally I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I firmly believe the years of yo-yo dieting may have something to do with my decreased thyroid function. After getting help for my thyroid, we were able to have our second baby in July 2011. Once again, after he’d been here for eight weeks I jumped on the Weight Watcher’s and workout train. I lost about 15 pounds rather quickly. Then after two months of working out, I crashed. My thyroid function decreased, I became incredibly fatigued, depressed, and overwhelmed. I put on 40 pounds in 3 ½ months time. I refused to step on the scale for months because I knew I was gaining. Finally in mid-February I stepped on the scale. The number on the scale was an exact match to the number that was on the scale when I was nine months pregnant with my last little one. I was up to 238.5 lbs. I about died of shock. And then I became scared. It was as though I felt my mortality in that moment. All I could think was this is the way to death. I realize this may sound melodramatic, but it’s honestly how I felt. I could see heart disease, diabetes, and other such issues lying in wait around the corner. I decided I was done. Whatever I needed to do, I would do it. This weight was coming off and somehow I would make it stay off – even if I had to eat piles of broccoli for the rest of my life! I started a journal that day and labeled the first day as Day 0. This is some of what I wrote – “Ground 0 is often the disaster site in a disaster movie. This feels like a disaster. So day 0 seems appropriate,” and also “I’ve been wearing sweatpants for the last two weeks.”
Thus began my current journey. I called my doctor and got help with my thyroid medication. After a few adjustments, I felt immensely better. I immediately started walking, which turned into running, and started logging all of my calories using My Fitness Pal, an online health community for tracking calories and exercise. The weight started to come off. Thirty one days into my journey I took “Before” pictures. In looking through my journal during those days while running and following the recommended calories per My Fitness Pal, the word “tired” jumps out a lot. I was working at this so hard and my energy was taking a huge hit as a result! Lucky for me, this phase didn’t last long. On April 2nd, 2012 I found a post on the forums of My Fitness Pal. The post talked about phrases such as BMR and TDEE and emphasized losing weight slowly. I knew the minute I read the post that I’d found my missing link. This was why despite my best efforts the weight always came right back on. In my effort to keep weight off I’d reduce calories more and more. My body would rebel and hold onto fat that much more vigorously. And when I finally lost my resolve and couldn’t eat low calorie anymore, my body grabbed everything it could and held on for dear life. This was the moment that I realized that I’m not overweight out of laziness. I’m not less motivated than everyone else. I always knew that I didn’t sit around and eat potato chips all day long (isn’t that the media stereotype of an overweight person?), but now here was the information to back that up. I was overweight because my body was saving up for the next famine! It was scary to increase my calories so much – a 700 calorie a day increase!
I’ve enjoyed being able to eat a good amount of healthy food. No longer do I have to eat ridiculously low calorie breakfast and lunch just to have enough left over to eat dinner. I don’t have to eat piles of broccoli unless I want to. I try to make healthy choices of course. It’s important to fuel a body properly, but I do have room for my indulgences of choice – dark chocolate and wine! Since that day in April, I’ve found incredible support for this lifestyle through the Eat More 2 Weigh Less group. I’ve learned even more about keeping my metabolism functioning well. After roughly a couple of months I decided to do a full metabolism reset. So currently I’m eating at my TDEE and enjoying every calorie. I even had to bump my calories up by 100 halfway through my reset because my weight was still trending downwards slightly. I’m now eating 2600 calories a day and maintaining my weight. The end of my reset and start of eating at my CUT was Sunday July 22nd. I’m looking forward to continuing this journey into the next phase. I finally feel like I have the missing piece so that this time the weight loss will be for life.
These are the things that are helping me to be successful:
My journal. I carry it around all the time. I write my feelings, my workouts, sometimes my current weight and measurements, and my goals. I find that having a spot to write everything decreases emotional eating.
Online Fitness Tools. Scooby’s Workshop and Fat2Fit are both great sites that helped me to figure my BMR and TDEE. Also, I use My Fitness Pal for logging food and exercise. I just manually plug in the numbers I get from Scooby or Fat2Fit instead of using the number that My Fitness Pal generates (which was too low for me).
Online Support. I found Eat More 2 Weigh Less through My Fitness Pal. Eat More 2 Weigh Less is my fitness “home”. I have online friends to go to for advice and support. They understand the concepts and aren’t going to advise me to attend numerous cardio classes back to back or slash calories drastically in order to lose weight.
An Activity That I Love. Many people tout running as the best way to shed fat. Eat More 2 Weigh Less and many other reputable resources say that building muscle through strength training is much more effective than cardio. I understand that the latter is correct. That being said, I love to run. I run because it’s my mental oasis. Through running I am learning to appreciate my body, the one that I’ve always viewed with shame. I have successfully trained for and completed a 5k. Running across the finish line and receiving my medal was an amazing feeling! I have a 7 miler coming up and I’m currently working my way through a half marathon training program.
My current goals:
Complete my 7 miler without passing out. Seriously, 7 miles with two hills in the middle of summer. What was I thinking?
Complete my half-marathon training program.
Finish my reset and eat at my cut consistently until it’s time for a diet break.
Begin New Rules of Lifting for Women’s Strength Training program after my half marathon.
by EM2WL | Aug 3, 2012 | Testimonials, The Journey
Hi guys! My name is Melissa and I was born in Brooklyn, New York but grew up in Vermont. I now live in Indianapolis, Indiana with my boyfriend. My weight gain didn’t start until I hit puberty and I have gone as high as 330lbs give or take a few. I have come to realize that this weight loss journey really doesn’t have a finish line which I didn’t realize at the start.
My journey started in summer 2007 when I went to Six Flags with my friends. I’ve always loved riding amusement park rides and was excited to go to the park for a fun day. Well my friends and I waited on line and when it was time to board, I found that I couldn’t fit. I was at my highest weight but thought, ok at 330lbs, I’m too big to ride that one ride, but there are others. So off we went to the 2nd..3rd…4th…5th ride and I couldn’t fit on even one of them! Not one! I went back to guest services and asked for a refund. I was heart broken, embarrassed and lost. My friends were so very supportive. That night I went home and bawled my eyes out with my mother. My mother told me it was not end of world; I can start my journey right now. So I decided to join Weight Watchers.
For four and a half years I was on Weight Watchers. It was hard because I was in college working on my masters, then found a new job, and faced a host of other challenges through those years. I was able to lose a lot with Weight Watchers. I started working out by walking, swimming and biking at home. Eventually, I was able to start the Biggest Loser and Jillian Michael’s workouts. I then went on to do other various workouts including BeachBody (Turbo Jam, Turbo Fire, Chalean Extreme and Les Mills Pump). I got down to the last 20lbs and I kept losing and gaining the same couple pounds for a year. I was working out 1.5 to 2 hours a day eating at Weight Watcher’s points equivalent to maybe about 1,200 calories daily. I had even tried several cleanses but nothing worked. I was depressed, angry, moody and frustrated.
At the end of 4 ½ years, I realized I need to do something. I decided to try MFP at 1,200 calories, which worked for a bit. But I always ended up with an emotional binge once a week and I would eat and eat when I get home from work everyday. Whenever I went on vacation or ate out I would gain a lot and just didn’t understand why. But then I discovered the “Eat More 2 Weigh Less” group. They saved me.
I was so SCARED at first to try the EM2WL concept, but the more research I did, the more aware I became…I was starving myself! I found out my BMR and TDEE and was just utterly amazed at all the calories I’d been burning while consuming such a small amount of food. I decided to repair the damage I had done eating such low calories by doing a metabolic reset for 8 weeks. BOY—I gained!!!! Yes I gained 15 lbs in 8 weeks. I was so angry and upset but with EM2WL’s support, they helped me to realize that it is my life. I need to live my life and eating low calories forever isn’t living. Therefore doing a reset to fix my metabolism damage was the only choice for future success.
Well, my reset ended and it has been 3.5 weeks since I started eating my cut of 10% from my TDEE (recommended by EM2WL) and have already lost 9lbs of the 15lbs gained (had to be water weight). I am going to believe their theory for rest of my life. You know why?
- I’m no longer moody.
- I haven’t had any emotional binges ever since starting reset.
- I’m no longer light headed or sluggish…I have my energy back!
- According to my heart rate monitor, my heartbeats during workouts have gone up!
- I got my period back.
- I’m much happier.
- Best of all, I’m living my life!
I have not reached my goal weight, but with EM2WL I realize weight is not the whole answer. I am now wearing size 6-8 jeans & small and medium shirts… 5 years ago I was wearing 28/30 jeans and 3X shirts. Whenever I work out, I enjoy doing them not to lose weight…I love how strong and good they make me feel. I no longer punish myself with any strict diet or workouts. This is FOREVER.
by EM2WL | Jul 30, 2012 | Testimonials, The Journey
WEIGHT. What is that? Weight has lots of definitions. The definition that commonly applies, at least in this setting is: “the amount or quantity of heaviness or mass; amount that a thing weighs”. Okie dokie then. As humans, we weigh “x”. Our mass is made up of lean muscle, fat, organs, water, and bodily fluids. However, typically our minds go to FAT. We don’t think about the other, but hey – we need to wrap our heads around that and finally GET WITH IT. Oh .. It has taken me YEARS to get with it. You see… this isn’t my first Rodeo. I’m striving for this to be my final, championship Rodeo. The rodeo that stays in town and me with it.
Losing weight. Eh. Maintaining the body you want – OH YEA – that takes a plan, a way of life, a life change that you can stick with – because it’s REAL. It works for you and you can stick with it forever. This is LIFE. Must find a way to live, stay fit, healthy – for Life.
50 lbs. That has always seemed to be my number. Has been my nemesis since I was 13. That # 50. Lost it when I was 16. Gained it back by age 18. And that cycle repeated itself up until 1998 when that number turned to 80. 80!! How in the flip did that happen !!?? Oh yea .. THAT is how it happened. No surprises to tell. Ate too much, exercised too little – didn’t pay attention, didn’t really care. Since 1998, I’d do what I’d always done, you know the drill – eat less, eat stuff you really don’t want to eat, do exercise that you really don’t want to do. EH. After a while – you quit. Maybe you lose a bit, but then you STOP the diet and voila – the fat is back – didn’t even knock – just came on in. Darn fat – it’s rude. It’s why you just have to kill it – take no prisoners. But killing it and having it stay dead – THAT, THAT is the thing. Ya.
Stayed on this cycle of losing a bit, gaining since 1998. Finally last year, I decided – THIS IS IT. I’m done messing around, I’m getting WITH IT. I’ve been unwavering since then. I was ready. And sometimes, you just aren’t ready. Ready to get serious, ready to make permanent changes. And you know what … it isn’t magic. It isn’t overnight. It isn’t a quick fix. And you know .. what’s the hurry? Educate yourself. Find what works for YOU, what you can do FOREVER. So, that’s what I did. I’ve lost 50 pounds, 5 sizes. All while EATING well, fueling my body, I’m not done yet. I plan on being fit, lean, healthy and HOT at 80. It’s a journey, not a sprint.
Oh yes … the SCALE. Let’s talk about that. In the words of Cousin Eddie – I have a “quality item right there” – it’s a nice one. Sleek, accurate, will tell me all sorts of data. However, I’m now looking at it as a tool in my arsenal along with my food scale, my blender, my tape measure. Oh .. the TAPE MEASURE. That’s a handy thing right there. And pictures. I’ve not been so good about pics – wish I had been. But, I digress. The scale – everybody uses it. The doctor, the wellness coach at work, trainer at the gym, US – at home. Sometimes obsessively at home. The number it flashes gets branded on us. We get used to thinking that number is US. That number is WHAT’S UP with how we are doing, how we are looking, how we are feeling. Lets just STOP now – shall we? Oh.. I’m trying. And, success stories I’ve read – and my own that I’m sharing with you – keep reiterating that putting so much credence in that scale # must STOP.
K. What’s Up with me? This is pretty huge. For women, there are 2 subjects that usually are not broached in polite society. Age and Weight. I never lie about my age, never have. Never saw the point – age is a state of being and it is what it is. In fact, I LOVE to tell people my age. They get that shocked look. WEIGHT. Oh yea. Always have. Can’t remember a time that I didn’t. Years ago, weight was on your driver’s license. They asked your height and weight and eye color. My answer was always 145. Wasn’t a crazy ridiculous, totally unbelievable number. That was on my license for years. A few months ago, I stopped lying about my weight. Deep breath. It’s still ingrained in me that I’ll be judged by that number – no matter how I may LOOK. But! I’m choosing to not let myself be identified by my body weight number.
I’m 5 feet, 4 1/2 inches tall. I wear a size 8. In May 2011 (after I had total knee replacement surgery) I weighed 236, size 18. When I decided to GET WITH IT, I thought: I”ll lose 40 pounds, maybe 50 if I can. I’d like to get back into a size 12. Size 10 would be awesome. Size 10 was the smallest size I’ve worn in my adult life so that was my ultimate skinny size. I remember wearing a 10 twice in my life. Age 16 at 135 pounds. Age 30-something at 155-160 pounds.
I’ve looked at pics of me at 135 – I was truly skinny fat. I looked SKINNY, pale – actually not good at all. But .. size 10. Remember those 10s – were Levis. At 160, I was more toned, not skinny. Size 10.
This time around, I started with the 1200 calorie a day gig. Don’t we all seem to do that? And Cardio. BUT .. something different occurred this time. I started weight training. First with the weight machines. Hmmmm. I liked that. Getting stronger and losing inches. But .. those 1200 calories were not cutting it. I was hungry and I’d stopped losing despite all my hard work. I read, I listened, I researched. EAT MORE. That is what I kept hearing, reading .. EAT MORE. I resisted. Finally … OK! Gonna do it. I did it. I started eating MORE. Net 1700. Net 1900. I started losing weight again. I moved to free weights. Heavy lifting – oh YEA. That is my ticket – THE ticket if you truly want to know my thought. My body started changing so much. Stronger, leaner, clothes started falling off me. I started eating more. Continue to lose inches .. and those clothing sizes. BUT … the scale stopped moving. Hmmmmmm. But … hold on! I’m smaller. I am strong. I feel INCREDIBLE. BP, Glucose, Cholesterol – all good. Resting heart rate of 48. I look good in the mirror, I look good in my clothes, look pretty darn good naked .. but the SCALE. So, what’s a girl to do? Go to the store and buy some new pants.
Picked up the 10s and off to the dressing room. Weirdness. They were too loose. BUT, BUT .. I’ve never worn anything smaller than a 10. NO WAY do I wear an 8. I felt like such a fraud going back to get the size 8 off the rack and taking it to the dressing room. Up over the hips, buttoned around the waist, zipped UP .. WTH!! I can breathe in them, bend over. NO way. Had to sit down for a sec. When I checked out, I expected the cashier to ask me to PROVE that that was really my size. Nope, she didn’t blink an eye. OK … you are thinking – what’s the BIG DEAL. Size 8. Ok .. yada yada yada. Ok .. here’s the deal. I still am working on my body – I have about 15 pounds of fat I want to burn, recomp to lean muscle before I’m at my ULTIMATE goal. But, you see – my goal isn’t a “number of pounds” lost any more. It can’t be. Things have changed. K .. READY. This is where I continue to not lie about my weight.
*****************
I’m a size 8. And as of this morning —– I weigh 187.
My ultimate goal is to fit into size 6 jeans that are brand new and are hanging in my closet. I will get there. AND .. I will maintain this new body of mine by keeping it properly fueled and keep it moving. For LIFE. There are no magic pills, potions or shakes. Food. Exercise. Repeat. That’s the recipe.
YA. Put away the scale. Get out the tape measure. Take some pictures. And above all: EAT.
I’m so passionate about health and fitness and the changes I’ve experienced; driven by a desire to help others educate themselves and achieve their goals – I’m in the midst of a career change. Law and Human Resources with a specialty in employee relations has been my career path. My new career? Health Coach. I’m studying Holistic Nutrition and working on my health coaching certification. I’m planning on launching my business GET WITH IT FOR LIFE in September.
by EM2WL | Jul 27, 2012 | Testimonials, The Journey
to follow Nicole’s journey from the beginning : Part 1, Part 2
I have finally completed a full 8 week metabolic reset. I gained a total of 3 lbs on the reset (8lbs since beginning my EM2WL journey 15 weeks ago), and my inches are up again but during the last few weeks, my weight stabilized, I had no trouble eating all my calories (sometimes wanting more!) and I just felt ‘ready’ by the end. It wasn’t an anxiety to cut my cals because I was freaking out over weight anymore, it was just a feeling of ‘spinning my wheels’ so to speak. It was weird how tangible that feeling of being ready to cut was. A calm yearning to move on to the next step. A peace at where I was physically, emotionally and mentally but with a desire to move forward. A reset is so much more than just resetting your metabolism. It’s about resetting your mind and your emotional responses to your weight and food as well. There is so much healing that happens during a proper reset, that you are just a different person by the end of it!
I am looking forward to revealing the muscle I’ve been building up these past 8 weeks but I am going on vacation in a few days and I’m not sure how that will affect things. I plan to stay within my caloric budget, but we will be backcountry camping and boondocking off the grid so getting my macros on target is usually very difficult under those circumstances and my sodium intake is usually through the roof (a lot more packaged/processed food). I also will have two weeks with a new exercise regime…I won’t have my weights with me for much strength work so I’m going to modify a few things to do HIIT and body weight work plus hiking and running to keep my exercise up.
I’m so thrilled with my new found health from doing this metabolic reset and now I’m looking forward to seeing my body reflect that physically! I will be doing a tdee – 15% cut (modified a bit due to a change in exercise which puts me at approximately 2100 cals/day). Dropping calories has not been difficult exactly for me, but I definitely miss the extra food and I’m finding I’m having to work a little harder on meeting that protein macro. I’m sure that will all become easier with practice though.
Time to continue on to the next leg of this journey! The thought of FINALLY being able to start losing weight without having to eat like a bird or exercise for hours is so exciting! I am so far away from who I used to be, it’s mind boggling! Let’s do this! J
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