A Year of Weight Loss in Review

I didn't start the year off losing weight hard core, I had a 12 day old baby at that point and was too exhausted to think of anything but the task at hand, though that's not to say it wasn't constantly on my mind.  I had reached a high pregnancy weight of 236 pounds at my last Dr. appointment a few days before I gave birth in December (which, ironically, was the exact same pregnancy weight as with Emma).  Then after 4 rough weeks of breastfeeding and making the tough decision to stop, I was at 207 pounds (Mid-January 2012) and pleased with my weight loss in that short time.  Frighteningly, about 2 months later (in March) I stepped on the scale again and was 220 pounds!  See, I stopped breastfeeding, and of course wasn't pregnant anymore, but continued to eat as though I was supporting another life (a full grown man, at that).  I was totally horrified, and it was by far the highest weight I'd ever been (non-pregnant).  I'm 5'6" tall, and at 220 that put my BMI at 35.5, which was WELLLLLLLL into the obese category (obese starting at a BMI of 30).  I had a 3 month old and yet was still wearing maternity clothes because nothing else would fit.  On March 22nd, a Thursday, I decided I had enough of feeling miserable and unhappy with my body and that it was ridiculous to continue on that way.

I've lost a total of 96.6 pounds since my high pregnancy weight on 12/20/11.
I've lost a total of 80.6 pounds since my high non-pregnancy weight on 3/22/12 (that's 40 weeks).
I've gone from 236 pounds to 139.4 pounds in one year.
I've lost a total of 108 inches off my body since I first took my measurements on 3/31/12 at 211.6 pounds, so obviously even more than that total.
My waist is now smaller than my thighs used to be!
I've lost OVER a foot around my stomach.
I've lost OVER a foot around my hips.
I've gone from size 20 jeans being too small, to size 6 jeans being too big.
I've gone from a tight 44DD bra size to a comfortable 36C.
I've gone from having XL shirts be to snug to M shirts being perfect.
My BMI has gone from 38.1 (pregnancy high weight)/35.5 (regular high weight) to 22.4 (obese to normal).
I've gone from a body fat of well over 40% to 25%.
In one year I've gone from the most I've ever weighed, to the least I've ever weighed!  Well, I'm sure at some point as a pre-teen or young teen I weighed this much (and less obviously), but I was also shorter.  I'm now a couple pounds less than I was on my wedding day, and at that point that was the smallest I'd ever been.

You know that cliche saying "A year from now you'll wish you started today", well, I know technically my year-since-I-started anniversary isn't until 3/22/13, but it still stands.  2013 will come and go just like every single other year does; on this day next year you will either be reflecting on all of your accomplishments (of any kind, not just weight loss) or thinking about all of the things you wish you'd done.  Don't put off achieving the goals you want to attain!  Now is the time.  You never know how much time you have. . . and Carpe Diem, etc. etc.  The point I'm trying to make, while using every tired old saying they ever made, is:  If you don't like something about your life (whether it be your weight, your job, your living situation, your vices, whatever) DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.  You have control over changing your life, so if you aren't happy with it, get to work!

December Losses

December Losses
-8.2 pounds
-8 total inches lost
-.9% body fat

Inches broken down:
Neck -.25
Upper Arm -.25 ea.
Middle Arm -0
Lower Arm -0
Bust -0
Chest @ Armpits -0
Under Bust -.75
Natural Waist -.5
Waist @ Belly Button -.25
Hips -.75
Butt -.5
Upper Thighs -.5 ea.
Middle Legs -.5 ea.
Lower Legs -.75ea.
Upper Calves -.75 ea.
Middle Calves -.5 ea.

End of the 28 days

I forgot to check in yesterday (Day 28 of 28).  It was a busy day with it being my son's birthday, and party, I went Christmas shopping while my daughter was in preschool, and then met a friend for dinner.  Yesterday I weighed in at 139.6, so while I didn't make that 100 pound goal, I still got into the 130s!  So that's a huge accomplishment.  I was up to 141 this morning from all my indulgences yesterday (cake, ice cream, and pizza at the party, Mexican food and drinks with my friend).  Today is not an on-plan day either, so I really have to be strict over the weekend to make up for these couple days.  Of course soon to follow are Christmas Eve and Christmas day, both of which we have family dinners to attend with lots of food and treats.  My "plan" (if you would even call it that), is to clean it up again the 26th - 30th, then there is another family get together on New Years Eve.  I want to enjoy all of those days without worrying too much about the calorie content, but then go back on plan.  I should be able to at least keep my weight in check through the 1st then get back on plan and lose the rest of what I want to lose (don't know the number) in January and February.  I'm hoping to get to goal by March at least.  Of course I'm hoping for sooner but who knows.  Just thinking out loud here really.

Day 27 of 28

The Breakdown:
Day 01, 11/23 - weight 147, calories 1283, no workouts
Day 02, 11/24 - weight 146, calories 1441, weight training, stretching
Day 03, 11/25 - weight 145.2, calories 1294, cardio
Day 04, 11/26 - weight 145, calories 1428, weight training
Day 05, 11/27 - weight 146, calories 1523, cardio
Day 06, 11/28 - weight 146.6, calories 1377, no workouts
Day 07, 11/29 - weight 146.6, calories ~ 2300, no workouts
Day 08, 11/30 - weight 147.6, calories - didn't record past breakfast, no workouts
Day 09, 12/01 - weight 149, calories ~1900, no workouts
Day 10, 12/02 - weight 147.8, calories ~ 1400, no workouts
Day 11, 12/03 - weight 147.6, calories ?, no workouts
Day 12, 12/04 - weight 146.2, calories ?, no workouts
Day 13, 12/05 - weight 145.2, calories 860, cardio
Day 14, 12/06 - weight 144.8, calories 989, no workouts
Day 15, 12/07 - weight 144, calories 1220, no workouts
Day 16, 12/08 - weight 143.2, calories 1034, no workouts
Day 17, 12/09 - weight 142.4, calories 792, no workouts
Day 18, 12/10 - weight 141.2, calories 1313, no workout
Day 19, 12/11 - weight 142.6, calories ~1200, no workout
Day 20, 12/12 - weight 142.6, calories ?, no workout
Day 21, 12/13 - weight 141.2, calories 1469, no workout
Day 22, 12/14 - weight 142.8, calories 1220, no workout
Day 23, 12/15 - weight 141.4, calories - not counting today, no workouts
Day 24, 12/16 - weight 142.8, calories - didn't count, no workouts
Day 25, 12/17 - weight 142.8, calories - didn't count, no workouts
Day 26, 12/18 - weight 142.4, calories - didn't count, no workouts
Day 27, 12/19 - weight 140.8, calories - didn't count, no workouts

Goal weight by 12/20/11: 136

Haven't been counting calories but have stayed on plan.  I just get so sick of logging all my food.  I need to do it sometimes, especially when I start getting off track, and that seems to work for me.  The thought of counting calories every day for the rest of my life is awful, but it's there and it works and I use it when I need to.  New low today!  First real loss since the 10th!  Less than a pound away from the 130s!  Unbelievable!

Patterns

I've been recording my weight daily on a little weigh-in app on my phone every since I got in like a month and a half ago.  I weigh daily (obvs), but have only gone through phases where I actually record it daily -- usually I just record when I lose.  It's helped to kind of see a pattern.  I kind of go down, up a little, down, up a lot, down, down, up a little, down, up a lot, etc.  I love numbers and graphs and data, so I find this kind of stuff fun and exciting.  Anyway, below is a little screen shot of the graphed out weigh-ins since October 26th.  That is all.

Day 26 of 28

The Breakdown:
Day 01, 11/23 - weight 147, calories 1283, no workouts
Day 02, 11/24 - weight 146, calories 1441, weight training, stretching
Day 03, 11/25 - weight 145.2, calories 1294, cardio
Day 04, 11/26 - weight 145, calories 1428, weight training
Day 05, 11/27 - weight 146, calories 1523, cardio
Day 06, 11/28 - weight 146.6, calories 1377, no workouts
Day 07, 11/29 - weight 146.6, calories ~ 2300, no workouts
Day 08, 11/30 - weight 147.6, calories - didn't record past breakfast, no workouts
Day 09, 12/01 - weight 149, calories ~1900, no workouts
Day 10, 12/02 - weight 147.8, calories ~ 1400, no workouts
Day 11, 12/03 - weight 147.6, calories ?, no workouts
Day 12, 12/04 - weight 146.2, calories ?, no workouts
Day 13, 12/05 - weight 145.2, calories 860, cardio
Day 14, 120/6 - weight 144.8, calories 989, no workouts
Day 15, 120/7 - weight 144, calories 1220, no workouts
Day 16, 12/08 - weight 143.2, calories 1034, no workouts
Day 17, 12/09 - weight 142.4, calories 792, no workouts
Day 18, 12/10 - weight 141.2, calories 1313, no workout
Day 19, 12/11 - weight 142.6, calories ~1200, no workout
Day 20, 12/12 - weight 142.6, calories ?, no workout
Day 21, 12/13 - weight 141.2, calories 1469, no workout
Day 22, 12/14 - weight 142.8, calories 1220, no workout
Day 23, 12/15 - weight 141.4, calories - not counting today, no workouts
Day 24, 12/16 - weight 142.8, calories- didn't count, no workouts
Day 25, 12/17 - weight 142.8, calories - didn't count, no workouts
Day 26, 12/18 - weight 142.4, calories - didn't count, no workouts

Goal weight by 12/20/11: 136

Obviously won't be making my goal.  Some of it definitely had to do with not putting my full effort in.  Perhaps I could have made it, I don't know.  Getting sick definitely threw a wrench in things, but I didn't workout hardly at all and I had a couple off plan days.  I would have had to be 100% to make it, I guess I wasn't willing.  That's ok.  I really did just plan on maintaining between Thanksgiving and New Years, and I've lost, so even if I just maintain this weight through the 1st of the year I'll be happy with that.

Day 24 of 28

The Breakdown:
Day 01, 11/23 - weight 147, calories 1283, no workouts
Day 02, 11/24 - weight 146, calories 1441, weight training, stretching
Day 03, 11/25 - weight 145.2, calories 1294, cardio
Day 04, 11/26 - weight 145, calories 1428, weight training
Day 05, 11/27 - weight 146, calories 1523, cardio
Day 06, 11/28 - weight 146.6, calories 1377, no workouts
Day 07, 11/29 - weight 146.6, calories ~ 2300, no workouts
Day 08, 11/30 - weight 147.6, calories - didn't record past breakfast, no workouts
Day 09, 12/01 - weight 149, calories ~1900, no workouts
Day 10, 12/02 - weight 147.8, calories ~ 1400, no workouts
Day 11, 12/03 - weight 147.6, calories ?, no workouts
Day 12, 12/04 - weight 146.2, calories ?, no workouts
Day 13, 12/05 - weight 145.2, calories 860, cardio
Day 14, 120/6 - weight 144.8, calories 989, no workouts
Day 15, 120/7 - weight 144, calories 1220, no workouts
Day 16, 12/08 - weight 143.2, calories 1034, no workouts
Day 17, 12/09 - weight 142.4, calories 792, no workouts
Day 18, 12/10 - weight 141.2, calories 1313, no workout
Day 19, 12/11 - weight 142.6, calories ~1200, no workout
Day 20, 12/12 - weight 142.6, calories ?, no workout
Day 21, 12/13 - weight 141.2, calories 1469, no workout
Day 22, 12/14 - weight 142.8, calories 1220, no workout
Day 23, 12/15 - weight 141.4, calories - not counting today, no workouts
Day 24, 12/16 - weight 142.8, calories

Goal weight by 12/20/11: 136

Went out for dinner with a friend last night.  Definitely didn't overdo it, but it was Mexican food, so like one bite is about 79866 calories.  Worth it.