Motivation Tactic

After two wonderful pregnancies, if you can call puking for 8 months straight wonderful and now 20lbs heavier and 8" thicker around the middle section, I have decided that enough is enough. I really need some type of motivation to get me going and shed some of the inches around my middle. So, I am posting my measurements here to get me started and I will be posting progress reports every month and maybe if this information is open to the world to see, I will get my butt in gear and do something about it, besides complain to my DH about how fat I feel.

Without further blabbling:

• Arms: 10.5" unflexed; 11.75" flexed.
• Chest: 39"
• Waist: 35"
• Love Handles: 38"
• Hips/butt area: 39"
• Legs: 20.5"
• Calf: 13"

As you can clearly see, I am a little barrel with little twigs for arms and legs. I pack all my weight in my middle section. What did you say? I have no butt--yep! you are right, I have never had a butt, my mom always said, if you didn't have so much boobs, if it wasn't for being well endowed in the upper part of my body, I could be a great swimmer. I have what is called sweetly as "sugar cookie bottom" LOL.

So, now that I have come out and told you these grossly measurements, I am going to tell you that I am going to do something about it, besides complain about how terrible I feel.

I will do the following:

• Exercise at least 3 times a week
• Eat a bit less breads and baked goods
• Eat less tortillas--but can't give them up, I love tacos too much!

I will not:

• Diet--you know the first 3 letters of this word spells Die--yep, I don't want to die, so I won't diet.

Looking: Encouragement.

No more cheese tortillas for me for breakfast!

Comments

[Tracey]

I don't refer to it anymore as a "diet" but "life change" because for me, that's really what I am doing. I don't want to just lose weight to go back to eating the way I was, I want to remain eating healthy and all that. I'm getting the "eating" part down. Now all I need to do is get the moving about part down. *sigh* I have more to lose than you. You said you look like a barrel with twigs... I look like a ... hrm... a pear (large) with tree trunks for arms and legs! LOL Maybe not quite that bad, but I do have a lot to lose. Anyway, maybe we can be encouragin-buddies or something!

[margene]

It feels so good to be rid of extra weight. I ate half of what I normally do, worked out HARD three times a week (or more when I can) and rarely snack. It does work and it's a great life. Do it, enjoy it! Good luck!

[sedie]

congratulations and good luck with your lifestyle change.

[Shannon]

I am nothing even close to an expert in the field, but one thing that I found has helped me was not eating anything less, but trying to pack as many fruits and veggies in with the other stuff I'm eating. Of course this means that often I'm too full for the less-good-for-me stuff, but that's a benefit, not the goal. The thing I've mostly noticed I feel much better. And I appreciate vegetables more. Except for brussel sprouts. it would take a flat out miracle to make me appreicate those.

[peggy]

Look at you! There you go!! And I agree - don't diet. Just make smarter choices and all that fun stuff. Moderation is apparently the key; six small meals is helpful too. I'm trying to work on portion size - learning what a portion actually is. Fun, fun, eh? I also have a number of videos that I could/should be doing at home to supplement my moderate efforts at the gym. Pilates, Crunch, maybe one Firm, a Billy Blanks Tae-bo (which I actually love)... Hmmm. Maybe I should hook the VCR back up.

Looking forward to seeing your progress. I'll kick your but if you'll kick mine.

[Becky]

You go girl! Isela, it takes a lot of guts to do what you just did, posting all those intimate numbers. I'm sure you will do well. You certainly are motivated. The neatest thing, I think, is that you will be modeling good life style habits to your children. I'm so proud of you! :)

[ck]

Good for you! I can't wait to hear about your progress. I am in love with tortillas too. I'm not a big low carb person...but have you tried the low carb tortillas? Some of them are really good and unlike some other low carb foods, they are not full of fat! They just have more fiber, which everyone needs :)

[Kim/Chef Messy]

Not to fuel your taco-consuming habit, but I actually think you've been looking great. Of course this is coming from the Princess of Pudgy, so you have to take it at face value! There's something to be said for getting healthy one way or another! Good luck!

[Florence]

Isela, just think down the road a little. If you don;t lose the weight now, it'll become a "normal" weight for you and if you gain even 3 lbs..it won't be 3 lbs from yur original weight, you'll take it as 3 lbs to your NEW weight. Do whatever you need to to get rid of what you can NOW. At 20 years old I was 103,at 30,I was 130 and so on..NOW I;m a whopping 205 and can't for the life of me get UNDER the 200 mark.
Drink as much water as you can,,not 'beverages".WATER. You'd be surprised at how it helps get rid of fat!
Do it NOW girl,not tomorrow,
next week. It just adds more on by then.If you don't do it now, it gets harder and harder.
Been there,done that-again and again and AGAIN!