Hello DietsInReview readers! I feel that I’ve done you a disservice by bringing so much hype about the changes in my life with losing some unwanted pounds and being more active, and then not talking about it for the past few weeks.
I’ve done a lot of traveling during the past month, all of which was set and ready to sabotage me. While I indulged here and there, I maintained for the most part. I’m pleased to say that after nearly two months, I’ve lost seven pounds total and dropped two points off my BMI. That’s about a pound a week, and I’m honestly really happy with it. Weight loss should be gradual, to maintain your health. I wasn’t expecting to drop my 15 pound goal in a month, and it’s exciting to know I’m half way there!
Starting:
Weight: 143
BMI: 25.5
Current:
Weight 136
BMI: 23.3
I’m in the gym at least three days a week, and really push myself to do five. When I just can’t seem to get there, I try to take the dog on a long, brisk walk, now that it’s warmer I’ve been doing a lot of laps in the pool and I can do my crunches anywhere I choose. My workouts are fun because they’re never the same twice- a lot of mixing with lunges, the fitness ball, treadmill, elliptical, bike, triceps, hamstrings, weights, squats and so on. In the beginning, it was such a chore; now, I honestly look forward to it and miss it on the days I don’t go.
I kind of catch myself making up excuses to be more active- I walk where I usually wouldn’t, I take the the stairs two at a time to my third floor office, I park in the furthest spot at the grocery store, waiting for planes I wander the terminal instead of sitting. On a recent trip to New York, I walked for an hour, nearly 40 blocks, across Central Park rather than taking the taxi (flip flops are not advised) for three days!
I feel fantastic, better than I have in a long time. I’ve never been a big scale watcher, so it’s exciting that clothes are fitting really well. My husband is fearing a big shopping trip! So far this summer I’ve felt more comfortable in my bathing suit than I have in a long time, and looking forward to making that look even better.
As far as eating goes, I’m really proud of the healthy diet I have. This is a subject I’d like to share more with you, and plan to do so in another post focused on food this week.
I’m proof that small, steady and progressive changes can make a serious difference. One of the things that I think has helped me so far, is that I didn’t wake up one morning and declare that I was on a diet and that I was going to change my entire lifestyle in one day. About a year ago I started taking a hard look at the way I eat and finding opportunities to introduce healthier options. Once I felt comfortable in my eating, I started introducing more exercise. All of these changes accumulated to the point that this is simply the way I live, and will continue to live. Trust me, there is still more weight to lose, still more changes to make. From where I stand right now, I’m really happy overall.
I hope that some of this is of help to those of you ready to make important changes for your health, too. It’s never too late to get started- and remember, there’s nothing wrong with pacing yourself.
Brandi, thanks for sharing that “a pound a week” is a realistic goal. Indeed it is. Two per week is pushing it. Too many people are looking for a quick fix to excess weight that took years to accumulate. The first week on a diet, many people lose 3-4 pounds, then expect that rate of loss to continue for the next 30 or more pounds. That is rarely what happens. Rather than “water loss,” I suspect that much of the first 3-4 pounds is simply intestinal contents.
Congratulations on your success! I look forward to reading more about the food aspect.
-Steve Parker, M.D.
Thank you, Steve! You’re right, I did lose three pounds the first week, but knew it wouldn’t last. I figure, I didn’t put the weight on in a few weeks, it’s certainly not coming off that quickly! 😉