I have seen you skulking around, checking out some of my weight-loss and food-issue posts.
It is a new year and you want that one secret to losing weight, the one secret to losing that tummy. You want to know it because you want to use it. You might have even sat through at least one of those infomercials on the web hoping to hear it.
I can share a few things with you about my journey of weight loss.
I topped the scales at 220 pounds although I lied to myself and said I was 210. The clue should have been my waistline which expanded to 48 inches. My waist was bigger than my boobs. My favorite pieces of clothing were not fitting.
So I did the hard stuff.
I started changing my diet, making sure I ate at least one piece of fresh fruit daily. I made sure to fit some sort of veggie in as well. About this time I gave up soda except for Pizza Night and replaced it with ice tea. Plus, I started drinking more water. McDonald’s stopped being a regular meal place.
But the thing that helped most in the last year was losing my job. The work was great; I enjoyed learning and getting better every month. What I hated was my boss, a scattered brain micro-manager who worked to make everyone’s life miserable. When I hear of her these days, I feel sorry for my old boss. She will always be the evil person she is now and feels she does not need to make any changes.
Leaving that toxic situation allowed me some other changes. Like being able to sleep at night. Newer studies are showing that getting your needed amount of sleep helps your body do the work it needs to do.
Another big change was being able to relax. While I still worry about doing good work at my current job, it doesn’t wear on me like it did at my last job. Plus, my family reports enjoying being around me once again. I am calmer, happier, not ready to jump at every wrong happening in the house.
I no longer mentally prepare myself for dealing with a stubborn mule who did not believe in communication and treated any brainstorming meeting with me as wasted time. I mean, who wants to take the time to think of ways to improve your product? (yep, still bitter)
One of the biggest changes was adding in exercise so I could speed up my metabolism and work off the fatty foods I love eating. A 75-pound black Labrador pulling you along for a walk requires energy to keep up.
The other big change is no longer stopping off at McDonald’s every other day for a three pack of chocolate chip cookies and a huge sweet tea. Or stopping off at the gas station for a candy bar or a Little Debbie’s snack and can of Arizona Sweet Tea. I no longer require as much comfort food as I have in the past.
The short of the long is to really get that weight off, I had to leave a toxic situation. Maybe that is not your situation. But if you actually hope to lose weight, you have to work at it. It requires making lifestyle changes in your diet and exercise routines.
That is what it took for me to lose nearly 30 pounds. That is what it took for my waist to measure just under 42 inches. No whey powder, no yucky shakes or diet pills. There is no magic formula that will keep it off once you lose it other than that.
If that is what you are ready to do, jump on my wagon and let’s see how far you can go.
What are you willing to do to finally lose the weight?
great post–it is the little things…
and, there is no quick fix, much as we Americans keep looking for it…
blessings, and best to you!
(and, keep up the life-affirming life!)
jane
Thanks. You are so right it is those little things.
Great post!! I SO relate lol. Isn’t it funny how things that sometimes seem devestating like the loss of a job end up being good for us? Here’s to rediscovering and refining ourselves. Good luck…
I knew it was going to be good but never thought it would be such a great thing for me. But there it is.
Congrats to you for losing 30lbs. That’s definitely sacrifice!
I gained about 15 lbs from college “food” when I got home that all changed. I didn’t eat after 7pm. I only ate desserts only on the weekend. I drank lots of water.
One of these days I need to post my daily menu because it is not sacrificing much at all. I plan sweet snacks throughout the day so I do not feel deprived. That is what I hate about a lot of diets. To get myself into the mode of a little sweets, my lent sacrifice last year was to have only one serving of chocolate a day. It was difficult. I would blow it early in the day and kick myself for it. But the effort was worth it.
Since retirment 2 years ago, I’ve gained too much weight. I think one of the reasons is that my office was up a flight of stairs and I did the up and down a dozen times a day – usually at a fast pace.
The extra weight makes me feel terrible, makes my knees hurt, makes me want to hide out cuz nothing, absolutely nothing, fits and I’m not ready to buy a whole new wardrobe two sizes bigger! I’m giving myself thru the end of the summer. The weight goes or I give in and say okay, I’m going to be a fat old lady and I’ll buy the big clothes.
It comes down to calories in and calories out. I plan to work on both ends of that! Good luck to us all and congrats to you rumbly!
I am sure that if you work it hard enough it will come off. It can be slow and frustrating until you see your waist returning. That really motivated me. Good luck, Moe.
If calories in is more than calories out- we will put on weight. This is the simple formula that we all battle to comprehend. Since i have started being conscious about this, my body has started to stabilise. I am not where i want to be (who is?), but i am eating healthy. YAH!!!
Keep going!!
xx
It is that simple. Then I listen to a commercial for a weightloss drug that promises no lifestyle change necessary. Really?
Thanks for stopping by!
Great Post! Good for you on the weight loss! If anything I need to gain, but live with those in your shoes. Not an easy task.
Job stress can kill you. I’ve been through that.
Keep up the confidence. Thats the REAL ticket.
Thanks for visiting my blog!
Thank you for stopping by. I loved your snow in Mnhattan pictures. I have never been to NYC but you made me want to go just a little more.
Wow!! That is one insightful and powerful post. Results – yes – but 2 things jumped out at me: 1) less stress (removed from the ignoramus you worked for) and 2) your finally being able to sleep at night (adds years to your life). Good on you; I’m feeling inspired .. to take my 70lb black lab walking, too. Thanks Rumbly 😉 MJ
It is amazing how being able to sleep makes everything just a little better and sweeter. Take that bad boy for a walk everyday and I promise you won’t regret it too much.
Sounds like you wove healthy habits into your lifestyle one thing at a time until you had a well-rounded, healthy routine. And that’s exactly what all the experts preach. Getting healthy is never going to be quick and easy. Congrats on your success!
(I started by taking a brisk walk every day and as I saw changes in my attitude and body, I was motivated to consider other healthy habits. I still fall off the bandwagon now and then, but always come back to the good stuff. It just feels better.)
One my resolutions is to gain weight! And I got a tip from yours! 🙂
You are eating elephant ears everyday or staying in a toxic situation?
Congrats to you! These are a lot of changes to make. Making a change is very hard, so worth the pain! So many of use want the quick fix, but it’s always the little things that make a difference. I personally found that changes to my diet and regular exercise made a huge difference. Some days I didn’t feel like being good, but it was worth it. The best part of all – shedding your toxic situation!
Yes, it was. I am thankful for being fired which most of us can’t say. This morning I tried a Bollywood workout from my cable system. Quite interesting
Just here to send you a bloggy (hug)! Congrats on your determination & weight loss. And thanks for being inspiring to the rest of us!
Thank you, I am doing my best.
I wanted to give my congrats too. That’s an achievement! I hope things continue to go well for you.
Thanks for your kind words. New habits are hard to make routine but once you do, suddenly it is no big deal.
Sometimes the most brilliant ideas are the simplest ones: If you need less comforting, you need less comfort food. I’m glad you came up with that, because it sounds as though it’s working. Congratulations on getting out of that old job (and finding a new one). And thank you for stumbling upon my blog, because it allowed me to stumble upon yours. I think you’re a wonderful writer, and look forward to reading more.
Funny how that works. Need less comfort, go looking for less. I should thank Amiable, Amiable for helping me find your blog. I was over at her blog and everyone was commenting how much they liked yours. Thanks for stopping by!
Touching post, Rumbly (or is it Rumbley?). You’ve so got it. Losing the weight in a healthy way requires a lifestyle change, because keeping it off, means a change for life. Fat abundance is toxic, the food that brings that fat is toxic, and the unecessary stress in life is toxic. You’re ridding it all – good for you!
I’m hoping to finish my bathroom counter and it’s recommended I use this polyurethane stuff. Do you know if it is ok and will last if I’m putting a curling iron on it? Will it melt/burn/mark?
That is a good question for which I do not have an answer. Anyone else?