lose 40 pounds

Really hope i can lose the weight!!! cheer me on i will try my best!!! THANKS

I thought it wasn’t that bad a week, but I guess I was wrong. I did work out. I did eat veggies, but I guess too much other stuff crept in. :(

My name is Candace, but you can just call me Can. I am 30 years old, married, but do not yet have kids. Just like 1485 other “43Things” members at the moment, my goal is to lose 40 pounds.

I’ve been overweight and in the BMI “Obese” category for the previous 10 years. At my heaviest, I was 235 pounds (I’m 5’5”) about three years ago. I was able to lose weight and get down to about 216 and maintain that for three years.

Starting in April of this year, I lost another 30 pounds and got down to 186. I’m now 182.5 and my goal is to lose my last 40 pounds in order to be at my goal weight (around 142). Since losing the 30 pounds this year, I’ve started to struggle again during July and August, and thought that maybe if I document this goal, I might be able to muster up some more motivation to get me through the holiday months ahead.

The plan I used to lose the 30 pounds this year was to stick to about 1200-1500 calories per day and try to find extra little ways to add activity in my life. (take the stairs, walk to lunch etc) I try not to deprive myself. If someone brings pizza in for lunch, I have a slice and then compensate later in the day by eating more fruits, vegetables, and healthy foods.

I weigh myself every day and record it on a calendar. I hung the calendar up in my pantry, so every time I go to get a snack food, I can see it as a reminder of my goal. Weighing myself every day works great for me because I don’t pay too much attention to the little ups and downs but am able to see the overall picture. When I see the scale go up for a day, it doesn’t discourage me. It makes me try a little harder. When I see the scale going up for a few days in a row, I realize that I must course correct and try something new. When I see it going down (even if it is just a day’s worth of water weight) I get really excited and motivated to keep that pattern going. And when I have grown tired of the whole process and have slacked off, it keeps me honest about what is going on. The rule is that I have to record the weight every day, and this serves as my own accountability.

I think the last couple months have been difficult for me to lose because I stopped formally counting calories and have tried to wing it. I have been snacking a bit more and have not been formally counting those calories. I’m sure my total calories per day has been closer to 1800 – 2000 for the past month. I also believe that my body has adjusted to the 30 pound weight loss and I probably need to mix it up a bit.

Here is my plan to mix it up:

3 Days at 1200 calories, followed by one day at 1500 calories – I once learned that if you follow this pattern, 3 low days and 1 higher day, it will help your metabolism. We’ll see. :) One thing is for certain, I need to find a way to get more low days in during the week than high days.

3 Days a week at the gym – I really need to start weight training. As I get closer to my goal, I realize that this component has been seriously lacking.

I’ll keep up with walking the dog, taking the stairs, and getting in extra activity wherever I can.

And finally, I’ll use this site to document my progress. Wish me luck :) When I make my goal of losing 40 pounds, I will have lost a grand total of about 93 pounds since my highest weight.

I’m Hungry.
I’m Hungry.
I’m Hungry.I’m Hungry.
I’m Hungry.
I’m Hungry.I’m Hungry.
I’m Hungry.
I’m Hungry.

Tough. Today’s calories are used up.

I’ve got to be dogmatic about this or it won’t happen.

I won’t feel like I’ve really started till I get back to 152.

I won’t feel like I”m really making progress till I get back to 146.

It’s crazy hot. I don’t want to exercise – but I have to.

After my bit of a setback I seem to be back on track. Next week will still be a challenge but I think the week after that things will lighten up a bit schedule-wise so it should be easier to cook right and exercise more. I am feeling REALLY GOOD though and that is the most important thing. Cheers to anyone that is doing this – rest assured that you will feel better when you are lighter.

One of those people constantly dieting and saying they’re going to lose weight but not losing weight.

ACK!!!!!!!

How the hell did that happen?

Ok, I’m really serious about losing weight now.

I am SO not kidding.

im starting over

Was doing really well with this one! Got to 141-142, felt like the finish line was in sight with my next goal weight of 125 – 126. Then I got pregnant again. Currently 19 weeks pregnant and weigh around 153. Very confident about being able to lose weight after the pregnancy as breast-feeding makes it melt off but have to be careful not to put too much unnecessary weight on like last time. Eating habits are much better and definitely getting more exercise with Cosima around.

The last two weeks have been frustrating. I’ve been good, but I’ve hit a plateau. So I’ve designed a cool new exercise program to get me back on schedule. It has everything – cardio, strength and flexibility. Wish me luck!