Onederland = 32.5 pounds lost so far = a place I've missed

krc99080

I started my return to onederland and beyond in January, lost ground when I got the flu and restarted in February. Here it is, July and I've entered onederland! I've been here before and know the joys it holds.

Let me start at the beginning. I was always a heavy child. I hit 100 pounds in elementary school and didn't look back until I graduated college weight in at 267 pounds and a tight size 22 (was in denial that I should be a 24). On my 5'7" frame this was a few too many pounds. I looked at myself in graduation pictures and thought this is enough, I need to lose weight and get healthier. This started a year long journey to losing about 90 pounds. I got a new job and settled in and regained 10-15 pounds. Not terrible but not a good idea either. Then after 3.5 years I found out my contract was not going to be renewed and that started me in a funk. I ended up gaing a great deal of weight back and tipped the scales at 230 pounds and a snug size 16. I'm happy I didn't get back to my heaviest but I let myself go far enough backward. I tried a few times to get back on the wagon so to speak and kept falling off. So I really buckled down in January and February and here we are now in July.

To get this far I've been working out consistantly and trying to eat better. I've been logging in on myfitnesspal for 140+ days. During this time I've been playing with my calories some and trying to figure out what is right for me. I haven't lost much over the past couple of months when I increased the intensity of my workouts. I upped my calories by 200 and this week I had a 2.5 weight loss which also put me into onederland! Currently my calories are set at 1700 daily. While I have a great deal of respect for those who can only eat 1200 and still lose weight that is not for me. I'd be starving which would put me grouchy all the time. People who know me well know if I get too hungry I become very crabby so those who love me best make sure I eat. Since I'm on this journey I carry a healthy snack with me all the time. This is usually somewhere bewteen 100-200 calories as a just in case I feel it coming on.

Currently I weigh in at 197.5 and am a comfortable size 12. I have many who are shocked at what I weigh, they expect it to be less. I guess it's a good problem to look like you weigh more than you do. I told a friend I'd like to lose at minimum 22 more pounds and then stop and evaluate my weight loss and they think I'm crazy. What they don't realize is this will only put me at 175 which is still considered overweight. If I continute to lose the way I have been that loss would put me in a size 8 which was always a goal of mine.

It feels wonderful to have come this far and I can't wait to go further! Below are pictures taken right after Christmas beside ones I took this morning. I am wearing the same shirt for a comparison.



(the one picture is really blurry because it was taken by a 5 year old, but it was the only full on shot I could find)