100 days, 44 pounds, priceless changes. :)

I started on MFP exactly 100 days ago and I decided that it’s time for a progress report – especially since today marks the end of the year.

WEIGHT
Starting: 280.0 pounds
Current: 236.0 pounds

:happy: TOTAL WEIGHT LOST: 44.0 pounds:happy:

MEASUREMENTS:
Starting Hip: 54.0 inches
Current Hip: 46.0 inches
Loss: 8.0 inches

Starting Thigh: 32.0 inches
Current Thigh: 26.0 inches
Loss: 6 inches each, total 12.0 inches

Starting Calf: 19.5 inches
Current Calf: 17.5 inches
Loss: 2.0 inches, total 4.0 inches

Starting Waist: 45.5 inches
Current Waist: 35.0 inches
Loss: 10.5 inches

Starting Chest: 51.0 inches
Current Chest: 48.0 inches
Loss: 3.0 inches

Starting Upper Arm: 16 inches
Current Upper Arm: 14.25 inches
Loss: 1.75 inches, total 3.5 inches

Starting Neck: 15.5 inches
Current Neck: 14.25 inches
Loss: 1.25 inch

:happy: TOTAL INCHES LOST: 42.25 inches:happy:


Now that the numbers are taken care of, let’s get down to what really matters – progress made in my lifestyle.

When I started on MFP, I never exercised. Ever. Well, I might do the Wii 3 or 4 times a year, but that’s about it.
I now exercise 6 days a week for at least 30 minutes each day. I swim, do the stationary bike or treadmill, take a Zumba class (and now do the awesome Zumba Fitness for the Wii), and walk a lot.

It is my hope to be able to run a 5K by the time I’m done, but I am not going to even start the C25K until I have lost some more weight and can also buy better tennis shoes as I don’t want to put unnecessary added pressure on my joints at this point.

Anyway, my day doesn’t feel complete if I haven’t worked out.

When I started on MFP, I ate a lot of crap – although I liked fruits and veggies, I mostly just ate junk (and way too much of it)
Now, I eat nutritious, wholesome foods every day and make sure to provide my family with healthy meals. I have been under my calorie goal every day except for one (way back in mid October), am almost always considerably below my sodium limit, and I don’t feel deprived or hungry in any way.

When I started on MFP, I almost never drank water. I drank a lot of lemonade, but very little water.
I now drink 12-16 cups of water every day and that is usually the only thing I drink. I might have some 100% juice once or twice a month or drink a soy latte occasionally, but 99% of what I drink is water.

When I started on MFP, I was always tired. I worked, ate, read, and slept. That’s about it. I always felt incredibly drained.
Now I have more energy, am more engaged with my family, sleep more soundly (unless my hubby is snoring), and am a million times more confident.

Also, I have always had tachycardia (rapid heart rate), even when I was thinner, but – I am sure due to the exercise I get in – my resting heart rate has gone from 110-115 (way too high) to around 60 – NORMAL for the first time in my life! Wooooohooooo!

Anyway, I have a loooong way to go before I meet my weight loss goal, but I am proud of the progress I have made so far and love my new lifestyle.