Monday, April 14, 2014

Weight-loss update

Now that I'm really getting back to my more regular posting schedule, I feel I should do a bit of an update on my weight so far. After all, it's one of the last big things I mentioned. 

So the goal had been that I be at a healthy goal weight by the end of March. And... well... that didn't happen. See in the time I wasn't posting, I put some thought into what I want from my life and my body. 

And the point is this: I want to be healthy. 

I'm not going to be healthy by starving myself of something and exercising myself to death. 

So instead, I decided to try another, more intuitive approach. 

I'm listening to my body. When I'm hungry, I eat something. When I'm not, I don't. So yes, it means I skip meals, or that I eat later or whatever. But it also means that I'm eating less in general. I've also cut back on refined carbs by a lot, the exception being when I eat "mieliepap" (almost like polenta but drier and more crumb-like) for breakfast. But the lovely thing is that it's gluten free and it keeps me full until lunch. 

Bread, sugar etc I'm eating a lot less of, and I'm eating more and more veggies (which is something I never really did). 

Exercise wise, I'm moving around a bit more, but I want to get fit rather than skinny, so I'm going to start doing more intense cardio like rope skipping once I've shifted a bit more weight. For now, I'm playing tennis with my mom. I look stupid doing it, but hey, the court's in our back yard, so it's not like there's anyone to watch. And the nice thing is that I can be a bit more social (as supposed to being locked up in my mind all day). 

So... what has this achieved? Well. 

I lost almost 14 lb from the beginning of the year. Which really is huge for me. It's slower than I wanted, but healthier, and I think more sustainable than stuff I'd done before. 

Anyone else working on shifting some weight? How's it going for you?

5 comments:

Connie Keller said...

Congrats! I'm so proud of you. I know It's slower than what you'd like, but like you said it's healthier. YAY!

Ruth said...

I think slow loss is a good way to go. It took me 2 years to lose 50 pounds when I see all this stuff about 78 pounds in 3 months. Your body needs to adjust to weight loss. Your posture gets used to holding the extra weight and weight loss is good for the back. At the same time, your back may hurt while it adjusts to less pull so I think a gradual change would make it hurt less. Not everyone experiences back pain, but it is possible. I also think a gradual weight loss will help the elasticity in your skin so you won't sag so much. Not sure if that is right, but I have read it and it makes sense to me.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Sounds like you are doing really well!
I've been trying to lose weight but without much success...and now it's Easter and I'm surrounded by scrummy chocolate! waaa!

Mike Keyton said...

I think about it. That's enough for the moment.

Unknown said...

Yay for you! 14 is enough to start feeling the difference in clothing, I think. I'm with you in this effort. Summer is coming and I'd like to start it feeling a bit better.