week 18: -400g (total loss: 10kg!!!)

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I have now officially lost 10kg.

Wow! I always thought “If only I could lose 10kg this would be fantastic”, yet it never really seemed achievable. Losing 10kg and getting under 65kg! I never believed that I could ever sum up the stamina to make it happen, but now, I finally got to 64,6kg. As my highest weight was 74,6kg, I have now lost 10kg (w/a rounding it up).

I also measured again this morning, and here are the results (you`ll notice that I was already 3kg down when I started measuring - it would have been too much to bear for me to measure at my highest weight):

Stats at beginning, 18 weeks ago:

weight: 71,6kg

waist: 87.5cm

belly: 107cm

hips: 108cm

stats today (end of week 18):

weight: 64,6kg (-7kg)

waist: 77,0cm (-9.5)

belly: 100.0cm (-7)

hips: 101.5cm (-6.5)

thighs: 60cm and 59.5cm (-2,5 and -5.5cm)

Below, see photos of myself in April (Spain, at highest weight) and last week (Scotland, at current weight):

Spain 2009 045

Turning Point

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I often felt I had a “turning point” but it was never enough for me to stick to a regime for longer than 2 weeks. It usually involved seeing a nice but unforgiving dress or comparing myself unfavourably to other women. It prompted me to crash diet and lose a couple of pounds, but soon, chocolate and ice cream became more important than a slender body and I piled it all back on.

Why am I now sticking to my programme since 4 months and still find it easy and rewarding? I had a turning point which was different. I never talked about it before because I found it too embarrassing.

Although, at a BMI of just under 28, I was aware that I could do with cutting back I sought comfort in the fact that I wasn`t obese and still wore one size below the average British woman (although there were more and more brands whose clothes I no longer fitted into). I never stuck out in a crowd and whenever I talked about dieting I was reassured by both large and slender women that I was “fine”. I never suffered any health problems because of my weight and enjoyed my food (which was always healthy, apart from me having a sweet tooth).

It was at the end of April that, for the first time I can think of, I felt discriminated against for my size.

I study nutritional therapy, and although this is a homestudy course, it involves a few seminars. April was the first one, and I was the largest student by far. Apparently, everyone assumed that anyone with an interest in and knowledge about nutrition must be skinny, and the tutor did not hide her disapproval. I really felt picked on and at times was used as an example for poor eating habits and health. My results and eating habits were constantly compared to those of the slimmest attendants. When they were better her surprise was obvious. When they were worse, I was berated. When discussing symptoms of malnutrition I was asked directly if I ever suffered them. When I didn`t have them, she was surprised. When I did, I was berated and lectured in front of everybody. Noone was singled out as much as myself.

I was destraught and vowed to be at least a normal weight by the time I see the tutor again for my first exams (November). I knew that I had to lose weight anyway before embarking on a career in nutrition as a nutritional therapist who is overweight may not be taken seriously by all. I however hope that being *formerly* overweight will help me to be taken even *more* seriously, e.g. by those who see me for advice on weight loss.

Anyway, it clicked. I gradually reduced food and increased excercise until I was back at the weight I was before I gradually piled on another few lbs over the last year. This was my weight for a long time, and I did not bother much. When I saw this number again I vowed not to be satisfied with thisthis time.

I have now lost just over 20lbs and one dress size. My shape has changed dramatically as my waist (which I was once so proud of) has re-emerged. I run faster and for longer and no longer crave sweets. Finally, being slim and healthy has become more important than sugar, and the success I`m already enjoying is too precious to me for it to be taken away again by greed.

Weight loss has become very slow now, but I do not care. My BMI is exactly 25 and everything else is a bonus. I don`t care how long it`ll take me for as long as it`s going in the right direction. I however expect to have to lose that much again until I`m slim and wear the size I want to wear - a British 10 (I think that`s an American 6).

week 17: no change

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Very happy! :-) I could not believe my luck when I weighed in last week and was sort of prepared at not being able to maintain it immediately. I however have and an extremely happy!

Will go clothes shopping today and hope to find another pair of trousers. I`ve stopped wearing belts because, although they pull the garments in nicely, the front bit (zip) usually slips below the belt and protrudes under my shirt, which looks really unattractive. Often the buttons and zips will open, too. It`s just not a good look!

Bliss!!

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I`m wearing top to toe the right size today! My new pair of trousers *and* my new blouse!! It`s a feeling I`ve almost forgotten!! I so need new clothes, but I`m reluctant to splurge too much as I don`t want to keep my current size eitehr.

I also watched the photos of last weekend and definitely see that I`ve got slimmer - particularly in comparison to people who I always considered as being the same size as me.

Bra Size

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Supposedly, about 80% of all women wear the wrong size.

I was one of them, until I got measured today. How else can it be that my cup size has gone up rather than down? I was quite amazed when the lady anounced my size, but everything I tried fitted…

week 16: -600g ***OMG***

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… and then, there is the measurements! I`m aware I have not measured in three weeks (there seemed to be no point as my weight had not changed), but when I weighed in and measured today, I could hardly believe it!

It`s quickly emerging what I have achieved:

Stats at beginning, 16 weeks ago:

weight: 71,6kg

waist: 87.5cm

belly: 107cm

hips: 108cm

stats today (end of week 16):

weight: 65,0kg (-6,6kg)

waist: 77,0cm (-9.5)

belly: 101.5cm (-5.5)

hips: 102.5cm (-5.5)

thighs: 60.5cm and 60.5cm (-2 and -4.5cm)

No change in belly and hips (I thought there was but who cares?) but another 3.5cm in the waist! And that`s not really it because I had not started to weigh and measure after I had already lost 3kg!

I really feel it in my clothes now, particularly bottoms. Time to go out and treat myself to somethign at the weekend, I think! :-)

a new running record was set…

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… by myself, for my self!

My best ever was 5k in 32 min 36 sec, in 2004. At the time, I was lighter in weight than usual (67kg-ish, lost weight due to illness) and had more time for gym due to a spell of not working.

I was able to top this record in 2006 or 2007 with 32 min 24 sec and have been chasing this ever since. The thing is, once I reached a goal, Iose interest in training and let it slip.

I am now working really hard again, after a long time of not bothering more often than maybe twice a month, and on Friday, I ran 5k in 32 min and 13 secs. Today, I ran 5k in 32 min and 14 sec and will be chasing the 31 min 59 secs next… As I`m losing weight and training regularly again, I feel I have more stamina, and even though I`m faster than I have been for a long time, I`m no longer as breathless afterwards either. It`s absolutely amazing!

I`m glad that I started to do times again, so even after not losing for some three weeks now, I`m achieving…