This is my first time in an online weight loss community. I've been gaining weight steadily since I graduated from high school (weighing a skinny 135 pounds!). Today I'm not sure exactly how much I weight since I threw out our scale 7 years ago, but it's likely around 170. I'm 5"11 with huge boobs and a monster booty. My waist was tiny (by comparison) until 2008, but the last 10 pounds or so has made me a lot thicker and less curvy in the middle. My husband jokes that I'm built like Beyonce (a stocky Beyonce admittedly) even though I'm a Swede.
Beyonce is beautiful, but I don't want to look like a big chunky white version of her anymore. I feel like a man with curves. I don't look elegant or chic - I look big. My shoe size has gone from a 10 to an 11.5 wide...sometimes 12!! I have gross big feet. I'm a size 12 in clothes and I want to be a size 8. I look dumpy. I have a shockingly huge butt. I'm a hulking version of Kim Kardashian...if Kim Kardashian and Shrek had a baby....
My problem is not junk food. I eat really healthy stuff, whole grains, vegetarian for 20 years, etc. I have sweets less than 1x per month. My problem is the portion control. I LOVE food. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I love cooking food, reading about food, trying new recipes, and talking about food. I subscribe to every foodie magazine published. I spend an insane amount of money on gourmet cooking supplies, spices, oils, sauces, etc. I have spent a small fortune on cheese. OMG I love cheese. I went away with my girlfriend to NYC last weekend and she brought home jewelry and clothing...I brought home a suitcase full of artisan bread and cheese. I think she was disgusted by me but too nice to say anything.
I've must eat less if I am going to look better. I eat the same portions as my 6'5" husband (who has the body of a greek god and is gorgeous). When I have the guts to add up my daily calorie intake, I should certainly weigh twice as much. I eat a huge amount of calories and I'm lucky to only weight 170-ish.
This week is my first week exercising in years. I went running and went on three hikes of 1 hour each. If I can continue exercising and eating small portions of healthy food (read: much, much less cheese), I think I can lose some of this weight and get back a feminine shape. I'd like to be 140 pounds again, but I'm not sure it's realistic. The high 140's is probably more in line with reality.
I'm lucky enough to not have to work and my husband is super supportive and a good influence on my eating habits. In fact, he never ate butter or cheese until we got married. He doesn't even like food all that much. Amazing.
We are in the process of getting pregnant with a surrogate and we hope to have twins by early next year. I already look like a new mother (big swollen boobs, puffy belly, etc) even though I don't have babies! When we decided to have babies I was self conscious about the surrogate choice but my husband joked that people would think I gave birth to them because I look like the chubby mother of twin infants!!
Today is my first day fully committing to weight loss. For the past few years, I've made a joke of my increasing size in the hopes that I would magically shrink back down, but no such luck. I'll be back tomorrow to start a blog and be accountable for what I put into my mouth and how much I exercise.
I'm really excited to take control. I wish I would have done this sooner. See you all tomorrow!!
Welcome! I can relate to you on so many levels:
1-- I also am a vegetarian who loves food. I subscribe to all the magazines, food blogs, email listservs, etc. It's currently Restaurant Week in Manhattan and I feel like its my own personal holiday season all over again!
I smiled at your story about visiting NYC and coming home with cheese and bread. I feel like I could do this on my walk to and from work EVERY day. So many options to tempt me everytime I step out of my building. It is a magical, delicious and dangerous foodie paradise, this city.
2-- I moved to NYC from LA this summer. Previously, I lived in LA for about 4 years, and this is when I gained all my weight! Before moving to LA, I also weighed around 135. For me, LA was SUCH a difficult place to stay healthy. I drove EVERYWHERE, spent a while commuting to work each day, and didn't walk to get stuff like I do here-- I commend you for embarking on your journey while living there. I wish I had been healthier during my time in CA.
For me, the idea that I'd give up cooking, dining out and trying new and exciting foods was not an option. SO, i made some sacrifices. I cut out alcohol. Not fun, but has helped. (also, more money for new kitchen gadgets!)
I also cut out processed foods, which I didn't eat a lot of to begin with, but no more white flour and no more pasta/ refined wheat products has been a big help for me.
I have become an expert at turning Quinoa, Polenta and Lentils into....anything. If you'd like to share recipes, please let me know!
Hi from a chubby in LA!
