The Value of Measurements

One of the challenging parts of losing weight after being overweight for years, is actually believing in the progress I'm making. I constantly find myself thinking about where I started, and how much I've lost, and questioning if its all real, of if I'm simply making it up.

How can I possibly be succeeding after failing so many times?
How have I actually been able to stay on track for more than a couple weeks?
When am I finally going to give up?

These and other questions flow through my mind often, probably multiple times a day.

What do I do?

This whole process has really forced me to do a lot of self reflection. I mean like really going back. I'm pretty sure that I've always felt like I was bigger than other girls, even back in grade school. It wasn't ever too much of an issue though until I hit 8th grade.
I remember being in band, sitting down and seeing how my legs pancaked out on the chair and being mortified by how chubby they looked. Not long after that, we weighed ourselves in PE and I remember being 5'5" and 125 pounds. I didn't think that was much at all until most the other girls in my class complained about being 120, 115, and sometimes even lower weights. From that point forward my insecurities just kind of got worse and worse.

The sad part about it is that I wasn't overweight at all. I was such a healthy weight. Even looking back at pictures, I looked like a total twig! I was tiny!

Cross Country in sixth grade

But having had that idea of being bigger drilled into my head by seemingly smaller, and highly insecure girls around me, made a huge impact on how I saw myself.

The point I'm trying to make is that I've never felt like I was a small girl, and I've always felt bigger than everyone else. And honestly, the idea of feeling small is so foreign to me, that I'm a little scared. Yep, that's right, I'm scared of losing weight. Being the fat girl has come to be a part of who I am, and I have always accepted that generally speaking, I'm the biggest girl in whatever group of friends I have. The idea of not having that label is a little scary. It is almost like I'm getting rid of part of me.

A nice, solid, 80 (hopefully) pounds of me to be precise.

BUT, let me finally get to the MAIN TOPIC of this post.

The NUMBER ONE THING that has helped me stay true to my weight loss, and believe the number I'm seeing on the scale, is the accompanying measurements that go with it. Each week when I weigh in, I make sure to take the measurements of my waist, hips, thigh, arm, and bust. Its my ensurance that what I'm doing is really working, and that the weight loss is real. I think those results almost make more a different mentally to me than the weight.


I really would encourage anyone that's having issues like me with believing and accepting the progress they have made, to make efforts to measure and record these measurements, because I promise you it will make a difference! Its just one more bit of proof that yes, those parts ARE too big now, and yes, they fit you when you bought them originally!

Keep up the good work everyone, and stay positive!!

Overcoming the On-The-Go Dilema: Snacking

The challenges I am going to talk about today concern snacktime. I LOVE to snack. If I could eat food all day long I would. Unhealthy junk food, of course! lol. Being in school just adds to the temptation of eating. I eat so irregularly, and end up eating often. I also get stressed, and bored, and whatever else I'm feeling at the moment, and tend to use those feelings as excuses to splurge and eat whatever I feel like.

#3: Boredom Snacking
I am the kind of person who likes to eat pretty much no matter what I'm doing. If I am driving to or from work, I like to eat. If I'm off work and watching tv, or on my computer, I like to eat. During the school year, however, I like to eat in class, on my way to class, in between class, etc.
Moral of the story: I like to eat!

Solution
What I started to do in order to combat this unhealthy snacking obsession, was to stock up on snacks that were healthier for me. Or at least not completely bad ;)
I love to keep apples on hand. They are so tasty, take a while to eat, and are fullfilling.
I also like to keep a variety of pre-packaged type snacks, (Those 100 calorie snack packs are 3 pts each!) as well of fruit bars like Kashi ones.

Another thing that I do since I inevitably will end up snacking, if I take this into consideration when planning and eating my other meals during the day. I opt for smaller portions of things to keep the points for those weak moments that I have where I just have to have something to munch on. Pre-planning what I'm going to eat that day also significantly helps make sure I don't exceed my daily points allocated.

#4 Evening Snacking
So nighttime snacking is also a huge weakness. Mostly because I love to relax in the evening. But also partly because I am still new to the whole idea of focusing on my food.
Before now, part of relaxing and enjoying my evening, or any time during the day for that matter, was to take part in some kind of super yummy snack.

Solution
SO, the biggest part of this solution is simply redefining things. I have had to completely rework my behaviors related to snacking. Part of this is simply just learning self control. Its a tough one though. So, once again, my solution for this, is the same as before, by having pre-portioned snacks available, and saving points for the evening.

Of course with any type of snacking, the best advice is to find an alternate activity. So what better to do than to exercise! Did you know an hour of light walking gains you back 5 points? How cool is that! I know it makes me excited!


Well, that's it for today. Tomorrow I will be talking about meal planning, and what I've learned so far that has helped me these last two months!
Healthy snacking!

Overcoming the On-The-Go Dilema: Breakfast

Probably my number one challenge during school regarding food, is being lazy about meal planning. I hardly ever take the time out of my day or morning to prepare lunch in advance. Its so costly, and it ends up causing me to over-snack, and over-eat. Of course that isn't the only challenge.

Today I'll share the first two problems, and I'll share more tomorrow! Here goes!

#1 Passing on Breakfast

If you are anything like me, you savor every minute of sleep you can get, especially being a full-time student, having a part-time job, and spending anywhere from 1-2 hours a day driving.

I tend to just speed on past breakfast, and grab coffee on my way out, and maybe a granola bar, or whatever munchies I have laying around.
Now, I'm not saying granola bars are bad, but let's face it. Its soo much better to eat a fullfilling breakfast!

Solution
Lately, I started adding english muffins to my shopping lists.. it only takes a couple minutes to toast, and while its toasting, I cook an egg, add a slice of cheese, and call it good.
If you use a whole wheat english muffin, 1 egg, and a slice of lowfat cheese, its only 7 pts+ on WW. Super simple, and the whole wheat makes it super filling. Of course, I also like to grab an apple, banana, or some other fruit to eat on the way out the door!

#2 Coffee
Ok this is a tough one. Where I work, almost every single girl comes in to work with a Starbucks in hand, and whenever we would go on breaks, we would get more coffee. Of course, with the mochas, iced fraps, and other delicious treats, its hard to stay focused on healthy choices.
Not to mention expensive.

Solution
What I decided to do, was to just flat out make the switch to plain ol coffe. At first it was tough. But it was nice, because I could get a large coffee, and the only points I have to count were the milk or half & half, and the sugar that I added. Of course I also like to add a pump of chocolate sometimes, but its only a couple points total, for a huge drink! Same thing goes with their iced coffee with milk. Keep the sweetener, and its like 3 points for a large (and frankly, much tastier then those Dutch Bros iced drinks I was getting... and they use only a TINY bit of ice!! Bonus!!).
Either choice, its only a couple points as opposed to the 7 and more points for the fancier and pricier drinks.


So that seems to cover my morning issues. Hopefully I have enlightened you somehow! Haha.
Tomorrow I'll be focusing on lunch battles!
If you have any other suggestions for overcoming these, or similar issues, leave them in the comments!