Last month on December 22nd 2008, I stared hard at myself in the GAP changing room. I had a size 10 pair of jeans stuck half way up my thighs. I had graduated to size 12!

I’m 5 feet 4 inches tall. 11 years ago, I was 22 years old and 110 pounds. Today I am 33 years old and 175 pounds. But it is more than just about my weight.

When I look back, I wonder what happened. Yes, lots of things have taken place in the last 11 years that may have caused me to get to this point. I don’t want to make excuses for myself but at the same time, I don’t want to be unkind to myself.

I never gained weight as a child, teenager or throughout college; I could eat whatever I wanted. BUT so much has changed since then. Since then, I got married, moved away from a hot climate, friends and family to a foreign country (which is now my home), with subzero temp in winters, stopped using public transport for travel, got introduced to cheeseburgers and pizzas, worked as visual designer in a sedentary corporate setting, had a baby, got laid off, worked stressful hours as consultant, tried to deal with marriage falling apart, separated… etc.

Funny part is soon after I came to the US, I got myself a membership at Bally’s. I was initially very aware of what I ate and how much and I also worked out (cardio) regularly. But somehow, somewhere, those routines started slipping… finishing deadlines at work seemed more important, just eating to feel good became a habit.

Honestly, looking back, I know my priorities shifted somewhere when I was trying to bridge corporate America and motherhood. When I look in the mirror today with my jelly belly and fat thighs; I am angry. I don’t remember envisioning myself to grow old this way.

Like I said, it is not just about losing weight and getting back into size 6. It is setting my priorities straight and I choose to start with my body.

But I also realize, I cannot do this by myself. First of all, I wanted to feel accountable by being forthright for my own sake. Secondly, I need the support from a group that is working towards the same goals.

Cheers!
Jiwan Shakti

Started out by eating healthier.

- Did not snack on junk and cookies.
- Ate half an apple and half a pear in the afternoon around 3 o'clock.
- Instead ate carrots and celery sticks raw in the evening around 7 o'clock
- Drank green tea several times during the day.

Need to improve:
- Drink more water
-Start working out at least 45 minutes.

Diet is more stable over the last week. Introduced gradual workout routine with yoga in the morning for 45 minutes.

Morning;
- Tulsi tea 2 cups
- Oatmeal with dried fruits & nuts
- Coffee
- Water/tea 3 glasses

Afternoon:
-Lunch with veggies, rice/potatoes and meat
- water/tea 2 glasses

-Snack: Fruits or veggie chips or bran muffin and 1 cup coffee

Evening:
-Dinner: mainly veggies, meat and small portion of carb
-juice 1 glass
-water 1 glass with vitamins


Notes:
-No change in weight.
-Need to increase workout. Maybe start running or walking.
-Cut out carb from dinner.

I hate the darn scales!

So I started working out on Feb 5th.

I can do a comfortable 3 miles. So I pushed myself to 6 miles combined on the treadmill and elliptical.

I did that for a whole 6 days. 6 miles each day. Then I weighed myself and was sooo disappointed. Not one pound lost. I thought I would lose water weight.

Nothing! Well, I was so annoyed I was distracted the whole time I was working out.

So I decided never to look at those darn scales again. Well, maybe I will in 2 months.

Jiwan Shakti

Hey Jiwan. Isn't it strange how so much can change so gradually over time that we don't even notice how far off course we are until we're well on our way in the wrong direction? I mean this with regard to life in general, not just weight gain.

I think you’re fortunate to have had that moment of introspection that inspired you to start course correcting. I hope that’s the first of many new victories to come!

Sorry to hear about your scale frustrations.
How are you determining how much food to consume on a daily basis to achieve the rate of loss you’re looking for?

Hey Jiwan Shakti, I'm not sure how hard it was during those 11yrs or such, but I hope you're ok now and ready to lose the weight. You choose the right place to do it too. This forum is amazing and has great people and information to help you lose weight like most of us here!~

Soo I'll be there to help motivate you as others will be joining in and doing aswell! you can do it, lets see you get back to ~120 and SIZE 6!

Hi Jiwan.
I can feel your pain when you say you don't know what happened over the years. You know, diet and exercise are not as easy as some people think. No pain, no gain is definitely a true statement. If you're not feeling any pain when you are trying to lose the weight, in terms of maybe occasional hunger or even the muscle aches that come with exercise, you may not be losing the weight as quickly as you could be. If you are feeling a bit of a struggle, know that you are really pushing yourself, and the weight is about to come off.


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