I’ve Lost 60+ Inches…Now What To Do With All This Extra Skin?

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Broke out the measuring tape this morning and discovered I lost 2.75 inches in nearly 3 months! Image courtesy of FreeDigitalphotos.net and zirconicusso.

Broke out the measuring tape this morning and discovered I lost 2.75 inches in nearly 3 months! Image courtesy of FreeDigitalphotos.net and zirconicusso.

Over the last 10 weeks I’ve lost nearly 3 inches from my body, for a grand total of 60.25 inches since I started my quest to get healthy over 3 years ago.

Not too shabby. No wonder I can now fit into size 14 jeans.

This recent loss came from my hips, thighs and chest. No change this time around for my waist and arms.

While I’m excited about losing the inches, I’ve noticed one part of my body not shrinking — my loose skin. In fact, it’s getting worse. Read More

Weekly Weigh-In: Down 5 Pounds!

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A big drop in weight this week! While I haven't measured my ketones, I'm pretty confident I'm in ketosis and am a fat burning mama!

A big drop in weight this week! While I haven’t measured my ketones, I’m pretty confident I’m in ketosis and am a fat burning mama!

While I expected a loss this morning when I stepped on the scale, I was completely shocked that it was that big. At this point in my weight loss journey, I’m lucky if I lose 1/2 a pound in a week. But 5 pounds? Woohoo!

Clearly my decision to move towards a ketogenic diet is paying off. And so are those Julia Child recipes.

My daily caloric intake is about 70-75% fat. Not only do I have more energy than before, but it feels like I can focus a lot easier on my various projects. I suspect I’ve reached ketosis and am now a fat burning machine.

I don’t expect another 5 lbs. drop next Saturday. The big drop just means the scale is finally reflecting the changes in my body measurements. If I can stay in ketosis, I expect more fat loss, just not as large as this week’s.

 

Weekly Weigh-In: Weight Loss, Wine & July 4th Food Musings

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Seems as if avoiding wine this week got the scale moving again. I'm down a pound for a total loss of 141 lbs.

Seems as if avoiding wine this week got the scale moving again. I’m down a pound for a total loss of 141 lbs.

Saturday was a very happy Independence Day for me! The “No Wine!!!!” pledge got my weight moving again. I’m down a pound. I have no idea if I’m in ketosis yet, but it feels like the weight is starting to reflect the changes in my waistline again.

I thought about picking up some low carb beer for Saturday’s cookout before we set off our fireworks. But then I realized that my July 4th menu didn’t taking a holiday from how I normally eat, so why break my pledge with crappy light beer?

So my “No Alcohol” pledge continues. Until… Read More

Weekly Weigh-In: No Change

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I'm not ready to admit my weight loss hit another plateau...not with the empty wine bottles in my trash can. So this week, no alcohol to jump start the scale.

I’m not ready to admit my weight loss hit another plateau…not with the empty wine bottles in my trash can. So this week, no alcohol to jump-start the scale.

No change on the scale this week, but I’m confident I’m not stuck in a plateau. Why? Wine! During the week I enjoyed vino 3 times. I’m doing everything right to get into ketosis, except for the wine. So wine is off the menu for the week.

If the scale is still stuck at 187, then I’ll need to go into some plateau busting moves, like adding a very high carb day, upping my workout (I’ve slacked off a bit) and staying more active all day.

Packing More Action In My Day
Actually, I’ve already started the “staying more active all day” bit. Lately I’ve been a bit of a slug. Sure I do my scheduled exercise – primarily long walks and running. But once I’m home I park myself on a comfy chair or exercise ball and start researching, writing or watching those blasted cat videos. Not great.

Now I’m looking to cut my sitting time. I’m trying to do more errands on foot, like mailing a letter or picking up a few items at the grocery or pet stores. This morning I set out on foot to my dentist for a cleaning. Read More

New Jeans — From Size 28 To 14!

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My old, size 28 jeans use to be too tight on me. But I refused to go up a size.

My old, size 28 jeans use to be too tight on me. But I refused to go up a size. Now, 140 lbs. later, I’ve cut my pant size in half.

Well with the recent loss of inches around my waist it was time to see if I could slide into a pair of new skinny jeans or if I’m still stuck in between sizes. As of this morning I wore a baggy size 16.

My plans were almost derailed as Old Navy was nearly depleted of size 14 jeans. After a lot of digging around, I found a pair and headed to the fitting room.

No More Fitting Room Blues…For Now
I had a flash back to the first time I entered this same store’s fitting room nearly 2 years ago during my weight loss makeover. Panic took hold of me as I thought nothing would fit.

This time around, no butterflies in the tummy. I was mildly curious…and a bit cocky. It’s not that I don’t have dressing room meltdowns on occasion. Macy’s still freaks me out. Read More

Weekly Weigh-In: Stalled!

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Nothing gained or lost this week, yet I'm OK with that outcome. Turns out my carb counts are way off and things could've been much worse.

Nothing gained or lost this week, yet I’m OK with that outcome. Turns out my carb counts are way off and things would’ve been much worse.

After a nice little drop last week, the scale went back to her old ways. My weight is officially stalled. I’ve been stuck around 185 lbs. since the end of March, and I think I figured out why.

About a week ago I decided to lower my net carbs back down to 20g a day. I’d been eating around 40g-50g a day (or so I thought!) and figured dropping back down to 20g would kick-start the weight loss.

It’s always the little things that screw you up!
The last few days I’ve played detective and took a hard look my food log and the net carb counts of not just my food, but drinks, spices/seasonings, and recipes. Man did I screw up. Everything from my favorite seasonings to rubs to vegetable quantities was off the last few months. Read More

Looking For The Ketosis Sweet Spot

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Yummy! Ordered my first batch of lard and beef tallow. Next month, I hope to actually try rendering unprocessed lard and tallow from local farmers.

Yummy! Ordered my first batch of lard and beef tallow. Next month, I hope to actually try rendering unprocessed lard and tallow from local farmers. Getting into ketosis will be tasty fun.

I’m in the final push of reaching my goal weight and I’ve determined how I’m eating now will not get me to goal. I need to recalibrate how many fats, proteins and carbs I’m eating. Time to kick myself back into optimal ketosis.

I found a nifty little keto calculator that helps you decide your best food intake levels for weight loss with a ketogenic way of eating (WOE).

Lately my micronutrient breakdown averages to: 62% fat, 28% protein, 10% carbs.  I’m planning to make a slight cut in both my protein and carbs to become a fat burning machine. Read More

Weekly Weigh-In: The Scale Finally Moves!

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Yay! I'm down 1.5 lbs. this week. But don't expect numbers like this each week. I'm nearing the end of my weight loss journey and those last few pounds won't come off easily.

Yay! I’m down 1.5 lbs. this week. But don’t expect numbers like this each week. I’m nearing the end of my weight loss journey and those last few pounds won’t come off easily.

After more than 3 weeks that stubborn scale finally moved. I’m down 1.5 lbs. Why now? Who knows. The body is such a mystery at times. Truth is I’m starting one of the most challenging parts of my weight loss journey. I’m within 25 lbs. of my goal weight. For my final push to goal, my body won’t give up the fat very easily.

As for the big drop this week (yep, 1.5 lbs in a week is big at this point), I noticed 2 changes I inadvertently made this past week:

  1. I reduced the amount of cream in my coffee from 1/2 tablespoon to 1 teaspoon.
  2. I only worked out 3 days this past week, down from my usual 6 days.

As I’ve said before, exercise has nothing to do with weight loss — it’s about inches — but clearly the amount of dairy I consume may hold the key. So now its time for a new science experiment. This week I’m limiting the amount of creams, yogurt and cheese I eat. Read More

Exercise Vs. Training – Do Trainers Know The Difference?

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Me in Oct. 2013 when I first started working with a trainer. Unfortunately, 3 trainers later, I still haven't graduated from the machines to free weights. So I'm leaving the trainer behind to build strength.

Me in Oct. 2013 when I started working with a trainer. Unfortunately, 3 trainers later, I still haven’t graduated from the machines to free weights. So I’m leaving the trainer behind to build strength.

I really love working out, but I’m finding it harder to get my groove going for the past several weeks. Oh, sure, I go walking and running. I do love those. And I love my spin classes, but it’s awfully hard biking inside when the sunshine calls to me. As for my muscle workouts…one word sums up how I feel about them:  Blah!

After nearly 2 years, 3 trainers (yes 3 trainers), I’m getting bored frustrated by the routine. It feels like I’m doing the same machines over and over. I love working with free weights. Unfortunately, my trainer seems to prefer the same 5 lbs. dumbbells, and doing 4 sets of 25 reps to tire out my shoulders every other session. Grrrr!!!!! Read More

Weekly Weigh-In: Stubborn Scale, Loose Clothes

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Sure my weight's the same for 3 weeks running. But my waist continues it's downward trend.

Sure my weight’s the same for 3 weeks running. But my waist continues its downward trend.

For the third week my weight is exactly the same while an item of clothing — my running belt — is definitely looser than normal. How loose? While running on Saturday I noticed I had to keep adjusting it. First the belt started falling, so I quickly pulled it up. After a 1/4 mile, I noticed it about 1 inch higher than where I pulled it. About a 1/2 mile later when I went to adjust the volume on my phone, I noticed that my phone was no longer in front of me…it was on my back.

Sweet!

Before yesterday’s walk, I adjusted the buckle to tighten the belt to prevent my phone from floating around my body. Turns out the next time this happens, I’ll need a new belt. Yep, the belt is officially at its smallest size.  Double sweet!

Sooner or later the scale will follow my shrinking waistline.

For now, it’s time for another run.