defining progress

Over the past month, its no secret that a significant slow-down in my weight loss was both inevitable and disappointing.

Naturally my first couple weeks saw a faster drop than the rest of my journey will produce. However, 2 lbs in three weeks is slower-than usual progress for me (I consider 1 lb a week to be a good pace - after all, I still have over 30 lbs to go) and given that I've been pretty good, it was really starting to bother me.

Luckily, I had the foresight to measure myself at the beginning of the month. So yesterday, in my confused and frustrated state, I took my measurements a week early, just to see....

The reason is I truly feel I'm starting to 'see' a slight difference, even if I haven't dropped a full size yet and the scale is dancing around the same few numbers.

So I pulled out my tape measure and jotted down my measurements. Then I had to call almost everyone I know and share the good news - not really - but almost... In three weeks where I didn't see the scale move much, I've lost 1/2 inch off my waist, 1 inch off my hips and 1/2 inch off my neck (which sort of horrifies yet elates me).

Women today tend to be more barrel-shaped compared to the hour-glass shapes of our mothers and grandmothers. But I think with the right diet and exercise, we can get those figures back. I really think we eat too much, and too much of our food comes out of a box.

I strongly encourage you to measure your progress in more than one way. The scale is not always the best reflection that you are moving forward - especially when you are following an exercise routine.

Here's a reminder on where on the body to measure - and make sure the bust measurement goes over the nipple line.

about to cross the line

Over the last two weeks, I've been pretty quiet on this blog. My in-laws have been in town, and I've just been maintaining - not continuing to make progress, but not doing damage. At first, I considered this a success of sorts. But then my Dad, who is also my virtual weight-loss buddy, had this simple line in his email, "everyone supports you losing weight. It's great that you are maintaining, but we've got work to do!"

Simple as that, and as true as the day is long. (I know that's not the saying, but I've made a change, ok?)

So I've been trying to make progress again the last few days, really hard, to get downward movement on the scale. Otherwise, all this running I'm doing is being wasted on simply maintaining my weight with the extra indulgences I've been having. There will be times where I have genuine plateaus, but this is not one of them.

While my next 'goal' is of course my next 5 lbs goal, a little unofficial, but nonetheless exciting goal for me is breaking into the 160s. Over the past two years, I've occasionally lost 5-8 lbs or so on various diets, but I never got into the 160s. I got into them before my wedding on weight watchers, but gained it all back after.


Needless to say, crossing this line will be hugely exciting for me, even if its not one of my weight goals.

Over the last week, I gained a lb, then lost it, then dropped to 170.8. Then today, my official weigh in day, I was 170.2... That's just so close it hurts! I'm still happy with more downward movement, but any day now, I expect to break that barrier.

You will know when I do, you'll probably hear me jumping up and down and dancing naked in my bathroom, halfway around the world.

looking for motivation?

My Mom once told me about visual motivation to keep you focused on your weight loss goals. She had read about people hanging up their bikinis in their room so that they could see it every day and be motivated to drop those few winter pounds in order to get 'beach ready' for summer.

I think this sounds like a great idea, except for me, I'm not trying to lose those last few pounds, just yet anyway. It wouldn't motivate me, it would feel too far away from where I am. I think that's why I never lost much weight before, my 50 lb goal was too far away, that it always felt like it didn't matter what I did today really.

I'm down 7lbs now total, and I'm focused on getting off 3lbs to meet my next goal.

In keeping with this incremental mentality, this is my first visual motivator.

My Jessica Simpson sequin dress

It's a black dress with gold sequins that I ordered online. It was expensive, by my standards, and while it is my size, it is a non-stretch material that is pinched in at the waist. It zips up ok, but I look like a stuffed (sparkly) sausage in it. It's just too tight in the tummy for me right now. But with the sequins, it can't be taken in or out.

I estimate losing 10lbs will make a huge difference in how it fits, although, it may be even more than this.

Either way, its something that fits, that I just need to get a few lbs off for it to fit better. I can't wait to try it on in a couple weeks. When I meet my next goal, only 3lbs away, I'm gonna try it on and see if losing the first 10lbs made a difference. If not, it'll hang on my wall a little bit longer, maybe until the next 5lb goal.

Either way, I am SO excited to rock that dress.