I decided, for the first time in my entire life, to enter a weight-loss challenge. I paid $15 and was invited into a secret Facebook group of women made up of friends and strangers alike. The rules were simple. Post a picture of your scale every Friday by 10:00 a.m. and make sure you include the week's new password--given early that morning--in your picture. Anyone losing 4% or more of their weight by the end of the eight long weeks wins an equal portion of the pot. Here's a peek into my eight-week journey.
Week 1, Day 1:
I take a picture of my beginning weight, almost crying in the process. I cannot believe I have put on almost 20 pounds since I left public school less than three years ago! I have been in serious denial. Apparently all that weight that I shed in stress, I gained in actual pounds! I decide to download the Lose It! app to track my calories. I know I cannot lose weight without heavy tech support. I put in my current weight, my goal weight, and the time frame, and it tells me that I need to stay within a 1257 calorie-per-day diet. Armed with my new weight-loss plan, I make Pioneer Woman egg muffins to eat for breakfast each day, shop for low-calorie snacks and high-protein lunches, and schedule a daily workout routine. I've got this!!!!
Week 1, Day 2-6:
I am dying. My stomach is eating itself out of sheer desperation for calories. I want pizza, chips, Coke, and a candy bar for lunch, and then I need a dinner at Ted's with all the extras. I hate working out. Jillian's abs do not make me feel good about myself. At all. At least I know after having such self-control all week, the scale will show me down at least five pounds come Friday!
Week 2, Day 1:
Before I document my first weight check, I make sure that I'm not even sporting any residual mascara from the night before. I step gently and slowly onto the scale. I want to make sure it remembers that we're friends. One week down, seven to go...after which Jillian will be calling me for tips. Wait, this number can't be right. ONE POUND?! O.N.E. POUND??? I've been denying and starving myself for this!!????!! I resist the urge to cry, as I'm afraid the splash of tears may increase the number on the scale, and then I take the picture. Only 17 more pounds left to lose...
Week 2, Day 4:
After a few caloric mishaps over my single-momming-it weekend, I vow to start fresh. I eat like a bird all day, and I complain about how hungry I am to anyone who will listen. If the scale isn't more favorable this week, I am quitting. Halfway through the day, I hear about an intermittent fast in which I can only eat my allotted calories between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. I decide--with no further research whatsoever--that this is the answer to my weight-loss quest.
Week 2, Day 5
This is so, so much worse than low-calorie. No calories before noon? What was I thinking? By 8 a.m. I feel nauseous and have a terrible headache. When noon comes, my measly lunch doesn't even come close to satisfying the raging hunger that has taken over. I want to devour everything in sight. Even Clover's bunny food starts to look appealing. When bedtime comes, though, I feel so much better than I normally do. I don't have even a hint of my usual reflux, and sleep comes quickly. I can do this!
Week 3, Day 1
Weigh Day!!! I'm cautiously optimistic as I step on the scale this time. I suck in and push all the air out of my lungs, trying to trick the scale somehow. Down 2.2 more pounds! Maybe this fasting thing is working after all!! I think I'll celebrate by consuming as many calories as I possibly can all weekend long...single-momming it for another full weekend is not for the faint of heart.
Week 3, Day 5
I cannot continue the fasting. I. JUST. CAN'T. I feel like my body is shutting down. I barely have energy for my workouts and my patience is hanging by a very thin thread. I eat a tiny protein bar at 9 a.m. and immediately feel like my entire life is back on track. I decide to continue depriving myself of all food after 8 p.m. just because it seems like a reasonable compromise, but I go back to eating breakfast and smiling at the people around me.
Week 4, Day 1
Trepidation. I did not do quite as well with the calories during Week 3, mostly because we ate out a lot, and it is hard to count calories at places that don't list them. I always end up searching and choosing whichever version of my food has the lowest calories in my app, which feels a bit like cheating but also makes me feel successful. I stare down at the scale, willing it to give me even the tiniest break. One pound down. At this rate I'll be rocking a one-piece body by December! Maybe I should schedule a beach trip for some extra motivation...
Week 4, Day 4
This week has been marginally better. Erik has been off work and has made us dinner every night to avoid the dreaded, "Where are we going to eat?"argument discussion that has only intensified as I try to avoid unnecessary calories.
Week 4, Day 6
I spoke too soon. I over-indulge today and find myself elbow deep in fried rice, wantons, bubble tea, and later on, a mini blizzard. All worth it in the moment, but I'm afraid my scale will not let me get away with this gluttony.
Week 5, Day 1
0.4 pounds lost this week. Although I'm a bit depressed as I step on the scale for the 10th time and don't see the numbers change, I also know that I was not at my best this past week. I didn't work out much, and I certainly could have eaten better. Back to the treadmill!
Week 6, Day 1
Another pound down! At this point I have lost 6 pounds. It doesn't sound like much, but I am definitely able to tell a difference in the way my clothes fit, and better yet, I have had a few people comment that they can tell, too! This means a lot to me, as I definitely fight discouragement on a daily basis. I knew the fat wouldn't melt away without any work on my part, but I really thought it would be a bit easier. With age comes humility!
Week 7, Day 1
This past week saw my hubby and I celebrate our 15th anniversary by staying in Pawhuska at the Pioneer Woman's Boarding House. This equaled road-trip snacks and a lot of great food upon arrival. After three straight days of constant eating, I had to fight against over-indulging on Valentine's Day as well. I look down at my feet and accept the scale's measly 0.6 pounds down as a late anniversary gift and let out a sigh of relief.
Week 8, Day 1
The previous week consisted of a staff lunch, a banquet, and a host of other reasons to eat, eat, eat. While I did a good job of avoiding a lot of the bad food, I did not complete one single work out. Not one. I step on the scale, close my eyes tightly, and hesitantly open them. Please, please, please!! 0.2 pounds down. It's a tiny, insignificant loss, but it's still a loss, and better yet, it means I have finally hit my 4% down! If I maintain it, I get a piece of the winnings! Yay for me!!!!!
Week 8, Day 2-6
I know now that a couple of days of eating horribly won't kill me, so I take the opportunity to eat some things I love on a mommy-daughter date at one of our favorite restaurants. Then I eat way too much fried rice throughout the week; I also find myself snacking consistently on the Nerds jelly beans I bought for my students, as they are the absolute best candy Easter brings. My kids at school seriously beg me for these if you need a good basket filler. At the end of the week, I realize that once again, working out has eluded me. I have no idea if the scale will betray me on the final day. I could easily lose the 4% I worked so hard for because of my lack of self-control this week!
Final Weigh Day
I take some deep, cleansing breaths before I step on the scale. This is important to me. Despite many, many lapses, I still sacrificed eating what I wanted to eat so many times over the course of 8 weeks. I have been dying for a big, greasy cheeseburger with everything on it. I've dreamed about living in a bakery and eating all the bread almost every night. I have sat forlornly while eating with friends, watching them happily enjoy their lunches while I stare at my wilting lettuce. I have even skipped every pastry offered in the lounge for breakfast and almost every dessert my husband and daughter have enjoyed. I step on the scale. 0.4 pounds down! A final loss of almost 7 pounds...I am ecstatic!
While my goal was more like a loss of 1.5 pounds a week, I only hit that once, and it was a week of fasting and faithful workouts. Unfortunately, with our crazy schedule, that is just not always realistic. I have found that what works best for me is a combination of one cheat day a week, caloric accountability, consistent exercise, and the knowledge of a semi-public weekly weight check. I also did better when I was wearing my Apple watch.
Before I started all this, my late-night snacking was out of control, and I was eating a lot of small, unhealthy things throughout the day. I was also sitting A LOT. When you know you are going to have to account for every single calorie, you think twice about whether you really want to eat a candy bar or drink that Coke. You also make more of an effort to get up and move so you can add in the exercise to your calorie count. The more you move, the more you can eat guilt-free...and isn't that the point? :-)
In another week, I will embark on this journey all over again, trying to lose another 4%. My prayer is that nicer weather and 8 weeks of experience will translate into an easier, more consistent loss. Here's hoping!!
Week 2, Day 5
This is so, so much worse than low-calorie. No calories before noon? What was I thinking? By 8 a.m. I feel nauseous and have a terrible headache. When noon comes, my measly lunch doesn't even come close to satisfying the raging hunger that has taken over. I want to devour everything in sight. Even Clover's bunny food starts to look appealing. When bedtime comes, though, I feel so much better than I normally do. I don't have even a hint of my usual reflux, and sleep comes quickly. I can do this!
Week 3, Day 1
Weigh Day!!! I'm cautiously optimistic as I step on the scale this time. I suck in and push all the air out of my lungs, trying to trick the scale somehow. Down 2.2 more pounds! Maybe this fasting thing is working after all!! I think I'll celebrate by consuming as many calories as I possibly can all weekend long...single-momming it for another full weekend is not for the faint of heart.
Week 3, Day 5
I cannot continue the fasting. I. JUST. CAN'T. I feel like my body is shutting down. I barely have energy for my workouts and my patience is hanging by a very thin thread. I eat a tiny protein bar at 9 a.m. and immediately feel like my entire life is back on track. I decide to continue depriving myself of all food after 8 p.m. just because it seems like a reasonable compromise, but I go back to eating breakfast and smiling at the people around me.
Week 4, Day 1
Trepidation. I did not do quite as well with the calories during Week 3, mostly because we ate out a lot, and it is hard to count calories at places that don't list them. I always end up searching and choosing whichever version of my food has the lowest calories in my app, which feels a bit like cheating but also makes me feel successful. I stare down at the scale, willing it to give me even the tiniest break. One pound down. At this rate I'll be rocking a one-piece body by December! Maybe I should schedule a beach trip for some extra motivation...
Week 4, Day 4
This week has been marginally better. Erik has been off work and has made us dinner every night to avoid the dreaded, "Where are we going to eat?"
Week 4, Day 6
I spoke too soon. I over-indulge today and find myself elbow deep in fried rice, wantons, bubble tea, and later on, a mini blizzard. All worth it in the moment, but I'm afraid my scale will not let me get away with this gluttony.
Week 5, Day 1
0.4 pounds lost this week. Although I'm a bit depressed as I step on the scale for the 10th time and don't see the numbers change, I also know that I was not at my best this past week. I didn't work out much, and I certainly could have eaten better. Back to the treadmill!
Week 6, Day 1
Another pound down! At this point I have lost 6 pounds. It doesn't sound like much, but I am definitely able to tell a difference in the way my clothes fit, and better yet, I have had a few people comment that they can tell, too! This means a lot to me, as I definitely fight discouragement on a daily basis. I knew the fat wouldn't melt away without any work on my part, but I really thought it would be a bit easier. With age comes humility!
Week 7, Day 1
This past week saw my hubby and I celebrate our 15th anniversary by staying in Pawhuska at the Pioneer Woman's Boarding House. This equaled road-trip snacks and a lot of great food upon arrival. After three straight days of constant eating, I had to fight against over-indulging on Valentine's Day as well. I look down at my feet and accept the scale's measly 0.6 pounds down as a late anniversary gift and let out a sigh of relief.
Week 8, Day 1
The previous week consisted of a staff lunch, a banquet, and a host of other reasons to eat, eat, eat. While I did a good job of avoiding a lot of the bad food, I did not complete one single work out. Not one. I step on the scale, close my eyes tightly, and hesitantly open them. Please, please, please!! 0.2 pounds down. It's a tiny, insignificant loss, but it's still a loss, and better yet, it means I have finally hit my 4% down! If I maintain it, I get a piece of the winnings! Yay for me!!!!!
Week 8, Day 2-6
I know now that a couple of days of eating horribly won't kill me, so I take the opportunity to eat some things I love on a mommy-daughter date at one of our favorite restaurants. Then I eat way too much fried rice throughout the week; I also find myself snacking consistently on the Nerds jelly beans I bought for my students, as they are the absolute best candy Easter brings. My kids at school seriously beg me for these if you need a good basket filler. At the end of the week, I realize that once again, working out has eluded me. I have no idea if the scale will betray me on the final day. I could easily lose the 4% I worked so hard for because of my lack of self-control this week!
Final Weigh Day
I take some deep, cleansing breaths before I step on the scale. This is important to me. Despite many, many lapses, I still sacrificed eating what I wanted to eat so many times over the course of 8 weeks. I have been dying for a big, greasy cheeseburger with everything on it. I've dreamed about living in a bakery and eating all the bread almost every night. I have sat forlornly while eating with friends, watching them happily enjoy their lunches while I stare at my wilting lettuce. I have even skipped every pastry offered in the lounge for breakfast and almost every dessert my husband and daughter have enjoyed. I step on the scale. 0.4 pounds down! A final loss of almost 7 pounds...I am ecstatic!
While my goal was more like a loss of 1.5 pounds a week, I only hit that once, and it was a week of fasting and faithful workouts. Unfortunately, with our crazy schedule, that is just not always realistic. I have found that what works best for me is a combination of one cheat day a week, caloric accountability, consistent exercise, and the knowledge of a semi-public weekly weight check. I also did better when I was wearing my Apple watch.
Before I started all this, my late-night snacking was out of control, and I was eating a lot of small, unhealthy things throughout the day. I was also sitting A LOT. When you know you are going to have to account for every single calorie, you think twice about whether you really want to eat a candy bar or drink that Coke. You also make more of an effort to get up and move so you can add in the exercise to your calorie count. The more you move, the more you can eat guilt-free...and isn't that the point? :-)
In another week, I will embark on this journey all over again, trying to lose another 4%. My prayer is that nicer weather and 8 weeks of experience will translate into an easier, more consistent loss. Here's hoping!!
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