Took the long way

I began my weight loss journey about 5 years ago.  There were lots of up and downs and after about 2 years, I managed to lose 40 pounds. In May of 2009 I vividly remember weighing in at my weight watchers meeting at 171.0.  I'm not quite sure what happened after this, I do remember I stayed about in the same vicinity for a LONG time, I think I was even right around this weight when I first met Ricky (that was 2 years ago).  It wasn't until about Christmas of 2010 that I started putting the weight back on.  Lots of going away dinners and get togethers right before he left for the deployment didn't help my weight loss at all.  I remember stepping on the scale when Ricky left last February and I had gained 20 pounds.

I was horrified I had let myself do that.  And I said right there that I was going to lose it plus more while Ricky was gone.  I was going to be a hot 130 pound woman when Ricky got home.  Especially when we got engaged in March, I wanted to look good for my wedding! Well......that didn't happen.  My weight loss efforts had become a huge struggle and burden.  I wasn't in it 100%.  By the time he came home last October for his R&R, I had managed to lose about 10 pounds.  I was disappointed in myself.

Fast forward to Thanksgiving, I basically ate whatever I wanted.  I had already decided I was going to do one of the fab diets to lose all the weight so I didn't restrict myself at all.  Once I got back home after the holiday, I was about to start the stuff and somehow talked myself out of it.  I knew I could lose the weight on my own, I had done it before.  And I had to remind myself that it is a terribly slow process and be ok with the fact that I wouldn't be 130 pounds when Ricky got home or even for the wedding.

So December 1, my journey began again, this time with a lot more effort.  Instead of just going back to Weight Watchers which I had done so many time, I decided to give counting calories a try.  So I created a profile on My Fitness Pal.  I was still going to the bootcamp class I had joined back in September so I devoted myself to that.  I have been allowing myself treats, if I want ice cream, I get ice cream.  If I didn't have enough calories for the day for it, I knew I would need to get a workout in of some sort.

I was doing really good, Had dropped another 5 pounds, and then I got stuck.  No matter how hard I worked out or limited my sweets or cut back on carbs, I could not get off this plateau.  I was only stuck there for a month, but it seemed like an eternity.  A friend suggested I up my calories, my body could be going into starvation mode and holding onto all it can.  So that's what I did, I started eating more. I just simply ate about 250 more calories each day.  And what do ya know......the weight started come off again!

This morning I stepped on the scale and saw 171.4!!! I am finally almost back to where I weighed in at 4 years ago! I did one of those little happy dances in the bathroom haha (you know what one I'm talking about).  So I may have taken the long way, and who knows where I would be now had I not have given up 4 years ago, but that's life.  The important thing is I changed my attitude and habits back around and started making healthier choices for my life.  I simply can't wait to see the 160's on the scale and that is my pure motivation right now.

Here's to 20 pounds gone and to the next 20!