Missed it by this much

And I’m good with that.  I set a goal to lose 20 pounds in 22 weeks. Before I let you know how I did (I think you know a bit by the title), let me take you back to how this came about.

I was one of the lucky ones growing up.  I was always thin and didn’t have to worry about weight.  After two kids I never dropped back to pre-baby weight.  I began to gain extra weight a few years ago (up to 10 pounds then dropped  a couple) and last summer put on another six pounds in just a couple of weeks.  I was watching the scale climb and not liking it.  I knew I needed to cut back on the treats, watch portion size and begin exercising.  I knew what to do, I just didn’t have the will power or literally, the get-up-and-go to do it. 

One day I was reading blogs and clicking around on the web and came across the site, Two Girls on the Go.  They just so happened to be running a daily challenge for the month.  Any other day I would have continued my surfing.  Not that day.  I followed that monthly plan only missing three workouts.  The first week I thought I’d drop at least three pounds.  (When you are a “Biggest Loser” watcher you expect to lose like they do.)  Nope, I lost just one pound.  A bit discouraging.  The second week had to be a couple of pounds lost.  Again, just one.  After four weeks, four pounds.  Ok, so if I keep at this, in another four weeks I should be around 8 pounds down.  I was beginning to see that one pound a week really is a good thing. 

During the 22 weeks I caught a cold and had little energy for three weeks but maintained then lost again.  I also made it through Thanksgiving.  Then the two weeks surrounding Christmas did me in.  I succumbed to eating all the goodies and couch potato-ing.  There was also the passing of my father-in-law.  The motivation pretty much was gone during those few weeks.  Which brings us to today.  So here are the numbers…

I lost 16 pounds.  I started out at 154 pounds, jeans were pushing into a size 12 and my size 10 work slacks were tight.  I know some people would love to have my weight “problem”.  I know I was very unhealthy – and this is the problem.  I had very little muscle and mostly fat.  I had no endurance.  I struggled to run at a 12 minute mile pace – I could only last four minutes on a good day.  Today I am 138 pounds, jeans are a size 8 and dress pants size 6.  Trust me, I don’t look like someone who should be in a size 6.  I still have that thick layer of fat; it’s just in a smaller circumference.  I can usually run two miles on the treadmill at a 12 minute mile pace.

My first major goal is to get to 134 pounds.  Ultimately I would like to be down to 130.   I’ll admit, the numbers are important to me (it’s nice to see results), but they aren’t the most important.  I want to be strong and healthy and this is what I’m most excited about. 

I share this to hopefully inspire anyone else feeling they need to get healthier.  Trust me.  If this mid-40’s gal who could never say no to a sweet treat can do it I know you can.  I still have a treat but not every night.  Instead of a bowl of ice cream I have a spoon of sherbet ice cream.  I will still eat treats next Christmas, but I will sweat and burn some of those calories instead of letting them settle in my rear.