sheduma’s BodyBlog

The main fat I need to lose is still the pooch under my belly button (also in the same spot on my back.) I have fat on my thighs that needs to go as well, but this is really the main place I need to lose actual inches. Everything else is getting there… still hoping to lose a couple of inches off my waist as well.

 My "pooch" is currently at about 33". It’s hard to get accurate measurements of anything for me, but this seems about right. So I still have a ways to go there.

I’m really cleaning up my diet and trying to get in more cardio for some big plans this fall.

I’ve been up and down with my body image… I know I look a lot better than I did, but I also recognize how FAR I am from my goals. My waist is quite a bit smaller, but I’ve got a lot of fat below it, and not much ass muscle (bad combo!) So those two bits of me are my main focus now.

(In other news, I look like a 12yo boy when I have no makeup on.)

I know I keep saying that, but not having enough money for food, and battling with depression over the winter months (and it always gets worse around March,) really took it out of me. That and trying to be vegan… then raw vegan on top of that… it’s hard to get what I need and be able to lift and run or whatever.

I’m getting more money now, though, and sunshine. I’m maintaining at a good weight, and just need to lose a chunk of fat from my middle. And add muscle, of course. Lots of muscle. I got some money today, and it will be going towards some raw protein powders - Nutiva hemp, and Sun Warrior rice. That along with some raw food basics… nice dense nutrients… and it’ll be all good.

I think I want to set a hard goal. I’ll post up pics of my body on the Solstice. I’m feeling really motivated right now, and maybe actually showing what I can do (maybe even old pics to show what I HAVE done,) should help that out even more.

So I think I was getting down to 136 around Christmas - 1 pound away from my goal weight… and thanks to gastroenteritis, I will now be entering the new year 4 pounds UNDER my goal weight.

That’s even after drinking quite a bit of liquids. We’ll see where I’m at in a couple of days, but I’ve eaten practically nothing since the night before last. It was horrible, and I’m still a ways from normal. I’m sure my body is eating what little muscle I have, and there’s NO WAY I can work out right now. I can hardly stand up for long.

 I’ll get there, though.

I’ve been relatively vegan for just over two weeks now, and I feel great! I also feel like my stomach is flattening out. I haven’t lost anything, according to the tape measure… but I always have trouble getting that one accurate, and I really think I look a lot better. Maybe it’s the fat below my waist that I’m losing - the pooch just under my bellybutton. I need to be measuring THAT damn bit… and I think I have before. [EDIT: 34.5/34"]

I’ve lost some size on my hips and thighs, which is good because I want to lose fat, but overall, I don’t want my ass to shrink (especially if my waist isn’t!) I just want to turn it into muscle.

I’ve lost just over 10% of my total body weight! A slight stomach bug helped curb my appetite these past couple of weeks, and I got two pounds under the 143 stall-out I’d been sitting at forever. My body seems to want to stick to where it’s at about every 10 pounds, without really gaining or losing. Hopefully now it will be easier for me to lose again. Once I get down to the next 10lb marker, I won’t need to lose anymore weight - just body fat, plus gain a lot of muscle.

I’ve been walking with Zoe on the beach quite a bit, and now that it’s finally getting warm and the roads are clear, I will be getting out biking. Over the summer, I will be taking kids hiking, plus doing an exercise program and dance with them. It’ll be awesome, and I should get in even better shape with that on top of biking to work and hiking on the weekends with Reuben.

My waist has also gone down by about 10% - 3.5 inches! It really dropped of recently, which is nice. That’s the main weight I want to lose, along with the fat just under it. My hip size is fine, since I want a lot of muscle there. I just need to change the composition.

Once I lose just a bit more, I’ll have to take good progress pics to track my change as I get serious about lifting again.

I just did the 40 minute medium intensity program on the treadmill. That may not sound like much, but it was really a lot for me. I almost didn’t do all of it, or at least not as fast as it had it set to, but I did! That’s a nice big chunk of calories right there… and heart exercise. I was getting a lot of irregular beats, which made me think I’d have to give up halfway through. Plus about 4,000 steps. So if I can get 5,000 at work each day like I know I can, then that afterwards, plus a little more moving around, I should be right where I need to be for health and weight loss.

I will say though, I feel sick to my stomach instead of exhilarated. It only gets easier, though. I just have to make sure to avoid that strong temptation to keep going further and further… longer on the treadmill, several times a day, etc.

I feel like I’m finally really on track with my eating. I’ve been keeping fairly good track of calories, cutting back, eating less food, less often. Staying away from bad foods… It’s not showing up on the scale yet, but I KNOW it will soon. I can feel it in my body already. It’s really nice. I’m very black or white, so I think forcing myself to get back on track completely will be something I can stay with once I get it going.

I’ve added lots of fiber to my diet, calcium, fish oil… all things that will supposedly help me lose weight. They are good things to be getting either way, but I’m hoping they will help me see some progress. I’m also drinking tons more water than I’ve ever been able to before. I just FEEL so much better because of it. I’ve also totally cut out even caffeine free diet coke, and I think that’s helping me out a lot with feeling thinner. I also don’t get much flavored water anymore, either. Trying to stay away from artificial sweeteners.

My body is just starting to feel better, inside and out. I’ve realized how little I MOVE each day since wearing a pedometer, and extra walking around, with step goals, should make a big difference. Dieting won’t do enough good for my health if I’m not out burning up calories and getting my heart rate up!

Anyhow, I guess that’s it for now… next time I check in, I’ll have lost some more weight and still be on track with my eating. Once I hit 135, I’m going to get into lifting heavy and eating more to build muscle, but my goal is to stay at that weight as I do so, still losing fat. I think I can do it.

In another forum I am a member of, they are doing a "The Biggest Loser" style competition. I signed up to lose ten pounds by Easter.

I think being a part of something like that will really help me stick to things. I have to check in with all these other people, and have team mates that are counting on me. It’s a whole different story.

It’s pretty good timing too, because the dark months have started taking a toll on my energy and I’ve been feeling pretty dead. If I get out and do something active every day, it helps a lots.

I went snowshoeing for almost an hour and a half Wednesday, then two days of swimming with kids for work, then my BF and I went to the beach yesterday, then I walked some on my own today, plus took my dog for a walk/jog.

I think I want to lose 15 more pounds, then add muscle. Probably still stay somewhere around that weight, though, so I’d lose more fat than just 15 more pounds.

I can definitely see a difference already. I measured myself today, but since I don’t have a tape measure, just string and a ruler, it won’t be that accurate. Soon I hope to get better numbers. From what I got, though, my bust is at just under 37", waist just over 31", hips just under 38 3/4" and thigh 22 1/2". I am pretty sure those are all improvements form when I measured like a year ago (damn, long time!) I feel confident that it’s not muscle I lost. Well, some was, but I for sure lost fat as well. I feel and look better, and it helps to
break the cycle I was caught in.
I’ve now been at 145 for a while. Not losing recently, but not gaining, either. Losing that first bit helped a lot, and now I’m not going back! I weigh what I did before gaining a lot of weight all the sudden and feeling like shit (symptoms of estrogen dominance.) Who really know what caused what, but I’m done with that.

EDIT: I just found my old stats and entered them here. Since last January, I have lost over 1" from my bust, almost 1 3/4" from my waist, 1" from my hips, and just over 1/2" from each thigh. Woohoo! I think that’s great, since most of my losses were just over the last few months of the year. Definitely on my way, now.

Checked my weight again yesterday morning. I’ve hardly been weighing myself, rather than many times each day. It’s been nice, and every time I’ve weighed the same or less as before.
I’m planning on getting more exercise in. I have to find ways to keep myself alive this winter. My energy gets so low, but I decided to not pile on big expectations. I’ve managed to lose weight this year, and I’m getting to where I want to be. That makes me happy, and if I can add in a little bit more activity, then a little bit more, it will be enough.
I think I’d really benefit from yoga about now as well… so we’ll see. Running would be nice as well.