Hey All!

Me in my skinny jeans in summer 2010

As promised, I am going to be putting myself out here and document my final attempt at losing weight and keeping it off for good.  It’s been an ongoing process since 2007…losing, gaining, losing, gaining.  I thought the last time was for real, but without the weight to give me security and a reason for why things were “wrong”    with my life, it all came back–just like they have said in all the talk shows.

All my issues are not gone, but I am getting better with dealing with them and, more importantly, not turning to food as a coping mechanism.  I feel as though I am better equipped to take on the challenge of weight loss than I ever was.  This time I will do it with a sense of accomplishment with every milestone, rather than not appreciating what I have done and simply focusing on a goal.

For the next six months, I am going to work as hard as I possibly can to eat healthfully and to workout and overall, embrace a far more active lifestyle.  The last six months of the year, I will simply focus on maintenance and just adjusting to life where I am mindful of my weight and staying healthy, but not where it is a sole focus of my life. I’ve lived this way for five years and it is exhausting.

In terms of major goals, I have a few.  I am going to take the approach that I use for racing–they usually are: finish the race; finish without stopping, finish with a PR.

Here are my versions of these goals:

1. Lose enough to have my clothes fit–specifically my business suits. In terms of a number,  I would say that is about 160-165 lbs.

2. Get into my old Rock and Republic, size 27, skinny jeans, which fit, though snugly, in 2010.  I haven’t worn these jeans in nearly a year.  This would be around 150-155lbs.

Can't wait to wear these again!

3.   See if I can get to an all new low of around 140 lbs. The last time I tried this, I didn’t do it healthfully.  This time, I am quite sure that if I put my mind to it, it can be achieved in a healthful manner.

If I only manage to get one out of the three, then great.  Two out of the three, even better.  Three out of three, well, I might have to treat myself to something epic! 😉  Perhaps a week vacation at a surf school in Costa Rica or a trip to France to participate in a baking class. 🙂

Here are the starting out stats as of January 1, 2012:

Weight: 175.6 lbs

Measurements (in inches):

Chest: 41.25″

Bicep:  11.5″

Waist: 34.25″

Belly: 38.75″ *

Hips: 39.75″

Thigh:  24.5″

Calf: 15.5″

NOTE: I added a “belly measurement” as I am biggest around my belly and I really want to measure the difference in it over the next few months.

I plan on popping up weekly weights and monthly measurements with progress pictures, so stay tuned!