Weekly Posts 21-26 of the Weight Loss Journey to Lose 135 lbs.

ByNicole Doria

Here it is… another 6 weeks of how I got here.

Exactly as it was then.

And you know what… I am not sure I feel as exposed with this going out there into the world again. There are so many aspects in this that is still very true with the way that I think and coach others.

Those who know be as a coach… you’ll hear it ♥️

The main things within these six weeks…

  1. Small Wins: Inspiring others. Fitting the two of the ball gowns I had for the USMC Birthday Ball!
  2. Connected with my loved ones: Both a date night with Adrian and a mother & son date night too.
  3. Mindset Work on “cheating”: In the last blog recap, I mentioned the 80/20 rule and practicing a quick reset. Same thing goes for this. If I am practicing the 80/20 rule, there is no cheat… it’s just how I eat.
  4. Motivation through Challenges: 5K race at the end of the 90 day challenge with my husband. AND I DID A BURPEES CHALLENGE. I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHO I WAS.
  5. Awareness of Self-Deception: I was convincing myself that “I’m not that big”, “I cleaned the house so that counts as my exercise for the day”, “I don’t need to lose the weight” and on & on.  I was making excuses FOR me TO me.  Literally lying to myself.  I knew that I wanted to get somewhere but I just wasn’t being honest so all my attempts were washes.  I also had all of the old thoughts that trying to lose weight meant that I had to sacrifice the taste. 

DISCLAIMER: I am posting word for word where I was over 10 years ago, and I am not editing. I am allowing you to see exactly what was happening and what I was posting before becoming a nutritionist trainer who followed an evidence-based practice. there were also some moments where I did not actually know that my heaviest weight was 265 pounds until I stumbled upon an old medical record.

October 19, 2012: Weight Loss: The Rewards.

The people just keep coming!  I just cannot believe how many people have told me I inspired them to get moving.  It quite literally brings tears of joy.  In a life where you’re alone a lot even knowing that people miles and miles away are going at this with you is so comforting.  I seriously wish I had a my phone upgrade already because I’d definitely skype or google hangout walk with people!  Just because we aren’t literally next to each other we could still do this together!!!!

If you have noticed, I made my own quotey image thingy!  As I am outside and pushing it, these quotes keep coming to mind so I figure it is about time to share them!

Oh AND I have been doing lots and lots of food research this week.  I’m trying to find foods that we can add in to our day to day to help my thyroid kick back into gear.  The thought of heading to meds is not my idea of happy & healthy so I will do whatever it takes!!!

  • Weight: 194.1 lbs today
  • Total loss:  14.5 lbs
  • 90 Day Challenge loss: 5.9 lbs
  • BMI: 32.3
  • Highest weigh-in to date:  243.5 lbs on 3/11/2008 (The day I went in to labor with Aiden.  Not sure if I had been higher.  I do remember wearing 18 mostly & being sized at a 22 for a bridesmaids dress.)
  • Weight goal:  134 lbs (Last seen in High School when I was running and watching what I ate)

Progress

  • 3 Weeks of the Challenge and awesomeness is all I can really say!!!  I have been getting back into my clothes from right after my pregnancy with Aiden.  They fit so much better!  I had one nightgown that I bought before the move to Greensboro in 2008.  Back then the buttons down the front were always pulling…not anymore!!!  It’s even roomy!!!
  • 16.87 miles walked this week!
  • Bought Thigh Slimmers BUT I walked out of them literally!  SOOO I put them on my arms 
  • Been utilizing nap time for Blogilates #OMGOctober calendar!
  • Started taking flintstone vitamins.  I have always seemed to get a little queasy with vitamins so the doctor recommended this until I can find something.

Recipes tried this week!

October 22, 2012: A date night: Time to Dress!

We did it again!

For people that look at life near family and/or without kids, you may not understand.  It’s hard to make time.  It’s hard to receive time.  The very first thing that I became accustomed to as a USMC spouse was that my husband is not fully mine.  He’s married to the Marine Corps and then to me.  That’s okay.  I knew that.  When he has a choice in matters, he always includes me as his sole adviser.  He maintains the balance, so I must too.

Well after the relief that last month’s date night brought, we had to try to duplicate!  This time the hubby decided that he really wanted to try going to some place new and local.  A restaurant.  But a local, small business restaurant.  I was stumped.  Where to go?  Honestly, I closed my eyes thought of a town and Google Earth’d it.  Surf City is would be and then I discovered The Bistro at Just Baked.

Now that we are on the 90 Day Challenge we do not go out for a meal once a week, fast food or pizza.  This left a lot of room for the finance side of things and what better when you do not have restriction than a place like this…

“At the BISTRO our menus are designed to mirror the seasons, to take advantage of fresh, local and seasonal ingredients.

We feature Hand Cut Black Angus steaks, fresh ground burgers, local produce and local, sustainable,
wild caught seafood whenever possible.

Our menus feature contemporary takes on Southern and Coastal classics, from Shrimp and Grits to Blue Cornmeal Crusted Crab Cakes, huge sandwiches and our famous “Homemade Potato Chips”.  You won’t find a menu full of battered and deep fried items, no canned veggies and we will never, ever serve your children chicken fingers.”

They had a great score and bunch of reviews on Google+, so I decided to use their super easy online reservation function.

The day came for our dinner date together and I was thrilled!  I was crazily sifting through my closet trying to find something to wear.  With my progress on the 90 Day Challenge, I’ve had a little problem of things getting to be too big, but I am NOT complaining!!!  Finally, I decided on a black dress that was in the smaller part of the closet.  Tonight I was going to get to be a girl!

Fast forward to the restaurant…

After my husband again opening and closing the car door for me, we made it into the restaurant and were completely giddy!  Honestly, I could not remember a time when we went to a restaurant that there were not any kids in site.  It was all adults.  It was quiet.  It was amazing.

Crab Dip with Herbed Crostini
creamy lump blue crab and artichoke dip
with homemade crostini for dipping.
Dinner…The Special!
Mahi Mahi with Shrimp & Scallops
jumbo shrimp, sea scallops,
key lime pan sauce with seasoned rice, sautéed vegetables
Dessert…Rustic Apple Tart
DELICIOUS!  All of it!  Every last bite!

We ended the night with a walk on the beach near the Surf City Pier.  The only thing that could have possibly made the night better was maybe a full moon lighting everything, but that is such a small request.  I had everything I needed.  My husband and best friend.

October 26, 2012: Weight Loss: Corduroys…be quiet!

With a lifestyle change, you get out what you put in.  I’m choosing to put in healthy habits so that I can be physically fit for the first time in my life. This is me making a change!

The best part of the week by far…wait.  There were a couple amazing parts to the week but I’ll try to stay focused here.

First off, my protein is now free!!!

Second, the hubs and I had a date night and I struggled to find something in my closet that wouldn’t FALL OFF!!!!

Third thing, I had a mommy & son date night.  It was at Chick-Fil-A but I did pretty good at watching what I had.  These may have been great outings but it doesn’t mean I can cheat.  You always tell you girlfriend that gets cheated on, “once a cheat, always a cheat” right?  Well same thing goes!  If I “cheat” here, then I’ll rationalize it over and over until I’m right back to where I began!

Final one, my hubby has decided to step outside with me.  I have been doing so good with my walking but it’s getting less and less challenging, so he’s going to help me run.  The goal is…5K near or after the 90 Day Challenge mark!

  • Weight: 194.1 lbs today
  • Total loss:  13.3 lbs
  • 90 Day Challenge: Down 10.18 lbs BF & Up 4.28 lbs lean muscle
  • Body Fat %: 37%
  • BMI: 32.3
  • Highest weigh-in to date:  243.5 lbs on 3/11/2008 (The day I went in to labor with Aiden.  Not sure if I had been higher.  I do remember wearing 18 mostly & being sized at a 22 for a bridesmaids dress.)
  • Weight goal:  134 lbs (Last seen in High School when I was running and watching what I ate)

Progress

  • 4 Weeks of the Challenge and I think I have finally figured it out!  I’m down 4% body fat!
  • Cleaned out the closet of all of the bigger clothes minus my biggest pants for Clothes Mentor drop off!
  • 17.08 miles walked this week!
  • Joined Stroller Warriors
  • Bought new sneakers just for running as well as a single jogger.  The Hubs is going to train for C25K with me.  Not that he needs to but he’s my moral support 
  • Been utilizing nap time for Blogilates #OMGOctober calendar!  Mostly the arm challenges in preparation for the strapless USMC ball gown!

Recipes tried this week!

November 2, 2012: Weight Loss: Embracing…pain is weakness leaving the body

I did it.  I signed up for a run.  It has finally reached that moment that I needed to get to.  Luckily, I have my hubby and my friend, Emily, to help me.  Trust you me…I am going to need it.  Motivation to run?  The only thing I can come up with is I get to finish exercising faster.  I’m hoping that I can learn some other points that make me get going but for now that will just have to do.

  • Weight: 191.5 lbs today
  • Total loss:  17.1 lbs since 9/8/12
  • 90 Day Challenge: Down 13.06 lbs BF, 14.3″ lost & Up 4.56 lbs lean muscle
  • Body Fat %: 36%
  • BMI: 31.9
  • Highest weigh-in to date:  243.5 lbs on 3/11/2008 (The day I went in to labor with Aiden.  Not sure if I had been higher.  I do remember wearing 18 mostly & being sized at a 22 for a bridesmaids dress.)
  • Weight goal:  134 lbs (Last seen in High School when I was running and watching what I ate)

Progress

  • 5 Weeks of the Challenge and I think I have finally figured it out!  I’m down 4% body fat!
  • 4.98 miles walked this week due to a seriously rainy weekend.  I did, however, get in 2 1/2 hours on the elliptical!
  • Been doing the Pilates Burpees Battle!  
  • Just printed my Blogilates #NutsInNovember calendar!

Recipes tried this week!

November 9, 2012: Big hurtle.

This week marked a big hurtle for me.  I got passed it though and still moving strong.  Some people think that it’s funny that I know myself well enough to tell you all the things I can.  Well it’s because I’m finally to the point that I realized without the honesty in this that I just won’t make it.  

That’s where my failure really was.  I was convincing myself that “I’m not that big”, “I cleaned the house so that counts as my exercise for the day”, “I don’t need to lose the weight” and on & on.  I was making excuses FOR me TO me.  Literally lying to myself.  I knew that I wanted to get somewhere but I just wasn’t being honest so all my attempts were washes.  

I also had all of the old thoughts that trying to lose weight meant that I had to sacrifice the taste.  Not true!  Just because it’s different doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have taste!  If you open your mind and try new things, you might actually like it.  It’s a concept that we are teaching our children but too stubborn to do ourselves.  Healthy does not mean no flavor…just ask my husband!  Our food has actually taken on a whole new level of tastes and spices!  I have yet to find something too bland which is what I was starting to feel when it came to rotating meatloaf, chicken parm, mac & cheese, baked ziti, chili and pot roast.  Now you probably think that I didn’t know what I was doing before…don’t get me wrong.  Those are great dishes, but they were getting old to us and this gave us a reason to explore new foods!  All and all, I wasn’t happy and I wasn’t honest.  Now we are in our whole new world and there’s no stopping us!!!

I’m very very very happy to announce that with a week left on the road to the USMC Birthday Ball, I am in one of my dresses!  For a little while I was scared that it was not going to happen but I stuck it out.  It is a size 14 but any woman out there knows that with vanity sizing that could mean just about any size out there!

  • Weight: 189.8 lbs today
  • Total loss: 18.8 lbs since 9/8/12
  • 90 Day Challenge: Down 13.67 lbs BF, 15.3″ lost & Up 3.47 lbs lean muscle
  • Body Fat %: 36%
  • BMI: 31.6
  • Highest weigh-in to date: 243.5 lbs on 3/11/2008 (The day I went in to labor with Aiden. Not sure if I had been higher. I do remember wearing 18 mostly & being sized at a 22 for a bridesmaids dress.)
  • Weight goal: 134 lbs (Last seen in High School when I was running and watching what I ate)

Progress

  • 6 Weeks of the Challenge!!!
  • Been trying the theory to Chris Powell’s carb-cycling.
  • Finished the Blogilates & Weight Training‘s Pilates Burpees Battle!
  • Week 2 of the C25K with the hubby’s help!
  • 1 mile fun run on the 18th with the Stroller Warriors!
  • 4.50 miles walked this week and 2 hours on the elliptical!
  • Still doing the arms challenge at Blogilates and days off of the #NutsInNovember calendar!

Recipes tried this week!

November 16, 2012: Weight Loss: A second slice?

Today is the day of the US Marine Corps Birthday Ball and the completion to two big goals I had.  I had two dresses that could not even attempt zipping when I started all of this.  Both are sized at 14 and now THEY FIT!

It is truly an amazing feeling to know that I could get to where I set myself to be.  So many times we take for granted how little time it would actually take because it just seems too far away or too hard of a road.  Well it is not.  Your journey is what you make it.  

Adrian and I have not regretted our decision to eat cleaner and healthier.  I have not sat there and said, “man I wish I would have had those McD’s fries 3 Mondays ago”.  Sure, you can do a YOLO meal but the dedication to getting healthy is not in you “slipping” up.  It is in you continuing on after that.

If you want to make an excuse for yourself, make sure that it is worth it.  You are the one who has the benefits and the consequences to it.  I have not eaten perfect for every meal.  That is very far from the case.  I am working on finding a way to a better lifestyle. That means that every now and then if I think about a chocolate cake for long enough…guess what?  I’m going to get a slice of chocolate cake. Once that slice is done, I’m right back to my day to day.  Getting fit…getting healthy…getting slimmer…getting my outside to match my inside…is more important to me than to sit down and have a second slice.

  • Weight: 188.9 lbs today
  • Total loss: 19.7 lbs since 9/8/12
  • 90 Day Challenge: Down 14.0 lbs BF, 16.05″ lost & Up 2.9 lbs lean muscle
  • Body Fat %: 36%
  • BMI: 31.4
  • Highest weigh-in to date: 243.5 lbs on 3/11/2008 (The day I went in to labor with Aiden. Not sure if I had been higher. I do remember wearing 18/20 mostly & being sized at a 22 for a bridesmaids dress.)
  • Weight goal: 134 lbs (last seen in high school)

Progress

  • Day 51 of the Challenge!!!
  • Week 2 Day 3 of the C25K with the hubby’s help!
  • 1 mile fun run on the 18th with the Stroller Warriors!
  • 10 miles ran/walked this week and 1/2 hour on the elliptical!
  • Still doing the arms challenge at Blogilates

Recipes tried this week!

Takeaway

I think my biggest take away from this is honestly… I sound like me. Like this is a lot of how I sound now….

I don’t generally recommend carb cycling because I like carbs but I also don’t condemn it if that’s something that you enjoy and works for you. Same goes for burpees LOL!

I still heavily believe in setting yourself up with something that can challenge you & help motivate you to keep going like having ballgowns that I needed to fit into, up to a 5K race and other things like a 90 day challenge.

I never excluded myself from my loved ones. It was in moderation and it was with strategy but I needed those moments.

I constantly work on my mindset even now. It’s paramount because there’s no going back for me and some of the things that were hard fought battles then still are now.

Hope this helps!

Other Weight Loss Journey Posts

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply