Health

You might recall that one of my goals for 2011 was to commence Project Hot Koochie Mama.  If you want to read more about that, click here to go to that post.  Basically, the idea is, I need to lose weight.  I've been troubled by my weight gain over the past couple of years.  So, on Friday (4/15/11), I signed in to a place called Medical Weight Loss Center.  Now, don't worry...I'm not doing anything drastic like taking drugs or having bariatric surgery.  It's a plain old diet, but they make me come in and weigh in three times per week.  I love that.  That should help me stay more accountable than once per week, like most places.  I have to eat sensibly, but on their plan, they suggest I should lose 3 pounds per week.  But, I'm going to be out of town a lot this summer, so I expect it to go a little slower.  My goal is to have all my excess poundage off by October 1.  I put up this page so you can follow my progress.

My sister found this little tracker for me so I can publicly post my progress.  I thought it would help me to be publicly accountable.  I have found that being public about my quilting goals has really helped me, so I'm hoping it will transfer to my weight loss as well.  I think I will also put some diary entries below the tracker to let you know how things are going.

If you'd like to join me go to create your own tracker, and then copy and paste the HTML code and email it to Aunt Pea (my sister) and she'll put it here!  Wouldn't it be fun to all work together on this?!

If nothing else, if you would be kind enough to offer a word of congrats now and then (when I've earned it), that would really help me.  And when I'm slacking, please feel free to give me a kick in the pants.  I'll be ever so grateful!

Mama Pea

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My goal is to lose 59 pounds and here is my tracking status:

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Readers have joined me, thanks for your support!

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I will join you!

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I'm with you too!

11/1/11 update:

It's been about three months since I updated this!  I have been busy, busy, busy.  And I feel like the weight loss has been slow, and difficult.  But, I now realize in those three months, I've lost another 20 pounds.  I'm up to 46.6 pounds lost now!  So, I am really happy about that.  I have a little more than 12 pounds to go.  It has gone slower than it should....I should be to my goal by now.  But, it's all going in the right direction, so I will not complain.  Let's hope I can be to my goal before Christmas.  That will be good motivation for not blowing it at Christmas, right?!

8/5/11 update:

I've been remiss about updating everyone on weight loss.  I've been a little frustrated, because I keep yo-yoing, although thte trend is generally down.  So, I guest that's good.  But I wish the progress was more steady and, of course, quicker!  But, I'm now down 27.6 pounds all told!  Looking at my last progress update, however, I should be really happy.  Down 7.6 pounds since July 12.  Not too shabby, I guess!  I have had a couple people at work mention that they've noticed I lost weight and that they can really tell the difference in my face.  That has been nice to hear.  So, I'll keep on trucking.  Not even half of the way there yet, but I'm getting there!  My goal was to be at my goal weight by the end of September.  Not sure how I'm going to get the rest of the way there in less than 2 months.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.  Oh, yes, and I have started the Couch to 5K program.  I'm on Week 2 right now.  Much to my surprise, I'm actually enjoying it.  Go figure.

7/12/11 update:

Well, I was traveling over the weekend, but I managed to stay on track.  Last week, before I left was tough.  I did a great job staying on the diet over the 4th of July holiday and gained .5 pound.  Then, lost it.  Then, gained. it.  Whatever!  But, I came back from the weekend traveling down a couple of pounds.  This week is my 9th week of weight loss (subtracting out the month I was traveling and was "off the program").  So, I am on the "break diet" this week.  It's designed to get you off a plateau and keep you losing.  We'll see how it goes.  I need to get off this plateau.  Last week, before the weekend, was pretty discouraging.  But I'm so happy to have hit the 20 lb mark, and I'm feeling better today.

7/1/11 update:

Wow!  It's been a while since I updated!  I've been traveling since 5/25/11, so it's been a little hectic.  I was hoping to continue losing weight while I traveled (i.e., I wanted to stay "on program"), but I found it increasingly difficult to do so...what with all the good food and having drinks with friends.  So, I started just trying to maintain.  Well, I must have done okay, because I came home 1.4 pounds lighter than when I left.  At one point, early on in my trip, I'm sure I was down more.  I know I put some back on during the latter part of my trip.  But, I came out on the good side in the end.  This week, now that I'm back, I've been faithfully back on program again and have continued to lose!  I'm up to 18.8 pounds lost altogether so far.  Yay!  Almost to the 20 pound mark.  I hope to be by 7/5/11!  Keep your fingers crossed.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Hey, weight-loss buddies....how are you doing?  I want to hear about yoru progress, too!

5/23/11 update:

Lost another 1.2 pounds this week.  That's 13.4 altogether so far.  A little frustrating, considering how faithfully I've adhered to the plan.  Oh well, if I keep it up, it will keep coming off, right?  Big challenges ahead this month.  I hope I can stay the course and at least maintain.  Hopefully I'll keep losing....

5/16/11 update:

I weighed in today and was down a couple more pounds.  That's 12.2 pounds total!  Yippee!  I am feeling so much better.  They measured me the other day, too.  You won't believe this...I have lost 12.25"!!!  Two off my boobs (dang!), 2.25" off my hips (yay!), and a whopping 8" off my waist!!  can you believe that?  The girl had to measure it twice.  She thought she made a mistake.  I still think she made a mistake, except my waist really has shrunk a lot.  I can get into some pants I couldn't get into there for a while.  I am stoked!  And look at my two friends go!  One has lost 29.5 lbs and the other has lost 3!  You go, girls!  My mom sent me a little reward.  Thanks, Mom!  I love my new Troll bead for my bracelet!  You know just wat to get a girl and how to motivate me!  You are THE BEST!  Sweet Pea loved it, too, and she tried to snag it away from me.  But I wouldn't let her!

My goal is to lose 3 more pounds this week.  Then, I'll be 1/4 of the way to my goal!!!

5/8/11 update:

I weighed in today.  I was feeling bad, because I had sort of stagnated and even gained a pound toward the end of last week (even though I have been faithful to the diet).  But I lost a pound earlier last week, and I lost a couple more while traveling!  It was hard to stay on my plan when we traveled to Canada, but I did it.  And I'm so happy I did....I was rewarded!  The gal at the weight loss place noted I've averaged over 3 pounds lost each week.  That made me feel more motivated to keep going!  And look at my friend....she has lost 3 pounds since we started this.  Way to go!

4/28/11 update:

I weighed in again today.  At this place I'm going, you have to weigh in 5 out of 7 days for each of the first two weeks.  From here out, I have to weigh in 3 days a week.  A lot more often than Weight Watchers...I think that will help me stay on track.  Anyway, those 5 days of stagnant weight are catching up to me.  I was down 1.4 pounds today!  Yay!  I'm down 7.4 pounds!  I have some challenges coming up this weekend, so I scheduled myself to weigh in on Monday again.  :-)

4/28/11 update:

Yay!  Down .8 pounds!  Yippee!  Okay, I'm feeling better now!  and did you see I have two friends joining me now?  Thanks, friends!  We can do it!

4/26/11 update:

Okay, I'm frustrated.  For 5 days now, I've been stuck at the same weight (actually up .2 lbs), despite the fact that I've been an ANGEL on this diet.  I know I shouldn't complain because the first 5 pounds came off so easily.  But really, 2 came off before I even started.  I should relax and give it time, right?  But it's just maddening.  Blah.  See you soon.

4/22/11 update:

Weighed in today and down another .8 pounds!  If I keep experiencing this kind of succes it should not be hard to keep it up.  I bet it won't keep being this easy...but so far, I have been really satisfied with my meal plan.  I'm not hungry at all during the day (except at appropriate times, like lunch and dinner).  I can't say that's true for any other diet I've been on.  I've also reduced my diet cola intake in the past week.  Presently, I've only been having one cola max per day.  Today I didn't even have any, and I didn't miss it!  I am happy about that, too.  :-)

4/21/11 update:

I've been on the diet now since Monday (today's Thursday).  Actually, I lost two pounds over the weekend, before I even started on the diet.  How did that happen?!  But I'm already down 4.6 pounds.  I can't believe it and am so happy.  Papa Pea at first said, "Well, when you lose that weight all at first, it isn't real weight...water mostly."  Okay, I know that's true, but not 4.6 pounds worth!  This morning, he agreed.  He said it's real progress and my stomach already looks better.  I know things won't keep going at this rate, but I'll take it when I can get it.

Comments

[Patti]

Are you doing a specific diet? Like Weight Watchers? I'm thinking that is what I'm gonna need to do. Watching my portions is not working. :-(

[Mama Pea]

Patti--I am doing a structured weight loss program through Medical Weight Loss Center. It's like Weight Watchers in the sense that you eat your own food and follow a meal plan. But it also has some nutritional supplements, is monitored by a physician, and requires me to weigh in multiple times per week! So far, I am liking it. But it was not cheap. More on that later!

[sisLH]

I wish I could lose also. When I once joined W.W., I gained 10 lbs! I never ate so much food in my life!! They kept telling me I had to get all those portions in each day -I was gagging on it! Never again with them -but something would be nice.

[Peg]

I know you have a Sweet Pea, but you're my Sweet Pea, and right now I am very proud of you! Great going on this, and keep up the good work. I can hardly wait to see the first 10 lb. mark show up; bet it won't be long. I'll be watching for it. You have spurred me to try to take off a few pounds as well. Good luck, and we'll all be watching and cheering you on!!

[Terri]

I'm going to join you! I created my tracker, but the link to Aunt Pea's email doesn't work.

[Aunt Pea]

Sorry about the link not working, I fixed it. If you'd like to participate go to the The Ticker Factory, set up your tracker, and then you can email me the html code to post. :-)

[Aunt Pea]

Here is my email: kristin.witzenburg@gmail.com

Here is the Ticker Factory site: http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/

Thanks!

[sisLH]

Glad to see I got on. I actually want to lose 35 lbs, but come -let's be realistic. I picked the Christmas string because I want to lose the weight by Christmas. I chose 21 pounds because there are 21 lights on that sting.

[Peg]

Way to go on the weight loss. You were really rewarded for sticking with things on your trip. Only 1/2 a pound to make your first 10! Yeah!!
Your doll is gorgeous! Can't wait to see her with hair and arms. There's a lot of work and love going into that baby.

[Aunt Pea]

Congrats on your weight loss! The scale finally moved in the right direction for me too this week...updated my ticker :-)

[carolld]

Congratulations! You are doing great. Nothing like making this progress to keep you motivated. Love that bead your mom sent too. I'll have to go to that link and learn more about them as I really like what you have. I should start a weight loss program but right now it is so difficult with my mom and her schedule. Keep up the good work!

[Aunt Pea]

Thanks for your support Mama Pea. It really helps :-)

[Andrea Chopra]

You are doing a great job! Commitment is the top priority in losing weight. Once you start it, you must not turn back. With patience, proper diet and exercise, you will soon achieve the figure that you always wanted.