If you are familiar with my story, you know that I lost over 50 pounds over a 9 month period from 2009-1010. And honestly, keeping it off has been a serious challenge. Not because I don’t know what I need to do but falling back into bad habits is SO easy. And because I am active, active, active, I think despite my fluctuation in weight, my friends continue to comment on how good I look and how I’m staying in shape. Or perhaps, maybe I just have great friends who want to support me no matter what my weight!
In any event, I know my body likes where it is right now. Given my current level of exercise I will stay in the 170-174 range because this is the comfort zone. This is not however where I feel most comfortable and this morning when I got on the scale I was greeted with this: 
Not cool. And in reality, I am more like 173 pounds. Sigh. On more than one occasion I’ve said here that I’m committed to getting it together and it just hasn’t happened. I will be good for a few months, steadily lose weight and exercise and disaster hits. Or rather, my version of disaster and I end up doing all of the things that put me back on the road to being heavy. The stressors of life rise and I fall into the bad habit of emotional eating. I will buy food that I know I shouldn’t eat and go crazy. Ice cream? Check. Fried food? Check. Candy? Check. Although it generally happens to the excess during hormonal fluctuations it can hit at any time. Understand this, I am not going to allow myself to go completely crazy and gain all my weight back but if I am honest with myself, I certainly need to lose at least 20 pounds.
I’m sure that to do it I need to start eating paleo again but also my exercise needs to improve. As much as I enjoy running, strength training must be added to the mix. I am actually a fan of strength training, when I attended FitWit last month I was totally inspired but I am not able to participate for a number of reasons. I did jump on a special that I found on groupon or livingsocial and I have 20 crossfit sessions just waiting to be used.
Crossfit. I know it will be challenging. I know if I stick to it I will see results. And since I’m headed to Jamaica in December there is no better time than the present. My first step is to call the CrossFit studio and make an appointment. I promise to do that before the end of the week. this may not sound like a major move but believe me by taking babysteps I will be a success.
I hope you can help encourage me because honestly. I need support.
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
you can do it, Renee! I’m needing to get the weight moving in a downward spiral again too. It’s just a matter of doing it! Keep it up and you will meet your goals! AND DONT WAIT…..MAKE THE PHONE CALL NOW!!
Thanks Ann! I guess there is nothing stopping me from making that call right now!
Oh Renee! We are in very similar boats. I lost over 50 pounds in almost that exact time period yet HERE IT ALL COMES creeping back on!! Im in desperation to get things back in check, come back here to cheer you on friend, I know we can do this!!!
Christie we can do this. We have done it before and can do it again. And seriously, considering all that you’ve been through I totally understand how weight crept back….let’s tame the beast!
My comfortable weight range is the same as yours, Renee. I too need to lose at least 10 and preferably 15 pounds. I hate when life gets in the way and sends me back to bad habits, but we can do this….. we have to. Love you girl!!!
Oh, I miss you girls! And I won’t be at Fitbloggin so I won’t see you there. But, we can do beter virtually and hold each other accountable. Let’s do that? Okay? xoxo
I got a wake up call today too! After eating all the right stuff while on my cruise and getting in a good amount of walking and swimming while gone I stepped on the scale to be greeted by an extra 6 pounds (on top of the extra 60 I already need to lose). No matter how good I eat and what bad stuff I eliminate from my diet I have to do 100% better with exercise. I have also scheduled an appointment to have my hormone levels checked. Hold me accountable and I will do the same.
Oh yes, we can do this together! Good for you to get the hormones checked, especially when you are doing everything right!
You got this Renee! You probably know I’m on my own weight loss journey, and honestly, your constant pics and updates inspire me to keep going. Knowing you during the before period, the after and the maintenance is a reminder every day that this is a journey, and that there will be highs and lows. I’ve learned not to buy the junk food, because if its in front of me, I’ll eat it. So if you need me to slap your hand away from a carton of ice cream, I got you, because I feel your pain
Yeah, the ice cream. I’m thinking of doing a healthy eating challenge with a strict budget and only shopping at the Farmer’s Market (okay mostly shopping there)we will see. And thanks for the encouragement! I see your journey and you are doing GREAT!
Renee, this is such a common and frustrating theme among all of us! I was within 8 lbs of my goal weight, got TOO comfortable and let up on paleo a bit more than I could afford. SO, now I’m within 14 lbs! But very achievable if I just accept that sacrificing food, WONDERFUL tasting food at times, is so worth it to feel as good as I do when I’m slimmer. Life is easier when at a lower weight, this much we know is true. Running is easier, we feel better, etc. So let’s thank our well-meaning friends who say we look great and don’t need to lose anymore and in our heads we know better. We DO need to lose the weight, it is dragging us down mentally and physically. Let’s do it!!!
I have purchased books to support my Paleo dreams so I need to put the recipes to work for me. Perhaps with my own adjustments but I need to do something. Thank you for your candor and support!
Go girl, go girl, go girl! I am right there with you. I am cranking towards my wedding in April and while I *could* use the excuse that I have plenty of time, I don’t – I want to be fit NOW!
I also have trouble with certain foods. And for me, when I cut out the alcohol, I can drop weight like crazy. Now just to figure out how to keep the weight off once I do … !
Yeah, the alcohol is a biggie. When I met with Bob Greene he gave us a list of several things to give up: Sugar and Alcohol were at the top of the list. I honestly can’t remember the others, perhaps because right now these two are my biggest challenge. I know we can do this and congrats on your upcoming nuptials!
You can do it Renee! You keep me inspired to run. Some advice about crossfit though…..BE CAREFUL! Some of the moves are for serious power lifters and, if done improperly, can and most likely WILL lead to injury. I’ve got two friends who “know how to weight train” who have, 1. broken an arm, and 2. tore a rotator cuff (shoulder).
That said, strength training is a must as the muscle burns fat even when resting. I know its hard b/c we ALL backslide into bad eating habits…I’m in one right now after getting down, for a day, to my goal of 185….BUT take heart…….we’re with YOU! Blessings young lady!!
Thanks for the encouragement Corey! I have no plans on breaking any bones when I do Crossfit. I will be especially careful after reading about your friends.
You are truly an inspiration. There’s a lot to be said for you to be able to maintain your focus for almost 3 years. I’m actually trying to build muscle and stamina. I have to admit that I’m lazy but watching you does encourage me to look for the fun in exercising. Keep up the great work!
I was going to suggest eating Paleo, and then I saw you said that. But girl, I understand eating Paleo is HARD and sometimes just NO FUN.
My brother and mom are strict with Paleo and both lost tons of weight and stay on it perfectly.
I stray. Big time. I’ve never really even done it full on b/c I still eat milk and yogurt. But when I went to BlogHer I gave up b/c doing it while traveling is impossible. I then had a trip right after and totally ate anything. Now trying to go back is soooo hard.
And I totally emotionally eat. It’s the toughest thing. My problem is that I’m not exercising like you. I never give myself the time to do it. I love exercising, but I have a hard time making time.
Hey Spelman sis,
You are strumming my pain – so hard to keep that weight in check after 40. Just remember to never PANIC. We all lose it sometimes – you just have to get back on track. Now get to that grocery store! Stock up on food so that you have only beautiful things to eat. I sometimes go to the grocery story twice in one day! It’s totally worth it.
Love you,
Lisa
Thanks Lisa! You are right, a trip to the grocery store is called for!
I hear ya girl! I haven’t lost as much as you, and still have more to loose, but it’s hard and challenging and exhausting! But you are an inspiration to many and we celebrate your realness and successes and I am happy to hold you up when you are feeling down. You can do this girl. Chin up!
Thanks for the support Carol! I truly appreciate it!
Girl, girl, girl, girl…stop reading my mail!!! Yes, I am in the midst of the same struggle. I lost about 35 lbs over a year ago and need to lose about 45 lbs more and I’ve been “stuck” hovering around 200 for the last 12 months. I have had the SAME mental gymnastics and am now trying to lock it down. Although I don’t have a trip to Jamaica coming up and have some of life’s stressors to deal with(hubby looking for work) I realize I operate better with fitness goals. I ran my first 1/2 marathon in May but now need to step it up. I’m thinking bootcamp classes and cleaner eating.
I get on that scale every morning. Grrr. It’s embarrassing to admit, but what the scale says determines whether I start my day in a good or bad mood. (Not entirely) But when I started asking my self why I wasn’t all that chipper some mornings, the common denominator was I didn’t like what the scale said. I have been less weight than I am now but my husband likes me better not so thin — with more muscle (and the accompanying fat that only seems to bother me). I like you have to make peace with my body. I’m further down the road than you — and so making peace with the aging body places into it as well. Though we’ve only met in person a few times — you have such a dynamite smile and great face. You light up. We all need to keep at it but stay grateful for our health and ability to exercise.
I feel you, sister. After a couple months of eating healthy, lifting weights and doing moderate cardio, I saw no significant change like the first time we did this and succeeded. I felt defeated. I then went back to the drawing board, counting calories and going back to what originally worked the first time around – the Wii & EA Active. Now I’m using the EA Active 2, and kicking my own ass again lol. I didn’t want to, though. I felt like I wasn’t going to be doing “real” exercise, like I’ve been doing since the weight loss, like it was just for people getting their feet wet into fitness, but OH SO WRONG lol. I just simply forgot just how much you really ARE doing with those Wii games. And this one? Holy foot fires, Batman! Damn! LOL
Sure, doing all that other stuff I used to love to do was great, but it was more maintenance and NOT weight loss inducing, & I need more cardio to shrink, pure and simple. So I went back to what worked in the beginning, and now I’m losing again. Maybe you will, too? Do a 30 Day Challenge or something? Go back to the beginning, sweetie.
I’m here for you. Hugs, honey.
I’m right there with you…on the weight, the weight loss, the gaining it back, all of it other than the Paleo thing. I never even heard of that before, so I’ll give it a look. But I do need to get up and move and you are my inspiration, so maybe we can egg each other on with the fitness stuff.
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