Weekly Weigh In: Week 16

As the weeks tick by, I'm watching myself get closer and closer to my goal.

Only to become more and more petrified of what happens when I eventually step on the scale and it doesn't move.

You know, because I like to worry about things that haven't happened yet.

Like what's going to happen when Prince Harry marries someone I don't approve of.

(Teenage Leah is so shocked at how Grown Up Leah admires the red-head WAY MORE than the other prince.  Also, I may have watched too much London Olympics.  Just saying.)

My point, clearly, is that I don't wanna stop losing weight yet....

Especially since I know that the first 20 is the easiest.

You know, cause I hit 20 last week.

And I am ecstatic about it.

BUT.

I just remember living in agony at how slow it went last time.

So just for kicks and giggles, I did a little digging.

Last time, when I was 16 weeks in, I posted this post.

And the data that I have says that I had only lost about 9 lbs at the end of week 15.

(Yes, data.  As in, it's all in an excel spreadsheet with charts and everything.  I think we know how much of a nerd I can be, right???)

Anyway, that would put me way ahead of the curve this time.

But I'm pretty sure it had alot to do with this.

And since I have been routinely monitored for my thyroid issues, I haven't had to fight that losing battle this time.

But that doesn't mean I'm not going to hit a plateau.

I mean, anytime you are losing more than a couple of pounds a plateau is almost sure to happen.

So I am on red alert.

To be honest, I really expected this to be the week.

However, that didn't end up being the case....

That's another 1.2 lbs. down from last week!

And as far as how that affects my size....

This week, I was able to squeeze myself into not one, but TWO size 8 dresses.

Now, OBVIOUSLY, dresses are MUCH more forgiving than jeans or shorts will ever be.

And as you can see below, my lower half is still much larger than my top half.

As always.  I've never had the greatest legs (or butt, for that matter).

But that's nothing a little (read: ALOT) of running won't take care of.

If only I had a treadmill.

Or a husband with a more predictable schedule.

Or a double jogger.

Siiiiigh.

But that doesn't mean I'm making excuses.

I will make it happen.

Some how, some way.

After all, all those size 8's and 6's in my closet are begging to be worn!!!

Weekly Weigh-In Week 15

So, I've been at this for almost 4 months, now.

Allow me a moment of stark honesty.

I am experiencing far more insecurity this time around than I experienced last time.

I am pretty sure it has a heck of alot to do with the fact that I am at home this time around.

And maybe the fact that I put on makeup approximately 2 days a week.

And shower maybe 3 days.

I know.

It's sad.

But back to the insecurity.

Even though I have done fairly well with my weight loss this time, I still feel so dissatisfied with where I'm at.

However, where I'm at is actually a pretty awesome place to be.

Since my last WWI post, only 3 weeks ago, I have gone from a size 12 - that I was just barely able to squeeze into - to a size 10 - that I can just barely squeeze into.

In reality - when I'm not letting my insecurity rock the house - that's pretty freaking awesome.

I mean size 10 is the last bastion before single digit sizes!

I should really be high kicking for joy right about now!

Something must be wrong with me.

Since I don't have time to do a complete recap, (seriously, you need to follow me on insta.gram, people: leahmpeck)

Here's where we're sitting at today.

Um.  Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.

I don't know if you remember where I started at....

But I do.

And this number is exactly 20.2 pounds lower than the original one.

That's TWENTY pounds, people!

IN FOUR MONTHS!

I'm a little excited.

As for the before and afters, it's been a few weeks since I could get the pics up, but as of week 13, this what the weight loss looked like:

Despite the fact that there is still a whole lot of insecurity going on, I can tell you that the pictures have been a HUGE encouragement this time around.

(I know I have said it before, but if you are planning to start a weight loss journey, seriously, don't drop the ball on the before and after pics.  It has been the only thing to keep me going some weeks when the scale wasn't moving!)

I encourage you to try it!

Long story short, I am pretty excited about hitting the 20 pound mark, and pretty terrified of hitting the plateau that I know is waiting for me any day now!

I just have to continue to remind myself that this is not a quick journey.

Slow and steady will get me there.  One pound at a time.

The Inner Monologue of a Bladder Abused Mommy

I really need to drink my water today.

I think I'll stop and grab one of those Goliath sized McDonalds cups.

Maybe I shouldn't.

Nah, I'll be fine.

I'll be home in plenty of time.

*SLURP*

**SLUUUUUUURP**

Chug, chug, chug, chug.

Little Man: Mommy, I gotta go potty.

Hmmm, me too.

It's ok, just a few more errands.

I can make it.

Hmmmmmmmm

Oooooooooooooooo.

Uh.oh.

Wiggle wiggle wiggle. No.

My bladder is really to weak for this.

Do I have any diapers with me?

Why am I soooooooo far away from home?

If I were wearing a diaper would I actually be willing to go in it?

What is wrong with me?!

Oh, right, 2 babies....

Speaking of babies, did I bring any diapers?

How desperate would you have to be to pee in a diaper?

Ugggggh.

Bounce.

Bounce.

Bounce.

Why did I think it was a good idea to run errands today?

I would stop somewhere, but I'd probably never make it with trying to get my kids out of the car...

Stupid McDonalds.

I'm too young to buy poise pads right?

Waaaaah.

How far are we from home?

2 miles?

Can I make it 2 miles?

This is just sad.

I should know better than this.

I'm so thirsty.

...

Finally. Home.

Why is my driveway so bumpy?

Soooooooo close...

Run!

-People. This happens far too often for my comfort.

Hungry for a day, for a cause

I know what you're thinking.

I'm a diet diva, and as such, I go hungry every day.

But today I'm doing it with purpose.

A purpose that is not an itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini.

Allow me to introduce you to H4AD.

An excellent organization that partners with groups fighting hunger and need.

This month, they have partnered with Wellspring Living, who just happens to be headquartered in our own backyard here in the metro Atlanta area.

Wellspring Living provides rehabilitation to girls who have suffered sexual abuse and exploitation.

H4AD's goal this month is to help Wellspring provide grocery expenses for 12 girls for one month. The average cost of grocery expenses is $40 power week per girl.

And if you're a math wiz like me, you know that adds up to $480 per week and $1920 for a 4 week period.

I know you're thinking, so how does this affect me?

I'm getting there, I promise.

Hungry for a Day's mission is not to get you to give $1920, or $480, or even $40, but to have you add up the approximate amount of money out would cost you to eat on the average day, and give that.

No amount is too small and they make it easy for you to get involved.

Just head over to H4AD

and click on the "Go hungry" tab. I'm proud of the work that both of these organizations are doing, I'm so happy to go Hungry 4 A Day!

My Weight Loss Explained

A few weeks ago, after I posted one of my weekly weigh in pics on Instagram, one of my friends commented with the ever notorious, "How are you doing that?" comment.

Which, I'll totally admit, is loaded with all kinds of awesome flattery-ness in the way I read it.

In my head, I read it full of incredulity.

Like I'm magical and using fairy dust as my secret weapon.

Believe me, people, if I had magic weight loss fairy dust, I'd be selling it on the streets of Miami faster than any cocaine bearing drug-lord. EVER.

In reality, my weight loss "success", if you would actually call it that, is related to a healthy dose of self control, a little bit of Jillian Michaels, and yes - technology.

1.  The Self Control.

I know I have said it before.  Probably multiple times, even.

But I am a firm believer in the power of Weight Watchers.

Not really current day, Weight Watchers, though.

I'm not a fan of Points Plus.

I follow the old program.

The one I started using 10 years ago in college.

The one that helped me lose 40 lbs. over my senior year.

HOWEVER...and here's the catch.

I only diet 5 days a week.

EVER.

I figure, I am much less tempted by a brownie on Tuesday, when I know that if I make it to Saturday, I can eat one.

It sounds stupid, but it works.

And it has worked for the past 10 years, both to get my weight off and to keep my weight off.

BUT.

That isn't all I do.

2.  The Jillian Factor.

I workout.

At least 5 hours a week.  With at least 3 of those hours being cardio and 2 hours being strengthening/toning.

In a typical week, I run, bike or use my elliptical on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and on Tuesday and Thursday, I do a combination of 30 Day Shred (30 minutes) and Pilates or Yoga (30 minutes).

Yes, this time around, I am a stay at home mommy who gets nap times to get my workout in.

But that's not to say that you can't workout if you work.

Because I totally did it last time.

And still I managed to train for a half marathon, while still working and being mommy to Little Man.

I just made it a priority.

I would workout for 30 minutes at lunch time and then 30 minutes after dinner.

Or first thing in the morning and then as soon as got home....

You have to be flexible, but you have to make it happen.

3.  Technology.

A little over a year ago, my sister started raving about this weight loss app where she could look up any food ever and log her calories for the day.

I just rolled my eyes at her.

Because I don't count calories.

I count points.

Like I would need that.

BUT.

PEOPLE.

It changed my life.

If you have a smartphone, and you are attempting to lose weight, go to your app store and look up my fitness pal.

It turns out, I was eating way too few calories to lose weight doing the workouts I was doing.

I was netting about 200 calories a day.

No wonder I wasn't losing!

This app keeps me on target with my calories as well as my workouts.

It gives me a much more accurate account of how much I am actually burning during a workout.

Versus how many calories are in the foods I eat.

And I get to be friends with my sister and watch her (she - after 3 kids - just found herself wearing a size 6 again) get down with her bad self.

We root each other on.

However, if you don't have a smart phone, you aren't uninvited to the part.

Oh, no, you don't get out that easily.

You can still log in online and log your foods, workouts, etc.

And if you do, be sure to friend me.

There are so many other things that could be said, but this post doesn't need to drag on forever.

So, please, if you have questions, ask them.

If you need a cheerleader, call me.

If you need a running buddy, I'll make it happen.

If you just wanna see a change, start somewhere.

It's slow, and it's painful, but change doesn't happen without discomfort and you are probably going to need someone to talk you through it.

To help you not give up.

To keep you motivated.

I do.

That's why I am so transparent with my weight.

I want to be accountable to all of you.

I want you to cheer me through my goal.

But I would love nothing more than the opportunity to help cheer you through yours.

So, let's be friends, mkay?

Weekly weigh in: Week 12

I'm so lazy when it comes to blogging these days.

It's actually been 3 weeks since I have said anything about my weight on here.

Which is seriously lame.

But, in the past 12 weeks, I have lost 16.8 lbs.

Some weeks were big.

Some weeks like this last one, were not. 

But all in all, they have gotten me here - smaller, lighter, and well on my way.

I am spitting distance from the halfway mark and if that doesn't get a momma moving, nothing will.

I've had a lot of people ask me what I'm doing to get the weight off, and I promise to post a general post soon about how I'm losing this weight, but for now, here's a check in since my last weigh in post.

Week 9, brought me to my first size 12 jeans of the year.

They were tight and uncomfortable, but they were size 12's that would zip, so SUCCESS!

Week 10 took me down .8 to 165.6

And in week 10, I saw a tremendous reduction in MASS, overall.

As in, woah!  Forreals, people.

Then came week 11.

Week 11 was a HUGE week on the scale.

Huge is obviously a relative term considering that I haven't lost more than 2 pounds a week since I started this go around.

During week 11, I dropped 2.8 lbs!!!

That's a new record for this momma!  

I was stoked.

I was just sure I had hit my stride.  

That new and exciting weight loss weeks were going to be in my future from here on out.

That I would be in the 150's by the end of week 12.

But, alas.

Week 12 brought with it the meager .6 lb loss.

And that was after I stepped on the scale a good 5 times and removed every stitch of anything that could possibly add weight to my body.

To say I was disappointed, would be somewhat of an understatement.

But then, just for kicks and giggles, I did my before and after pic.

People.

If you are on a weight loss journey and you aren't doing before and after shots or side by sides, stop what you are doing this very second and take a before shot.  

Then proceed with afters.

Talk about an encouragement.

The change is real.

It is evident.

Even when it doesn't show on the scale.

It shows.

Obviously, my new goal for the upcoming week is to kick myself into high gear and hit the 150's.

Alas, since I will be without access to my scale until next Monday, I won't be posting a weigh in post this week.

So my goal for next week is to hit the 20 lb. mark.  I want to be half way there, already!  

I want to be down to 157 before week 15.  

I know I can do it, I believe I can do it, and I relish the humiliation that awaits me if I don't!

Wish me luck!!

From 30,000 Feet

I'm currently sitting on a plane.

Flying home from Texas.

Funny, we weren't planning to go to Texas.

We were planning to go to Delaware.

But then our flight got canceled and with 2 hours to spare, we decided on Friday that we would go visit Techy's sister.

In Texas.

W fly by the seat of our pants.

Most literally.

What a weekend!

Pretty sure I gained 10 lbs with all the eating.

And lounging.

But now, here I sit, with a poorly behaving 2 year old next to me, a tired and cranky Techy next to him and a very curious (read: nosy) baby girl on my lap.

We've been up since 3:30.

A.M.

We drove an hour and a half to the air port, with about 30 minutes till take off.

Then we stood in the security line for 30 minutes, until a random airport employee came and pulled us out of line and ran us to our flight.

I was literally the.last.person.on.the.plane.

And now, I'm sitting in front of crude cat lady listening to her recount tales of her crazy cats sprinkling in as many expletives as possible.

People.

It was soooooooo worth it.