About Me...
June 14, 2014. I’m a completely ordinary person currently going through a completely extraordinary (for me) transformation. In the last 9 months I have lost 50 pounds. This brings me to my ultimate goal weight... and now I plan to do more toning especially on my arms. I recently bought a pair of size 4 capris... down from my largest size of 16. The journey has been a grueling, fantastic rewarding experience that I really wasn’t even aware I was embarking on until I was mid-way through. At that point I started keeping a journal and was recently encouraged to share my story.
I know now and hope to remember in the future that this is a lifestyle change not for a month or a year but forever. I’ve learned that as we age, we actually need less calories which a lot of people don’t know… so even with the same activity level at 50 you simply can not eat the same as you did when you were 20 or 30. I also learned from Sue (R.N.) that in general our metabolism decreases by 10% each decade… but although that alone is enough to make some folks just settle for the way things are … it won’t for me anymore, because I also now know that there are things that you can do to wake up a sluggish metabolism — even when you have an underactive thyroid.
I haven’t been this fit … probably ever. And haven’t weighed this weight in a long time – probably 20 years!!! I am not a fitness expert. I am not a diet expert. I do know what worked for me. I do know what encouraged me along the way, and I know how I felt and what kept me going throughout.
I hope this journal helps me remember this journey and helps keep me on track when things get tough or I stumble in the future. I certainly expect that to happen… hopefully not too often… but perfection would be boring and what good is the accomplishment if not for the struggle.
It’s only recently that I’ve realized that people are asking me how I did it and probably considering my path as something that may help them. I’ve actually been told several times recently that I am an inspiration to them. If this is the case, I am honored that I may have an impact on others like so many have had an impact on me. For this reason, I’d be happy to share my story and answer any questions.
I know now and hope to remember in the future that this is a lifestyle change not for a month or a year but forever. I’ve learned that as we age, we actually need less calories which a lot of people don’t know… so even with the same activity level at 50 you simply can not eat the same as you did when you were 20 or 30. I also learned from Sue (R.N.) that in general our metabolism decreases by 10% each decade… but although that alone is enough to make some folks just settle for the way things are … it won’t for me anymore, because I also now know that there are things that you can do to wake up a sluggish metabolism — even when you have an underactive thyroid.
I haven’t been this fit … probably ever. And haven’t weighed this weight in a long time – probably 20 years!!! I am not a fitness expert. I am not a diet expert. I do know what worked for me. I do know what encouraged me along the way, and I know how I felt and what kept me going throughout.
I hope this journal helps me remember this journey and helps keep me on track when things get tough or I stumble in the future. I certainly expect that to happen… hopefully not too often… but perfection would be boring and what good is the accomplishment if not for the struggle.
It’s only recently that I’ve realized that people are asking me how I did it and probably considering my path as something that may help them. I’ve actually been told several times recently that I am an inspiration to them. If this is the case, I am honored that I may have an impact on others like so many have had an impact on me. For this reason, I’d be happy to share my story and answer any questions.
Weights along the journey:
5/3/2015 121 ~ **** ONE YEAR MAINTENANCE ****
12/12/2014 125 ~ seven month maintenance. Yeah!
11/12/2014 127 ~ six month maintenance. Yeah!
9/12/2014 126 ~ four month maintenance. Yeah!
7/11/2014 125 ~ two month maintenance. Yeah!
6/14/2014 126 ~ one month maintenance. Yeah!
5/3/2014 126 ~ down 50! my ultimate goal
3/17/2014 133
3/5/2014 135
2/27/2014 136 ~ down 40!
2/18/2014 139
1/30/2014 144 ~ down 30!
1/11/2014 148
12/1/2013 157 ~ down 16! around C25K completion
9/1/2013 173
6/1/2013 176
2010 183 (don’t really count this - but maybe I should)
5/3/2015 121 ~ **** ONE YEAR MAINTENANCE ****
12/12/2014 125 ~ seven month maintenance. Yeah!
11/12/2014 127 ~ six month maintenance. Yeah!
9/12/2014 126 ~ four month maintenance. Yeah!
7/11/2014 125 ~ two month maintenance. Yeah!
6/14/2014 126 ~ one month maintenance. Yeah!
5/3/2014 126 ~ down 50! my ultimate goal
3/17/2014 133
3/5/2014 135
2/27/2014 136 ~ down 40!
2/18/2014 139
1/30/2014 144 ~ down 30!
1/11/2014 148
12/1/2013 157 ~ down 16! around C25K completion
9/1/2013 173
6/1/2013 176
2010 183 (don’t really count this - but maybe I should)
Some pictures along the way:
25 Random things about me from FB circa 2009 [with updates]
1. I grew up in a house with 4 sisters (no brothers), Mom, Dad, a dog, some rabbits, some gerbils, and ONE bathroom!
2. My sisters will tell you that they were Mom’s favorite…. BUT I know that I was!
3. We go camping every year…. Starting out in a minuscule 2-person tent and now have a pop-up camper which includes a fridge and heater and most importantly is off the ground!
4. I think family and friends are the two most important things in life.
5. I have 2 cats which have destroyed my house – scratching on everything they think I like. If we had to get a pet (which I’m still questioning what made us insane enough to think we needed one) we should have gotten a dog.
6. I was valedictorian at college giving a speech to 3000 people in Worcester Memorial Auditorium.
7. I was president of the Travel Club at College organizing trips to NYC (where we climbed the Statue of Liberty and looked out from the crown) and Montreal (where the German Beer Fest was exceptional).
8. I’m a geek who in my spare time is learning about website development being a volunteer webmaster for 2 local groups.
9. When I was younger I was very very very shy…. My Mom used to try to push me to do things because she was concerned with how shy I was.
10. I love to go to events that involve dancing including weddings, Winter Ball, New Years Eve events or maybe just someones milestone birthday.
11. My husband and I will celebrate our 20th [now 25th] anniversary this April [2014]. We met at a Live Aid party way way back in ’85. It still seems like yesterday.
12. I am dreading the day (later this year) when my oldest child will go off to college – it was just yesterday (or so it seems) that I became a Mom for the first time. [She graduated UMass Amherst in 2013]
13. I believe that the most important thing I have ever done in my life is to be a Mom to my 3 wonderful kids. To have the privilege to take a completely dependent infant and to help guide them through all the challenges on their way to becoming (hopefully) independent adults is a challenge and a reward like none other!
14. I took a College Road Trip to PA last summer [2008] with my daughter and I think the biggest thing we learned was that 10 hours away is too far to go.
15. I have been trying to get my sister who lives in NJ to move to MA for years.
16. I love to paint and draw (as does everyone in my house) and actually debated an art career eventually choosing engineering as a being more stable.
17. I have lived my entire life in MA and only got my first Passport last year.
18. I love Virginia Beach.
19. I took Ceramics Classes for years BK (before kids).
20. I love skiing but now worry about keeping up with my 9 year old [now 15]. I gave up keeping up with the older 2 long ago. [update: 2014 ~ kept up with them all!]
21. I love to take pictures and then create slideshows or web pages with them to share in unique ways.
22. My first job (at 16) was in the the Toy Department at Mars Bargainland USA.
23. I have always attempted to make family vacations both interesting and educational including such places as Mount Rushmore, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Gettysburg, Hollywood, Disney World, Disneyland, Yosemite, Niagara Falls, Williamsburg, Hearst Castle, Virginia Beach and Bermuda.
24. I strive to foster in my kids a love of both immediate and extended family.
25. If I had to do it all over again, I’d buy YHOO in ’96 and sell in ’99… but I wouldn't change a thing about my family.