Wedding Blog
Many brides-to-be start a weight loss or fitness program before their weddings. We all want to look extra beautiful, and Mr. Flamingo and I are no exception to this rule. Yup, Mr. Flamingo needs to shed some pounds too.
I’ve always been someone you’d consider big boned. I’m not ashamed of my weight, especially since 95% of people don’t believe me when I give them my actual weight. I’m not very tall - 5 ’ 3/4″ so that’s also a factor to consider. (The three quarters is very important when it comes to my height 
). I tried looking for full body pictures of me to give you an idea that I’m no skinny minny… unfortunately I had no luck, so you’ll have to bear with these.
This picture was taken on our Cuba trip.
This was my max weight - I was 182 lbs.
This picture was taken last year at a club (with my eldest sister).
Here I weighed about 179 lbs.
So now, Mr. Flamingo and I have started a protein diet. Okay let me rephrase that because it’s not a diet, but more changing the way we eat. I’m not starving, on the contrary, I eat a lot - 6 times a day with food that is high in protein. (Proteins make you feel full and as a result you eat less.)
Our first visit to the clinic was last Thursday and my official starting weight was 176 lbs. Now a week later, I took off my shoes and got on the balance. It read 171.4 lbs, so I lost 4.6 lbs in 1 week. How exciting!
That might be a lot, but after the first week if I don’t cheat too much, I should lose an average of 2-3 pounds. Men, on the other hand lose 4-5 pounds a week. Wish I was a man just for that. 
Mr. Flamingo will be the biggest loser, but I’m already happy.
Has anyone else done a protein diet?
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I haven’t done a protein diet, but I can’t say enough good things about Weight Watchers! I never thought I’d be one of those people to buy into it, but I do. You can do it totally online and never go to a meeting, which is awesome. I had about 20 pounds to lost, and was able to do it in about 3 months.
Each time I get into a training routine I follow a strict protein diet. It’s more to boost my energy to start a strict workout routine, but all meals are 3 hours apart, start at 6am and end at 6pm.
I’ve never seen weight loss from the diet, since the loss is usually immediately replaced by muscle.
My now husband and I did one. He lost about 23 pounds. Net, I gained 2.
Wow I would never believe you — you look stunning in that photo from your Cuba trip. I just wanted to chime in and say I’m 5′ 3/4″ too (exactly) and that 3/4″ really matters! haha. Good luck with your goal of eating healthfully and getting in shape for your wedding.
I did south beach and dropped 13 lbs in about a month. It was awesome except I dreamed about eating fruit the whole time…
I finally caved around apple season and binged on like 40 apples. Then I gained all the weight back, and then some…
Had I had a motivator at the time (like wedding) perhaps I would have stuck to it. Since I got engaged ive just tried to eat less and go to the gym more but now that the wedding is approaching, I might switch to a more “diet” diet like yourself to drop that last 8 lbs…
yeah…probably not Pengy likes taco bell too much. 1/2 lb bean burrito, get in my belly.
Increasing your protein is definitly a good way to go - just make sure you still get lots of fresh veggies to go along with it. And also make sure you’re eating lean protein and not all red meat! Because that’s definitly not heathy!
I think weight training is the big key to having a nice sculpted body. I find when I’m lifting weights I end up gaining weight (in terms of pounds) but my body changes in ways that makes it look so much better. So I would definitly recommend a few days of weight training and cardio in with your diet to really see results.
Hi, Miss Flamingo!
I don’t have any pointers on the dieting, but I wanted to post because after looking at your photos, I can only come to one conclusion– You are GORGEOUS!! Personally, I think you look perfect the way you are in both of those
Good luck with your plan. I am 12 lbs down in four months. I already eat very healthy, I just upped my workouts to 5 xs a week and cut out WINE during the week.
As an aside, I think you look beautiful at 182. Stunning in fact.
You’re right - I do have a hard time believing your weight - wooowza! You are one pretty lady
I had a major weight loss in my last year of university…just over 30 pounds. It was the same 30 pounds I gain in my first year. I am SO happy to have lost it…
Since my big weight loss my weight goes up and down about 5 pounds. Well, when I ordered my dress I was 5 pounds lighter than I am now…lol…now i need to lose that 5 pounds to be able to sit down in my dress…lol…5 pounds doesn’t seem like much - but it is!
Yeah, I have no diet tips, I gained back the 15 lbs I lost within 3 months of my wedding. I just think you look purty and wanted to tell you. But good luck with the clinic. Keep us posted.
@Loren:
Ah thanks Loren. Thats very nice of you. I am happy the way I am… though I would love to loose another 10 pounds.
@Mrs. Onion:
Haha… Mrs.Onion the 3/4 is extremely important. Almost more than the 5 feet
I think all your “weight” is in your bossom buddies! At least that’s what I blame 99.9% of my weight on! =) You’re gorgeous no matter what because you’ve got one helluva personality girl!
hey congrats on the successful weight loss! Do not go on a protein diet… too much protein is bad for you. Just eat a well balanced meal and try not to eat things that are fried or “fast.” Try just eating a healthy spinach salad for lunch and eating well for dinner and that should help. Also exercise is important! Walking with your fiance is a good time of just chatting or with friends.
You must have some SERIOUSLY dense bones, b/c I can’t believe you weighed 182 in that top pic.
My tip is when you feel hungry to drink a big glass of water (or something else light, like water with a teaspoon of blueberry juice for flavor) before eating anything. Thirst often feels like hunger.
-beanchar
Proud Member of the Three-Quarters Club
5′ 2.75″
You look amazing in your pictures! I’m 5′3 and 124. I went on the protein diet for about a month (eating 6 times a day) and I lost 5 pounds in 3 days, about 3 more pounds in a week, and if I had not cheated here and there every day after that, I probably would have lost more. Even though I didn’t lose much weight after that, I did see a definitely change in my body shape. It really works if you have the discipline.
I also think you look great! Healthy and glowing in both pictures. And I will second the caution to be careful with the protein diet - veggies and fiber are really important. Be sure you drink a lot of water, as eating mostly protein can be hard on your kidneys. Research has shown that protein diets result in more weight loss right up front, as your results show, but that it levels off after a while, and that in the end most people lose no more weight than if they had just eaten a balanced, reduced calorie diet like Weight Watchers. So don’t be disappointed if after the first 6 to 8 weeks you see the rate of weight loss reduce pretty significantly. Actually that is probably the time to transition to something like Weight Watchers - which is a more sustainable way of eating. And remember to exercise, as it is really the increase in activity that will change your weight and health long-term.
And after all that - good luck! Its hard to make and keep a commitment to eating better and being more fit. But you will be really glad that you did!
You are a HOTTIE!! =) Good luck with your weight loss, we had a tough time w/the South Beach diet before the wedding, but managed to lose about 10 lbs… all of which are back =T
I don’t necessarily know that what I’m doing currently is a protein diet. I’m doing Michael Thurmond’s 6 week body makeover. It’s the same idea, it sounds like. Small meals, including protein, 6 times a day- it doesn’t really feel like a diet to me and the results have been amazing. It’s more of a lifestyle change- teaching your metabolism to burn faster. I’m really loving it!
you’re gorgeous!! i’m 4′11 3/4″ <–when you’re under 5′ EVERY little bit helps. I weigh 135 lb, but if you were put a pic of me next to yours, i’d definitely look much bigger!! how I wish I was big-boned weighted..
Wow! You look GREAT! You are definitely going to be one hotttt bride
I’ve never tried a high-protein diet. I’ve found the best way for me to loose weight, and to keep it off, was to eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet.
I have a heart condition as well, and my doctor said that is the best way to eat for your heart, too.
I think that is pretty much what the Weight Watchers diet is based on, too… a 2000 calorie, high-fiber, low-fat diet.
i strongly recommend myfooddiary.com it costs $9/mo and is great. you log your food and exercise and it will sort of tell you what you are doing wrong. i was eating too much dairy so when i first started i used to go way over the daily max for saturated fats and would get a frownie for that.
i had been dieting on my own without help and working out prior to starting myfooddiary and had plateaued, this site really helped me bust through the plateau and start dropping weight and make better food choices.
i think it runs on the same principle as weight watchers, but you pay more attention to calories than points, which to me at least makes more sense in the long term
i believe you when you say 95% of people don’t believe your weight! wow you look great!
you’re gorgeous! good luck with your diet — and if those extra ten pounds stay it totally won’t matter.
I did a protein diet - lost about 25 lbs, but then had to stop because I started feeling nauseas everytime I saw an egg.
I did keep off the weight for a while and I suspect a change in medication is what caused me to gain it back.
I think using it as a kick-start is probably the way to go, but you then have to re-introduce carbs gradually.
Thanks everyone for the nice comments. No one has ever guessed my weight right. Even at 13 I weighed 132 lbs. Thats alot.
Just to clarify things, I’ve done this “diet” before. And lost 15 pounds in 3 months. And for the record I do eat carbs, vegetables, meat, fish, fruit and drink lots of water. Basically I am eating all the food groups. Just more high protein food (cheese, yogurt, fish …etc) Maybe Ill write up a food journal to share with all of yous
Wow Miss Flamingo, I thought I was the only one that had that sort of weight issue. I’m 5′ 3″ and weigh about 180 lbs (ugh!), and I’ve been a been a big boned girl for my entire life. I need to get on a protein diet to see how that works out. At my skinniest I was 146 lbs and everyone said I looked sickly. You are an inspiration and now I don’t feel so alone. hugs
Honey, you look hott.
Good luck on the weight loss…I don’t have big bones and I’m 5′6″ and weigh 174…I’m about to graduate college (age 33) so I’m hoping that will help! Wedding date-September 08
I’m 5′1 1/2″ (not quite 3/4″, but darned close!)
I’m also a big boned girl, but I’m trying to get less, um, squishy in the middle since I don’t really have time to do much exercise often. SparkPeople is a free site that’s super helpful to me that another Bee blogged about some time in early Feb. (when I joined). Maybe it could be helpful to you too.
The high protein diet is what I’m trying to stick to as well, a friend of mine who is a gym addict recommended I try it. He also told me to make sure I get enough fiber, some fat and some carbs in my diet. The thing that’s helping me not get the munchies so often is that I’m following his recommendation of no simple carbs (pasta or white bread) after 4 PM. It’s fine and dandy to have a baked yam or whole wheat bread or pasta (don’t try whole wheat pasta unless you like buckwheat), it really does keep you full longer and stops you from craving sweets around 10 PM. I’ve gone from 160 to 150 in 6 weeks, but I’m not trying very hard either.
No tips, just me chiming in to say how gorgeous you are. BEE CRUSH!
You look so fabulous! I really think every scale you have gotten on has lied to you. I’m 5′9 and weigh 155 and don’t look NEARLY as hot as you do.
You are one hottie no matter what happens. And I really adore your posts!
[...] we started “changing our eating habits” Mr. Flamingo said something to me. Something that made me sad. To put it in the context of [...]
Miss Flamingo, can you post your food diary? I have been desperately trying to lose weight for my upcoming wedding and have been having some not-so-great results. I can’t really do Atkins but it sounds like you’re doing something that’s a little less extreme. Any information would be great and very much appreciated!
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Mrs. Flamingo, Montreal, Canada
Age and Occupation: 25, Graphic Designer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Nursing Student
Engagement Date: December 2004
Wedding Date: June 21, 2008
Venue: Imperia Hotel (modern chic hotel)
About Me: I am a passionate designer who loves anything pretty. I heart all paper products (eco-friendly of course). My passion revolves around anything considered glamour; vintage and modern. In my free time, I love reading Martha mags, designing jewelry and making a pit-stop at Starbucks for a chai latte. I'm also a chocoholic at heart and my family drools over my homemade truffles.
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