Wedding Blog
Like many people, I’ve struggled with my weight my entire life. I’m 5’ 1.5″ (yes, the half inch is important) and at my heaviest, I was about 175 pounds. I’m sure part of it has to do with genetics, some with bad eating habits (lots of rice as a child), but a lot of it was because I didn’t work out much. I had asthma as a kid, and once had an attack so bad it kept me in bed for a month. After that, my Mom was hesitant to let me get involved in too much physical activity. I didn’t fight her hesitation.
In the last 10 years, my weight has yo-yoed quite a bit. My first significant weight loss happened at 18 years old in Russia during a study abroad semester. While everyone was gaining 5 to 10 pounds, I lost 25 pounds not doing anything in particular. I’m sure it was the change in diet and all the extra walking I was doing. I didn’t feel any different, but my clothes were looser.
I gained about 10 pounds back, but still I had lost quite a bit of weight overall. When I got back, I started dabbling in the gym, but nothing serious. I’d ride a recumbent bike or hit the Stairmaster while I read for my classes.
Towards the end of my first trip to Russia. Check out my eyebrows! And my chins…
My second big weight loss again came in Russia.
When I was 20, I spent another semester in Russia and this time lost about 15 pounds. It was great. This time I really noticed the weight loss. I could see it in my figure. I had curves! Mama Joey and sister Joey came out to visit me at the end of my time in Moscow and couldn’t believe what they saw. I think my mom was proud. I was so excited.
Following my semester in Moscow, I spent the summer teaching English at summer camps in Poland. In Poland I got down to my skinniest and most unhealthy weight. I went from a size 8 to about a size 2 in 2.5 months. The food at camp was awful. I could barely stomach it, and sometimes I wasn’t sure it had any nutritional value at all. I think once I had pasta with fruit boiled in sugar and water over it. The weird thing is that I love Polish food. It’s hearty and altogether yummy. Too bad I didn’t have any at camp. It got so bad that I was actually losing hair. When I got home from Poland I put on about 25 pounds within 2 months. I’m sure that was way too fast, but my body was hurting for nutrition.
The years I spent in DC and Manchester have to have been my healthiest. During my first stint in DC, a coworker introduced me to Spinning. I LOVED it. I was going 3 times a week and taking a 30 minute abs class twice a week. I ate what I wanted, but got down to about a size 6/7 and stayed there. I think the big thing was that I felt really good. I had energy, and staying at my size was comfortable. Yes, I had to get to class, but I liked it. I tried to eat healthy, but I didn’t feel bad if I had a burger and a beer for dinner.
Me and my friend Di in Manchester. Why does my pinky stick out?
Since I’ve moved back to Seattle, I’ve definitely put on some weight. I’ve gone from the comfortable size 6/7 to about a 10. So, I’m using my wedding as a way to get back on track. I don’t have a set amount of pounds I want to lose before the wedding. The places I’d like to target are my upper arms and my calves. My real fitness goal for the wedding and beyond is to fit into this cute little brown dress I used to wear all the time when I lived in DC. I wore it at a time in my life when I was healthy and happy about the way I looked. I’m using the dress to get back there.
I’m not using a weight goal because my body plays tricks on me. Really. I can fluctuate 10 pounds in a 24-hour period. I have gone down 2 dress sizes and have only lost 3 pounds. I don’t understand it, and it’s easier (and less discouraging) for me to not focus on weight.
Oh the back rolls…
So, what am I doing to get into the dress? Well, I think I’m going to try to recreate part of my DC lifestyle.
I think the biggest change I plan to make is around walking and buying food. I think one of the biggest things I did to help my weight loss along in DC was walk. I didn’t have a car, so I walked everywhere. I liked it. DC is a great walking city. Also, I only ate what I could carry. The grocery store was about 1/2 mile from my apartment, so there was no point in taking the metro there. If I couldn’t carry it, I couldn’t but it. If I didn’t buy it, I didn’t eat it. Even though I don’t have a car now, I do have access to Mr. Joey’s on the weekends for all our food shopping needs. I can buy whatever I want. I think my big change will be buying only what I can carry.
I work 4 blocks from two grocery stores and 2 minute walk from a Trader Joe’s. If it means buying a couple meals at a time, then I guess that’s how it’s going to be. If I really need eggs, I’m going to have to go out and walk to get them.
I’m hoping these changes will get me into my brown dress and keep me there for a very long time. Want to see the brown dress? It’s coming. 
Have any of your wedding weight loss/health goals extended post-wedding?
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Share this post: The Brown Dress Plan
Good for you! I think you’re so smart to be looking at it as a lifestyle change, rather than just a diet for the wedding. I know that’s how I’ve been looking at it, because I wanted to lose weight/get healthy for the long run and keep it up after the wedding. The only problem I encountered was that my dress (which I ordered back in Sept) was HUGE when it came in. that’s a good thing, though I guess. 
And yay, another spinning fan! I started spinning last summer and LOVE it. Seriously, it has transformed my hips, thighs and butt. I didn’t know I would love it as much as I do, but I’m totally addicted!
Good Luck! You look great at any weight!!
PS: I LOVE Russia and spent a few semesters there too!
When I lived in Seattle a few summers ago I noticed the weight coming off, too, since I didn’t have a car! And all the healthy organic food was really affordable! I lived on those stupid Rainier Cherries. Yum! My piece of advice is to make sure you eat ENOUGH calories, though! I read online that 1200 is plenty, and when I saw a trainer to ask why I had plateaued for so long when I was exercising X hours a week with X calories, he said I needed more! Poof, 1500 calories a day, and 5 more pounds came off. Good luck! I love seeing people start a healthier lifestyle! And spinning IS an addiction. My wedding goal is to lose what I gain on my honeymoon, LoL.
I first must say I’m impressed with the traveling you’ve done!
I fortunately have a very high metabolism so my weight never fluctuates that much, however I’m still trying to tone up before the wedding! It’s definitely the one day I’d like to look my best!
That’s sooo exciting you are into spinning, I must I am very intimidated by spinning! But I am hoping to get into that this year as well
Great plan! Yes, breakfast and spin classes. And double yes to the walking everywhere, including the grocery store. It’s amazing what walking (in your regular, daily life) can do for you! And, as you described so well, DC is a very walkable city! But, of course, you can do that almost anywhere.
I love that you say you’re 5′1.5 - I always same I’m 5′1 and 1/4. Which is what I am, although people always ask if I’m below 5 feet. LOL! But great job, and you totally inspired me to take the intro to spinning class at my gym this Saturday!! I’ve been the same weight for so long and I want to lose 10lbs and tone my arms and back!
I hear you girl…DC is good for the body. I spent my first 3 years after college in DC…and between hitting the gym 3 times a week, and all that walking everywhere (including to those happy hour spots) I lost about 25 pounds. I was also 23. Something that works for me is to try to hit the bars/restaurants close to my house (preferably at least half a mile-mile away), and walk to them and back. I know it sounds silly, but I think that’s why people are thinner in walking cities. Having to walk a mile or 2 before or after you eat, keeps it from sticking to your ribs. So walk it off, and before you know it, you’ll have that brown dress back on!
@AbbyM: I’m glad you’re going to try spinning. It’s a tough workout but I love it!
Good luck!!!
I keep pushing back my “Start” date for when I start my workout/diet 
Where do you find your motivation to go? Apparently a big wedding isn’t cutting it for me ….eee
I admire how candid you are about this! Good luck with your Brown Dress Plan!
@markyk: thanks. I think being candid is part of keeping myself accountable.
@angiemae: I LOVE Russia. I’d like to go back but Mr. Joey is not having it. He was there when it was the U.S.S.R. when he was 5. Not happy times for him
Congrats! I have also been trying to be healthier. I’ve been cooking at home a lot more (which helps the budget too!) and go the gym 3 times a week. I’m also addicted to yoga, which I do twice a week. A lot of people think that yoga is just stretching, but if you find the right teacher/studio it is the best strength building/toning exercise you can do. I have biceps now (next step - Michelle Obama arms!) and I can actually see muscles in my abs. I highly recommend it!!
Your “eat what you can carry” rule is great. Even if you are only buying for a couple of meals at a time, you’ll ultimately get more exercise that way!
Miss Joey - studying abroad is a great weight loss plan! I lost about 40 pounds without even thinking about it spending a semester in Costa Rica - I walked EVERYWHERE and ate 3 square meals a day, with lots of fruit. I also tried a spin class for the first time at my Costa Rican gym!
What an excellent and responsible weight loss plan. I see so many girls/women in my profession try to lose weight in the most ridiculous ways (honey only diet for example!) You can do it!
Good plan! Going back to habits that you know worked well for you is a great way to get back on track. Also, yo-yoing by that much in such a short time is hard on your body, so you’re smart to focus on this as a long-term goal. I too NEVER use weight as an indicator of success. I ALWAYS meansure my success by how my clothes fit and inches. I weigh about 170 pounds now, which feels high to me, but I’m muscular, and when I look in the mirror, I look good. So I try not to focus on the number.
oh man i use to only eat what i can carry too and it worked great! i can’t do it anymore, da store is a tad far, but i surely miss those days. it’s amazing how small things like taking the stairs everyday instead of the elevator helps! good luck with your plan!
I think you have a great plan and I love spinning classes. This may be TMI, but I always sweat a lot and then that makes me feel like I really accomplished something. I want to lose weight as well and have been watching my diet closely. I need to find an exercise routine though.
Oh Miss Joey give me a hug!!!
I definetly hear you one everything you just said. And Yes the 1/2″ counts because I say it all the time!
I have tried all sorts of diets and stuck to them and lost weight but then its like I see that I lost the weight and get lazy and before you know it I am back where I started. So I decided think of it that I am starting a new life and with that new life I want to be healthier and stay healthy because it is now not only me that I am living for but also the Mr.
Oh my lord, I am in shock that you lost weight in Poland. That camp should be ashamed to call itself Polish! Honey, next time that happens (hope there isn’t a next time but still), you just let me know and I will take you to Mama Breezy’s house - it’ll only take a weekend to get you back on track.
On a serious note, your plan sounds great. We’re rootin’ for ya!
good luck. I am on my own plan for the dress too and we seem to have very similar sizes. One thing I recommend is a food and work out diary. I try to record all of my food and approx calories and what i did in the gym in a little journal. I love it because:
1. it keeps me accountable- i think twice before having a cookie if i know i have to account for the calories later in my journal
2. It keeps me reflective about my eating and gym patterns. I can see what times a day i eat more, what meals fill me up, what work outs make me feel the best.
3. It makes me more conscious of the calorie count and protein of my food.
Good luck
I really like that your goal isn’t weight related. I have the same weight fluctuations issues - literally everyday I wake up a different weight within a ten pound window. And it usually makes no sense! After a big meal, I’m down a couple pounds; two days later I’ve been eating healthy and somehow I’m back up four pounds. Hope your diet/lifestyle plan goes well!
I have gone down 2 dress sizes and have only lost 3 pounds.
Maybe having a smaller frame has a lot to do with that. I am a lot of fat on a small frame, and I find I cannot logically correlate any of my losses and gains with dress size. I have a range of stuff in my closet and I wear it all depending on my recent exercise habits or time of month.
I’m also 5′ 1.5″ and seriously my body plays the same tricks on me. Sometimes I’ll suddenly go down 2 sizes but lose zero pounds, and sometimes I’ll lose 15 pounds in just a few days without much effort but my pants will be too tight. Strange. Looking forward to reading about your wedding planning, weight loss journey!
@Mrs. Sea Breeze: I could have used Mama Breezy back then. 9 weeks of summer camp in the middle of the beautiful country and beach side but without a grocery store in sight!
DC is such a great walking town. However, when I first moved here almost two years ago I definitely overcompensated for that. In my little mind, I could justify eating another cookie or slice of pizza or having another beer because I was walking so much. That didn’t work out well for me and I packed on 20lbs quickly. Yikes!
I’ve been working on losing the weight (and then some) for about a year now using weight watchers. It’s working for me. However, I’m hitting a four month slump and I don’t want to track my food anymore. The wedding was a great motivator early on, but now I’m getting lazy since I still have a year. I need to kick my butt back into gear!
Also, I love that your goal isn’t about a number. I swear, scales are evil.
I totally understand what you are saying about living in D.C.! I was in the best shape of my life when I lived there. Walking, minimal groceries, lots of going out and socializing (we drank, then burned it off at dance clubs). Man, that was the life. Now I’m chained to a desk and spend a lot of time in the car. I think your plan is a good one. The scale does play tricks on you - it’s all about how your clothes fit.
Good luck! I look forward to hearing about your adventures in getting back in shape!
Mostly my goals are focused on the honeymoon. We’re going to Hawaii and I’m terrified of looking like a fat blob in my swimsuite. I bought a new one just for the honeymoon with a new coverup for it. My goal is to look good in that swimsuit. I even have an icky pic of me in my old swimsuit (back rolls and all!) for comparison! After the honeymoon my goal is just MAINTENANCE. Easier said than done, but I’m committed.
I think for weight loss you just have to get to a point where you are really not happy. Then you lose weight for yourself, not for others. That’s what I think is the key to weight loss and keeping it off.
My weight loss goals definitely extend post wedding. I was trying to lose weight BEFORE the wedding, and now at 7 months out I know I’m not going to be where I want to be by the wedding date. That’s “ok” but I want to get (and stay) there eventually. Good luck!
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Mrs. Joey, Seattle
Age and Occupation: 28, Project Administrator for Public Health NGO
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, High School History Teacher
Engagement Date: June 24, 2008
Wedding Date: August 2009
Venue: Eastside Catholic Chapel and Lake Union Cafe
About Me: I'm a Seattle girl through and through except for the fact that I don't drink coffee. I love my job most of the time because I get to travel and work with brilliant people who are trying to prevent Malaria. I love DIY projects of all sorts, cooking, and watching sports. I'd wear anything at Anthropologie and could spend all day on Etsy. I love to travel but shouldn't because I always get myself into unbelievable situations!
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