Weddingbee Blog

I figured that it’s time to update you all on Operation: Sloth Lose Chunk.

I started Weight Watchers on September 23rd, 2010. Four months later, I am down exactly 27 pounds. Thanks to the handy tools on WeightWatchers.com, I know that that means I’ve lost an average of 1.5 pounds per week and almost 15% of my total body weight.

Via my WW Weight Tracker

I wish that things were going at a quicker rate, but 1.5 pounds a week is considered a healthy weight loss rate. And I’ll be honest: I slacked a bit around the holidays and gained almost 3 pounds. I lost it again (and then some) but it definitely slowed me down. But you know what? I don’t regret it. My future mother-in-law is an amazing cook and I didn’t want to miss a bite!

I didn’t think to take a before photo, but here is an engagement photo that was shot a few weeks before I started dieting. I put the same dress on today to take a progress photo (don’t judge on the wrinkled dress or my messy updo, please!)

“Before” photo by Morrissey Photo

After months and months of seeing the number drop on the scale, but not seeing a difference when I looked in the mirror, I’m ecstatic to finally see progress! It helps to keep me motivated. And yes, I know that these photos makes it seem like I lost all the weight from my boobs and face, but I’m wearing a size or two smaller in pants as well. Yay!

By the way, I lost this poundage with hardly any exercise at all. When I first started in the fall, Mr. S and I would take our dog for three-mile walks four our five days a week, but then daylight savings happened, and then it got cold. Since then, our long walks have stopped. I got a Wii Fit for Christmas and have been using it a bit, but not as much as I should. So between late October and late December, I barely exercised at all.

I’m not going to go into the particulars of how Weight Watchers works. There are plenty of resources out there, including the fitness boards here on Weddingbee! But I will give you some advice that has helped me on my weight loss journey so far. Nothing here is groundbreaking, I promise you. Many of you might read my tips and say “well, duh,” but I hope at least a few of you find this helpful.

• Fill up on fruits and veggies. Whether or not you’re doing Weight Watchers, it’s smart to eat as much produce as possible. I eat a small side salad every day along with whatever else I eat for lunch. In addition to being super-healthy, it just fills me up. I also snack on fruit (Honeycrisp apples are my fave) instead of visiting the office vending machines.
• Eat often. I eat many times per day: a low-sugar oatmeal or fat-free Greek yogurt for breakfast, some fruit as a mid-morning snack, a side salad along with leftovers or a frozen diet entrée for lunch, some almonds for an afternoon snack, another piece of fruit before I leave work, a light dinner and another little snack after dinner. By eating small portions often, you’ll feel fuller and keep your metabolism up.
• Drink a lot of water. Try for 8 glasses a day. I hate drinking a lot of water but I definitely notice that I lose more weight on the weeks I keep up with it instead of the weeks that I slack. Drinks that are alcohol-free, caffeine-free and non-carbonated can be substituted for water so lately, I’ve been drinking several cups of herbal tea a day.
• Don’t deprive yourself! This one is important. If someone brings donuts into the office and you really want one, you’ll be miserable watching everyone else dig in while you eat celery. So, take a donut and eat half of it. Or even just a bite or two. Sometimes, a taste of it is all you need.
• If you screw up, get right back on the horse. If you do eat the whole donut, that’s totally okay. Don’t beat yourself up about it. But don’t say to yourself, “Well, I already ruined the day by eating that donut so now I’m going to eat a whole box of mac and cheese for lunch.” Just pick yourself up and get right back to your healthy habits. Nobody ever gained significant weight from one indulgence.

(Of course, I am not an expert or professional, so consult your doctor before beginning a weight loss plan, obviously!)

I’m starting a new job in a few weeks and my new office has a gym on site, so I’m going to try my best to get moving. That will definitely help speed things up. I’ve also just joined a Biggest Loser-inspired challenge with a group of friends, where we all pitch in five bucks, and whoever loses the largest percentage of weight after a certain amount of time will win the pot. Anything to stay motivated, right?

The wedding is in 15 weeks (holy crap) so if I keep my 1.5 pound per week rate going, I could potentially lose another 20+ pounds by then! After that, I want to lose fifteen more, and then I’ll be at my goal!

Did you ever try a weight loss plan? Do you have any good tips?