Farewell, Fat Pants!

After I rocked my dress at work yesterday, today I wore my typical work outfit - loose fitting black pants, a pretty top, and a cardigan.

A friend who knows how hard I've been working pulled me aside and told me it's time to ditch the pants, because they're looking ridiculously big (she said I looked like a hobo).

So...it's time. Time to really ditch them. I'm going to toss a few tops as well that are just too big.

This is really happening. I double checked all my measurements I've been tracking - 7 inches gone from my hips, 8 from my waist, 3 from my chest, two from my arms, and 4 from my thighs. That's actual loss!  I can't believe it sometimes.

I'd really, really like to hit 180 by my birthday, August 29. That will be a year since I started on this journey, a year since that disastrous hike was such a wake up call for me. 180 would put me in "overweight" and not "obese" range on the BMI scale. I don't know that I'll make it - my body gets a vote and it's an ornery bastard. But dammit, I'm going to give it my best. That's 6 weeks. Let's see what I can do.

Tanita Scale: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Over the last few weeks, I got down to about 198 and then bounced right back to around 204 and stayed there. I suspected it was due to that Time of the Month (I can gain as much as 10 pounds) but I found it particularly infuriating because I was working out soooo damn hard and eating soooo damn well. I've gotten up to swimming TWO miles a day several times a week, in addition to the dog walking and occasional elliptical-ing.  That means I can officially swim more in one session than I can run. Ha!

Anyway, the scale was pissing me off royally, and I started to suspect a conspiracy was at play. I also lost my trust in the scale because it varied so much depending on its floor placement and where I stood (and anyone who's ever been on a diet knows you'll move across the floor until you find the spot that gives you the lowest number). 

So I decided to order a Tanita scale, which measures weight as well as body fat, and is supposed to be very reliable.

I used it right after swimming tonight.  The good news: I weighed 199 on it, instead of my old scale which had me at 203 (booo! Hisssss!).  So we're friends because of that.

BUT the body fat came out at 42%. FORTY TWO PERCENT of me is fat. With that much fat, I'm basically a bratwurst, or a fine piece of cheddar, or a giant cashew. Ickkkk.

I think I'll like this scale though. With all the working out I'm doing it'll be good to see the impact on my fat. I've been losing inches, especially around my waist. I rocked a size 14 J. Crew dress today (their sizes run smallish) and got a bazillion compliments at work. I love my coworkers.

So that's where we are. I'm trucking along, swimming my ass off, eating well, and doing the best I can.

I am back with happy news.

I did go to the middle east and happily stuffed my face full of shwarma and hummus and other delicious things for a few days. When I got back I weighed in at 212 and decided this had to stop.  So immediately cut gluten from my diet, went back to weight watchers eating, and have been exercising a lot. I also have been diligent about taking my thyroid medicine, vitamin D, and I've started taking CLA for supplementation.

The result? This morning I weighed in at 197. That's an amazing weight loss for anyone, let alone me. Although 212 was probably artificially high due to water weight, I was about 207 before the trip so I've lost 10 pounds in less than a month. Whee!

I've also rediscovered my love for swimming. My neighborhood pool has lanes and great hours, and I've been doing at least a mile a day. It's amazing how fast you can adjust. I don't push myself to do it too fast or too much - I just enjoy the relaxing feeling of the water and keep trucking along.

I love swimming. It's the only time I feel truly graceful. It's so relaxing and gentle. Granted, my shoulders hurt like a bitch, but I'm doing really well over all.