May 25, 2022

Wednesday Weigh-In: One Year!

One year! Yesterday marked one year since I started calorie counting and running again in order to take off the weight I picked up between 2018-2020. Even though I'd been down this road before (many times), this past year felt like the first "real" time that I've worked on the weight loss since I lost 125 pounds back in 2009-2010. I feel like I'm in it for the long haul and not just a short-term goal.

I think part of the reason I've been successful in losing the weight this past year is because I'm more focused on my health than on my looks. I've had a really hard time accepting that I'm getting old(er). It's stupid, really--it started when I went with Jerry to get his blood drawn (I think it was 2019?) and the woman at the lab took his license and exclaimed that he looks so much younger than his age. Then she said, "I thought that was your mom that came in with you."

I know I shouldn't let a stupid comment like that bother me, but ever since then, I've felt much older than I did before. I notice my wrinkles and age spots on my skin, and especially how my skin sags. The usual stuff about getting older.

The good thing to come out of it is that I care more about my health and less about my looks. Of course I want to look good for my age, but I'm no spring chicken anymore (I'm old enough that I use that idiom! hahaha).

Anyway, enough about that. Even though I've been more concerned with health, it's still fun to get back into some old clothes that I'd almost lost hope of putting on again and to feel more comfortable overall. A year ago, I hated that it was hard to cross my legs again; that wearing anything other than black stretchy pants made it feel hard to move easily; that I was out of breath after the smallest task; and that I just felt crummy in general.

A year's work--which went by SUPER fast--has me feeling a million times better, both physically and mentally. Mentally, I feel accomplished from putting my mind to something and following through (even though there is no finish line); I don't have anxiety over my weight anymore (writing a blog about weight loss definitely caused hyperawareness); and I just feel happier in general. I like that I haven't been too afraid to post my weigh-ins on the weeks that I'd gained weight. 

Okay, onto today's weigh-in:


Last week, I was at 146.4 and I said it would be awesome to get down to 144 today so that my weight would be "normal" on the BMI chart rather than "overweight". I did see 144.4 one day, but that's the lowest. The weight is coming off much more slowly, but I'm cool with that. I'm not sure how much more my body will want to let go of! My weight has gone down for the last four(?) weeks in a row, so it's definitely progress over the standstill that lasted a couple of months.

Now, onto the fun stuff... pictures! Specifically, comparison pictures. My favorite. And since it's been one year, I thought it would be fun to post my year's worth of mirror selfies from my Wednesday Weigh-Ins. For the first nine weeks, I didn't do a full-body mirror selfie because I honestly didn't think I was going to drop the weight or even do regular Wednesday Weigh-Ins. I have pictures from DietBet weigh-ins, though, so I'll post those. I wish I'd at least put a little effort into my appearance for those, but I never expected anyone to see them!

I wasn't sure how to post these since there are so many, so I just put them in rows of four. They are in chronological order, starting with Day 1 last year...














There is a 51.6-pound difference between the first and last photo. And just for fun, I put on the clothes from a year ago. I can't believe how big the shirt is!


I can remember how uncomfortable I felt in that first photo. I was sweating and I hadn't even gone for my walk/run yet!

I'm so glad I took these weekly pictures; it's so fun to look back at them and see the very subtle changes from week to week, and then how it adds up to a pretty dramatic difference in the end.

Even though I'm celebrating one year, nothing is going to change today. I'm still eating healthier than I ever have and focusing on fiber more than anything else; I've been eating vegan since January and I love it. I'm excited to see my lipid panel when I have my annual physical this summer. As far as running, I'm ready to get back into it after nursing my knee for weeks and then having COVID and ____ (fill in the blank). I'm going to do heart rate training again and I'm looking forward to it.

The year went by SO fast, but looking at that first photo makes Day 1 feel like a lifetime ago. Let's hope that this time next year, I'll have maintained my weight loss and am feeling my best! (Or at least younger than the mother of a 41-year old man, haha.)

6 comments:

  1. Katie, I am so proud of you and thrilled to hear you are happy. And thank you for the laugh out loud comment about the spring chicken idiom. I really needed that laugh tonight 🤣 BTW, you look fabulous and healthy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I tried running in 2016 and it wasn't fun with the weight that i carried (and still carry today), but i did complete a 10k.

    I read your blog irregularly, but am glad i did today. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Still so hard to believe she thought you were Jerry's mother. She needs glasses.

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  4. Congratulations!!! You look great. I love the side by side pictures from the first day to today.

    ReplyDelete

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