Letting it all hang out
in Blogs
Ok, I need to do this quick before I lose my nerve. Like a bandaid, just RIP IT OFF!
Oh my. Well, that’s me. For now. I suppose the more horrifying the before pictures are, the more dramatic and awesome the after pictures will seem right? RIGHT?
What those pictures translate into as numbers are as follows:
Height: 5 feet 8 inches
Weight: 233 pounds
Body Fat: 45% (ok, that explains all the jiggling)
Bust (in inches): 46.5
Waist (in inches): 48
Hips (in inches): 52
Upper arm (in inches): 14.5
Thigh (in inches): 26.5
How I got myself into this sorry state isn’t a long story. I was a chunky kid, I thinned out a bit as a teenager (thanks to quite a bit of throwing up), but by the time I graduated from high school, I was in the 200’s. I immediately got into a bad marriage and ballooned to 267 pounds. I got divorced, lost nearly 70 pounds on a low carb, Atkins-style diet. I got married again, lost another 20 pounds by going to the gym twice a day for six months, then got pregnant. Gained it all back during my pregnancy. Cried a bit. Lost about 20 pounds after my first son was born. Got pregnant again two years later, and got within two pounds of my highest weight, (again, more crying) had my second son, lost 30 pounds and here I am today.
So, aside from a couple of years in high school and about a year and a half in my 20’s, I’ve always weighed over 200 pounds, sometimes considerably more. At my best I weighed 180 pounds, and while it may be a completely unacceptable weight for some, that is now my goal.
Part of what I’ve been calling Project Hot Mom is feeling ok with that number. Feeling ok with any number. Feeling ok with me. I don’t have such lofty goals as cavorting on a beach in a bikini or wearing a size 4 skinny jean. What I want is to feel healthy, feel strong, have the energy to keep up with my two boys and feel good enough about my body to do the occasional strip tease for my husband (with the lights on!).
Some challenges I’ll have to face are my tendency to snack at night, my love for salty foods, cheese, and anything with a creamy filling. Emotional eating (happy, sad, angry, bored…any emotion will do) will be a huge obstacle for me to overcome. One bright spot is that I do like exercise so it will just be a matter of trying to fit more of it into my day.
My hope is that being brutally honest here, putting it all out there for people to see, will keep me motivated. I’m excited to share this journey with you and I am hopeful that through the ups and downs I will learn from my failures and see some successes.
– by Jamie
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Bravo – proud of you!
I totally understand your challenge – as it is mine too. I get soo hungry at night and love crackers+cheese, chips+cheesedip, or any combination of salty, cheesy and creamy.
While I do like the taste of something sweet after supper, I can’t identify with those who down a pint of ice cream or a box of cookies.
Also, I too am divorced and remarried.
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Well, HEL-LO there my long lost BFF! Oh yeah, I totally said BFF. OMG, I just said “totally”. OMG, I just said OMG. Am officially 14.
We are almost exactly the same in body shape and type and I’m even doing the SAME thing except I took my picture in a sports bra. GAH!
It’s been a month since I started the photos and you (ok *I*) can totally see the difference. I still have 30 pounds of baby weight to go and 20 additional pounds to get to my pre-baby original loss of 120 pounds. The pics and link are.. oh lordy, help me.. here.
(Also, I swear I’m not that un-cute or ornery-looking in person. Both times the pics have been at 7 am, unshowered. Yes, I know, I’m a sexy beast)
But you can do it. I can do it. WE can do it.
180 is my goal too. Let’s ROLL. (Ok, so that was a bad choice of words considering what currently resides on top of my pants).
You get the point.
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Welcome! I could be your body double, seriously. Except I’m 7 inches shorter than you are. With approximately the same size waist! That makes me a beach ball. Sigh.
I have about 50 lbs to lose, too. We can do it together! I’m Hippo in a Tutu, btw. Nice to meet you!
January 22nd, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Hi! I am also you! Except you’re braver about putting pictures up than I am. Which I totally applaud. I also want to join the other bloggers in saying “hey! I also have 50+ pounds to do. Let’s do it together!”
I’m “All of the Health, None of the Hork” – aka, Amber. Glad you’re here!
January 22nd, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Um, and by “do”, I mean “lose”. I think I got too excited there for a second.
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:03 pm
You go girl!
I don’t know if this will help but here goes:
A journalist I’ve read forever created a web site called Going Nowhere: chasing fitness one step at a time.
The idea is to set a minimum goal of walking/running/jogging/treadmilling 500 miles in one year. People can log in and track their progress. Your goal can really be whatever you want it to be.
I signed up years ago and then moved on to other things, but she’s revived it for 2009 and if you send her an email – marn@diaryland.com – she’ll give you the login details.
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Thank you. Our stories are very similar, it seems, and I’m where you are now. I’ll be checking in, and hoping we both reach our goals!
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:44 pm
I teared up when I saw your pictures. It could be me, and while I thought you were pretty and you had nice hair, I know you were only thinking about your weight. Sad sometimes that we can’t see the good too, like others do.
Thanks for posting this. Here is to hoping we both make our goal weight!
January 23rd, 2009 at 5:59 am
I’m gonna seem like a broken record because I’ll say it too…but I am in a VERY similar situation to yours with a similar body-type etc…
I’m actually SO happy to see someone on BIM that looks like me….someone I can relate to.
I’m excited that you are chronicling your journey with us so that we can cheer you on and be inspired by you!
You can do this…no, correction….WE can do this!
GO US!
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:54 am
You are obviously in good company! Thanks for sharing your before photos. In a few months, you’ll be thankful you have those. The clothes will be looser, you’ll feel stronger and you’ll look at those pictures and see a stranger. I’m rooting for you!!!
January 26th, 2009 at 12:05 am
PLEASE STOP SNACKING AT NIGHT. Put the last morsel of food in your mouth for the day only at dinner time. Lock that fridge after dinner and throw the keys at your very cooperative and understanding neighbor’s house. If that’s not feasible, put the key away – like somewhere in the attic or basement with lots of obstacles so you can’t get to them if it’s absolutely not needed. You’ll get an early morning exercise as a side effect.
Sorry if I sounded judgmental but I myself also need to do this. I am having huge weight and mass problems as well.
January 26th, 2009 at 11:44 am
I too am in the “50+ pounds to lose” club – your challenges and mine are nearly identical. Good luck and keep us posted!
January 26th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I’m in the same boat too! Not necessarily to lose 50lb (although I definitely wouldn’t complain) But I have been hovering around 200 for too long! Can’t wait to see where you end up!