New Year, Not Another Resolution

Most people make resolutions in the new year quit something that is a bad habit, workout more, travel, etc. I posted a week or so ago about my resolution for the new year, so I thought I would post about something I didn't make a resolution about: weight loss and working out. I can't stick with it, ever, no matter how hard I try and how many lies I tell myself about it. I bargain with myself, offer "rewards" for working out on a regular basis and still nada. I go through spurts where I think now this is going to get to a ridiculous point where I'm not going to be able to climb a flight of stairs without feeling like I'm near death. At 25 years old, I think that is a problem. Every summer at work, we have a health screening and I dread that moment when the male model looks at me and tells me to step on the scale so they can take my weight. I swear all the people they have working for this company we contract out to for the testing must be under 100 lbs, and it has a way of making you feel like crap. Granted, I am never going to be stick skiny, but that doesn't stop me from feeling bad about it. What I really want to say to the dude the next time he tells me to step on the scale is, "can we just act like this is the DOT and I tell you what I want my weight to be and you just smile and nod." I already know what they are going to tell me; I need to exercise on a regular basis. The only exercise I probably get on a regular basis is running from my office screaming "free at last" each night.

Of course, popular culture doesn't do much in the way of boosting ones self esteem either. I try to avoid all things fashion related on Pinterest as once again, it is all stick skinny models. I have news for these people, the clothes missing from the rack at the store when I go there aren't the size 0-4's... what does that tell you about the "normal size" of women?

Now, lets view some of the evidence of my lovely weight fluctuation

Here we are at my high school graduation, so going on about eight years ago. 

 

Here I am below in Panama in May of 2008, so 3 years after the previous picture. By this point, I was working out at Curves on a pretty regular basis. I know not the best picture, but you can tell I have lost some weight through the face.

And here I am in Italy a couple months later, still staying pretty thin. In fact, that was probably the least I have weighed at any point in the last five years. And to think, this was probably after a week of eating nothing but pasta and gelato.

 

And now, a couple years later in 2010 at my college graduation... clearly the weight has shown back up.

 

And our engagement photo from fall of 2010, right before I started to get serious about dropping lbs. for the wedding.  By the time the wedding rolled around, I had to get rid of the jeans I have on in this photo because they were falling off me.  

In June of 2011 at my parents wedding. Only a few months before our wedding, I was kicking the workouts in to high gear.

And our wedding day. What is that? A defined waist? I haven't seen that in a while.

 

 

 

 

And if you wanted a current picture, you are out of luck. Take the first picture from my high school graduation, age it 8 years and there you go.

The total difference in weight there is at most probably fifty pounds. Ok, that is a lot and I know it is hard on my body to put it on and work it off and then have it creep back on again. So, my goal is to drop the weight I did for the wedding, and keep it off. I know what I need to do that, let's see if I can stick to it. I never really change my diet because I don't eat terribly to begin with. I love fruits and veggies, and while I don’t eat them as much in the winter, I devour them in the summer. I do have a lot of carbs in my diet. I love pasta, bread, and potatoes. Sorry South Beach Diet lovers or Atkins people, whichever it is, that try to cut carbs out, it doesn't work for me. If you start taking foods away from me that I love, it isn't going to last. The big thing for me is to watch my snacking, easier said than done. I try to cut my pop intake, also easier said than done, and drink more water. I know some people can't stand the taste of water, I don’t mind it but I certainly don’t crave it, especially in the winter time. So, there you have it ladies and gentlemen (I don’t know if there are any of those that read this), the plan is in place. Now, check back with me in a year and see what is happening. I did get a 25 minute workout in today over lunch at work, so that is progress.