Lots of you want to lose weight, right? If you've seen me over the course of the last year you've seen a transformation. I'm not here to gloat, but maybe to encourage you to transform too, if you want to.
I'm talking about the 32 pound weightloss I've worked at since July 29, 2009. Last July I went on my yearly bicycle trip vacation and it was miserable. It rained and was cold. There was a solid headwind for a day. I got a sinus infection day 2, and I was overweight and underprepared. That's me on the left on the bike trip. I don't know how I managed a smile. When I got back a student mentioned to me the website www.sparkpeople.com as a place that had helped her start with a quick 5 pound loss (thank you Glenda!!) So, I checked it out. Hmmm...it's free. Hmmm...it sets up goals and food tracking for you. It says I can reach my goal by January if I start today! Wow. That was motivating.
July, 2009 February, 2010
So, I got started. Within a week I felt so much better. By November I had reached my goal and I've been maintaining ever since. I had actually gotten into the "Normal" category for Body Mass Index. It had been a long time since I had been out of the "Overweight" category. The website offers continual support while losing and maintaining. I log my water, food, and exercise everyday. I read motivating articles, and collect points that give me cyber-trophies (I don't know why the trophies help.) I have tried about every other weightloss thing out there short of surgery and the Atkins diet (no carbs, are you kidding?) This is the first time I've maintained a significant loss for more than about 5 minutes.
I've mentioned sparkpeople to several other people and they seem to be benefitting from it too. Maybe you want to give it a try if you have a bit or even a lot to lose. Maybe next time I see you, I'll be seeing less of you!
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a great way to calculate the relative risk of your weight to your health. I like the government's easy-to-use site without any gimmicks to try to sell you something. Check it out: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/english_bmi_calculator/bmi_
February, 2009
November, 2009 (Same pants but they're really loose now, not tight and restricting.)