This past January (completely unrelated to the new year), my
husband and I started a weight loss journey together that has proven to be very
successful, even while we run our own
vending,
candy buffet, and
cupcake vending machine business. Meaning, at any given time there are pounds of candy, chips,
chocolate, soda, or cupcakes in our home. We don’t have a garage, shop, or any
place for our inventory, it lives with us. Picture having a convenience store
as your pantry- without the clerk to judge you while you check out. That’s my
house.
Together, we’ve lost over 100 pounds so far. I’ve lost 43
pounds and Peter’s lost 58 pounds. I have about 11 more pounds to go to reach
my goal. I told myself once I got to a medically-defined “healthy” weight for
my height, I’d write a blog post to share my story, and hopefully help others.
No big secrets here, but hopefully maybe even some reinforcements can encourage
you if you’re in the same boat.
Here’s a before and after for ya!
Disclaimer: Peter did not want to post any “after” photos
until he was closer to his goal. But he looks amazing. Seriously, I'm SO proud of him!
First I will say, we don’t have any less going on in our
lives than anyone else. My husband works full-time at a restaurant that serves
delicious food, I work part-time from home, I have young children at home with
me, all day long, I homeschooled my daughter 5 days a week up until “summer”, I
have a home to keep up with, and I help my husband run our vending business. We
have a lot going on like everyone else, but we did it. I’m not saying, “If we
can do it, anyone can”, because we worked our butts off. However, if you WANT
to do it, here’s how:
Find Good Support
Our first support was eachother. We both needed to lose
weight and we did it together. We encouraged eachother, and made the right
choices together. Peter and I have always accomplished more together than we
have separately, and this is no exception. This is 100% OUR success, not mine
or his.
Secondly, we got a membership to the YMCA in Duluth. We
chose the YMCA in particular because of their Kid’s Club program. We can drop
the kids off to play for up to two hours per day with our family membership and
get a workout in. It’s a fantastic program that’s the perfect support for
families with young kids at home in particular. The kids love going to the Kid’s Club. The
membership is very affordable for all that’s included and they have
income-based membership prices as well. Their classes for kids are also way
more affordable for members. Clara’s been able to take swimming and gymnastics
classes at a great price thanks to our membership. It’s a total win for the
whole family.
We also had our entire extended families supporting us along
the way.
Find an Exercise You
Love
One thing I used to hate. Running. Know what I hated more
than running? Treadmills. And ellipticals. And bikes that also went nowhere. I
find it unnatural to put so much sweat and energy into something and get
nowhere. Peter, however, likes running. And treadmills. To each his own hamster
wheel.
So, our first week of having a Y membership I tried a Zumba
class, and I LOVED it. Sure, this photo is incredibly accurate, even today, but the point is I
actually LIKE it.
I want to go to Zumba. It's a TON of fun. I load the kids in the car like there’s a 2 for
1 deal on double stuff Oreos. Not that I know how fast that is from personal
experience…
If working out isn’t your thing, I get it. I thought for a long time it wasn't my thing either. But try some
different things. Try a group exercise class. Or if you don’t have a gym
membership, there’s a ton of workout videos for free on YouTube. On my non-Zumba
days, I usually would work out to free Jillian Michaels workouts on YouTube.
Her “Banish Fat, Boost Your Metabolism” is particularly horrifying. I may or
may not have laid face down on my living room floor begging the TV for mercy.
After several months of just doing Zumba and Jillian
Michaels workouts, I got back on a treadmill. I could easily run 2 miles
immediately without getting tired. Now, I don’t mind running, because I can
actually do it. Peter and I are even planning on running a 5K together next year. However, I still prefer Zumba any day of the week!
Count Your Calories
One thing I found I was horrible at, was guessing calories. (This
is ESPECIALLY true if you are in a restaurant, so eat as much as you can at
home. The same meal at home is usually double the calories or more at a
restaurant). So we have found a big key
to our success this time around was counting our calories.
Peter and I both used the MyFitnessPal app to count our
calories every day, every meal. I HIGHLY recommend this app. (They have a
web-based program for people without smartphones as well). About 95% of what
you are eating on a daily basis is already in their database. It takes a few
seconds when you sit down to eat, and you’ll find it really eye opening if you
haven’t been counting your calories. Seriously,
even if you think you know, try it for a week.
You can also input your exercise to add to your calorie goal
for the day, which I found handy since my calorie limit for the day is currently
only 1200 calories, and track your weight loss.
Don’t Diet
One thing I’ve always hated, is the quote “It’s not a diet,
it’s a lifestyle change”. It doesn’t
really help much. I’ve tried A LOT of diets the last 6 years. If it’s title
ends in the word “Diet” or “Plan”, I’ve likely done it and not seen any
results, or if I have, they were very short-term.
One thing I’ve learned, you can eat through any workout
plan, so it’s important to find foods that aren’t going to un-do everything
you’re doing. I don’t eat kale, or drink spinach smoothies, or eat raw eggs. I had two secret weapons this time that I
found allowed me to eat like a normal person without feeling deprived, all
while not being too high in calories, and the weight just fell off. So my best
advice is, eat the way you always have- just find ways to modify your favorite
recipes with healthier ingredients, reduce your portion size, or both.
My first secret weapon was Pinterest. My social media love.
You can find all kinds of great recipes to your tastes that are fantastic. Many
have great ideas for simple swaps that really lower the calories. For example,
did you know that plain Greek yogurt is a really good substitute for sour
cream? Seriously, try it. Check out my Pinterest boards for my favorite recipes
and weight loss tips below. Please be advised “healthy” is an subjective term.
Maybe it’s not a complete balanced meal, but it’s not loaded in calories either. Feel free to follow any of my boards!
My second food weapon was the book “Cook this, not
that”. We loved the recipes in there,
they are delicious. Did we have nachos for lunch instead of salads sometimes?
Well yes, yes we did. Don’t take my word for it. The proof is in the pants
size.
Nothing Tastes as
Good as Being Thin Feels?
I’ll leave you with this. We’ve all heard (especially the
ladies) “nothing tastes as good as being thin feels”. I don’t know what supermodel coined it, or
how it got to be so popular, because it’s just not true. Oreos taste as good as
being thin feels. Cheesecake tastes as good as being thin feels. Cheese fries
taste as good as being thin feels. Pasta tastes as good as being thin
feels. Any food vice you have tastes
good or better than being thin feels.
However, this is my one and only earthly body. This is the
heart, lungs, and organs I’m counting on to watch my kids grow up into a little
man and woman of God, to dance with my husband at their weddings, to live this
beautiful life right alongside him, my best friend, beholding all God has to
offer. This is the heart that will be beating in my chest when I hold my
grandbabies (that I don’t have to raise!) This is all I have. And taking care
of it for THOSE reasons? Nothing tastes that good.
Not even Oreos.
Not even at
2 for 1.
