Friday, January 02, 2009

Before and After

At this time of year, as I always do, I consider trying once again to lose weight and get into better shape. I made some progress fitness wise this year, but when all is said and done I am still about the same (large) size. For inspiration this year I am looking to my friends who have actually accomplished their weight loss goals. Above is my lovely friend Pam (in the red jacket) at last year's Christmas party.

And here is the ever cheerful and funny Kathy, friend and seamstress extraordinaire.
See the picture below to see how both of these lovely ladies look after a year of hard work.
(Pam is the third from the left and Kathy is on the end.)

They are both now wearing the tiny sizes they always dreamed of. My friend Cindy has also lost a jaw dropping amount of weight, but she is so camera shy that I am having trouble finding any good pictures of her. During our "sharing" of quilts she always made sure to hide behind one.

My thin friends lost weight on this spartan eating plan:
Breakfast: nonfat yogurt and berries, 2 oz oatmeal or shredded wheat
Lunch: cooked vegetables and 4 oz protein
Dinner: 4 oz of protein and a big salad, 1 T oil based salad dressing

No fat, flour, sugar or salt. NONE. They did this for months on end, eating ONLY these three small meals and no snacks. After all that sacrifice, they DESERVE their success.
I did try, briefly, to follow the same plan. I was so hungry I could have eaten wallpaper off the wall. Not for me, I'm afraid. Last year I also followed the Weight Watchers plan on and off. I know it will work (SLOWLY) if you stick to it. My problem was that with only a small slip up I would instantly wipe out the progress of weeks. This year I am trying something new. I rejoined a Curves exercise club near my work and have been going regularly. There is a new plan for tracking your exercise progress and also one for eating. I am ready to try again.

5 comments:

Debra Dixon said...

It's just so unfair how easily the weight goes on and how difficult it comes off. The real key is activity level. . .

Gari in AL said...

As one who has lost this year, my thoughts are that weight loss comes when you focus on it and the rule I follow is "no excuses." I joined WW in April but not until I had decided that I would not quit and that the program was my priority. The result is 48.5# loss with only 5.5# to go to goal. I encourage you to try again but only when you are ready for the commitment. If not ready, wait....there is no reason to set yourself up for a sense of failure. Best of luck in 2009.

Granny Fran said...

Best wishes on your self improvement plan for this year. Your friends look wonderful! My best experience with weight loss was when I was doing Curves regularly. I've never gotten to the place where I put into effect "no excuses!" so I keep having to lose the same weight over and over.

Anonymous said...

I am right there with you, Jen! I am sick of lugging this lard around. Enough!

Thank you for sharing your friends' success and pictures. I'll revisit this post when I need a shot of encouragement!

All the best to you in 2009!

dee said...

That's an amazing weight loss. Congrats to your friends. I'm waiting for the guy to deliver my new treadmill later today. Thank goodness, since I feel like a slug and Roger is supposed to be walking everyday as well.
Glad you had a wonderful holiday. The quilts you ladies give each other are so gorgeous. Girlfriends are the best!