by Kimberly | Aug 25, 2015 | weight loss
One of the biggest encouragements to me in the losing weight and healthy living game is affirmation from others. Words of affirmation are important to me in almost every area of life, so there is no reason it should be any different in this area.
Maybe you are the same? And maybe you do have people in your life who are your encouraging accountability friends and also those friends who give you the right words even when you’ve blown it by eating a hot fudge brownie sundae because you were having a bad day (those days happen). They are the friends you have, either by text, phone, or in person, that will help you when you are wanting to ruin all the hard work you’ve done by blowing off your diet because its “that time of the month”. You hopefully have people in your life who are helpful with new healthy recipes or new exercises that will help you beat the humdrum diet chamber we all can get in sometime.
One area that I think everyone needs encouragement in is the closet. Most women are emotionally helped when they look nice. I remember that lesson from high school. If you want to do good on a test, dress smart or dress nice that day. It would usually boost your test scores more than if you wore cut-offs and flipflops. Well, women, if you are losing weight, keep your closet a “good vibe only” place!
Pictures below: at 225 when my older son was 4 months old. and last week at 166 when my older son is almost 3. I really love that scarf and my hair in the picture on the left. But, I love that outfit a whole lot more on the right!
Here are a couple of things to consider:
- Wear what fits. Right now I am in between sizes in my jeans. The ones that I’ve been wearing are getting too big, but the ones I have folded on my skinny shelf fit fine in the legs, but still leave me with a muffin top (that no woman wants). Tip: wear the bigger ones. They will make you look smaller than if you are trying to squeeze every single pound into too small of clothes.
- Wear what makes you feel pretty. If you think you look pretty, stylish, or thin – chances are other people will think so too because you will exude more confidence. That confidence will also help you as you eat that day. It will remind you of all your hard work that you’ve put into a new healthy lifestyle.
- Ask your spouse/boyfriend/SO: The person I want to please most with what I wear is my husband. His is the gaze I want to hold. So, ask your mister (or significant other) what he likes, what looks good on you, what patterns he would go for, etc. And if he doesn’t like something, and you aren’t that attached to it, sell it or give it away – no use having it in your closet.
- Don’t beat yourself up! The print above is from my friend Bpaperie and I won it from her shop. It helps when I look at it in my closet to not be so condemning of every roll or stretch mark (thank you babies and years of weight loss yo-yo dieting) or inch of cellulite. Focus on your strengths and how much weight you have already lost.
by Kimberly | May 8, 2015 | fit fridays, weight loss
I’ve been anticipating writing this post for a while. So, when I stepped on the scale this morning and it showed the number that I saw when I had my first doctor’s appt to confirm my pregnancy with my first little boy – I did a silent little squeal than ran and hugged my husband.
This has been an almost 3 year journey. My older boy will turn three in September. I had a rough delivery and that meant for a very painful recovery. I could hardly sit or walk or stand without pain for 3 months. Included in that was a move two states away. I couldn’t exercise and I couldn’t lose the baby weight then as fast as I wanted. I had gained 75 pounds and I wanted it off.
Why did I gain 75 lbs? Well, some of it was baby – but not that much. It was a hard pregnancy with much sickness. I remember flying to TX in the late first trimester and having sour gummy worms and salt and vinegar chips on the plain, a Wendy’s value meal in the airport, then more gummy worms on the second flight. I ate so much that pregnancy including CFA grilled nugget meals and Cook-Out shakes. I hardly exercised till the third trimester and then I was too big so I just walked in order to get him out! I should have had stock in G2 because that is all I drank. Not a way to have a great, healthy pregnancy. Some of that was sin – my rationalizing my gluttony because I was eating for two.
Shortly after my older was born, we found out I was pregnant with our second little boy. I had only lost about 30 lbs. What was I going to do? I knew I couldn’t gain as much with this one, and thankfully it was an easier pregnancy and it was a 4-week shorter pregnancy. I walked almost every day at the river near our house or at the zoo. I just pushed that stroller. Turns out I only gained about 30 with my second which is much more normal. By the time I was home about 4 days I had lost it all. Wow, couldn’t the first one have been that easy?
So, I had almost 40 lbs then to lose to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. Its taken me 19 months. We have moved in that time and having two toddler boys is very stressful and hard – and wonderful and lots of hugs. But, I’m an emotional/comfort eater. And I love to bake. Those two are hard when you are trying to lose weight.
Every pregnancy is different and every weight loss journey is different. What you will find listed below is what helped me.
1. Admit your sinful tendencies. I confess my overeating sin often to God and my husband. Both offer forgiveness. My husband gives me counsel and encouragement and never holds it over my head.
2. Make a plan. Whether it is to eat less carbs, stay away from sodas, eat more fruits, join a program, join a gym – whatever it might be – write it down or tell it to others. This accountability is such a help!
3. Have accountability. I’ve done this weight loss journey before but this is the most I’ve lost. I have a few friends who ask me how its going via text. I love that. Having a husband is good accountability because I want to look good for him. And knowing he still weighs less than I do is good motivation to keep me going to my ultimate goal. Some of you may join a weight loss program for the accountability. I love Weight Watchers. I’ve lost weight before with it.
4. Basic: eat less, move more. Losing weight (if no other health problems) is that easy! Really. Try it. Moving is essential to losing weight. My mom is so gracious and pays for a gym membership and childcare. But, if you don’t have that, go to a park and run with your kids, pop in a DVD in the morning or during nap time.
5. Have motivation. I’d love to say to my only motivation is to please God but I know that isn’t it. Yes, it is a part of it because God commands us to honor Him with our bodies. But, I also want to look good, fit into my skinny jeans and all those size 8 dresses in my closet, run faster, play with my boys without getting out of breath, and not be an overweight mom…I’d rather be a healthy mom! I want to be a stylish trim mom. I asked my husband to set my goal prize for losing the baby weight. He knows I love to bowl but we’ve never done it. He said let’s go bowling! It wasn’t a food prize. That would defeat the purpose! My prize for getting back to wedding weight (11 more pounds) is an article of clothing from Talbots which I love. And then my prize for making my goal weight is some time at Massage Envy. Having extrensic motivation is helpful!
6. Focus. Discipline and self-control are both fruits of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit living in me is a great thing and necessary at all times. He provides my self-control. I just have to fight the war with my flesh to eat too much. And as I’ve talked to my husband about my sinful food relationship – I know this is a battle I will never win until I see Jesus. Then I will have a perfect body and won’t even need skinny jeans – but…the Spirit is here to help me in the meantime.
7. Pursue the Gospel. Realize that you may never lose all the baby weight. Realize you aren’t defined by the scale or the number that magically appears when your feet step on it. Jesus loves you no matter what you way. He died on the cross to pay for our sins – which might include for you – a sinful relationship to food. I have it. I think most people probably have some sinful attitude with food. God made our bodies. He made you to carry a baby and birth a baby. You did it. Your body may never look the same. My body may be the same weight but it doesn’t look the same. God is after your heart. Jesus died to save you! He lives so you can fight the flesh and serve Him with your body.
I’m not done losing weight. I still want my wedding dress to fit again and it to get too big. And I still have 22 lbs to be in a healthy weight range for my height. So, the battle of the bulge continues.
by Kimberly | Feb 13, 2014 | food, weight loss
Wow…all I can say.
I had my concerns with how eating grain-free for even 4 days would go, and you know what…it was doable. What it takes is planning and preparation (grocery shopping, recipes, etc), and a willing family and self-discipline.
1. I lost 6.4 lbs in those 4 days. I know that is not real weight, but it is better than nothing. I’m now the lowest I’ve been since either of my two sons were born.
2. I did not feel bloated once during those 4 days. I had unsweet tea once, the rest of the time it was water, oj or homemade juice, or whole milk. That was a different thing too for me. Lately I had been drinking more carbonated beverages – which also do some bloating to me.
3. A sweet friend who is losing baby weight with me asked me what I was going to do once I finished each of these detoxes each month. Here is how I’m going to change life from this one. These are significant changes and will be in how we mostly cook. If we are eating with other people in their home of course we will eat with them, but we can change how we cook!
CHANGES:
1. Limit carbonated beverages – diet or regular.
2. Drink more homemade juices. I typically make a simple carrot and apple juice for us in the morning which is delicious and inexpensive and quick.
3. Take away white flour in our home (except in baking). Here’s what I mean: eat more brown rice, sweet potatoes, whole grain bread, whole wheat pastas when we do eat grains, but try not to eat them much. But in baking, even though I sometimes substitute whole wheat flour, I purely like baking with regular flour if that’s what the recipe calls for. I have Baking with Whole Grains by King Arthur – but I just like normal recipes when I do bake them. I’ll just give them away and limit them. Today – coming off detox: I had 2 bites of a white blueberry bakery-style muffin and 1 pita (in chip form) at lunch because of this restaurant’s spectacular spinach dip. I felt bloated all day. Ended with 2 bites of strawberry pancakes and a diet coke. Ugh. So, that’s how I know there is a difference.
4. For sandwiches, whole grain tortillas will do the trick. Less carbs, I think. And I can eat a half of a sandwich when I want to – like a good BLT – you need good sourdough for that.
5. I think the toughest area for me in this will be: breakfast. Meals that are easy and quick are foods made with grain. But, I’ll have to be prepared with hard-boiled eggs, cheese, milk, yogurt with granola, etc.
But, the end result: I feel better with white flour and I lost weight. Those are great things!
by Kimberly | Sep 9, 2013 | weight loss
Being almost 9 months pregnant (yes, pregnancy is really ten months for those who are wondering – or 40 weeks)…may not be the best time to think about your weight loss goals – but I’ve got a lot of them coming up in the next year, so get ready.
One of the new changes to this blog will be one day a week – hopefully – a fitness/living well update. We have already started to make some eating changes and that is fun and challenging and teaches me new ways to be creative in the kitchen (though today I’m making strawberry cupcakes – don’t worry – they are for someone else). But, I know that in a marathon race to lose 110 lbs (by the end of this pregnancy and down to where I want to be and where I have been) – I’ve gotta cook, eat, and exercise creatively.
We don’t have money for a gym membership right now – nor do I have time to go do that with (soon) two boys under 14 months. But, here are some ways you can beat the exercise humdrums and shed those pounds, meet those goals, or just tone up!
1. Set goals. This was the biggest thing for me in my past weight loss journeys. I had to set small attainable goals. I did Weight Watchers and met lifetime during my almost 3 years in Louisville. These must be small. For me…the best goal is travel. I go places and want to see people and take pictures. So, I want to look the best I possibly can at that time. So, I pick out clothes, a goal weight for that trip – and set my mind to it!
2. Believe that you can do it. If you don’t believe you can do it – no amount of influence from others will help you. You have to do this because you want to. However you need to encourage yourself – do it!
3. Have encouragement buddies. I began running during my time in Louisville. I had several friends who were great encouragers to me in my losing weight and running journey. My husband will be my biggest fan. He wants me to be healthy – and after having two babies in two years of marriage is not the best recipe to stay healthy!
4. Don’t be a slave to the scale. Someone in Louisville asked me one time not to weigh – because the number on the scale had become an idol to me. She was right. Whatever the number on the scale said in the morning affected how I felt about myself that day, what I ate, and how much I exercised. Nothing else seemed to matter. You are more than a number on a scale. The numbers can be a good indicator of your overall health, but not the only thing. Have those jeans that you long to wear – hanging where you can see them – so that might deter you from eating that second cookie.
5. Perservere. I’ve lost almost 70 lbs before. I know I love my clothes, style, accessories, and how I feel and look when I get to my goal weight. I know 110 lbs is not going to be easy. But, I have all of 2014 (and after S is born, the rest of 2013) to get to it. It’s a marathon. Go do it – be creative. Get out and do new things. I can’t wait to be healthy enough to go running again – and hike Pinnacle Mountain with my husband and boys in tow.
Maybe the book I’ve started writing about the gospel and food will eventually get written. It is a matter very important to my heart (and my body).
by Kimberly | Oct 29, 2012 | 31days, weight loss
So maybe these aren’t new, but they are on my mind this morning, and I can choose to do something about them!
1. I’m opinionated. Maybe its because I have a blog and think that people actually care what I think about stuff. Maybe who knows why. Its prideful and arrogant to think that I can offer my thoughts at random no matter who they hurt. And the ones I love should rather know that I’m their biggest fan and that they are loved more than they need to know my preference. Phil 2.4 – that is not love, along with 1 Cor 13. I’d rather live like Landis Barnes (in the live like Paul sorta way, because he lives like Jesus) then share my opinions.
2. I’m overweight. Ok – I know I just had a baby, but that doesn’t excuse my eating habits. And I can keep saying stuff about it and still keep eating poorly and being disappointed by the way I look and feel and the way none of my clothes fit – or I can do something about it. Food doesn’t taste that good!
Now, my note about self-realizations – they are not self-actualizations. Just because I am them – doesn’t mean I have to stay that way. Phil 1.6 and my continuing gospel sanctification (Hole in our Holiness) should let me know that the Spirit is going to keep working in my life. I’m thankful.
by Kimberly | Jan 17, 2011 | food, vegetarian, weight loss
1. I’m very thankful for MLK. Not only for his vision for racial equality (or however you want to say it), but also because we get a day off. Not that I won’t be working today, I’ll just be working from my bed and then my second office (different location).
2. Honest here: Its been a tough week. Even though I had a fabulous time in Wilmington, I have not been sleeping well since Tuesday. I usually sleep sound through the night and would love to get about 9 hours of it (my busy life does not allow for that and for me to get everything done). But, two times since moving here I have gone in a period of not sleeping well. I went to bed last night about 1130 and just prayed to Jesus that He would grant me at least 6 hours of good sleep. The first time I woke up was around 645, thank you Jesus for that sweet answer to prayer! Still tired, not caught up, but much to do, so I hopped out of bed around 815.
3. I had three great conversations with three new friends yesterday: Thankful for them and for the wide variety of conversations we had: running, vegetarianism, and writing. They were all very needed yesterday.
Link Love
1. I am making this tonight to bake in the morning when I return from the gym.
2. This will be a late night drink for me this week since I will have a lot of late nights.
3. This is a very inspiring post by Kendi. This is especially needed when I have so many dreams. These are the ones that are up to me: do my job well, social media/blogging success, writing a book, losing 30 lbs, be vegetarian, and running successfully, travel and do food photography/writing, and being a great photographer. Then there is one that I can’t do by myself. Thank you Kendi for this dream report.
4. Anyone in RDU wanna come have this recipe with me? This looks amazing.
5. Love my friend’s blog on the topic of food. Some of her previous thoughts in a conversation with me has spurred me on the last couple of months since meeting with her.
I know this week’s is short, but I feel like these are more specific to what I want to do. Hopefully you like these Monday editions. I hope you see a little bit of me in these and learn what is going on in my head and heart and busy schedule.
Have a great holiday!
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