Easy Weight Loss?

     This blog uses cookies and some other stuff! Duh it is Google!

 Please forgive the chop and change blog. I had been lovingly writing and editing this blog for nine months. Editing it today, everything highlighted and then disappeared. Never to be seen again. So I am writing from scratch, from the best of my memory. 

   So the answer to the question? Is there such a thing as easy weight loss? No there isn't. The diet shake companies, the diet bar companies. The multi million dollar diet industry. Certain pages on social media platforms. Would love us to think so. (and spend $200-$400 a month on what they are selling) I am 100% against them. In case you didn't know.

    So how do we lose weight? Consistency. That is what I have found out in my search for easy ways to lose weight.

    This is my story, 100% true, no bull. No false promises. No trying to sell you a box of shakes, powdered eggs or diarrhea tea.
What I Have Been Doing! Part One
What I Have Been Doing! Part Two
How I Have Been Doing!

     So we start off in May 2018

        Can't remember if this weight was measured at the beginning or end of the month?
May was uneventful. 

       Somewhere in June or July. I was planning to visit my brother and sister in law in Pensacola Florida. Vacations are always hard to stay on track. 
   
        One of my hobbies is a Kindness Rocks Facebook page!
Laurel Maryland Rocks Plans to Visit Pensacola

     Looks like I am doing all right. Truth is my anxiety was off the charts and I couldn't eat much in July.
     I did visit Pensacola
Pensacola Rocks!

     In August I had a follow up appointment with Radiology. My last appointment. They found the cyst was probably not Cancer. Then they had a long disclaimer. The cyst was probably not cancer, but maybe it was? That really messes with your mind and well being.

All about my troubling radiology report
What I Have Been Doing! Part Two

     Oh No! What happened. A couple very bad binges. My period and some anxiety and some binges. So, starting all over. 
     The really sad, sad news is. I got to 138.8 in September. Then the binges happened and I sabotaged myself. 

    You think I would learn from binges, but no! I really was starting all over. 

    Suffered from a really bad binge on November 15. I easily ate about 3000 calories in a two to three hour window. It was terrible and I don't know what came over me. I felt so guilty afterward. Went to sleep, feeling terribly guilty. 

    About 4am. I was woken up with the worst acid reflux. So nauseous and feeling like I was going to throw up. It felt like the stomach flu. I was certain that I was going to throw up.

    The scary part of this episode. This thought kept running through my brain. Well you are obviously going to throw up anyway. Why not help yourself along? You will feel so much better if you make yourself vomit. 

    It sounded like a good idea. I really did consider it. Then realizing that I would be headed to a point of no return. I didn't want to go there. If I did vomit on my own. That was unpleasant, but couldn't be helped. Sticking a toothbrush down my throat. Was a place I didn't want to go.

If you binge like I did and then make yourself throw up. Please, Please seek medical help. 

     Well I guess that is progress? I had hoped to be where I started three years ago. At 137 with some decimal point. I might have been? On December 15, I made it to 138.8. Then I had a binge moment. Not as bad as the one in November. I did wake up nauseous with that one. Didn't have the urge to make myself throw up. 

Progress Pictures!

Sometime in May 2018

December 31, 2018

     I guess there is a little progress?

     I have lost seven pounds total since the first of the year!
What I Have Been Doing! Part Two!

     Last year, I would be at 147 and then lose two pounds. Then get my period. Then gain the two pounds back. Bouncing in between 145 and 147. Seems like this year, I repeated the cycle. Bouncing between 140 and 142. Sometimes breaking out and getting to 138 and 139. 
     This year, 2020. I plan to break that cycle. 

2019 was a tough year. Then 2019 said, but did you die? 
Stay tuned for my next blog. I will write about some fun and trying things about 2019.


**PLEASE NOTE** I am not a doctor or a dietitian. I cannot tell you what to eat. My experiences are solely mine. If you have special health needs. Then you <MUST> follow the directions of your trained health team.

**ALSO NOTE** I DO NOT allow mention of fat burners, detoxes, shake diets or diarrhea tea. On my blog. I utterly despise them. If you post about any of these in my comments. I WILL delete your comment. 

     

What I Have Been Doing? My Progress Report, Part One!

    **This is a two part series. Stay tuned Part Two will be published a few minutes after this one**

    My dear readers. You know all about my struggle.

What Happened? My Previous Blog!

Winter

     These pictures are from February 2018. No new progress pictures since there has been no progress.

Summer and Fall

          Very sad, all summer and into fall. Binge eating has  gotten the best the worst of me. Still no progress.

December 10-14

       I needed a dress for a Christmas party. Bought several dresses online. All them bought were returned for some reason or other. They didn't fit.

       One of the dresses was so thin and such poor quality. It even had a slit up to my waist. This was supposed to be a faux wrap dress. The "wrap" part of the dress had two inches of overlap. The slit would not stay closed. Unless I wanted to stand still the whole party. 

     Realizing that I would need a slip underneath this cheap dress. The faux wrap with no overlap. Made it so that I needed a whole dress. Underneath my dress.

       Went to the mall in search of a party dress looked in so many stores. Couldn't find anything that fit or even really liked. Or anything really in an acceptable price range. At least I didn't have a meltdown in the fitting room. Okay I had a meltdown in the fitting room. Being shaped like a rectangle doesn't help, at all.

      Finally found a beautiful dress at Ross Dress for Less. It was $12.99. Should have gone there first! I already knew what shoes I wanted to wear. So I had to find a dress as fabulous as the shoes.

Found them at Burlington!

December 18

       Went to the doctor for a routine physical and need to go for further testing. Something in my lower abdomen is not quite right.

      Then I also have a routine imaging test that all women must go through. Although, you men should have it done, too!

Last Week of 2018

      This year after hitting 148.8 pounds. This simply will not do. Somethings gotta give. I cannot keep gaining weight. 

     I feel like I am on a merry go round. I pop up to 147.4. Then I start losing and it takes four weeks to get 144. Then along comes my period and boom! I am right back at 147.4. Please stop this roller coaster ride. I want to get off.

Longing for daffodils and tulips
When you are so over winter, but winter is so not over you

Beginning of 2019

     Follow up appointments for the further testing. I can say that I haven't binged. Not since December 18th. This is all very stressful.

    Both tests were quite unpleasant!

Follow Up Tests for Medical Problems

    The news back from the radiology. Both tests were fine. The ultrasound came back as okay. That situation will be monitored. 

    The other test was routine and it was fine as well.

Please read Part Two. Link Below!

Progress Report Part Two

**Please Note**

I am not a doctor, dietitian or health professional. (a real health professional that actually went to school for years and took a bunch of tests) 

My experiences are all mine and unique to me. Your experiences may be different. You may have different needs. Please consult with your health care specialists.

June Results!



           These are the results for June. The weigh in for May was 143.3 and weigh in for June is 141.8. A loss of 1.7 lbs. I achieved this by using a mix of Spark People and the old Weight Watchers Points Plus. With Points Plus. I didn't necessarily stick to 26 points a day. I tried to stay in the 26-30 point range. It is okay if my points are over thirty. Just don't want them too far over thirty.



May 143.3 and June 141.8
Slow and steady wins the race
I refuse to use diet products to win that race

           When I started doing this I was at 139. Now my weight is like a pin ball just bouncing around. Trying to get back to 139 and stop the bouncing around. Yes weight fluctuates from day to day. I just want it to fluctuate on the downward. Soon I will be taking a picture of 139. Then taking a picture when there is a greater weight loss.

          This isn't for everyone. Personally, I weigh myself everyday. That helps me to stay on track. Then again, I realize that my weight will fluctuate and it doesn't upset me when that happens. If you step on the scale. And normal fluctuation from one day to another is devastating. Then weighing everyday. Is probably not a good idea for you.

         

My first goal is to get to 139 and under
Without the constant bouncing back and
forth.

         


          Telling someone just starting out. You have to find the keys that unlock your health. Yours may be vastly different from mine. I am not going to pretend like my diet is superior. Which honestly it's not. If it were though. I wouldn't act like me and my diet were so superior to you and your diet. I dislike people that do that. It's like when they lose the weight. They get amnesia and forget they were once in the same place.


          Isn't this just the cutest idea? Must give Spark People credit. I would have never thought of it. I got the jars from TJ Maxx (I heart Pineapples) The marbles came from Amazon. The large marbles represent pounds. The smaller marbles represent ounces.

A cute idea that I got from Spark People
As I lose weight I move the marbles to the jar on
the right

          I would have done this last week. My period and water weight gain, said ummm no! Although I don't mind getting my period. I am not going to complain. The water weight gain? Not so much!

June 2017 141.8

June 2017 141.8

June 2017 141.8

          I have been working on my exercise goals. Not quite there yet. Not anywhere near my goals yet. Refuse to give up!

May Results! No Longer the Ugly Truth!

          Getting these progress pictures was so difficult. It was like pulling teeth. So I'm only going to post monthly pictures and not weekly. If I could be honest! I am not very motivated, but I'm not giving up! I won't give up, but I just can't seem to get motivated. I feel unmotivated and irritated. This free blog site isn't helping one bit. With the irritation.

      

          A day trip to the beach. Which was absolutely wonderful. Resulted in eating a lot of yummy food. That wasn't at all good for me. Which resulted in a significant weight gain. I now weigh 143.3.

          So esessentially, I am starting again. All over again. 

         
          In the blog world. There's always a pressure to be always positive. Always be perfect. Always talk about how much you love exercise and healthy eating. Then there's my blog and I will always tell you the truth.

          I will tell you how it's hard and you may not feel motivated. Now I need to close, save and publish this blog before I get really upset. I'm thankful for this free blog but, it's worth every penny. Which isn't much. It's pretty obnoxious in fact. With its cursor jumping all over the place. Deleting pictures, when I don't want them deleted. Changing the font in mid sentence.

I won't endorse weight loss products. Ads should never be seen as an endorsement.

This is my journey. I'm not a doctor. Visit your healthcare proffesionals before starting your journey. blah, blah, blah you know the drill

Ugly Truth! Week Fifteen! Holiday Motivation Where Art Thou?

          Last week there was no motivation to be found.  None anywhere. I exercised one day and didn't record my food. The week before was quite similar. I think that I at least exercised, April 3-8th. Even if I didn't record my food.




Current Week Fifteen!
Week Thirteen Internetz broke no back up plan
Week Fourteen lazy and no motivation

As a result I am 143.1
The most I have weighed in three years.

Back on track with Week Fifteen!

          Oh I remember!  On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the 6th through 8th. My innanetz was down. So no music or You Tube. Or Place to record my food. Made me realize. When something like that happens. A back up plan is what is needed. I need to get some old school CD's and print out some workouts.

        On April 10th. Internetz was back up. I exercised on April 10th. Lost all motivation to do anything remotely healthy, April 11th-16th. As you all know, the 16th was Easter. Also known as Resurrection Sunday. The Super Bowl of Christianity. And we eat too. Oh wow! Did I eat!

        So I am back and not giving up. Even with this small set back. I will use my error to figure out what needs to done differently. Not giving up.

         My hope is that your takeaway from this blog. Even if you lose your way. For a week or two or more. You can find your way back. You have only failed when you give up completely. If you find your way back. Then you haven't failed!

As always, if you see any diet product advertisers or spam sites on my blog. That should NEVER be considered an endorsement. I will delete and block any spammer. Count on it!



**DISCLAIMER** The opinions on this blog are mine and mine alone. This is my journey. I am neither a doctor nor a dietitian. Which you should consult before you begin any healthy journey **DISCLAIMER**

The Ugly Truth! Week One! Beginnings



            

     All of my Real life Friends and Family. Plus my Facebook friends and family. Know  that the past two weeks have been crazy. Plus before the last two weeks. I had let myself go and wasn't exercising at all. Nor was I following any sort of healthy eating plan. I would love to blame Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. Those holidays are only part of the equation. Neglecting myself has got to change. If I am sick. I cannot care for anyone. 

             I was hesitant to share these pictures. As someone who doesn't really want to share anything that is inappropriate.  The Ugly Truth is that I look great in clothes. Hearing comments, You look fine. You don't need to lose any weight. Although those comments are well meaning. I don't feel fine. I need to lose this extra weight and body fat. Especially since it is that dreaded Belly Fat. The kind of visceral fat that can cause problems in the long run if not dealt with.

Week One 137.6 lbs

         
          I wanted to share my journey with you. Think that sharing my progress every week will keep me accountable. How will this be done? The old fashioned way. With a healthy diet and exercise. I will use Spark People. My favorite go to Health, Wellness and Fitness website. What I WILL NOT use. Overpriced diet pills, powders, shakes or gimmicks. I know that in the long run. Those things only make your wallet thinner. Have yet to meet anyone that needs to lose weight in their wallet.

          That is why I love Spark People. It is free. Their advice is free. Their nutrition tracker is free. Their exercise plans are, you guessed it, free. If you really want to commit you can buy Spark Premium. I haven't, but I hear there are no ads on Spark Premium. They are really pulling for you. They only profit from our success and not from our failure. Unlike the sellers of false hope in a jar.
       

Ugh! I have a lot of back fat.

       So I hope that you all will stick with me. As we all know. I didn't gain it in a week and I won't lose it in a week. Since this is going to be done correctly. It will take a while. I want this to be the last time I lose weight.

Follow me.....
On Instagram: @iheartrescuedog
On Twitter      @iheartrescuedog
On Sparkpeople Mandieterrier1


Any ad for weight loss products appearing on this blog. Should NEVER be considered an endorsement

**DISCLAIMER** I AM NEITHER A DOCTOR NOR A DIETITIAN. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS BLOG ARE SIMPLY THAT. MY OPINIONS. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR HEATHCARE PROFFESSIONAL BEFORE STARTING OR MAINTAING ANY NEW DIET OR EXERCISE PLAN! **DISCLAIMER**

Shame, shame, sHaMe

     I have noticed how popular it has become to shame a woman for her size. Whether she is overweight, regular weight, or under weight.  Although I believe it has always been a popular sport to shame a woman for being overweight. The skinny shaming is a recent occurrence.

      And I am speaking to myself when I say let's use our words to build up and not tear down. Let us stop saying that because a woman doesn't meet our criteria of what a woman is "supposed" to look like. That somehow disqualifies her as a "real woman".

         All of us that call ourselves women. We are real women! Some women have curves. Some women are skinny. Some women are athletic. Some women have a little extra cushion in the middle and other places. Some women have an illness that causes them to be thin. And they would love to gain weight. And it is not helping when someone is rude and tells them to eat a cheeseburger. We are all real women!

         The entertainment industry is hard enough on women. Let us make this up by being kind to each other. A little Kindness and gentleness and building up your sisters as well as your brothers is Fabulous!

"Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle" ~John Watson

(Thanks for hearing me out. I am truly speaking to myself on this subject. I just hope that I can be a good influence to someone else.)

Why! Oh! Why!

             Why is it so easy to gain weight?  And so hard to lose it? Finally made it to maintenance and now struggling to find my calorie sweet spot. I am working hard so that I am a success and I don't gain the weight back. 

             Posted because they have nothing to do with weight loss. Just reminding you that taking time to smell the flowers is fabulous

**Note: Don't began any exercise or diet program. Or make any health goals without first consulting your doctor.