This morning began on a rather dreary note but as the wind continued to whip, the clouds parted and the sun came out and I suddenly broke out of my morning funk.
I recalled with a smile a post that I wrote back in January… you know… about Bridesmaid’s dress shopping being designed by the devil?
I still think bridesmaid’s dresses are the most cruel trick ever played on normal women. I did however succeed. I succeeded in my desire to pay an absolute fortune on my alterations. The dress, fully zipped, barely stayed up on me without being pinned. I could have EASILY gone 2 sizes down from what I bought- we are having to take it in over an inch on each side as well as a bit in the bust. Of course us little midgets have to get hems as well (an expense I anticipated that not even 5 inch heals could fix). For maybe the first time ever, I am in LOVE with a bridesmaid’s dress. It is so soft and pretty. For the first time in a long time, I felt beautiful.
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| My arm is covering up the pins, but there were many there poking at me. |
A unique feature to this dress is that it has a train. I was a little on the fence at first about how I would feel about it, but the truth is, I secretly love it. Trains just give you that extra princess-like feeling. We decided that it would most definitely need to be bustled for the reception. I envisioned being out on the dancefloor and someone stepping on that beautiful train and OOPS! The whole dress goes down. Yup. Bustle.
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| The bustle |
I am so proud of how far I have come in the last 13 weeks. I’m down 2 dress sizes, 1 jeans/pants size and weigh 14.2 pounds less than I did back on that fateful shopping trip in January. It’s not easy. It’s not fun. But here’s the real deal: I am NOT on a diet. The changes that I have made in my life are for a lifetime and I am honest and realistic about those changes. I refuse to do anything drastic like give up meat or dairy. I freaking love steaks and I LOVE CHEESE. I have learned how to limit them and learning how to control portions. Another reality for me is that I will never, EVER lose weight by sitting around on my ass. I will have to work out 5-7 days for the rest of my life in order to keep losing and eventually maintain. There is no end point- fitness will also have to be a regular part of my life forever in addition to the food control. Guess what? In this life? I WILL get to enjoy Dairy Queen. I WILL get to enjoy hamburgers. I WILL go out drinking with my girlfriends. Know what else? I have been doing all these things and have still lost 14.2 pounds.
I recently saw this on the Life Time Fitness blog:
“Like many people, I hoped for that miracle pill that was going to make me thin. But I found that the miracle is in me, and loving myself was important in making the decision to change how I was eating and living. It takes effort, but with effort also comes appreciation — and it has made me stronger. I feel great and I enjoy my life … a second chance to make it right.”
I, too, always dreamed about a miracle pill or diet that would melt away the pounds without having to do any work. IT DOES NOT EXIST. I have heard from several people who talk about wanting to lose weight but never do anything about it or make only half-hearted attempts. I have some unsolicited advice:
- Baked Potato Pizza probably is not going to help you lose weight despite the fact they put broccoli on it.
- It takes a full 100% honest to goodness commitment. Make yourself choose healthy and work out for just 21 days. Why 21 days? Because they say that’s how long it takes to form a habit. Those 21 days are usually the hardest.
- Don’t choose a weight loss program that is gimmicky or will be difficult to maintain once you finish with it. Ready-made meal programs were always a disaster for me.
- No matter what the commercials say, there is absolutely no skinny pill out there.
- Portion control and exercise really works.
- Make sure you put someone in else in charge of holding you accountable- a spouse, trainer, WeightWatchers etc. Having to step on a scale in front of an actual human being every week is immensely humbling.
- Start with small goals. While my end goal is scary, achieving just 5 pounds at a time has been much more attainable.
- Treat yourself to something fabulous when you make even your small goals: a mani/pedi, a new pair of jeans, a piece of jewelry… just make sure it isn’t food related.
- It is NOT realistic to expect to lose weight quickly. It pains me to say it, but it is pretty true when they say *Results Not Typical. Not to say that you can’t lose all the weight you need to lose, but give it time to go away.
- Simply saying you want it isn’t enough. You have to do.
My words of wisdom folks but at the end of the day, if losing weight is what you want, then you have to make the commitment to do it.
I’m so glad I did. I pretty much cried today in the Gap dressing room when I slid easily into those size smaller pants. Worth all the sweat and sacrifice.
Have a great & motivated Monday!
