Inches lost, despite scale going UP...

OK, so I knew this would happen at some point on my weight loss journey.  The scale is staying the same.  In fact, it has gone UP, which is not cool at all.  When I was sick, I got down to 185 lbs.  I am now at 188. *sigh*  However, I took my measurements this morning and I cannot be too sad about them.  On March 5th, these were my measurements:

March 5th:

High Waist (just under ribs): 34 inches
Low Waist (at belly button): 40 inches
Hips: 43.5 inches
Thighs (at largest part): 25.25 inches
Arms: 11.75 inches
Bust at smallest part: 35.25 inches
Bust at largest part: 42 inches

And today...these are my measurements...

March 14th:

High Waist (just under ribs): 33.5 inches (- 0.5 inches)
Low Waist (at belly button):  39.75 inches (- 0.25 inches)
Hips: 43 inches (- 0.5 inches)
Thighs (at largest part): 25 inches (- 0.25 inches)
Arms: 11.75 inches (Stayed the same, which is great!!)
Bust at smallest part: 35 inches (- 0.25 inches)
Bust at largest part: 41.5 inches (- 0.5 inches)

Overall, despite the scale going up instead of down, I have lost a total of 2.25 inches in 9 days!!  All I have been doing is working out and eating the right way.  I have actually increased my calorie intake from 1200 to 1500 calories per day.  I just wasn't feeling satisfied at 1200 calories.  I felt tired, hungry, and grumpy all the time.  I'm also working on building muscle at this point, along with losing fat.  I have lost this weight by doing the Ripped in 30 workout...not the 30 Day Shred, which I have still yet to find.  It's somewhere around here.  I am so excited by these results, despite the fact that the scale is not moving.  As long as I am looking good and feeling good, I don't necessarily care what the number on the scale says. 

However, with that being said, I am 13 lbs away from what it says on my driver's license, which is 175 lbs.  I sure would love for that to not be a complete lie.  I am getting closer and closer.  When I went for that picture, I weighed well over 215, so that was a 40 lb lie.  Now it's only a 13 lb lie and I am so proud of myself for that!!

Weigh in...ain't gonna happen!

Ahhh, I just typed up this super long blog post and then Blogger ate it.  Totally bummed!!  Anyway, today is supposed to be my weigh in day for my 19 Pounds in 19 Weeks Challenge.  However, it's that time of the month for me, so I know better than to step on the scale!  I usually gain anywhere from 3 to 5 pounds during this lovely time, so I know that if I step on the scale to weigh in, it's only going to depress me.  I am so very afraid to step on the scale and see a 2 in front of my number.  Even though I was 185 lbs at my last weigh in, I am still scared of getting back up into the 200's.  I was so unhappy and embarrassed when I weighed over 200 lbs.  I never want to feel like that again!  No more 2's for me...unless it's at the end.  So even though I'm skipping this weigh-in, I will weigh in next Friday and I should be at 185 (at the highest) to be on track for losing 19 lbs in 19 weeks.  I will be happy with 185 because my body is still recovering from when I was so sick.  So as long as I am 185 next Friday, I'll be doing a happy dance! 

I did my Before/During picture compilation today.  The "During" picture is the most recent picture I have of me, but it was taken when I was 10 lbs heavier.  I see the most difference in my stomach area and my face.  I am now 30 lbs lighter than I was in my "Before" picture.  Very proud of that, although I still have at least 15+ lbs to lose.  A healthy weight range for me is 133 to 179 lbs.  I know that when I was 140, I looked freakishly skinny and was told by several people that I needed to "go eat", so I don't want that.  I am thinking I'll be happy anywhere from 160-170 lbs.  It sure seems that these last 15 lbs are going to be the hardest of this entire journey.

Made the 180's...and 19 lbs in 19 wks!

I weighed in today. Guess what my friend the scale said?? 189.8!!!!!!! Hooray! I am back in the 180's. I am no longer in the 190s! It feels so freaking good!! I can't believe I started this blog over a year ago. My first post was December 3rd, 2010. In that year I have become a new person, I feel. Maybe not entirely, but health/eating wise. I have lost a total of 25 lbs and kept it off, for the most part. Sure, I gained weight over the holidays (who doesn't) and now it's finally off and I know that Christmas 2012 is going to have to be different. I am continuing to learn how/when/what to eat and what my body needs as far as exercise goes. There was a point in time where I just didn't really care. Mostly, I am feeling better about myself. I look thinner and I want to get even smaller. My goal is 170lbs. As of today I have 19 lbs to go. If I keep up my eating, the way I have been, I could be there by June 29th. Oh how I'd love to be there by the summer!! Hello, new wardrobe!! :o) Not only do I want to weigh 170 lbs, but I want to be toned. I have been doing a lot of arm work with weights, but I am not sure how to tone my legs properly. I have always had a lot of muscle in my legs and I am afraid that if I work them out too much, I will get She-Hulk sized thighs! LOL I want to that "long & lean" look, which I am reading is acheived by light weights with several reps. So that is what I am doing. 5 lbs weights with at least 3 sets of 15 reps per exercise. I am going to try and see if I can accomplish this goal of losing another 19 lbs in 19 weeks. So today is my start day!

Start date: February 17, 2012
End date: June 29, 2012

Starting weight: 189 lbs