It’s over three months in, and I’m still loving the NutriSystem plan! I can’t believe it, really. I’ve tried SO many diets – there are few I would make it three months on, and definitely I’d be screaming to quit by now on the others! But how can I complain when I’m eating food that tastes better and makes me FEEL better than ever before?
I wore my hot-cat-mama-skinny-pants yesterday. I went to Dress Barn several weeks ago and tried on a few dresses – I NEVER wear dresses or skirts, but it’d be nice if I had a dress for my niece’s wedding in July. I landed up buying TWO dresses – in size TWELVE! Then I got a case of buyer’s remorse. So many of my clothes are now loose and baggy – what if the dresses didn’t fit in July? I decided to take them back and try them on in the next size down – except they didn’t HAVE the next size down anymore… so I tried on the size eight – and they FIT! They’re a tad snug, in my opinion, but they definitely fit!
One of the dresses makes me feel absolutely beautiful. I’ve had clothes before where I thought “oh, this dress is beautiful” or “oh, I look nice in this” – but I look beautiful in this dress! It’s not the DRESS that’s beautiful, it’s ME! It accentuates all the positives, and flatters the negatives, and I feel gorgeous in that dress.
My seamstress-stylist-angel has her new website up and devoted an entire page to pictures of me in a suit she altered. Keep in mind – these pictures were taken less than 24 hours apart! I did NOT lose weight overnight – simply by wearing clothes that fit I LOOK 20 pounds lighter!
I’ve lost 22.6 pounds since I started NS on January 10. My body fat is down to 31.5%. (I started out at 41.3% body fat.) Someone asked me how I’d been so successful. I’m honestly not sure exactly what’s lead to my success, other than following the NS plan. I didn’t lose much in the beginning. I walk five days a week – to and from the train, which lands up being about 30 minutes (2 miles) a day, 150 minutes per week. In February I was also doing exercise videos three times a week, but things got busy and I got out of the habit.
I’m just taking it slow and steady. I eat extra veggies or fruit or even an extra dairy if I get hungry, as I’d rather “cheat” with a low-calorie snack than get myself in a situation where I get tempted and eat something awful. I’ve struggled with digestive issues my entire life, and I feel the best I ever had on this plan, so it’s incentive not to stray much. Not that I’m perfect, mind you. I’ve gone out to eat a few times – twice was a diner, and I got an omelette and asked that they prepare it in vegetable oil spray, not butter or whatever – but I got the regular full-fat cheese on it.
My friends are very supportive and when we get together they make an extra effort to have veggies and fat-free or low-fat dip for me to snack on. I anticipate my weight loss will taper off at some point. I don’t even want to THINK about how many calories I used to consume. I’d order or cook a pizza and eat ALL of it by myself.
Also, I think eating the several meals a day really helps. In the past, I’d often eat one (huge) meal a day. I’d grab a coffee (and often a pastry) in the morning, then eat a huge lunch, then either eat a big dinner or nothing at all for dinner. Now I’m eating the NS three meals plus snack plus dessert – and it took getting used to, but I think it helps the metabolism greatly.
Also, I’m getting SLEEP now. I’ve struggled with sleeping for years due to a movement disorder in my legs – and I finally got a referral to a neurologist who prescribed a medication that’s helping me and I can sleep at night. Studies have shown sleep aids weight loss. The statistics are staggering. More than 60% of Americans don’t get enough sleep, and more than 60% of Americans are obese. Not a coincidence.
I would never have imagined myself as someone others would look to for inspiration! I’ve tried (and failed) SO many diets since my teens… but this one works for me!
Nice, Lynette! It is good to see a picture of you from after the age of 5, btw. Frack and Simon send their love to the purr-things in your house!