Yo! I'm actually about to tell ya'll my measurements. I'm going public with my bra and hip size.
To recap, I've been doing the Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred for about a month now. I began back in late August and I didn't start keeping track until September 12th. The dates are a little wacky because I lost a week to being sick and rather than say oh well, THAT diet/exercise plan is fucked. I choose (with the extreme encouragement of other amazing women) to say I lost a week to being sick, I took care of myself and got better and here I am, continuing right where I left off.
I'm going to be even more honest. Being sick, falling behind, not sleeping, and taking care of a sick family left me a little worn thin and oh, rather depressed. I hate that it crept back into my life so suddenly and sharply. I wasn't expecting it. I was moving along all energized and happy and managing life and then a few rough patches appear and it really tossed me out of my game. Writing this is making me face that and it is also forcing me to reckon with the fact that contrary to what I feel, I am actually doing well, I did not gain weight while I was sick. I took care of myself and I did stay focused on my goals. I went to the gym and I pushed myself to workout when I was feeling better and I was proud of myself. I'm not good with self-appreciation and I'm not good at being kind to myself. Mostly since puberty I've been in a constant cycle of self-loathing thigh-hating belly-pinching zaftig dysthymic inertia.
I'm working on this. It's heavy. Stay with me, please.
So here we are the first day of October (one of my favorite months, LOVE the fall weather) and as I have done since March 1, 2008 I weighed in this morning and took some measurements.
MARCH 24, 2008 (Baby: 3 mos. old)
165 lbs
Hips: 41 inches
Waist: 38 inches
Thigh: 25 3/4 inches
Arm: 12 inches (of soft shaky flab)
SEPTEMBER 1, 2008 (Baby: 8.5 months old)
150.2 lbs
Hips: 39.5 inches
Waist: 34
Thigh: 24 1/4
OCTOBER 1, 2008 (Baby is 9.5 months old)
146.4 lbs
Hips: 37 inches
Thighs: 23 1/2
Waist: 33
Arm: 11 1/2
Body Fat: 29.1%
In one month I lost four pounds, two and a half inches from my hips (bless you Lord Jillian), three-quarters of an inch from my thighs, one inch from my waist and almost 1% of body fat. I'm really struggling to lower my body fat. It is in an unhealthy range, but it is quite stubborn. If you have any suggestions please let me know. I work out well I eat well, what else can I do?
Since March, (7 months) I have lost 19 pounds (12% of my body weight), four inches from my hips, over two inches from my thighs, five inches from my waist (being that I'm losing postpartum weight most of it was in mah belleh) and about a half of an inch from my upper arm. I have lost just over 1% of my body-fat. Meh.
I am starting to fit into clothes and sizes that I have never actually seen before and it is thrilling and downright frightening at the same time. Losing a few pounds doesn't shed your problems or your insecurities it only makes them less flabby. If you are just starting out on a new healthy initiative, do yourself a favor, take a few measurements, take a few pictures (I wish I did.) because it will help motivate you later and help you realize your goals.
Just start somewhere, if I can change myself in seven months you can make one healthier choice today.