Jun
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June 18, 2007
I’ve been meaning to post some before and after weight loss photos, but when I sat down to dig up some ‘before’ images, I had a surprisingly hard time finding anything that captured more than my face. Out of thousands and thousands of pictures, I’m only in a few, and I’ve long since deleted the ones I deemed unflattering. Eight million photos of JB with Riley, and about five of me.
Well, anyway, here’s a few that managed to escape my itchy Move-To-Trash trigger finger:
Some are kind of old, but those are all a fairly accurate portrayal of my shape and weight since Riley’s birth.
I think I’ve lost maybe 15-18 pounds in the last four months, which isn’t a particularly dramatic change on the scale. The real difference is in how I look in the mirror and the way my clothes fit, and I’m here to tell you that is so much more important than what the scale tells you. Fuck the scale, actually, because I never would have guessed that 15 pounds would equate to two dress sizes, but there it is. I was crammed into a size 10 when I started, and I wear a comfortable size 6 now. The scale tells me I weigh about 132.
To recap the process to date:
• I did Weight Watchers at first and that was immensely helpful in terms of understanding portion size and learning some good eating habits. After a month or two I stopped counting points and just focused on eating lots of lean protein, vegetables, fruit, and cutting out the high calorie junk altogether.
• I started exercising to a Turbo Jam DVD, which helped me kick start a routine without having to commit to a gym schedule. These days I alternate between jogging a few days a week, doing weight resistance, exercise DVDs, and yoga. I try and exercise every single day, because I feel so much better when I do so.
I have actual triceps for the first time in years.
My shoulders are no longer slumpy and untoned.
I don’t hate my belly any more.
My clothes fit completely differently, which is to say I had to replace some things.
I would say it took about three months to change my habits. To stop eating crap food and actually prefer the healthier alternatives. To want to work out because it feels good, not because I will feel guilty if I don’t.
I’m healthier today than I’ve ever been before, and I am so much happier for it. This is the me—strong, fit, and motivated to stay that way—I want to be for the rest of my life, hopefully through another pregnancy and whatever life dishes out.
I already have more photos of myself with Riley, because I’m not ducking from the camera or deleting things out of iPhoto.
Three months. That’s all it took. After years of excuses and botched attempts to get myself in gear, it took three months to establish new habits. I want to remember that. In three months you can completely change your life.
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Way to go, girl. I’m very proud of you.
(Yes. I’m now your mother, evidently. Jeezus.)
And here I sit slowly sliding off the WW bandwagon. My (favorite) excuse? “It’s shark week, I’ll do better once I start”. Yeah, right.
Can you send me some of that “I exercise because I like it” cuz I sure could use some. You look great, btw.
Awesome! You look fantastic! How inspiring!
Good work. Good results.
I have about two pictures of my mother and one of them is blurry.
Stop deleting. Even if you think you look “fat” or “weird” or have a bad hair day or whatever.
Hawt!
AWESOME. You look fantastic.
WOW. I’ll read this every day until I get off my fat ass.
Diz-zamn.
So, because you mentioned it a few weeks back, I totally eBay-ed a Turbo Jam DVD. It is still in the wrapper. But this was awe-inspiring.
You look awesome. How does it feel to be a MILF? ;)
I did it 7 years ago with Tae Bo. It took exactly as long as you said. Three months. I couldn’t believe it, as I had never been “thin” my whole life. I was in a size THREE at that time. Then…I stopped. And in 7 years I have slowly, but surely gained 20 pounds. I read your tae bo entry, and then this one, and now I know what I have to do.
GET BACK AT IT!!! You look amazing…not that you didn’t before, but damn, you’re healthy AND hot!
Good for you!
Good job! My husband and I took roughly 8 months to both lose 40+ pounds and indeed, in the first 3 months, we saw significant changes, especially in the way we viewed food altogether. You give me hope that after my baby pops out in September, I can go back to being my original weight.
You look AWESOME. Way to go!
Linda, you look amazing! I’m inspired to get these last few baby pounds OFF for good!
Wow! You look fantastic!!!
You look fabulous! Great job…you may have motivated me to get off my ass and away from the computer.
you look fanfuckingtastic. damn, girl.
Dude, you are now slimmer than I am, and I have never had a kid. Your arms look AWESOME. Skinny bitch.
Wow, you look great! Your hard work seems to have paid off!
Awesome post…so inspiring!!! I lost 30lbs before pregnancy & was as amped as you, felt the best ever..so strong & healthy. Like a few folks mentioned already about themselves, I had never been a very slim person or anywhere near “fit” and would have laughed at anyone saying they enjoyed a workout….but in 3 months I was like you, craving my workouts like crazy, loving the healthy food and feeling amazing about my body for the first time since age 12. Took a break with recent first pregnancy (ate lots of donuts :-) but was so happy & lucky to be in such good shape going into the 9 months. It has been 5 weeks since I birthed my beautiful baby boy & I am itching to lose the baby weight, feel the high of working out and being a fit (mom) woman who enjoys her body once again. Thank you, I am now more ready than ever!
Gracias….you look amazing & strong!
I’m gonna re-read this post after I have kid#2 this Fall. Thanks for the motivation which I so desperately need.
You look real good!!
You look terrific! Congratulations!
That tricep photo (in the olive-green shirt) looks SCARY. I bet you can do dips and push-ups now!
Your attitude is right-on; to sustain the great looks and good feeling, you don’t “go on a diet for a while.” You change your lifestyle. You’ll be teaching Riley to grow up with the healthy choices too. Maybe he’ll become a marathon runner after spending his life trying to keep up with his mom.
Hey, I’m riding my bike up Mount St. Helens this Saturday! C’mon down and join me (and kick my butt!) http://www.tourdeblast.com Or, consider the Danskin triathlon on August 19: http://www.danskin.com/seattlemain.html. But, you know, even if you don’t do these or other events, now you know that YOU CAN if you want!
You look GORGEOUS! You are a real inpsiration to me. I’m due with my first in the beginning of November–as a new(ish) mom yourself, when did you feel was a reasonable time to start making these changes after Riley came on the scene? Is it difficult to balance working out with all the additional work you have with Riley, and what are your tips for ensuring that you get in a workout even when you feel like you don’t have time/energy to do so?
You look great – what an inspiration! The 2 dress sizes and only 15-18 loss probably is due to the amount of muscle that you have built.
While I am a 6-8, I’m still not the shape I want to be in (mostly the gut). I got off my ass and hired a trainer, and now working out is like a DRUG. I’d forgotten what all those endorphins felt like…
You look awesome! Nice arms! You have inspired my husband and I to cross train, which seems to really help drop pounds. Also, I know what you mean about the scale. It doesn’t mean that much when you are strength training too.
Jesus crap! You look completely fantastic, Linda. And feeling that way is even better! Congratulations on the hard work!
wealhtheow: I don’t have a good answer to the first question, I think it must vary quite a bit by someone’s individual situation. I really do believe that exercise makes a huge difference in my overall energy level and emotional well-being (I NEVER thought I’d be saying that) so to that point there’s really no *bad time* to start, if you’re physically capable. With a kid, you have to be willing to get in a workout whenever you can — during naps, when they go to bed, etc. I usually exercise in the evening after Riley goes to sleep, and on the weekends JB takes Riley for an hour or so while I go jogging or whatever. Sometimes it’s not ideal timing (“Okay, he’s napping! Time to put in Turbo Jam!”) but it’s always so worthwhile. What do you sacrifice, you know? An hour of doing laundry? Laundry doesn’t make you feel like a million bucks, that’s for damn sure.
YOU. LOOK. AMAZING.
Also, I forgot to say it in the post, but you were actually my inspiration for wanting to get in shape. It always seems so daunting, but if a woman who had a baby and had a jam-packed schedule could do it, I figured I could too.
You’re a rollergirl-maker, is what I’m telling you. It’s quite the distinction.
Damn, yo. You look AWESOME.
Ok, I love your arms!!!!!!! Notin a crazy internet stalker way or anything..but in a ok once I pop out this baby I will work to get arms like that!
RAWR! Listen to you, girl!
Congrats, woman.
Note to self: go on a damn walk tonight, please.
You look amazing. You should feel so proud!! I am inspired by you because after having 2 kids in 20 months and not being able to Put Down The DORITOS already, 3 months to change my habits doesn’t sound so bad. Thank you.
Congrats!! You look beautiful!!
You da man Linda. (you know what I mean) Way to represent for all the foxy moms out there. You don’t have to let your self go.
And damn, I’d hate to tell you what I’ve done with my life in the last three months. I sure as hell won’t be showing off any belly pics anytime soon, that’s fo sho.
That is really inspiring! Thank you! I was feeling sad this past week, because changing my habits has been so hard. But it’s only been a month of trying. So hey, maybe in two more months I’ll be a lot closer! I’m definitely going to keep working at it. You’re awesome, Linda. Way to go!
You really look great!
Yet another reason that I am starting to feel REALLY ready to move past the drinking and eating like crap of my 20’s and into some healthy habits. I just wish that my friends would get the memo that we’re no longer 22 year olds as well. :cp
Whoa…look how TINY you are! You look fantastic!
Oh…oh my. DAMN, WOMAN.
I am a little fearful of your arms, to be honest. But in a really good way.
And, you know, I am thinking about all the damn running I do and I’m looking at my arms and my belly and noting that they are arguably thin, but that they are notably lacking discernible triceps and a six pack (UNLIKE YOUR ROCKIN’ BOD, GODDESS THAT YOU ARE), so I am thinking I need to add some Turbo Jam into my life. Or weights. Or something. You have thus inspired me, on this and many other points.
Three! Months! You rule.
Wow! You look fabulous (and I love the tank top with the flowers)! I feel inspired to exercise again and eat healthier. It’s too easy to put it off another day and eat out today again instead.
Kim…a serial picture deleter.
You look fantastic! And you inspired me – three months? I can do that! Congratulations – I hear once you make the turn it’s a no-brainer. It’s getting up to make that first turn that’s the hard part. You look fabulous!
yo go girl. you look awe-some. and i swear your boobs TOTALLY got perkier…
I started Weight Watchers today and imagine that, you go and post this awesome tribute to your weight loss success.
Totally inspiring.
You look absolutely fantasitc. I really must get off my butt and start the exercising – cause really, those arms? I want them. Your stomach? I want that too.
And for good measure, can I have Riley as well?
Just kidding…
Wow – you look fabulous! Thanks for sharing these photos. You’re an inspiration.
I used to covet angeline lilly’s arms, well not anymore, you look fanfuckingtastic. Gives me great hope for my newly c-sectioned belly!
Although I’m not on the weight loss band wagon (have just the opposite issues in that regard) I am on the “change your life in 3 months” band wagon. Your stories inspire me to continue on knowing that it’s all for the good – and everything is going to be alright, despite the challenges and “complications”.
I’m so happy to have been introduced to your journal – and look upon you as a role model and “never introduced” friend.
I love you and your motivational ways. You, m’dear, are a cyber-inspiration. And also, the bomb diggity.
Like Lawyerish, I’m looking at my runner’s body, and thinking, really? What about weight training?
You look wonderful. I’m so happy for you.
Can you talk to me about the resistance training? Not that I love it, but I find running and cardio relatively undaunting, but weight training, oh, weight training! I’ve never done it. I’m too scared, but I’d like some non-spaghetti arms, please.
Thank you. I needed a reminder about how it CAN be done. I am at my highest weight ever and I am so tired of thinking every day, “if I lost 10, 15, 20 lbs I would look and feel better.” What a waste of mental energy. You make it look so easy!
I really needed to read this today. Thank you. And congratulations. You look amazing!