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Wednesday, April 11, 2007

"15 down with 5 plus to go!!!!!!"

As some of you know my DH and I are ready to start a family so when I went to my doctor she said that I should be in the best health/shape possible before I get pregnant which meant I knew I needed to lose some weight. I am 5'7 and I found out that I was about 14 lbs overweight based on my BMI, go figure I thought I was looking good (just kidding, I knew I had put on some weight). When I got married 6 years ago I was the heaviest I had ever been in my life at a whopping 178lbs and before I started this diet I was slowly approaching that magic number again at 173lbs. So I decided I needed to change my eating habits, get my workout plan in action, and make a lifestyle change so that when I lose the weight it will stay off! My goal is to reach 150 by the end of April because that is when I plan to end my diet, yes I said diet, I had to start somewhere (smile).

I started working out everyday for 30-40 minutes (walking, eliptical, weights, exercise ball, crunches, squats, leg lifts, etc.) and I also started the Slimfast Optima plan at the end of January, actually January 29th to be exact and my plan was to diet for 3 months total so that I can reach my goal of 150. For my height that puts me about 9 lbs below my healthy weight and it also gives me a healthy BMI, so I will be satisfied :) So as of today, April 11, I have lost 15 lbs, which brings me to 158. Now the question is can I lose 8 more lbs by April 30th? Possibly, but I will be satisfied with 5 more at least bringing me to a total of 20 lbs loss. I do want to be a few lbs below my healthy weight so that it will be easier to maintain and so that when I shift between a couple of pounds here and there I will still be within my healthy weight and a maintain a healthy BMI.

If any of you are interested in checking what a healthy weight and BMI is for your height and body type you can check out the Center for Disease control website, I found this website to be the best and the most reliable resource:


Now some of you may be thinking why would she lose 20lbs+ to then turn around and get pregnant. Well, I am glad you asked that question? The doctor said that when you are within your healthy weight with a healthy BMI you will lose the baby weight much faster and it is not suggested to gain 30 to 40lbs unless you are underweight, but more like 15-25 when you are at a healty weight. Also, since I have built new healthy eating habits with less junk food and more fruits & vegetables, have changed my lifestyle by eating smaller portions, and implemented a daily exercise routine, I will be more motivated to get back to my healthy weight and I will know how to do it successfully without dieting (in addition, since I was an athlete throughout highschool and college I have adopted some of the excercises and tips we used as athletes). The reason I did slimfast is because I wanted to lose the weight a little faster so that me and my DH could get busy making babies because I am not getting any younger ((((Laughs))))).
Anyway, I just wanted to share my good news because I have been feeling soooooo good!
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Photo taken today by my DH. My DH doesn't think this photo highlights the weight-loss as much with this outfit, but I was in the mood to post this message tonight so this is the best I had for the moment (smile). When I finish my 3 months I will do a celebration I DID IT post with a outfit highlighting my curves and swerves (((((hahahehe))))).......

My hair is free style with a ponytail pulled up with one of the hair ties that my blogging buddy Cheleskilove hooked me onto that I purchased at WalMART. (Locked 3 years 9 months).

Thanks for letting me share my thoughts with you....Chosen Vessel

22 comments:

brunsli said...

Congratulations!

Goodnapps said...

You look fantastic!!! Congratulations!!!

Abena Abena said...

Thanks Brunsli and Tanya for the encouragement and compliment :)

As James Brown would say,"I FEEL GOOD!!!!!!"

Mel said...

Congratulations! You look radiant in the picture.

Abena Abena said...

Thanks Mel :)

Anonymous said...

congratulations and keep up th egood work. on another note, i am loving the gospel tunes that you added!

Anonymous said...

You Look GREAT!! Congrats!

Abena Abena said...

Thanks Anonymous for the encouragement and I am glad you enjoyed the music :)

Meikmeika- Thanks for the compliment and encouragement :)

Aya said...

So happy to hear about your upcoming plans. I'm sure you will reach your weight loss goals. God Bless you.

still waters said...

Congrats!!!

On the weightloss and all the best with the baby making(:

one love still
ps you and the hair look fab as per usual(:

Abena Abena said...

Aya and Stillwaters you both are so gracious, you make me want to blush :) Thank you for the thoughtful comments, it is encouraging to know that I have some ladies out there rooting for me :)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! You are glowing! You will get a LOT of advice on your journey to motherhood the best is to relax and fall in love all over with your DH. We tried for 8 years. When we let go and started romancing each other it happened!

Be Blessed
Azzia

Shanessence said...

Congrats! It's so great to hear that you are getting into shape. My dh and I work out regularly at Bally's. And personally, I think the key to healthy weight loss is not dieting, but physical activity plus balanced, healthy eating, which for me translates into no meat (I'm vegetarian), minimal eating out, no transfats, high fructose corn syrups (in soads, some juices, etc), fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts and other non-meat protein sources, (except eggs) and dessert (yes, dessert every once in a while, because I never deprive myself!). Good luck to you on your journey!

Abena Abena said...

Thanks Azzia and Shanessence :)

BTW- Azzia, I am glowing and thanks for the advice on romancing...smile

KnottyAuthor said...

YOU LOOK SO GREAT! THIS CHILD IS GOING TO BE AN AWESOME CHILD OF GOD!WITH SUCH A RESPONSIBLE MOMMY!

Abena Abena said...

Cheleskilove,
Thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I am so excited!!!! I went to New York and Company for a big sale they were having on Friday and found out that I went down 2 pants sizes, hallelujah!!!!

KnottyAuthor said...

there is nothing i mean NOTHING more encouraging to stay on track than to see that there REALLY is a mind,mouth body connection between weight and size!!when im offered junk...and i think how much work it will take to work IT OFF. its easier to say no thankyou. and when i want it, i now know what it takes to keep it off and what i have to be willing to commit to.try eating apples and almonds and 16oz of water for lunch. it will fall off you even more.oh , and salads and meat for dinner.maybe one slice of bread a day. you will be amazed! and take it further with Godmade man made..its a healthy way of eating biblically. google,,there's tons of recipes and tips and it's easy~i was down to about a 4 with this plan and steady exercise and my husband started to get nervous bc my butt was dissappearing.lol! so we compromised on 6's.

N'Drea ~ the Storyteller said...

I'm very happy for you. I think of you as a Proverbs 31 woman, and I know you will raise your baby to know God for him or herself, even as you know Him. Be blessed.

Abena Abena said...

Cheleskilove- Amen....I think the most important part of being healthy is to stay healthy. I found out that in my quest to lose 20 lbs and get within a healthy weight that I definitly had a weakness for sweets. But...what I have done is learned that I don't have to have sugar, sweets, or junk just because my body wants it. I have learned to control my hunger pangs a little better. This, I believe, will be the biggest challenge, but I am so driven and motivated. Also, like you said, when you have put all of that hard work into losing the weight, you think twice about what you put in your mouth :)

N'Drea- thank you for the encouraging words. My hearts desire is to raise up a Godly seed for the glory of God! So I wait patiently on God to have the privilege to assist Him in the miracle of conception, carrying and having a baby. My heart leeps for joy at the thought of being a mommy that God can trust :)

Creyole said...

Chosen, this exact thing just happened to my friend, she had been trying to get pregnant for two years after losing two babies.

So, she got on a lose weight kick and enrolled in class to get her Texas Principalship. To date she has lost 18 lbs and just found out she is pregnant. Needless to say, she is elated and shocked because she had pretty much given up.

Watch out there now!! You're next in line for a blessing!

Creyole

Abena Abena said...

Creyole,

What a blessing!!! This is true motivation and encouragment. I tell you, you often have the exact words to bless me with, thanks for being you :)

Sis. RJQueen10 said...

I am proud for YOU! Pregnancy weight and weight loss for me was difficult. I thought I was going to have one of those cute and fit pregnancies and continue to workout through my pregnancy.

Well... God gave me twins and my body grew to hold an extra 100 pounds, yes I said 100 pounds. I was home bed rest and hospital bed rest. Yet 6 weeks early at 34 weeks God blessed us with two of the healthiest babies ever. Our son 5 pounds and Our daughter 6 pounds 4 ounces. I was told by the doctors if I would have went full term the babies would have been 8 poounds each! Well, I stopped measuring my stomach after it reached 51 inches in circumference. I am sure it got larger but I no longer wanted the details.

Well in 2007, I weigh 198! My pre-pregnacy weight was 180 but my goal is 175 pounds. So I am on my way, with God's help of course to lose 23 more pounds! And keep it off! Thank you for sharing your weightloss with us!

You are beautiful inside and outside! I celebrate YOU!

Sis. RJQueen10