Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Fatty Resolution

I have "struggled" with being overweight for most of my life. I put struggled in quotes because truly...there are other things that really warrant the word struggle more than a small, consistent obsession with being more attractively thin while denouncing the power of exercise and pretty much eating what ever I want whenever I want it.

My biggest frustration is my body image. As you may recall my stating prior to this, when I was pregnant, I felt the most proud of my body than I had ever felt in my life. And it was so powerful to feel that way. Yet, as soon as my son was born the self depreciation started. Which is so ridiculous. Because there are plenty of women out there who would look at my body and would never consider me anything other than beautiful...so why shouldn't I?

So my resolution this year is not to lose weight, but to stop being fat. I figure I am only fat if I call myself fat...which means that I resolve to look at myself with honesty and respect in hopes that I can love the body that I have and I resolve to not call myself fat by which I will stop being defined by it.

That said....

...I do need to lose some weight. I was clinically obese before getting pregnant and I gained over 40 lbs and thus far have only lost 20.

So, to motivate myself, I challenged my father-in-law to a 20 in 20. Here's the gist:

In 20 weeks, I vow to lose 20 pounds. At the end of 20 weeks, if I have not lost 20 pounds, than I vow to give up my iPhone until I HAVE lost 20 pounds.

In 20 weeks, my father-in-law vows to lose 20 pounds. At the end of 20 weeks, if he has not lost 20 pounds, that he vows to give up his Penguin tickets (at which point they will be in the playoffs, which really makes this a tough one to lose) until he HAS lost 20 pounds.

Our challenge to each other is that in 20 weeks, whomever of the two of us has lost more (as long as it is over 20 pounds) receives a prize. If I win, he buys me a Garmin. If he wins, I buy him a Kindle.

How's THAT for motivation?!

The 20 weeks started on December 1 and I was pretty distracted all last month, so although I didn't make any true progress, in light of the events of the past month I am rather proud to say that I started the challenge at 222 pounds and four weeks later, I was still at 222 pounds.

So, now I have twenty pounds to lose in 16 weeks...which is still totally doable.

Wish me luck...I could REALLY use that Garmin and if nothing else, I can't even imagine life without my iPhone.

11 comments:

  1. You GO girl! You can totally do this! I'm going through the same thing right now, so if you need any support, let me know!

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  2. Let me know if there is anything I can do to support you. If it is anything, I think maintaining through December was a stunning achievement and very good news for your goal.

    I really appreciated your first paragraph by the way. Good perspective.

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  3. You can do it!
    P.S. You're totally motivating me to do the same, I wonder who I can talk into doing it w/ me.

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  4. Excellent goal! Very reasonable, achievable and motivational (I wouldn't want to lose my iPhone either!!). You're going to do great!

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  5. After the December we have had, it IS an accomplishment to arrive at January at the same level.

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  6. I love both parts of this challenge... learning to love yourself the way you are, AND picking something super motivating to lose if you don't make your short-term goal. Good luck! (I couldn't live without my iPhone, either.)

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  7. That sounds like a great plan! I can't believe you started Dec 1 though- December is the worst month for me diet-wise! You can do it though!

    PS- I am currently without my iPhone for the 2nd month in a row while I wait to be eligable for an upgrade (my first one broke and I refuse to pay the $499 to get one without an upgrade)... it is the worst!

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  8. Love your 20 in 20 idea. I have a friend that I have been motivating as we work through our weight loss. I may suggest to her that we try the 20 in 20. You know that I've also struggled with my weight. So far I've lost 15 since early October. I still have about 15-20 to lose but I'm very proud of my 15 and very proud that while I gained a few back during the holidays I've jumped right back on track and gotten back down to the 15 I lost. We actually have a program starting at work called "Blast off the pounds" next week. The person that loses the most wins a Wii and Wii fit. I'm going to work to win...so I will pray for you ever time I run and hope that you are keeping on track!!! Keep us posted on the progress!

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  9. Post-baby is the first time I've ever really struggled with weight as a (negative!) component of my self-image. Don't know whether it's easier because I don't bring along a lifetime of prior struggles, or harder because I haven't developed any coping mechanisms.

    And I'm with you on setting a deadline. Seems to be the only way I ever tackle any of my own "shoulds".... Best of luck with the big competition!

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  10. I echo what Kathryn said...
    and I am also determined to lose those pregnancy pounds. I cheer you from afar in NC!

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  11. You can do it! Those are some serious motivators too!! I highly recommend FitDay.com if you consider counting calories - that usually works for me and it's amazing how much less random food you'll eat when you have to write each item down. Jenna (Avocado) used it to lose a great deal of weight, and has written several posts about it on her personal blog too.

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