March 21, 2020
MY 2020 WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY
SELF-IMAGE: before and after images
Now that I am in my forties, maintaining my weight and health seem to be a difficult, if not unobtainable, goal. The most success that I have had with my weight has been when I lived a Ketogenic lifestyle. Being a woman in her forties, this is my journey with a Keto diet, from start to finish.
If I had my way, the following images would be my actual before and after images. I did a little Photoshopping to show you what I don’t like about my body and how I would change it. Enjoy my fun little edits! It is fun to see what I would look like with long legs! Haha.
In this age of “self-love”, I have to admit that there are still things about my body that I consider to be flaws. Flaws or not, it isn’t practical to waste my days hating my body or wishing that I was something that I am not. Even still, there are definitely things that I do not like about my body.
My Health Issues
In 2009, I struggled with sudden health issues that caused me to gain a substantial amount of weight. For one, I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism that left me unable to get out of bed and with a nearly non-existent metabolism. Even though I had five children, I was typically 120 pounds even after four of the five kids. Then, my body started to hang in the 140’s after my fifth son–without any budging. Soon though, I was thrust into the 170’s with no hope from my medication or the doctors to ever see any weight loss.
That had me very concerned. The fact that my body no longer responded to normal and effective weight loss activities and diet choices was very scary. I have always been someone who enjoyed exercising and who enjoyed eating healthy foods, but my typical lifestyle was not helping; I just kept gaining weight; it didn’t matter how much I exercised or how many calories that I cut.
The fact that my body no longer responded to normal and effective weight loss activities and diet choices was very scary.
Discovering the Keto Diet
Three years ago, I desperately started to look for my own solution to my health issues and weight gain. I decided that I would investigate the Ketogenic diet. And, this was the first time that I started to feel any hope.
I discovered Maria Emmerich and her Ketogenic cookbooks. I started on the Keto Cleanse and lost over 30 lbs. However, I found it nearly impossible to maintain. If I ate even the least bit of carbohydrates, I gained far quicker than I could adjust and then lose, again. So, over the next three years, I put a big portion of that weight back on. My weight went from the mid 170’s, down to about 142 lbs and then back to 166 pounds.
It has not always been practical for me to maintain the correct macros to adhere to a very disciplined keto lifestyle. Weight does not come off unless my carbs stay within 20 grams…and, it is not an easy task to maintain that low of a carb diet, day in and day out when you have a house full of males.
I am taking things much slower and I am giving myself heaps of grace and a few treats here and there. I am incorporating easy mini-goals into my days to focus more on my health than my appearance.
So, my present goal of losing weight has relaxed a bit by taking things much slower and I am giving myself heaps of grace and a few treats here and there. I am incorporating easy mini-goals into my days to focus more on my health than my appearance. Since I am heavier through my hips and legs, it can be uncomfortable to wear pants and it takes a real decrease in weight for my bottom half to see any effects. So, even while my main focus is my overall health, I sure am looking forward to feeling more comfortable in my clothes, too!
If you want to come along on the “journey”, stay tuned to this post and I will be posting updates and eventually some “after” photos.
MARCH 2020 CHECK IN
WEIGHT AND SIZE SPECS
- MARCH 1
- 166 POUNDS
- 39% BODY FAT
- WAIST: 35 INCHES
- HIPS: 43 INCHES
- CALVES: 15 INCHES
- THIGHS: 44 INCHES
- SIZE: 10
What have I been doing?
- Trying to watch my carbs and keep them within 20 grams when I can. Also, I avoid all breads and potatoes. I try to consume my carbs in vegetables.
- Doing squats every day. I am trying to do the 100 squats goal where you do one additional squat every day until you have reached 100.
- Doing lunges and push ups (as many as I can, at least)
- Walking when the weather is nice. I would typically set a goal of an hour trip, but this is where the grace comes in: I am walking what I can and not beating myself up if it ends up just being 20 minutes.
- Avoiding sweets, but allowing myself a treat here and there.
- Drinking at least 64 ounces of water a day
FIRST CHECK-IN:
- MARCH 21
- 159.2 POUNDS
- 37.4% BODY FAT
- WAIST: 33 INCHES
- HIPS: 42.75 INCHES
- CALVES: 15 INCHES
- THIGHS: 43 INCHES
- SIZE: 10
I added in the squats, lunges and push ups after the first week because I started to lose weight, but my body fat increased significantly, which meant that I was losing some muscle. One can become “skinny fat” and I do not want that. I tend to hold more fat, naturally, and have quite a bit of cellulite on the backs of my legs. So, I am trying to get toned over “skinny”. So, I added in some muscle building moves to my day.
HOW I FAILED MY KETO LIFESTYLE
My 2020 Keto Diet: Before and After journey was a complete fail. It has been a tough year and I have completely bombed my keto diet before and after quest.
2021 KETO DIET REBOOT
If anything, let this give you hope that if you have failed on prioritizing your health and weight goals, that you can do a reboot, as well.
WEIGHT AND SIZE SPECS
- JANUARY 5
- 169 POUNDS
- 37.4% BODY FAT
- WAIST: 36 INCHES
- HIPS: 44 INCHES
- CALVES: 15.75 INCHES
- THIGHS: 44 INCHES
- SIZE: 10
PURCHASES THAT HAVE HELPED ME REACH MY GOALS:
FOOD/CONSUMABLES
I could not do a ketogenic diet if I couldn’t have my chai each morning. This is my one true indulgence and it makes my mornings wonderful. I am a chai addict! Thank the Lord above for this skinny chai concentrate. I use 3/4 chai and 1/4 heavy whipping cream to make mine as keto-friendly as possible!
COOKBOOKS
This was the first book that I did of Maria’s that helped me to lose the original 30 pounds, heal a lot of different allergies that I had acquired at the same time as my thyroid going bonkers (the recipes have wonderful ingredients that help with probiotics and creating a healthy gut) and getting my energy back. I cannot sing her praises enough!
This is another wonderful one. I have been using my Instant Pot a lot lately and this has some really great choices in it to maintain a healthy Keto Diet.
That is it for now. I will be adding to this blog each couple of weeks to keep you all up to date with my progress. So, check back often for updates! When I have made lots of progress, I will add some new images!
Are you on a weight loss journey, too? If so, tell me all about it in the comments section.
I hope that you are enjoying my keto diet journey with before and after pictures!
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