Weight Loss Update - 6 months

Hello!

It's a rainy miserable day here but I'm feeling all sunshine and rainbows!  Why?

Well, today marks an official 6 months on Trim Healthy Mama and I've got another update for you!

As of today, I'm 156 pounds - just 6 pounds away from my true pre-pregnancy and goal weight of 150! Woohooo! I haven't measured again for inches certainly but plan to shortly.

If you remember, I posted an update in March and while the scale has been slow and steady I'm just thrilled. I continue to feel great, I'm eating delicious food - including dessert - and I've been exercising consistently. Nothing too crazy - I've been incorporating Winsor Pilates into my week as well as one or two spin classes and some walking/running.  I'm on the right track and I plan to stay here.

So what has helped? I did a one week fuel cycle a few months ago which helped me move the scale a bit and decided since I was feeling a bit "stuck" again and my weight was being stubborn I needed a metabolic kick start again. I was bouncing around between 159-160 again and I just couldn't get the scale to move down again.

Today is my second to last day of a a two week fuel cycle and this is how I've come much closer to my goal weight.  You can find the details of the diet here and the fuel cycle chapter is 28 in the book.

That's really why I love this way of eating - it gives you sooooo many options and even tools and tricks to get your metabolism going again.

So just a little visual re-cap....

Here I am from the previous update - December 2013 and March 2014

Here's the same image from March 2014 and the right is this past Tuesday, June 10th - granted the top I'm wearing on the right is a bit loose and flowy so it doesn't look like too much difference to me. 

And here's an oldie on the left I dug up from July 2012 and on the right is just this past week in my exercise clothes.  You can see how wider I look in my midsection and legs from almost two years ago. 

So there you have it!  I'm thrilled that THM has been so successful for me I'm so happy to be on this journey still closer to my health and wellness goals every day!  

And now that I have one preschooler and an almost first grader - it's truly not called toddler weight :)

~Carly

Trim Healthy Mama

Hello!

As I posted yesterday, I am following a new lifestyle/diet called Trim Healthy Mama.  Their website is currently going under some updating since it's become extremely popular over the last year or two.  Actually, they were JUST on TV the other day finally talking about their plan.  THM is from two sisters who have tried everything diet-wise (Hmmm, who else does that sound like? Oh yeah, me!) and were at the end of sanity trying to figure out a diet that works.  They created Trim Healthy Mama over the course of five years. The book is long - over 600 pages - but half is recipes. Delicious recipes.  However, instead of go into detail about the plan and all the intricacies, I'm going to get you started exactly how I did.

Image via Google Image Search

First, I "liked" them on Facebook. Then, I joined their private Facebook Group/Support page. Warning: Without reading the book first you will be quite confused.  There are four types of meals: S-Satisfying, E-Energizing, FP - Fuel Pull, C-Crossover.  I then bought the e-book and read like ca-ray-zay!

I also stumbled upon these blog posts which go over in detail and are so well-written that there's no need for me to reinvent the wheel.  Gwen's Nest has a great book review of THM and an amazing, amazing, ahhh-may-zing Quick Start Guide.  You can also follow me over on Pinterest for my own personal THM board where I have other interesting and helpful pins I've found to help me on this new journey to my health and wellness goals.

I officially started THM on December 12, 2013 and as of today I'm down 5.6 pounds.  Sayyy whhhat?! It took me two years to lose ten.  As you know, results will vary.  Everyone will lose at their own pace - however, just being around the pages and seeing the testimonials, there are thousands of ladies who are dropping lots of weight.  Some only 15 pounds and some are losing one hundred pounds.  All in the matter of weeks, to months to a year.  But, it's happening on this plan.  It's working for me.  I'm thrilled - hence the reason I've come back to my blog to let you all know about it!  I did participate in the 21 Day Sugar Detox prior to this plan and that did indeed help me with my cravings and alter my taste buds to THM.

So, where does that leave me now weight-wise?  Well, I'm just about 4 pounds away from my weight I was from getting pregnant with baby #2 (who is now four) and 14 pounds away from my true pre-pregnancy weight.  My pants are looser and my clothes I couldn't comfortable wear without feeling self-conscious are looking pretty OK again.

I still can't believe this is happening so easily for me on this plan.  I have to admit, I had huge doubts since, ya' know, I've tried everything before.  Remember?  Now I'm eating eggs, coconut oil, CHOCOLATE, chili, cheesecake, yummy drinks and I can even have red wine when I please.  There are very little restrictions as to what I can't have and there are many ways to tweak recipes to fit this lifestyle.  And if you're unsure about a recipe, guess what?  There are over 27,000+ members on the support page who can help me, guide me, encourage me and celebrate with me...and you, too.  

I should also mention I have known about THM for about a year now and I didn't look too much into it.  I'm KICKING myself in the butt for not having done this sooner!  Just start reading the links.  Read the testimonies and choose for yourself.  You may just become a smaller, healthier version of your self :)

Do you have any questions or want specifics?  Comment or email me - happy to chat about it!
~Carly

Cinch - Day 8 with update!

Gooood morning!

As I already shared with you, last Monday was the beginning of my Cinch Inch Loss Program.  It's now Day 8 and I still feel amazingly great.

I'm energized, still not feeling deprived or hungry and motivated.  But most importantly - I'm seeing results.  Fast.

So, after 8 days of two shakes a day, a snack bar, tea, lots of water and a healthy dinner each night -
here are the stats I'm sure you want to know:

Starting measurements:
From April 9, 2012
Bust: 40 inches
Waist: 36 inches
Hip: 44 inches

Day 8 results:
Today, April 17, 2012
Bust: 38
Waist: 34
Hip: 43

In just over a week, I've lost a total of 5 inches and I have lost a total of 5.8 pounds*!

My legs, arms and face look and feel smaller, too.  I have always had hips, but I'm a little disappointed (if I should even be allowed to use that word) that I didn't lose another inch there, but I'm so thrilled.

I'm still in awe of how well this is working and keep asking myself:
Why didn't I find this sooner?

Let me know if you're interested in learning more about the Shaklee Cinch Inch Loss Program.
~Carly

*Note: I know since I'm opening up about this experience and blogging about it, I know I should share my weight. But I'm still embarrassed about the actual number.  Even though I know it's "just a number" I'm not ready yet to share.

Cinch - Day 6 and update on progress!

Good afternoon!  I hope you're enjoying a gorgeous Sunday.  I know we are here in Connecticut - check out my super cheap/Ballard Designs inspired tag sale find over on my other blog for Newly Nested Baby Planning.

So, I'm on my 6th day of the Cinch Inch Loss Plan and since I'm impatient, I weighed in early since I felt so good and found I had already lost a few pounds!

Today, since starting only a week ago, I'm now down 5.2 pounds total in just 6 days.

I'm sad to admit this and do not condone not exercising, but today is the first day in a very long time that I actually exercised - going for a very long walk with the family around the neighborhood, pushing a double stroller with two toddlers AND some crazy hills!

So, I've lost 5.2 pounds in 6 days pretty much using the Cinch diet alone with very little added exercise.

It's completely crazy and I'm so beyond thrilled with this plan for a few reasons:

1.  I feel fantastic.  Seriously feeling very good health-wise and about myself (for the first time in a long time).
2.  I'm not hungry, nor do I feel deprived.
3.  The shake mixes, bars and tea is really very tasty.
4.  It's easy for me to incorporate into my day.
5.  It feels right to do this plan.
6.  Lastly, it's working.

Isn't that the point of making changes to your lifestyle - to make a change to see or experience a better outcome?

To keep my progress going and to keep that scale going in the right direction (FINALLY!), I'm going to hit the gym again and up my cardio and add in some weights to further promote some inch loss.

A big thank you to Melissa Moog for sharing her personal struggle with baby weight and to the fabulous Sommer Poquette for being an inspiration herself on the Cinch Inch Loss Program.   Thank you both for introducing me to Cinch!
~Carly

Cinch - Day 3

...And going strong!

Yesterday, I had my Cinch shake for breakfast and was a bit hungrier than the previous day for lunch, so I munched on a few grapes and a piece or two of pineapple from the kid's snack at the park.

I had the Peanut butter crunch snack bar, a chocolate peanut butter shake for lunch, one cup of tea before dinner and I had an organic vegetarian burrito with some plain baby carrots.  I drank a ton of water and felt satiated and full.

Overall, I'm still loving this plan and really not feeling deprived.

Personally, I'm both shocked at how good I feel and surprised at my willpower since I'm around food all day.  My two kids eat breakfast and dinner but end up snacking most of the day with a light lunch.  I find they like it better, keeps their hunger mood swings at bay and they get more of a variety of fruits, veggies, grains and proteins that way.

Hey - whatever works, right?

And speaking of working, I feel like Cinch is working for me.

So, here's to day three as I am sitting here drinking my Orange Creamsicle version of my breakfast - which is quite tasty:

Vanilla Cinch Shake Mix
6 oz of orange juice4 oz of skim milk
1 Banana - a larger sized one 
Ice Cubes - about a handful

Have a great day and check in again with another post tomorrow!

~Carly

Pinterest Picks - 2/24/12

Happy Friday!

In lieu of me FINALLY losing 5 pounds (can I get a wooohooo?!?), I wanted to address the importance of non-scale victories.  I was getting quite frustrated with the lack of weight loss despite my efforts to eat well, exercise and do all the "right" things to get that scale to budge!

All kidding aside, these non-scale indicators are indeed huge successes and often are what are seen and felt long before the weight loss shows up on the scale.

So, without further adieu, here's this week's Pinterest Picks:

Once they are all listed out like that, seems like it's kinda worth celebrating a little, huh?  

Before I even saw the 5 pound weight loss, my pants were incredibly looser as were my wedding rings.  I totally had more energy and I feel great!  

So, someone tell me why, oh why, do we put so much darn emphasis on weight as opposed to health?  Muscle weighs more than fat anyways - we all know that!  

I say step away from the scale for a week or two and focus on these non-scale indicators and let me know how it goes!