Six Month Progress

Today, I officially turned 30 1/2 years old.

Exactly 6 months ago today, I pledged to become more healthy. I also pledged to lose all this weight and get down to my best weight range, which is anywhere from 115-125ish. (Although technically I didn’t start on an official “diet and exercise program” until October 3rd or 4th.)

The good news is that in the last six months, I have improved my fitness levels immensely. Back then, I would walk down to the corner store, which is probably 500 feet (estimate) from my apartment. I would get out of breath on the way back because it is a slight uphill walk. I would be OUT OF BREATH walking 500 feet. Yep, I really let myself go in the year prior to that. For instance, before I got my car, I would take cabs EVERYWHERE or get rides from friends. I would go out drinking almost every night with friends. When I got home, I would have the alcohol munchies and eat everything in sight.

Fast-forward to now…. I can speed walk with a 8% incline and still carry on a conversation (if need be). I can do a 45 minute elliptical routine without killing myself. Walking up the hill to my apartment from Main Street (which is a good 7 minute uphill walk) actually energizes me now. In Tulsa, I would occasionally walk up 7 flights of stairs for the hell of it.

So yes, I have improved my fitness level. A lot. My resting heart rate is lower and my blood pressure has gone down! Those are very, very important goals that have been reached.

And my size… I have gone down a few pants sizes. Depending on the designer/brand, anywhere from 2-5 sizes.

But my weight… the number on the scale. Yes. That evil number. In six months, I haven’t made much progress AT ALL in that area. Six months! I constantly hear about people who lost 30 pounds in six months. Or more. Me? I’ve lost less than 15. Some days, less than 10! Lately the scale has gone up. And yes, I know I’m building muscle.

But how come I keep hearing about all these damn people LOSING weight? Back in September, I speculated that I would have lost 25 pounds by now!!! 25!!!! And I’m nowhere near that.

I am mystified. Why is it that I - a successful person who has achieved EVERY SINGLE GOAL IN HER LIFE SO FAR - have such a damn hard time getting the scale to move in the right direction? Why? This is THE ONLY GOAL I HAVE SET THAT I HAVEN’T ACHIEVED.

For example:

• Goal #1 - see the Northeast. Accomplished in August 2002.
• Goal #2 - see NYC. Accomplished in August 2002.
• Goal #3 - move out of California. Accomplished in August 2002.
• Goal #4 - drive cross-country. Accomplished in Summer 2002.
• Goal #5 - become successful on the internet. Accomplished August 2005.
• Goal #6 - quit my day job to do internet stuff full time. Accomplished in July 2006.
• Goal #7 - make a six figure salary. Accomplished in 2007.
• Goal #8 - see Seattle and Minneapolis and the northern plain states. Accomplished in Summer 2007.
• Goal #9 - become the healthiest, fittest version of myself as possible, and lose a ton of weight. Not yet accomplished.

(Note that there are smaller and more personal goals in between these that I also accomplished). I’ve also set many traffic goals for theskinnywebsite.com, all of which I’ve met and exceeded.

So how is it that someone like myself who can do almost anything she sets her mind to NOT be able to do a simple thing like lose some damn weight? Seriously. I’d like to know this.

When does the real weight loss start?

If anyone has the answer to these questions, let me know.