How I’m Doing on my Weight Loss Challenge (& What It Means for My Finances)

Under two months ago, I wrote a post about a new challenge that I had set for myself:

I am challenging myself to lose 18 lbs in 90 days.

I wrote this post three days before my long-term boyfriend and common law partner made me his fiancé, and since I’m all for embracing motivation when you have it, his proposal came at a great time.

I know myself, and know that if I wasn’t already motivated to kick these stubborn pounds to the curb pre-proposal, I wouldn’t be motivated to get in shape for a wedding.

A bit of background about how this goal came to fruition:

When my partner and I moved here in 2010, I gained a solid fifteen pounds. I don’t know how much I gained right off the bat, versus how much I gained in the years of “getting settled in”, but when I first decided that I was too heavy for my own liking, I weighed far more than I was comfortable with. I’m 5’3″ on a good day, and on my small frame, I wasn’t comfortable in my own skin.

I started losing in August of 2011, and dropped 22 pounds between the start of my lifestyle change and February, 2012. I started a new job, moved to a different city, and had a lot to celebrate around that time, so I derailed my weight loss and gained 7 lbs back between then and around April 2013.

While I’m happy I didn’t gain all the weight back, I was beating myself up for slipping back into some of my old eating habits, and fixed my attitude about healthy eating and working out just slightly.

I didn’t pay attention to the scales at this point, and apparently over the course of a few months of home ownership (hauling bricks, raking, mowing lawns, pulling weeds, painting, etc), dropped a few more of those pounds.

This brought me to September, when I decided I wanted to challenge myself to be the healthiest I’ve ever been.

My Progress

I started September off with this challenge, and a very specific plan as to how to get there. I set a reminder on my phone to let me know when I was halfway through, and then again when I was at day 60. I was at day 60 just a few days ago, and that means that I’m 2/3 of the way through my challenge.

As of right now, I’ve lost 9 lbs from the start of my challenge. 

That’s only half of what I wanted to lose in 90 days, and if I want to meet my goal, I’ll have to step it up. However, I think I may need to re-evaluate.

I am now in the 144 lb range, and considering that I am barely even in the overweight range of the BMI calculation, it is not safe for me to lose 9 lbs in 30 days.

A more realistic goal would be to lose 4 lbs in 30 days, or around a pound per week.

My Finances

Clothes

Weight loss and money do not go hand in hand. I walked into the office the other day, and one of my co-workers told me that I was swimming in my pants.

I bought the dress pants that I was wearing when I was around 13 lbs heavier than I am right now. I know 13 lbs isn’t all that much, but remember, I’m 5’3. When I originally purchased the pants, they were a little loose, so now, they are downright baggy.

I’ve been living in dresses since that comment, because I don’t want to look unprofessional in baggy pants, but even my dresses are getting a little loose, particularly around the chest and ribcage area.

Sooner rather than later, I will have to buy at least a few new work outfits. I am trying to hold out until I get to my goal weight so I’m not spending twice, but it’s very difficult.

Food

I find that, as I eat better and more healthy foods, I have also gained some interest in organic and locally grown food. Since I have been so healthy, I don’t want to be putting chemicals into my body. These are a bit more expensive, but I’m eating less and eating virtually no processed foods, so my food bill is only a little bit more than prior to my challenge.

Confidence

Confidence = priceless (haha, sorry – had to do it).

I’m not 100% happy with my body yet. I still have a ways to go, even just with toning. I was so confident after losing the weight that I did back in 2011, and since I’m so much lighter now, you’d think I’d be even more so. But it’s a work in progress.

I’ve always been a fairly confident person, but there are always going to be things that I will want to change about myself (not necessarily in appearance). I feel way better about myself now that I’m a more comfortable weight.