Guest Blogger :: Shannon

Perhaps solidifying a wedding date (and wedding dress shopping swiftly approaching) compelled me to lose an average of 1.6 pounds per week in the last year of my life. (Maybe.)

I remember about elevendy-billion reasons to shed these 115 pounds gained since 2001, and somehow they gelled:

  

 

• Wondering people’s thoughts: “She would be so pretty if she just lost that weight.”
• Dreading contact with high school alumni as the athlete who "let herself go."
• Proving to my brother that there was more to me than fat.
• Making that “UUGGHH” noise when tying my shoes or standing up.
• Wondering if blood tests would reveal I have Type II Diabetes, or worse.
• Eating breakfast with visions of tomorrow’s dinner dancing in my head.
• Worrying I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the family I’ve always dreamed of.
• My fiancée steadily losing weight while I could barely squeeze in to my size 22’s.
• Being publicly addressed as “hey fat girl!,” as some guy I’ve never met wins macho-points with his buddies (hi-fives & laughter).
• Holding back painful tears as my bestie sprints towards a truck of snickering guys hoping to redeem a fun night and rescue my spirit after the driver yells, “Move you fat b**ch!” 

What’s worse? The “B-word”, or the “F-word”…FAT!

I constantly joked I had “Reverse Body Dismorphic Disorder” thinking “I look gooood...” then seeing the photos. “Do I really look like that?? Gross!”

I was kidding myself, rationalizing my failed weight loss attempts.

“I don’t know why I’m not losing weight. I eat tons of vegetables, I don’t drink soda, I rarely eat candy or fast food, and there’s really nothing else I can restrict.”

Although I don’t recall having those thoughts while inhaling a Red Robin Blue Ribbon Burger furnished with all-you-can-eat fries dunked in ranch dressing.

I’ve changed. I’m happy. I’m ready to walk down that aisle with my once-lost confident glow intact and wait for my almost-wife to marry me.

Here I am, 82 pounds lighter, changed, happy, and eagerly anticipating that walk down the aisle in my dress, while I wait for my almost-wife to marry me.

Photo courtesy of FABuLIST photographer :: Largo Photography

Guest Blogger, Shannon Williams and her fiancée are sharing with us their journey of planning their same-sex wedding. Read more about them here.

Guest Blogger :: Shannon

Work is the perfect place to start eating healthy and start using my Eat Less More Often (E.L.M.O.) method.  Even if you usually feel too rushed, have tons of work to do, or are one of those people that ONLY eats during your lunch hour--today you can change!

Since my fiancée and I work full time, it is important that we have balance and are able to work on wedding plans after work and on weekends without feeling burnt out and cranky from a long week.

I’m one of those “I don’t take a lunch, I eat as I work” kind of girls. But that created a craving-ravenous monster that ate way too much at one time because I was too busy to eat more often. Now, I schedule time to get in at least half of my lunch between 11a.m. and 1p.m. other half two hours later, therefore eliminating the “Thanksgiving dinner coma” and “It’s nap-thirty” comments from my vocabulary. 

 

This doesn’t mean I eat half of a quarter pounder and super-size fry at lunch and the other half two hours later. I fill myself up with half of a sandwich, pita, salad, or hearty soup then follow up with the other half as a snack later on. Getting through my week with energy keeps me positive and productive at work and at home.   A little Sunday evening prep will help you get those healthy lunches done for the week ahead.

Next week learn those weekend preparation tips that will have you eating the E.L.M.O. lunch way all week long.

 

Guest Blogger, Shannon Williams and her fiancée are sharing with us their journey of planning their same-sex wedding. Read more about them here.

Guest Blogger :: Shannon

Last week we talked about how I lost 65 pounds following tips my brother gave me to speed up my weight loss. I call it E.L.M.O. – Eat Less More Often.  In order to start this type of lifestyle it is crucial that you find out WHAT you are eating and WHEN you are eating it.  The first tip my brother gave me was “start a food journal.” And I did. What an eye-opening experience. Because he emphasized the importance of logging every morsel that I pop in to my mouth including all liquids, alcohol, candy, mints, and even diet soda, by the first day I was more aware of how much food I was actually consuming and that not only was I eating way too much at once, I was snacking way too much. I prefer a small notebook:

 picture courtesy of fitsugar.com

Remember to write down everything you eat or drink even if you think it “doesn’t count.” Once you have achieved your weight loss goals continue to use your journal on an "as needed" basis.  Perhaps you want to lose an extra five pounds and are frustrated thinking, “What else could I possibly do to lose weight?” Start your journal that day! You will probably find that you have become a little too comfortable and either add more fruits, veggies and lean protein OR, you need to EAT LESS MORE OFTEN.

A food journal can be something you stick in your purse, briefcase, tote, or you can go the high tech way by tracking online. Some cell phone companies allow online access too.  Two sites I found that are simple and fun are Shape Fit or The Healthy Way. All Diet Source has a great printable food journal page. This way you can print them out and create your own food notebook. (daily food journal pic)

Start your food journal today. Evaluate what you are putting in your body, whether it makes you feel full, if you are snacking while preparing dinner, how your eating patterns change over the weekend, and how ALL of it is impacting your desire to fit in those skinny jeans…or for me, the skinny wedding dress.

 

Guest Blogger, Shannon Williams and her fiancé are sharing with us their journey of planning their same-sex wedding. Read more about them here.

Guest Blogger :: Shannon

E.L.M.O. No, not the little red fuzzy puppet that all toddlers love…but E.L.M.O. :: Eat Less More Often

My fiancée Erika and I have six months left until the big day! I have to buy my dress soon. It took me almost a year just to shed 15 pounds. I fluctuated up and down and was frustrated, thinking “what could I possibly modify, change or take away?" I don’t drink soda, not even diet. I hardly EVER eat candy, fast food, fried foods, sweets AND I eat vegetables all day every day. But like I said, 15 pounds in one year. I thought for sure I had some sort of thyroid or hormonal problem. Now, more aware and no longer obsessed with food, I’ve realized: I was kidding myself.

I’m proud to say I have lost 50 pounds since March 3^rd when my brother, Anthony, provided me several tips to spur a more speedy weight loss by eating…yes, I said eating. I named his method E.L.M.O. and have shared it with many friends and acquaintances who are now losing weight by Eating Less More Often.

Is it easy…yes, if you are willing to stop yourself from huge portions, learn when your body is truly hungry, and to stop eating before you feel so full that you need to unbutton.

Stick with Mrster to see my before and after pics, learn all of the E.L.M.O secrets, and start seeing results!

Photography byKelly Moore Photography

Guest Blogger, Shannon Williams and her fiancé are sharing with us their journey of planning their same-sex wedding. Read more about them here.