I meant to write this post on Friday for Fitness Friday, but I was busy trying to not get my blood pressure up from the DJ’d party right outside my window that occurred ALL MORNING AND AFTERNOON. *sigh* So here it is as Fashionista Fitness…lol. But I’m down 16 pounds since starting Weight Watchers in March *throws confetti in the air and waives it around like I just don’t care*
A combination of a car accident, leaving my full time corporate job (where I had to get up often to go see clients) to working from home and slowly dwindling down from working out five times a week to barely at all over four years turned into some weight gain that I needed to seriously get rid of. I know how to quickly lose weight—having done it a few times over the last ten years or so (the Freshman 15 in college, the “I hate my job” weight gain) but as I’m getting older and my metabolism slows, I wanted something that would be a long term lifestyle change and not just another diet.
Note: I didn’t lose 6 lbs in one week—I don’t have a digital scale so couldn’t really see and last week had someone read it to me..lol
So after hearing so many success stories from random folks and yes, after all these years Jennifer Hudson and her sun in the sky broke me down (lol) and I decided to try Weight Watchers online. Within the first few days of tracking my food I understood exactly why I gained every pound I did. I wasn’t eating a lot per say, but I was eating things that I didn’t realize how much of an effect they were having on me. But when you start having to keep track of everything you eat (I do mine through the WW iPhone app), you begin to make smarter choices. WW keeps you within a set amount of points per day and then gives you a weekly allowance (perfect for the random Friday/Saturday dinner out). You can eat the foods that you like as long as you stay within the point values. In the beginning I’d easily go over my daily allowance before the day would be halfway done…lol. But I started to get the hang of it and also starting making use of the Weight Watchers recipes online—I even created a Pinterest board for some of them so I can easily access them from the Pinterest app on my phone.
Me in 2004 with my grandma in Trinidad and I thought I was a little too thick then! Go figure.
And I’ve been going to the gym—not as often as I would like but my new goal is in addition to going to the gym for at least three classes per week is to walk around my neighborhood everyday while listening to my Soca playlist (and chip in the streets by myself like no one can see me…lol). I also hurt my knee and back and MONTHS ago my doctor told me to work on strengthening my quads to help with my knee and my core to strengthen my back so I started working on them last week (I felt a change immediately after—I was able to get up and down stairs without my knee getting all cranky). I’m also going to get more yoga and Pilates in to help with the knee and back pain because um, I’m waaaaay too young to be walking around with a bum knee.
I still have more weight to go for my personal goal but I’m excited about it all especially since this feels like it will stick (you can also see a difference in my face here). I paid maybe like $30 or so to start and my monthly fee is somewhere around $15. Well worth it for me :)
I’ll try to do an update when I’ve reached my goal!
*High Five* I need to weigh in and see where I’m at! Last weigh in, I was down 6 pounds but that was a while ago.
I wish you were here…or I was there, so we could be workout buddies!
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thanks!!! congrats to you, too!
OMG—I wish we lived closer, too! We could workout, go shopping, take each other’s outfit pics, etc. lol
Um, where is that t-shirt from? I love it.
Author
Thanks! The grey one is from Obey clothing via Urban Outfitters men’s section. But if you meant the orange one, I don’t remember where I got it from…lol. Some random website 10 years ago.
Congrats Danielle
Congrats Danielle!!!
You go Danielle ! I’m trying to kick my butt into high gear before my wedding ???? this just helped
CONGRATS, Danielle!
(I’m also on Weight Watchers!)
WW is the best, I have extended my walking activity and continued my good eating habits and tracking. Rob is the best support person and I hope to reach 50lb loss in another 1 weeks.
Yea lady!! I’ve been telling folks that ww is not a diet but a lifestyle change! I’m down 28 lbs since August 2013. Holidays have been killing me lol!
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Congrats to you, Danielle (also what a lovely name you have…lol). Totally a lifestyle change and I love it!
Congrats Danielle!! Keep up the great work!!
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thanks so much, Kateria!!!
Congrats!
Oh also? You look like a completely different person in that photo with your grandmother.
And also, if you want to do more yoga and pilates you should check out Piyo. It’s an awesome low impact workout – especially good for people with bad knees! Check it out: http://bit.ly/1pPFMoj
Author
haha! what the right brow person can do for a girl…lol. My brows back then were terrible!!! About a year after this pic was taken, I met Rajni at Aveda Salon in Queens Center and she’s been doing my brows since. She’s amazing—I should show her this pic so she sees how far I’ve come…lol.
THANKS! OMG—I just signed up to be notified about Piyo. FINGERS CROSSED that they’ll have one near me or a DVD…lol.
It’s coming out on DVD at the end of the month. I’ve done the workout a few times and it’s seriously awesome. You’ll be able to buy it from a beachbody coach i.e. me :)
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ohh perfect! keep me posted if you can :)
I definitely will! :)
Go D! You made me sign up again! I hope I have as much success as you!