How I Lost the Weight
Since hitting about 70-75 pounds gone, I seem to have crossed the threshold “in real life” where most people can tell I’ve “been losing weight, haven’t you?” When I say yes, I’ve lost a bunch, they always ask how I did it. I find myself telling the story over and over, so I figured I’d put it here for posterity.
- June, 2007: I started the Couch to 5K program. I used Robert Ullrey’s podcasts, which are available here, to keep me going. On Week 7 of the program, I ran my first 5K, an Independence Day run. The program works!
- When I was about eight weeks in, I started doing South Beach. Starting a diet while simultaneously starting a running program isn’t advised, since your body needs extra calories for energy at first. Mind you, you shouldn’t necessarily eat more when you start running. By eight weeks of running, I had just reached the point where my distances and running times were beginning to add up to enough to cause weight loss on their own, and when I started South Beach, the pounds began to fall off.
- July, 2007: I discovered that I suck at dieting. When I cut back on bad carbs, I fell way short on total calories without realizing it, and it took several disastrous attempts at running for me to figure that out. I joined SparkPeople.com as a way of simply tracking what I was eating so as to avoid doing that again. I continued to use my own eating plans, based on South Beach (SparkPeople’s menus are not my cup of tea).
- When the time changed and I was no longer able to get runs in before Eric left for work in the morning (I don’t like running in the dark by myself!), we joined a gym and I started using the treadmill on work days. It’s boring, but it fills the need. I also started doing two days of weight training between running days.
- Now I’ve reached the point where I’m playing fast and loose with the South Beach guidelines, but I’m continuing to use the calorie, carb, and fat trackers on SparkPeople, which have kept me losing weight. I also do a lot of shopping online through PeaPod, and that helps encourage me to plan meals in advance, for which I frequently rely heavily on SparkRecipes and on the South Beach Diet Quick & Easy Cookbook (the foods in which involve low prep times; a big criticism many people have about South Beach is that the regular cookbook has you chopping for ages).
- Winter, 2008-2009: A discovery! Apparently, Seasonal Affective Disorder can cause sugar cravings. I’m focusing on keeping those under control now. Mostly, I’m in weight maintenance mode at this point, at about 120 pounds down since the beginning, but I’m struggling with how to maintain while training for my (gulp! And yay!) first marathon. This kind of mileage apparently requires more calories each week than I’d been getting, but trying to make sure that I’m getting that much in terms of foods that will actually be helpful and healthful for me is a challenge. I’m getting there!
That’s it! Any questions?
40 Responses to How I Lost the Weight
Congratulations. You look fabulous. And I’m sure you feel even better! Would you be comfortable sharing what your calorie, carb and fat numerical targets are each day? Thanks.
Not a problem! They’ve changed over time (SparkPeople adjusts them automatically for you), but as they stand at present, my calorie goal range is somewhere between 1200 and 1550; my carb range (which I can never seem to hit using South Beach) is 163 – 236 grams; fat gram range is 32 – 56; and protein should fall between 60 – 127 grams.
You look fabulous! The husband just dropped from obese to overweight. I’m just waiting to drop a pant size.
Thank you for the link for the couch to 5k! I’m thinking it would be good for the husband, dogs and I.
Add me to the list of people you’ve inspired. I did my second day of couch to 5k today. So far I’m loving it! Thank you!!!
Congrats, you’re an inspiration to me also. I had lost 80 lbs but my weight loss stalled for the past two years. Thru you I discovered couch to 5K and although I never thought I could be a runner, I’ve been running for the last two months. I’ve lost 10 more lbs and only have 10 more to goal. Keep up the good work and thanks for the link.
Best advice I can give for you guys starting C25K: sign up for a race that’s scheduled about the time you’ll finish! Paying the registration fee and putting it on your calendar will give you incentive not to give up, even if you don’t quite make it and have to walk a bit during the race (I had to on my first one, and lots of people do!)
You look incredible! Good for you.
I started running several years ago, then got pregnant. Three pregnancies later, and I’m pretty fat now. I broke my leg in 2006 that left me in a cast for 7 months, and now I can’t run anymore. I’m wondering if an eliptical would have the same affect.
Anyway, you look like you feel good and that’s wonderful.
Did you say that there are pod casts to go with the running program ?
Yep, linked up there!
Ooh, Sarah, I hope you do the program! Come running with meeeeee! I’m actually thinking of starting up a Family Club running/walking group come warmer weather – sort of combine with the stroller walkers, maybe – if I can find enough circular loops that we could at least pass each other on a regular basis.
When you reach a year on your weight loss, you are eligible to sign up with the National Weight Control Registry, which I think is really cool. Their website is at www.nwcr.ws.
Also, I wanted to recommend subscribing to Nutrition Action, which is the newsletter to the Center For Science in the Public Interest. The newsletter is short and sweet to read, and they pack a lot of great information in it. Their website is www.cspinet.org.
Wow you are an inspiration. Do you think a 56 year old can do the Couch to 5K progam? I recommited to Weight Watchers but need to exercise too!!!
HELP!!
Oh, definitely! C25K is such a gentle, gradual program that I’d recommend it to anybody! Of course, if you have other medical issues (bad knees, etc.), you’d want to ask a doctor, but otherwise, I can’t see why it would be limited to younguns!
I was looking for an email contact for you, but will just post here instead.
THANK YOU for posting about the C25K program. Your success with it was a huge factor in my taking it on this year. I’ve always (since I was like 10!) wanted to be a runner, but am just not built like a runner, so I didn’t give it a go. But with this program, I did it! I started in January, and ran my first 5k on March 17th, and rocked it! (21minutes!)
I haven’t lost any weight, but I’m hopefull I can do that soon, too!
Hi, I am Melissa Goines brother Jasson. Take it from someone that has lost weight 3 TIMES now, went from 273 to 191 pounds, then back up, then back down, then back up, back down and unfortunately back up AGAIN, that you have done an AWESOME job! Melissa told me you did the TEN MILE light house run and you did it with 9 minute something miles, that is GREAT! You are totally an inspiration and you UNLIKE ME have kept it off so far! Way to go, BIG difference, I had seen you at least once and remember what you looked like, now you like like an athletic person! All I can say I wow!
Jasson
I am starting the c25k program this coming week. I need to lose 100 pounds and probably then some. You have inspired me. I would love to be able to email you for support on my journed. I can’t afford to give up this time. I am 31 and I want to get healthy so that I can have children. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. You always think in the back of your mind no matter how motivated that you can’t really do it and seeing people who have is proof and it helps stay motiviated. thank you!
Meghan
I have just finished week 5 of the c25k program and I have to say the 20 min run almost finished me off… however, I did find myself listening into the first few mins of the week 6 podcast to find out what next week holds for me – so I can’t have been put off entirely! I wanted to let you know that I don’t think I would have started this program / believed in it if I hadn’t read your story – so thanks! The question I have is this… I think I am a similar size and body type to where you started. I am headed into week 6 and have only really seen about 2-3 lb weight loss although I definately feel better / fitter. I haven’t added in any more exercise above the program and while I do feel like I am making better food choices I haven’t really attacked the food side of the equation yet. Need to get some internal energy up to address that. So… based on what little you know of my journey thus far.. is there any indication of when I will start shedding the pounds, assuming I stick with the program and begin to address my food intake. I think I remember reading that you noticed a difference in weight loss around week 8. Thanks again – you are an inspiration!
I didn’t really start losing weight until 8 or so weeks in. It was about at that point that the weekly mileage began to reach a number that could affect weight loss, and it’s when I felt that the running was a strong enough habit that I could start looking at food and other areas of health. You do need fuel to run, so at the beginning, it makes sense to only focus on the running and not try to focus on food as well. One thing at a time.
Good for you, Wendy!
That’s an awesome time; beats my PR! 
Sure, you can email me, Meghan.
I’d encourage you to journal about it, too; having records on which I could reflect was immensely helpful to me.
Hi Carrie – used to read you on LJ but I’m not there anymore. Wanted to come back to this site because of everything I have seen online, your experience makes the most sense. I’ve gone on and off Couch to 5k and am more recently on it for the last couple of weeks. What you said about weight loss showing after about eight weeks makes sense, in fact, everything you said here makes sense. I need to lose about 50 to 75 lbs in total and I wanted you to know that I have directly drawn inspiration from your journey. Many thanks, Carrie.
Renee.
Hey there, inspiration! Time to update this page to include what you’ve done over the past six months or so to be so TINY! I’m really proud of you!!!
I’m terribly excited. I was reading here a few weeks ago, and was so inspired by your story, and so enjoyed reading your blog, that I popped off and joined SparkPeople (I’ve been working on this baby weight for a loooooooong time.) Then I forgot where I was reading, and how I got here in the first place. Lucky for me, you commented on another blog I read. So I found you!
Thanks for the recommendations, and I look forward to starting my own journey.
You are an inspiration! After having three kids back to back I have found it hard to lose weight AND have energy! I ran/walked my first 5k a few years back and came in almost last. I wasn’t prepared and want to go for it again this year. I am going to look at the sites you listed and go from there! Thanks for sharing your success story!
Carrie,
I used to read your blog, but after I had a baby in July of 07, I had less time on the internet and stopped. So I hadn’t stopped by until just after you started the C25K program.
Anyway, came across a link to you and thought, “Oh yeah, I remember Carrie,” so I clicked on it….and WOW. You look fantastic! Congratulations, that is just so impressive. I just started working out a couple of months ago, and it’s so nice to see such an inspiring story!
You are one AMAZING woman, Carrie and I’m so proud of you:-) JOY
Omigosh. I used to read your blog years ago when I was big into blogging myself. We had kids around the same time so it was always fun to read about someone going through the similar experiences in raising toddlers.
For one reason or another I fell away from blogging and only today ran across your name which led me back to your blog. Wow! Look at you! Fantastic! Three cheers for a job amazingly well done! You are an inspiration.
Happy New Year!
Incredible! And absolutely inspiring!
Hey Carrie! I used to read (and blog) way back when, and I was checking in on you. You look fantstic. You have inspired me to start the c25k program once more.
Hi Carrie,
I just read one of your very funny posts on SparkPeople (about the running/pushup workout), and not wanting to start now since you’d be face down in snow every 8 to 9 min! Then I got here from your SparkPeople page, and I think you are amazing! I know several people who think they can’t drop this type of weight through diet and exercise, but you prove it can be done. You should be in the next People magazine “Half their Size” issue. You rock!
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Oh… My….. Gosh! Carrie – I didn’t even recognize you!! I found your blog in 2000 maybe and read pretty regular for a couple years. Reading your blog felt like keeping up with a little sister. I cheered with you when you got pregnant with Sam and then again with Gabe. I identified with your marriage and financial struggles and triumphs. I could remember feeling those things myself and I enjoyed watching you grow through the challenges. You’re a great writer and I enjoy your perspective.
Anyway.. I was cleaning up my bookmarks and found your site tucked in a folder. I decided to check in on you (it’s been probably 4 years!) and I honestly thought my link was wrong! Who was this cheesehead on my screen? Your cousin? Lol. You still have red hair but you look nothing like you used to! You’ve always been pretty but now you’re HOT girl!! I’ve enjoyed my quick scan to see what you’ve been up to lately. Your boys are growing into fine young men. How does that heppen so quickly? I am so proud of you, not only for this transformation but for who you are as a person. Your words and perspective have been are an inspiration to many people and now your self discipline and hard work is too.
CONGRATULATIONS on all you’ve accomplished!!
McFletch