We Decided to Be Losers and Here’s How We Did It
Some of you may know that I have struggled to stay at a healthy weight most of my adult life. I would lose and gain, lose and gain. My husband didn’t struggle. He stayed at an unhealthy weight most of his adult life.
Five years ago when he retired, we decided to get serious about our health. Perhaps it was the word “retirement”- we may have been getting old, but we didn’t want to feel old. Some of it was that I wanted to get back into my skinny jeans and my husband wanted to be more fit on the golf course. Together, we focused on eating healthy food, and we cut out the large Mexican dinners and the chips and desserts, (and yes, some of the wine). We each lost a nice amount of weight.
But by the fall of 2017, I had regained at least half of what I had lost, and my husband had added a chunk back, too.
Did we cry and chastise ourselves and feel terrible? Yes.
Then we vowed to try again. But this time, we decided to really plan what we were doing.
First we calculated our BMI’s. Ouch. You enter your height and weight and you get a number and then you find out if you fall into the normal, overweight or obese category. We used the calculator and learned that we were way too close to the “Big O” category. Then we used the BMI calculator to determine what we needed to weigh to get into the Normal category. If you want to check your BMI, there are many calculators on the internet. Here’s one.
We felt that a weight loss app would help us, so we chose LoseIt. We found it easy to use. First we put in our current weight and then our goal weight. Our goal weight was the number to get us back in to the normal range, based on our BMI. We also selected how many pounds we wanted to lose each week. I chose 1/2 pound, so my daily calories wouldn’t be reduced too much. LoseIt calculated the number of calories we were budgeted for each day and it divided them according to meals.
We entered everything we ate, each day. LoseIt has many foods that you can look up by name, or by store or restaurant. You can also enter calories with the bar code on a product. At first it took awhile, but after a few weeks we had entered enough items and meals so it was easier to do. Every time you enter you new lower weight, LoseIt reduces the amount of your daily calorie budget. Fun!
Some of My Stats
I started on September 7, 2017. My daily calorie budget was 1593.
LoseIt predicted I would reach my goal by the end of March or early April. I reached my goal on March 31. 207 days later.
My husband also met his goal. I lost 30 pounds! Our BMIs are below 24.9. He’s decided to keep going until his BMI is under 23.9. As I have so much trouble maintaining my weight, I am going to pause for a few months, and learn to get better at staying at a healthy weight, before I take the next step down.
Here is my daily calorie budget of 1619 calories now:
Breakfast- 324
Lunch- 405
Dinner- 567
Snacks- 324
My husband and I also decided to keep track of our steps each day.
He uses an iWatch, so he keeps track of the “circles”, which are steps, and amount of exercise, and standing and breathing. While we were in Florida for a month, he walked 5 miles a day. I have various twinges in my legs so I walk less, but try for at least 5,000 steps a day. Plus I read a lot! (Do you know how many calories a person can burn reading books??)
A Hot Dog Story with a Moral
When we were in Florida, we enjoyed stopping by the pretty pool bar for happy hour. There was a menu of $5 bar bites, and a few times were splurged with our calories and ordered the big, fat, flavorful hotdog on a grilled bun, with onions and mustard and ketchup and relish. The aroma, the juiciness, the grill marks, all so delectable. One night, we ate our hotdogs with gusto and then we whipped out our phones and entered our calories. We must have been discussing our weight or how many calories we had left, because the lady next to us chimed in and said, “I’m a life-time member of Weight Watchers. I would eat the hotdog, but I would never eat the bun.
We smiled, and I thought, “Wow, life is too short to never eat the bun with your hotdog!”
What do you think- do you eat the bun or skip it? Do you have to focus on maintaining your weight? What apps do you use to stay healthy? Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy each day, no matter what you weigh!
Stay Golden with Me!
About the Author
Laura Bettinger Spelich
April 26, 2018 at 8:56 amHi Jena, I always love discussing calories, weight, and steps taken each day. Yes, this is a constant topic and struggle for me and I wonder if there is ever a day I don’t at least once think about my calories. Oh to be a little child again and eat as many slices of French toast that your mom could make! Bravo to you for losing 30 lbs and terrific idea to now try to maintain that weight which is usually my biggest struggle. Thanks for sharing your journey and lastly I will always always always eat a bun with my hotdog because life is way too short to eat it naked! A hotdog needs the surrounding bun to hold in all the relish, mustard, ketchup and onions!! Goodness not even a debate!
Jena Henry
April 26, 2018 at 9:05 amAgree! And I loved your memory about endless french toast, dripping with syrup I hope. Here’s to healthy living and joyful living, too!
Savoring Sixty
April 26, 2018 at 11:08 amCongrats on losing 30 pounds! That is quite an accomplishment! I will always and forever eat a bun with my hotdog.
Jena Henry
April 26, 2018 at 12:09 pmAgree about the hot dog! We can savor life and still be mindful! Thanks for stopping by!
Minnesota Prairie Roots
April 27, 2018 at 12:55 pmCongratulations to you both on your weight loss success. My husband and I also set out about a year ago to lose some weight. His boss challenged employees to lose weight with a financial incentive. It worked for us.
We are more careful about what we eat and eat smaller portions. I “made” my husband replace chips with almonds in his lunch bag. I seldom bake sweets because when I do, I know I will have a difficult time curbing the number of cookies I eat. That said, I don’t deny myself sweets.
As far as eating the hot dog without the bun, I could do that. I don’t eat a lot of bread. For example, if a dinner roll is served with a meal, I’ll pass. I’d rather eat something else.
Thanks for your detailed and inspiring weight loss journey.
Jena Henry
April 27, 2018 at 4:01 pmNice to hear from someone else who has focused on getting healthier. I know what you mean about cookies! We now realize, I hope, that we will always have to focus on our weight. Although it’s fun to discover new and tasty healthy options. Cheers!
Jessie Cahalin
June 6, 2018 at 10:02 amGreat approach to the diet! I think you need to treat yourself sometimes then go for a swim or a walk.Everything in moderation!
Jena Henry
June 7, 2018 at 10:30 amThanks Jessie! Moderation is hard for a Type A and when my husband and I set a goal, yikes! Too bad I can’t burn calories reading!!