starting my weight loss journey

I went to the OB/GYN on Friday (August 6) for an annual exam, and tipped the scales at 200 lbs. (I'm 5'6".) This is actually the first time I've had extra baby weight -- with my first two, I lost weight due to morning sickness in the first trimester and then gained very little weight during the pregnancy, so I ended pregnancy lighter than I started it. With Violet, I still lost weight but gained most of what I lost for a change, so I ended the pregnancy about the same as when I started it. And now I've gained more. Nursing doesn't seem to burn off a ton of calories for me, and my eating habits, I know, are terrible.

Anyway, I talked to my OB/GYN about it, and he gave me a kind of "come to Jesus" lecture about how if I wanted to lose weight, I couldn't wish it off; I had to be serious about making some lifestyle changes in my eating habits and exercising more.

I decided he was right. So I've contacted a nutritionist he recommended, and I subscribed to the Healthy Catholic podcast. Based on the info I learned from the podcast, I determined my Basic Metabolic Rate and downloaded some iPhone apps to help me count calories and track my progress. I've made plans for healthy meals and snacks. Luckily, there is a Trader Joe's very close to my work -- lots of healthy food!

I just purchased a new scale (we had one, but I think it got lost when we moved a year and a half ago and we've never replaced it) so I can track my progress. I'm also getting support from the wonderful ladies on the Catholic Answers Forums. Collin's being pretty supportive as well, although I think he was initially skeptical of my ability to keep it up.

So far I'm doing pretty well. I've managed to keep my daily food intake well under 1500, and I'm not constantly hungry like I thought I'd be. I highly recommend Daily Burn's Food Scanner iPhone app -- it's been incredibly helpful in counting calories.

I have some plans for exercising -- I'm going to purchase The Rosary Workout and perhaps some Walk at Home DVDs.

My goal is to lose 30lbs by Christmas.