Warning! Warning! Warning!
This post is going to include numbers.
If you’re my husband, STOP reading right now.
I’m serious.
Stop it.
Wipe that smirk off your face.
I’m serious.
Last warning . . .
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Ooooooh, you are so gonna get it.
Anyway, I’ll just pretend like he isn’t here. ::snort::
Moving right along.
Each Wednesday, I’m going to “Weigh-In” on the blog in the hope it keeps me accountable and pushes me faster toward my goal weight. Since this is the first week, I thought I should share my starting weight . . . . waaaay back when.
I actually don’t have a picture of myself when I started on this journey back in December 2010, so I found one of myself from October 2010.
Are y’all ready? . . . . Here goes.
::pauses::
I have mixed emotions when I look at that picture. I wasn’t a miserable person by any stretch of the imagination. I was loved unconditionally and I loved life. I laughed a lot just like I do now. I enjoyed my family and my friends. My life felt full.
But . . .
I also felt trapped and limited.
Roughly seven months after I started losing weight, I paid Darcy a visit and she made me look all gorgeous and sassy. I’m guesstimating my weight at this time. I’m not 100% positive.
About eight months after visiting Darcy, this is where I am now. See? I’ve been such a slacker the past eight months!
I’m actually up three pounds from where I was a couple of weeks ago. So, according to the scale this morning I now need to lose 30 pounds to reach my goal weight.
135 lbs.
That’s my goal.
According to this BMI calculator, at 5′ 5″ tall my weight should be somewhere between 111 and 150 lbs.
111 lbs?!
Not. Happenin’. ::snort::
Soooo, there it is. My numbers are out there. #whathaveidone
P. S. I. Feel. Exposed.
I feel ya girl! I’ve been thinking about doing this myself. I gained an insane amount of weight with my pregnancy. I mean like so much the doctor should have slapped me on the hand but didn’t. Okay i’ll say it…I gained 60 lbs during my pregnancy. You are supposed to gain 25-35 lbs. Ridiculous I tell you…
I am going to keep coming back to check on you and to stay motivated. We are at the same weight & our goal weight is pretty close too. Let’s do this!!!
Girl. I’ve been exactly where you are. I’ve gained the same amount of weight with some of my pregnancies, too.
You can do. Just start taking baby steps and stay with those until they feel normal. Then, add in a more more changes {baby steps} and stick with those until they feel like second nature.
I’m rooting for you!
Fantastic job! That takes a lot of hard work
your doing so well, and with as much as your running now I guarantee a majority of your weight now is muscle 
your an inspiration! Have been and always will be such a beautiful woman. Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much, Chandra! One thing I’m most thankful for is my husband. He has always treated me as a beautiful treasure no matter how much I’ve weighed.
You are beautiful!! I can’t believe how much you’ve lost….such an inspiration.
And, as a fellow 5’5”, I can’t even BEGIN to see 111!!! What? I was 111 in, like maybe 6th grade? Geese….
Way to go, girl–you can do this!
I’m not sure I’ve ever weighed 111 lbs. For real. ::snort::
way to go!!! I always wonder what people’s actual numbers are — I’m a numbers person and it helps give me perspective {even though I know weight fits on people differently}…. you are doing a great job and working the process the right way…..in a way you can maintain long term.
You know, I love numbers, too. I love reading OTHER people’s numbers. LOL! Sharing my own numbers? Scary stuff.
You know how proud of you I am Ruthanne. I’ve watched this happen and it has been so inspiring. In january of 2010 I weighed 175 pounds. I am 5’8″ but that put me above a healthy BMI. I knew something had to give. 5 months later I had lost 23 pounds and have managed to keep it off almost 2 years now. Although I’m very proud of this accomplishment, I find it gets harder and harder to not get “comfy” with my maintenance and be really BAD!! Like this week at Disney. :-/ you doing this will help me to stay on my toes and mindful of what I’m doing. Last wek I weighed in at 152. I will choose not to think about what the scale may say when I get home tomorrow.
You have been here the whole time, haven’t you? We go waaaay back in bloggy years. I love that!
And high-five for you for keeping your weight off for two years. Maintenance is so much harder than losing!
I think you’re amazing. Honestly. I know you’re going to rock that goal weight soon.
I’m 5’11″ tall (minus one fourth inch, but it’s too hard to type it out that way) and weighed 145 pounds when I got married. I wouldn’t even attempt to get to that mark now. And I thought I was so fat then. Seriously.
I did log back onto myfitnesspal.com! I wish I were brave like you and put it out there. Alas, I am not.
Snort right back atcha.
Keep logging in. Even if you go over. Just keep the habit up.
Thanks for being such a wonderful cheerleader!
ruthanne! thanks for this! and WAY TO GO!
i am always inspired by you, and my journey is so slow moving. but you give me so much encouragement and hope. love ya!!
Honestly, I think the slower the journey the better you will be at maintaining. Quick changes don’t normally last. You can do it!
Oh girl, I’ve always thought you were really beautiful, but I’m so glad you no longer feel limited and are healthy and the change is just stunning!
Oooh, Nester Smith. Whenever you comment here, my heart grows. Thank you!
Ruthanne! I love these posts! The weigh in. Te running. All of it…very inspiring!! Thank you for sharing. I’m seriously considering training for a 5k. Sounds to minuscule next to your 10 miles but it’s a start. I love love love to exercise and I love to run but I’ve never been able to pump out much more than a mile!! We shall see.
Cheering you on,
Melissa
Training for a 5K isn’t a little thing. It’s a HUGE thing. You can do it! Slowly ease yourself into it. Try to run 1 1/4 miles on day and run that a couple of times. Then, try to run 1 1/2 miles one day and see if you can stick with that for a few runs.
Yay! You have come SO far, and I am inspired by it. I started out at the same weight as you, am the same height, and have the same goal. (except I am about 35 lbs behind you on the trip). And I think its the running. It must be the running. So I am going to find the discipline to get out there and do that tomorrow morning. Since I wrote it here, I have to do it right? Thanks–see, even though you feel exposed you are helping other people. WHILE you are helping yourself. #brillant.
Let’s encourage each other! I think there is strength in numbers. You got this, girl!
Ruthanne,
Hi! I’m just beginning this journey myself. Thanks for the hope. Seriously. And you’re gorgeous, by the way.
Awww. Thank you for saying so! I’m excited for you as you start your journey.
I barely know you and I love you!! We are in the exact same place. I appreciate your transparency! You are so funny and real. This is just what I needed to read today. I am going to try to lose weight with you to reach my goal of losing 30 lbs. Thanks for the extra encouragment and motivation!
Way to go on your 10 mile run this weekend! Enjoy your race.
Annnnnd you just made me smile, Lori! <3
I’m so proud of you for being brave and honest. I have a hard time admitting how much I weigh in front of anyone, but especially my husband (which is dumb, I know
). Our stories are very similar, but I’ve really been struggling the last few months and have gained some back, so I’m trying to get serious again before I wasted all the hard work from the last year and a half.
I’m the same way about my husband. Obviously. ::snort:: I’ll tel the whole internet, but he’s not allowed to know.
You are so inspiring! Keep up the good work. I started the same journey in January. I am down @18 lbs. but still have 40+ to go. It’s hard work. Thanks for having the courage to share.
High-five on 18 pounds. Thanks awesome!
Correction: That’s awesome! ha ha
Wow – you’ve got balls! ; )
I’m meeting with a new trainer tonight…and I’m officially back on the wagon. No more ice cream or cheeseburgers for this girl!
Or I’m completely INSANE! ::snort::
Your muscles are going to be so happy to be back in the gym. They’re also going to hate you tomorrow. ha!
oh my goodness! ruthanne, you look fabulous, and i imagine you must feel amazing. thank you SO much for sharing your journey… it has motivated me to get back on the bandwagon and do something about this extra weight sitting on my 5’6″ frame. thank you!
Yes! I love hearing how others are being motivated. It makes me feel less like a goober for spilling my guts on the internet. Ha!
You are a flipping rockstar!!!! Wow.
ha ha! NOT
I am seriously so impressed Ruthanne! You look great and even more so, your dedication to running and getting HEALTHY is amazing.
Thanks, Emily! Did you sign up for the Bentonville 5K? I hope we see each other!
I thought you were beautiful back then. I think you’re beautiful now.
You’ve been an inspiration to many, including me.
I’m down about 20 lb and 2 jeans sizes. Thanks for lighting a fire under my bum. Seeing your progress has definitely fueled my own.
So so proud of you.
Let’s schedule another photo shoot! xo.
20 lbs?! 2 jeans sizes?!
Dang girl! You’ve been busy. That’s awesome.
Are you still doing the push-ups? You’ve motivated me to try them out.
I am still doing pushups… but i backed down to 25/day because I want to be tone not bulky. i went to BR and was trying stuff on and my biceps were making clothes tight. eek. not at all what i was going for. so i’m down to 25 a day.
i might continue to do +1 each week, but not +1 each day.
how about you?
Ruthanne, you are such an inspiration! I second Darcy’s idea for another summer photo shoot of you!
P.s. Darcy, you do TWENTY FIVE pushups a day?!?!?!?!? This is where I admit I cannot successfully do one. I blame it on the ganglion cyst in my right wrist. But even that aside, I don’t think I could even do one. Wow!!! So impressed!
I couldn’t do 1 either in December. And even in January, the ones I did were pretty embarrassing and pathetic looking. It really wasn’t until about mid-March that they faintly resembled something that wouldn’t mock the name “push up”.
Wow, Ruthanne! You’ve changed SO much…great job! It makes me happy to hear how getting in shape has made you feel happier.
Woot for you!
In some ways, I think I look like a different person . . . but, then I look at my smile and I can see myself.
I am impressed and inspired by you!!! Your honesty is absolutely fabulous. We aren’t numbers. And yet, there they are. Darn them all. I’m 58 and at 156. My goal is 133. I’ve been a slacker now for four months, although I’ve continued to try to get my walking in every day. Reading this post–with your adorable humor–has made me want to start anew. Right this second. THANK YOU!!! I’ll be thinking of you–keeping up with you–letting you spur me on.
ELC
I’ve missed you and your sweet daughter!
We’ve been here all along . . . just quiet! Yes, we, understand. That’s very unusual for us. TLC is having her first baby!!! A little girl. So, since Christmas, we’ve been up on Cloud 9–unwiling to come down for anyone or anything. I guess you’d believe how many Etsy Etc. websites there are out there to browse–8/7–looking for girly/girly stuff to order. We SHOULD be back on Earth around the end of July. Thank you, Sweet, Brave Ruthanne! We heart you, always…
ELC
wow, you’ve done a great job already!! You look amazing!
Thanks, Jennifer!
Look at all of the inspiring you’ve done!!! Love you, girl! You are beautiful inside and out, then and now.
Thank you, Emily!
Have you started the new job? Do you like it? I’ve been thinking about you.
you are a stud {ette?}! thank you for being so brave!!!! {and i would have put the smae husband warning on mine!} i’m almost at 200 lbs. normal for me is about 145. my goal is 135 too. shucks. guess i should do something about that! keep these coming! i’d also love to know what you eat in a typical day!
Studette . . . . I love it! Ha! You can do it, girl. Seriously. If I can, you can.
Woo Hoo! I think I will join you in your transparency. I have had a blog since 2009, but in total I have 32 posts. I would not call myself a blogger. I have been contemplating blogging about my weight loss journey from the beginning, so I think I will join you in your Weigh in Wednesday endeavor. Obviously it’s Thursday, but hopefully I can have my post completed by this evening. Until then, I started in May of 2011 at 230.2, and Tuesday I weighed in at 193.6, Slow and steady. Thank you for sharing!
Therjavascript:void(0)e’s nothing wrong with slow and steady. It gets the job done!
I have NO idea what happened to that comment. LOL!
It was supposed to say, “There’s nothing wrong with slow and steady.”
you are an inspiration, ruthanne!
Thank you, Marshie! xo
You are so brave!!! Keep up the great work – and you always motivate me to keep pushing myself!
Brave or crazy? ::snort::
You’ve done so well and I know you’ll keep doing well! How inspiring to put yourself out there like you just did. I, on the other hand, untagged all of my facebook photos from when I was a larger girl, and kind of don’t even like to look at them. That time was not my happiest, so I guess that adds to the negative feelings.
You’re doing great!
And PS – when I was marathon training(running what… 20 miles some Sundays?) I managed to gain about five pounds. They’re still hanging out, so I’m telling myself they’re muscles.
Oh, my–wonderful job!!! I started near where you are– 243 for me, and am right now hovering at the 200 mark. Oh how I want to get below and stay in the “1″s !!! I’ve enjoyed all your running posts also–I’m actually running a 10k the same day as your half marathon (eek–two weeks from today!). I’ve run this race before, but last year my only goal was to keep going and not walk. This year I just want to improve my time a little. My husband is running with me : )
I herby vow to join you on weigh in wednesdays. I have the courage to put numbers in my comment here, but not sure I can work up the bravery to actually post it on my blog. For now, I’ll post about my health journey and maybe a recipe each Wednesday, and put numbers here. Thanks for the inspiration!!
WOW! You look amazing! And you are so brave to put it out there for everyone to see. But, you know what? You’ve already been a huge inspiration for me. I was going to train for another 5k this year and figured, what the heck!?! I’ll do a 10k! And I’m down 5 pounds from a month ago. Thanks for everything!!
All the way back to the Genco Journal days baby.
A friend sent me a link to your blog because I’ve had a ROUGH day. I started my weight loss journey just 2 weeks ago and I love your story and your victory! Thanks for putting yourself out there to inspire others, I know how hard that is!!
Keep up the hard work with your weight loss. One thing I’ve found to be extremely helpful and useful as a supplement to my current diet/exercise plan is Fullbar (www.fullbar.com). Not only do their products help you lose weight, they also help you maintain your weight loss.
I’m about to lose it right now. I’m 26 and a mother of two under the age of 3. I’ve gained about 80lbs with motherhood and feel trapped! You are inspiring. An example of how life can change for the better. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.