More Than a Number: My Weight Loss and Wellness Update.

My wellness journey is a multi-faceted adventure. I have some great updates today – from food tasting notes to some non-scale victories that have shocked me.

First, for my tasting notes: I tried this yogurt. It was very creamy. It had a delicious blueberry flavor. Macros: 170 calories, 3.5 g fat, 9 g carbs, and 25 g of protein. I added some extra blueberries.

I went to the gym today. I did well. Ten minute warm up on the treadmill. I then used the following machines:

  • Seated row – 50 lbs – 3 sets of 10
  • Back – 50 lbs – 3 sets of 10
  • Lat-pull down – 50 lbs – 3 sets of 10
  • Pec fly – 40 lbs – 3 sets of 10
  • Abdominal crunch – 50 lbs – 3 sets of 10

After that, I treated myself (It is free with my membership) to a hydro massage. Apparently this is how to get me to go to the gym and exercise – promise me a hydro massage! LOL

Kathy is enjoying her hydro massage

Some of my recently discovered non-scale victories:

  1. I can bend over and touch the floor.
  2. I can touch my hands behind my back and actually lift them up a little.
  3. I bought some new clothes that fit me and they are at least two sizes smaller than what I’ve been wearing.

I swore I wasn’t going to buy new clothes until I lost another 25 pounds, but my pants were falling down, and I didn’t want to wear rainbow suspenders to keep them up.

I’ve been using my Lumen device almost every day and yesterday I blew a 1 – which means I woke up in fat burn. That means I was burning 80% – 100% fat while sleeping. When I went to bed last night, I blew a 2, which means I was burning 60% – 80% fat.

While my weight loss has slowed a little, I am feeling better and that is a big deal.

My next gym visit will be Thursday. Is it weird to say that I’m looking forward to it?

Thanks for reading.

Progress

The excitement of hitting my recent weight loss goal has me extra inspired. Here are the ways I am supporting and celebrating my goals:

  1. I joined Planet Fitness and will have my first session with a trainer on Tuesday. I am hoping to get a good plan in place to do strength training to support my GLP-1 journey.
  2. Went to the pool today and thoroughly enjoyed some gentle therapeutic movement. I noticed a big change in how my body moves and feels. I used to be so stiff and sore even in the pool. Today showed me how much better I am doing.
  3. I have scheduled a massage for next Saturday. I haven’t had one in a while and I’m really looking forward to it.
  4. I ordered meals from Factor_75. They should be here tomorrow. I will be using these for lunches at work. I’ve had them before and they are yummy.
  5. I have some workout shorts coming tomorrow. Yay.

So, this will be a week full of forward progress.

If you have any tips, I’d love to hear them. Just drop them in the comments.

Thanks for reading!

So close…

I haven’t done an update in a while, so I figure today is as good a day as any.

I am at my lowest weight in many years. This morning my home scale said 300.9 lbs. I’m so close to getting out of the threes and into the twos that I can taste it. It tastes like low carb and strength training. LOL

What am I going to do when I get under 300 lbs? I don’t know yet. I need to celebrate but I don’t want to celebrate with food. I don’t want to buy a bunch of new clothes yet…because I am still losing.

Some ideas I’ve been thinking about:

  1. Purchase good walking shoes to encourage my continued success.
  2. Treat myself to a one-hour massage.
  3. A beauty treatment such as a facial or professional hair coloring.
  4. Go to the local comedy venue with my hubby to see a show.

If you have any suggestions, please share in the comments.

Thanks for reading!

Who knew?

Who knew that the simple act of putting on a sock would make me so happy? Last year at this time, I was struggling to put on my own socks. I couldn’t bend to reach my feet and I couldn’t lift my leg up high enough to put them on. It was so bad that I was using my Dad’s sock tool.

Fast forward to today when I realized that I was not struggling to put my sock on. I am adding that to my NSV list. Woo hoo!

My next NSV happened when I visited the doctor recently. I was able to hop up on the examination table with no problems. I didn’t need assistance. I didn’t need to pause to figure out how I was going to do it. I just did it. I was pretty happy with myself but I didn’t say anything to the doctor. He actually brought it up and said he was impressed how easily I hopped up. I love non-scale victories!!

Today I was looking at clothing in the regular sized section of Walmart. I held up a dress and a skirt in a size I haven’t worn in a long time and, while it wouldn’t fit me yet, I’m getting closer. I can’t wait until I can my my first non-plus sized item. That will be a gigantic NSV.

I have three stubborn pounds to go to get under 300 lbs. I’m being extremely open and honest in my journey. I know how easily that weight came on and I am determined to get it off. I have to start doing more strength training, so that is what I will be investigating next.

Do you have any NSV’s you are excited about? How about some tips/tricks for getting more protein? I’d love to have some interaction and exchanges of ideas here.

Thanks for reading!

Non-scale victory of the day!

Today’s non-scale victory (NSV) is a happy and sad one. I’ve been going through my clothes and doing something I have never done when I’ve lost a little weight – donate or toss what doesn’t fit. And there is a lot that won’t fit me any more. I’m nervous to get rid of things because I’ve always gained the weight I lost back. I’m determined that this is not going to happen this time. Thank you to the doctor, nutritionist, exercise coach, and glp-1 shots. Your support has been amazing. Thanks, also, must go to my husband. Mike has been on team Healthy Kathy since the beginning! I am happy to be losing. I’m even happy to be removing the clothing that doesn’t fit any more. I am sad about one thing. Losing my favorite pants.

Meet my favorite pants. They are the most comfortable pants I’ve ever owned. I got them on a clearance rack at Bealls Outlet. I have worn them dressily and casually. They have been too big at the waist for a long time but I could put waist reducing pins on them so I could still wear them. However, after losing 25 pounds, I can no longer keep them up, even with the pins. And so, after many years of happily wearing these, I am finally passing them on so someone else can enjoy them. I hope they make you feel pretty and as happy as they made me.

Now to find a pair similar to these but in a smaller size.

Thanks for reading!

Three Pounds and a Small Miracle

Celebrate! I did it!

I did it.

Not climbed-a-mountain did it. Not ran-a-marathon did it.

But honestly? This might be harder.

After what felt like the longest, most stubborn, most personality-filled plateau in human history, the scale finally moved… down. Three pounds down.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Three pounds? That’s it?”

Oh no, my friend. That’s not “it.” That’s a full-blown celebration.

Because if you’ve ever been stuck in that weird in-between place—doing everything right, drinking your water, walking your steps, saying no to the second cookie while dramatically staring at it like it personally betrayed you—you know those three pounds are basically a standing ovation from your body.

For weeks (okay… let’s be honest… it felt like years), my body was like,
“Hmm. Interesting. We see your effort. We acknowledge it. We will now do… nothing.”

Cool. Thanks.

But here’s the thing I’m starting to understand:
A plateau isn’t failure. It’s your body having a team meeting.

It’s recalibrating. Adjusting. Figuring out this “new normal” you’ve been building. It’s like your body is saying,
“Wait… we’re really doing this? Okay… let me catch up.”

And then one day—out of nowhere—it lets go.

Three pounds. Gone.

Just like that.

Well… not just like that. More like after patience, consistency, and resisting the urge to throw the scale out the window at least twice a week.

But still.

And you better believe I celebrated. Not with anything wild—no dramatic confetti cannon (although I considered it)—but with something even better: pride.

Pride in sticking with it when it felt like nothing was happening.
Pride in trusting the process when the process was being extremely rude.
Pride in myself for not quitting.

Because that’s the real win here.

The weight loss? Amazing. Love that for me.
But the not giving up? That’s the real transformation.

So yes, I lost three pounds.

3-pound bag of granulated sugar with wooden scoop illustration
3 pounds of disgusting fat

And I gained something even better: proof that if I just keep going—even when it’s slow, even when it’s frustrating, even when it feels like my body is ignoring me—I will break through.

And next time the scale stalls?

Oh, I’ll still complain. Let’s not get crazy.

But I’ll also remember this:
Plateaus don’t mean it’s not working.

They just mean your body is getting ready to surprise you.

And honestly… I love a good plot twist.

What are your plateau buster tips?

Thanks for reading.

Breaking Through the Plateau

When the Scale Stalls but You Don’t

There’s a moment in every weight loss journey that feels especially cruel.

You’re doing the things.
Making better choices.
Showing up for yourself in ways you didn’t before.

And then… the scale stops moving.

If you’re on a GLP-1 journey, this moment can feel even more confusing. After seeing steady progress, the plateau can feel like hitting an invisible wall. You might wonder:

Is it me? Is the medication not working anymore? Am I doing something wrong?

Let me gently tell you something you need to hear:

You are not stuck. You are stabilizing.

The Truth About Plateaus

A plateau isn’t failure—it’s your body recalibrating.

When you lose weight, especially after years of struggling, your body has to adjust to a new normal. Hormones shift. Metabolism adapts. Muscles, water retention, and even stress levels all play a role.

GLP-1 medications help regulate appetite and blood sugar—but they don’t override biology completely. Your body is still doing its job: protecting you, balancing you, figuring things out.

And sometimes… that looks like stillness.

What’s Actually Happening Behind the Scenes

Even if the scale isn’t moving, so much is still changing:

  • Your habits are becoming consistent
  • Your relationship with food is improving
  • Your body is healing internally
  • Inflammation may be decreasing
  • You may be losing inches, not pounds

Progress is happening—even if it’s not loud.

The Emotional Side No One Talks About

Plateaus mess with your head.

You start to question your effort.
You compare yourself to others.
You feel tempted to give up… or go back.

But here’s the powerful truth:

This is the exact moment your transformation deepens.

Because now, it’s not just about motivation—it’s about commitment.

How to Break Through (Gently, Not Punishingly)

Breaking a plateau isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing things differently and intentionally.

1. Revisit your basics
Are you eating enough protein? Staying hydrated? Sleeping well? These simple things matter more than you think.

2. Add a small change—not a drastic one
A short walk after meals. Light strength training. A slight shift in your routine can wake your body up.

3. Manage stress (this one is huge)
Stress can stall weight loss. Cortisol matters. Give yourself permission to rest.

4. Stop obsessing over the scale
Try tracking how your clothes fit, your energy, your mood, or your stamina instead.

5. Stay consistent—even when it feels boring
Consistency during a plateau is what separates temporary success from lasting change.

A New Way to See It

Instead of saying:

“I’m stuck.”

Try saying:

“I’m in a strengthening phase.”

Because that’s what this is.

You’re building the version of you who doesn’t just lose weight—but keeps it off.

A Little Reminder for You

You didn’t come this far to quit during the quiet part.

This is where resilience grows.
This is where discipline forms.
This is where your new life is being built—brick by brick.

And the breakthrough?

It’s coming.

Maybe not tomorrow.
Maybe not next week.

But if you keep going… it’s inevitable.

You are not behind. You are not broken. You are in progress.

And that is something to be incredibly proud of.

I should have said no.

How often do you say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals?

During the past three months, I have been really good at saying no to food and drink that I know I should eat sparingly or not at all. Yesterday I didn’t and boy did I suffer. A coworker brought in some garlic focaccia that his wife made. It looked and smelled delicious. Bread of any kind has always been my favorite weakness. I had a 1.5 x 1.5 inch square of warm, fragrant, delicious focaccia. I thoroughly enjoyed it for about half an hour. Then the stomach issues started. Needless to say, today I am sticking to foods that I know won’t bother me. But boy-oh-boy was that little piece of focaccia DELICIOUS!!!