Tag: motivation

My 5-Month GLP-1 Update: 25.6 Pounds Down and 20.4 Inches Lost

Five months ago, I started my GLP-1 journey hoping to improve my health and finally find something that would help me build sustainable habits. Today, I’m celebrating a milestone that feels about so much more than weight loss: I’m down 25.6 pounds and have lost a total of 20.4 inches from my body.

While I’m proud of those numbers, some of my biggest victories can’t be measured on a scale.

The Progress So Far

The weight loss has been exciting, but tracking my measurements has shown me just how much my body is changing. There have been weeks when the scale barely moved, and in the past, that would have completely discouraged me.

Now I know better.

Even during those slower weeks, my body has continued to change. The inches I’ve lost tell a much bigger story than the scale alone ever could.

My Favorite Non-Scale Victories

Some of the moments that have made me stop and smile over the past five months include:

  • Being able to bend down and touch the floor more easily.
  • Reaching my arms behind my back and actually being able to hold my hands together.
  • Walking up stairs without feeling as winded or exhausted.
  • Having energy left after work instead of feeling completely drained.
  • Joining a gym and actually going consistently.
  • Tracking my workouts and seeing my strength and endurance improve over time.
  • Watching my clothes fit differently, even when the scale isn’t moving much.

These are the kinds of changes that remind me this journey is about improving my quality of life, not just chasing a number.

Building New Habits

One of the things I’m most proud of is the consistency I’ve developed.

Instead of constantly starting over, I’ve been showing up for myself. Joining a gym felt intimidating at first, but now it’s become part of my routine. Tracking my workouts has helped me stay motivated because I can see tangible progress in what my body is capable of doing.

I’ve also noticed that healthy choices don’t feel like such a battle anymore. The constant food noise has quieted down, making it easier to focus on fueling my body rather than fighting cravings all day. Even during stressful times, I haven’t wanted to stress eat, and THAT is a miracle.

The Reality of the Journey

This hasn’t been a perfect five months.

There have been plateaus. There have been weeks when I expected the scale to move and it didn’t. There have been moments of frustration and impatience.

But I’ve learned that progress isn’t always reflected by a lower number on weigh-in day.

Sometimes progress looks like another inch lost.
Sometimes it looks like lifting a heavier weight.
Sometimes it looks like climbing stairs without needing a break.
Sometimes it looks like having enough energy to enjoy life after work.

Those wins matter too.

What I’ve Learned After Five Months

If these five months have taught me anything, it’s that success isn’t just about weight loss.

It’s about moving better.
Feeling stronger.
Having more energy.
Building confidence.
Creating habits that I can actually maintain long-term.

The scale is one measurement of progress, but it isn’t the only one.

Looking Ahead

Five months in, I’m incredibly grateful for how far I’ve come. Losing 25.6 pounds and 20.4 inches is something worth celebrating, but what excites me most is how much better I feel physically and mentally.

For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m building a healthier lifestyle that I can sustain.

I’m looking forward to seeing what the next five months bring, and I’ll continue celebrating every victory—both on and off the scale.

Twenty-five pounds down is exciting. Being able to touch the floor, climb stairs without struggling, and still have energy after work? Those are the victories that have truly changed my life.

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!

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!!!

Day 57 – down 13.4

I started my GLP-1 health journey 57 days ago.

This week, my weight loss stalled with me being down 13.4 pounds. I actually gained 5 pounds recently, but when I started being more strict and I re-lost that 5 plus two more – stalling out at 307.5. (That is very stressful for me to admit) I know I’m still losing, but gaining muscle, which is good. I can tell that I’m losing from the body scans I do using the ZOZOfit app. The app lets you create a video showing the changes in your scans. It is very, VERY motivating when the scale hasn’t moved. I’m trying to hit my first “mini goal” of 300 pounds. I know I can do it!

The doctor upped my dose from .25 to .50. After my first new dose shot….NO APPETITE! I have to make myself eat enough. It is so weird to not be hungry — AT ALL.

My body feels 95% better than it had been feeling. Most of my joint pain has gone.

I am so glad that I decided to do this for myself.

Thanks for reading.

GLP-1 progress report

I took my first dose of GLP-1 meds on 1/9/26. I have phone coaching from a nurse, a dietitian, and an exercise coach. I see the doctor every 4 weeks. I have lost 11.2 pounds since my first shot. In total, I have lost 17 pounds since I started eating better and moving more, which was 12/17/25.

Today was the first day that I really just didn’t want to eat – ANYTHING! It was a rough day.

I go to the doctor after work on Thursday. It will be interesting to see what their scale says.

And so, the journey continues….