Before (Jan 2006)
Now (Mar 2008)
I am overweight…I never used to be but it has crept up on me since I have been back in Japan the last 2.5 years. I am not going to state my weight but my BMI is 28.8 (Some of you smarties might be able to figure out my weight from that if you also know my height) and apparently anything over 26 is considered overweight….
I stated on my 101 things in 1001 days that I wanted to lose five kilos then another five but the reality is to go back to the weight I was when I left Australia in January 2006 I would have to lose about 18 kilos. Yep…you heard (read?) right 18 kilos in less than 2.5 years. You can`t really see much in the first photo (Europe Jan 2006…One of the few photos where I am not wearing a big bulky coat) but even in my face and arms you can see that I weighed a fair bit less.
I put on 10 kilos when I was 19 and in Japan on exchange and when I went back to Australia I lost 8 of them in the first 2 months from not really doing anything. I am hoping the same thing will happen when I go back to Australia this time but I don`t like my chances….but I am determined to lose weight.
So in preperation for returning to Australia and starting a weight loss program ( I will be joining weight watchers with my mum) I have decided to give up COFFEE and ALCOHOL for the month of May (There is one exception, I wasn`t going to have an exception but upon mentioning my decision to my closest friends here in Tokyo they all said I was crazy because my going away party in on May 10th and will be the last time for more than a year that I can go out with my Tokyo friends and let loose….so the 10th is the exception on the alcohol ban…but I am going to make an effort to drink water between each drink and stick to wine and stop before midnight even if we end up at karaoke!).
I would like to do a mini detox at some time during May also but might have to wait til I am back in Australia because for the next two weeks Shumpei`s mum will be cooking for us and I don`t want to say no meat to her because I would hate to be an inconvenience (and while I am in her house she won`t let me prepare my own food)
The other thing I am going to try (From May 1st if not before) will be crossing off EFT every day for two weeks off my 101 list. I think it will be a good opportunity to get my mind ready and intune with my body for the weight loss I want to achieve!
While be in Chiba from Sunday and also hope to try and get a little exercise everyday….even just 20 minutes! I spend way to much time on the computer watching TV when even while doing that I could be doing some stretches or some kind of exercise! I think I will have to have a mini checklist of all my goals for each day. No coffee, no Alcohol, 20 mins exersise, EFT! hehe!
I feel that by putting this on my blog that maybe it will keep me more motivated and more honest. A lot of blogger friends are starting there own weight loss plans recently and I think reading their progress will also help to keep me motivated. Wish me luck (or give me hints!)
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I am just a twenty something Aussie girl living in Chiba, Japan with my Japanese husband trying to make sense of the crazy Japanese world we live in! We welcomed our first son in December 2009 (Noah) and a second son in January 2011, 2 months premature (Shion). I am working hard at raising them to be confident, bilingual, happy kids!
I have struggled on and off with my weight (who hasn’t?) but I found a couple of things that really helped me. One was doing a little bit of weight training, or taking a strength-building class; muscle burns more calories than fat, and in my case I see results of building muscle faster than of losing fat, so that’s a positive result that keeps me working. Second is that I put together hour-long playlists for my iPod/mp3 player (this can be all music or sometimes I listen to free university lectures online or stuff from NPR that’s also free on iTunes) and just walk around my town briskly until it ends. It’s kind of retired-person style, but I like it and it’s relaxing. It might be even more fun to just walk with someone you like to talk to.
Good luck!
Try sparkpeople.com, I just joined them, according to them I am 20 pounds overweight, but I put myself at 10 pounds (looking at photos, when I had the 20 gone I looked like a zombie, but the 10 I was happy and healthy).
Staying motivated is HARD!!! I lost a lot of weight in Japan, but now that I am in Germany Ive gained 5 kilos, and I cant seem to keep on track more than a week. But the sparkpeople at least keep me honest.
But you can track what you eat, your water, and all that fun stuff~
Does hula hooping help you lose weight??
I’m thinking of getting one.
I gained a lot of weight a couple years ago (due to Paxil, but that’s another story) and stopped gaining when I stopped taking it. Now I can’t get the weight to budge, but I need to exercise, which I hate. And Vegas isn’t the kind of town that’s conducive to a healthy lifestyle, with 110F (45C) weather and buffets everywhere.
I defintely recommend drinking lots and lots of water.
Whenever I’ve lost weight thats always been a huge part of it.
I’ve def. got a bit of a pudge going on. I’ll never be stick skinny, but I was lighter last year before I changed from my school job to my sitting 98% of the time desk job.
My vice is that I just like to eat!
By the way you won’t feel tempted to drink when you visit since I don’t drink much in the first place and R is off alcohol until his tests are over!
I put on 15 – 20kg in my first year of uni – too much drinking + too many wedges and the late appearance of some cleavage!
I dropped weight when I was waitressing, but that was through not eating anything during the day and being on my feet for 7 hours a day – not healhty.
I gained 10kg again when I started woring full time – I suspect wedges had a lot to do with that too, plus those Bakers Delight pullaparts,
I lost over 13kg doing WW a few years ago, but again – a lot of it was obtained by skipping meals… I was living with two weight obsessed girls and at times it was almost a competition to see how few points you could have in a day. So make sure you keep healthy when you do it!
I think that you’ll be set once you’re back down under – you’ll be able to get settled and into a routine, plus you’ll be movtivated to keep healthy for your wedding, plus if you guys are thinking babies soonish it’s more important for you to be healthy than thin!
hey Lulu, you know that I’ve struggled with my weight over the years. I do think WW is a sensible way though ( even if I’ve fallen off the wagon a bit lately!)
Would be great if we could be WW buddies or something?!! The weight will fall off you once you are back in Aus!! Plus I agree about weight training – this really helps with fat loss as you are contributing to strength/muscle building which assists in fat burning. So if you build lean muscle you become an efficient metabolic machine – which means you can eat more!!!! (well within limits hehe) http://www.stumptuous.com is a good site for women’s weight training!
Besides all that, I think you look great – you have such a happy sparkle in your eyes in all your photos. But I know what you mean about feeling comfortable within yourself and being the best you feel you can be!
xxx
Good luck with that honey!
Australia will be the perfect place because you have so much gorgeous open space, sunshine and wonderful food!
My miracle method for weightloss has been this. Consume sensibly. Be active.
Sounds like you have that nailed with your method. Have a great time with it and don’t lose the faith. I gained a lot of weight in my late 20s and was worried back then that this was my future fate – I got right chunky so i did. Now in my (ahem) late 30s, I can feel every move I make and every day I eat is related to my body shape and energy levels.
Alcohol is a killer. Inactivity is the worst thing and my new office job is providing a new challenge.
You have inspired me with your new goal to get myslef into better shape.
Enjoy OZ!
I put on weight when I was in Japan too… not at first, but definitely when I was working at you-know-where and was stressed and miserable. It’s much easier to eat well in Australia, because fruit is cheaper and I don’t drink as much. People think Japanese food is really healthy, but apart from sushi a lot is pretty fattening… especially if you have a weak spot for tempura and buta kakuni and pokky, like I do! My only suggestions are to have a couple of alcohol free days each week and to try and snack on fruit and yogurt instead of biscuits and chips BUT don’t deprive yourself or you’ll just end up feeling miserable. I always have a packet of Freddo Frogs in the kitchen so I can have a little bit of chocolate with a coffee, that way I feel like I’m having a treat but it’s not as tempting as having a big bar of chocolate that I keep nibbling away at.
Hooping has got to help right? I mean, when I do some everyday I lose a little without really trying.
For me it was the marriage thing that did it. Seriously, getting hitched has been the best thing ever, but the worst thing for my weight. I was always thin before getting married, now I have about 15 pounds to lose and they aren’t moving much.
Good luck! I actually have a challenge on my blog right now where I am going to donate $2 to Heifer for each pound I lose. I hope that with good weather coming soon it will be easy.
Good luck mate, I sympathize with you RE: staying with the future in-laws and not wanting to put anyone out – Rob’s mum is a great cook, but she worries if I don’t eat what’s put in front of me, and that can include huge portions of everything plus dessert……… not good for the waist line!!
I hope when I head back to Australia in June for two months I can shed some of the pounds then, but I’m not being as brave as you – I’ll be happy to lose three or four kilos. If you come up with anything that works, pleeeeease let me know! I’d love to hear how Weight Watchers goes!!
What an excellent post Lulu, seriously! I’d like to lose 15 pounds myself. I find it really hard because my focus is on my kids and not really myself. I have time to make sure they eat properly but, I eat junk, or whatever I have time for. In the day from chasing my youngest son around all day or cleaning house, by the time the night comes, I am frankly too exhausted to even wanna think of exercise. And that really is how it sorta snowballed for me. I’ve also never been stick thin but yet I’ve never been sumo sized either though, lol, but I do need to trim off 15 pounds, no doubt about that. For me, I have no advice. Not really an advice giver anyway, lol. But, I try to excercise in the morning after I send B to school. It’s the time of day I actually still have energy. Sigh. Anyway….I am happy you posted this and I think a lot of us going through the same thing….can sorta cheer each other on. It might help. : ) Things I am doing right now, is I am trying to stay far from sugary drinks, like no soda etc. It’s hard for me, since I usually like 1 soda a day. But these past 3 weeks, I have just been drinking jasmine tea with no sugar. I bought a whole case, so it’s helping me some. Sigh. : ) Anyway, good post! And Happy Golden week! : )
PS, please let me know how you like the weight watchers thing, I’d be interested to hear how you like it? : )
good luck with the weight thing…. I’ve always been a few kgs over weight but getting pregnant and having a baby always seems to get me to loose weight…. but I wouldn’t really recommend it!
I am so inspired by your 101 things list too… I love reading about it and think it is such a nifty tool to really align some of your goals (serious ones and just lovely fun ones too), I might just have to make my own list one of these days!
sequined: My mother has also found that muscle building has worked for her in the past also so I am eager to give that ago when I get back to Australia. I like the idea of classes because I know I will never walk out half way through where as if I go to the gym to do stuff by myself I am more likely to say `That`s enough` after 30 minutes (or less….I really don`t like the gym). I have a walking play list but I like the idea of timing it! I am going to try for 2 hour long walks sometime this week. Maybe one with the bf and the other by myself listening to music. I like it when the music is a bit upbeat as it keeps me walking at a faster pace! Thanks for the advice!
Sherrie: Thanks! I will check out that site you mentioned! For some reason both times I have lived in Japan I have put on weight. I know that the main reason for that is alcohol….I simply drink too much while I am here. I think I need to get my head around being social without drinking. Which is what I am trying for this coming month. As of Saturday I gave up alcohol til the end of May and tonight will be the first social thing I have in which I would usually drink but I won`t be! I will start tracking what I eat in Australia and I have already started trying to consume more water (This is hard for me because I actually drink about 4L a day normally! Trying to move that up to five!
mins: That photo is of the only time I have hoola hopped but I will be buying a hoop once I get back to Australia! Deanne (of sushizume.blogspot.com) who I hooped with didn`t lose much weight (Although she is tiny already) but she said it definitely toned her up a lot since she started which is also what I want to do! It was such a fun day and I usually hate exersise which is why I am definitely getting one back in OZ! WIll let you know if it helps contribute to my weight loss goal!
Kirsten: I am also not a fan of exercise which is weird because until about age 14 I was a state sprinter, longjumper and shotputter among other things….I used to train a lot. Now I hate exercise so I really think I need to find something that suits me! Maybe it will be hooping! And walking to music! I actually don`t mind walking….Just a matter of getting out of the house to do it! Hope your move went well!!
Sara: I drink a lot of water. It is hard for me to try to drink water because I already drink 4 L or so a day….I will be trying to drink more. Now that I have given up coffee too I hope to be drinking more or even some jasmine tea or something! Will have to check out your exercise bike when I am down in Kobe from Friday (SO SOON!!!!) I like to eat too! Portion sizes or over induldging when I like something are my problems!
Enny: Shumpei is thinking babies soon but I am not! Maybe in a couple of years (we have a deal….) I do want to be healthy for when I do decide I want babies though! I also want to have gotten into walking regulary by then so that I can keep it up when I am pregnant! Who doesn`t want to be thin and pretty on their wedding day? It is something that I think will keep me a little bit motivated. I am thinking of going dress shopping around Christmas time so my aim is to lose a fair bit of weight before then will see how it goes. Would love to pick your brain for some healthy vegan or vegetarian meals! Will msg you on facebook!
Thanks for the hints!
Mandy: I lose weight on WW when Jake and i broke up when I was 18….about 5 kilos in 2 weeks which wasn`t so great but hey it was weight loss. But I was just counting points…I didn`t do meetings or anything! I will have to pick your brain for more WW ideas! Like I said earlier a couple of people, including mum have mentioned weight training so will have to definitely try that. I used to be skinny and muscly (You must be the only person who knew me then! I was like a bloody stick!)! Thanks for the compliments too! Love you, smootches!
Sigsy: I have met you (in passing twice now, once at the airport and again in Shibuya or was it shinjuku?!) and I can`t imagine you chunky at all?!? Thanks for your hints and encouragement! I think I will need all the encouragement I can get! My dad is thinking of getting a puppy though and I can`t wait to take her walking! It will keep me more motivated I think! Plus my dad lives right on the water and to walk to my mums place it takes about 40mins to walk along the water so at least I will have nice views of the bay! Can walk up to mums, eat a healhy ww dinner, and walk back!
Suzy: I like your freddo frog idea. I used to be really bad with chocolate but living in Japan actally cured me of that. My father would ALWAYS buy chocolate for us kids even though he didn`t really like it himself then he would hide it in weird places and tell us to find it! I don`t have that happen anymore. He lives alone now bit will have to tell him not to buy it once I get back! I don`t really snack much, and when I do I try to snack on fruit or nuts. Alcohol is definitely the killer with me! I can`t believe you put on weight in Japan, your were always so skinny?!?! But I understand what you mean by the office environment we had…..COMPLETELY! The stress of that was enough to make people want to eat a whole tableful of chocolate (not to mention drink copius amounts of alcohol!)…What about your pregnancy weight? Do you think breastfeeding helped that?
Aimee: Have yet to actually fully get into hooping cos don`t have my own hoop but will be buying once as soon as I get back to Australia (It is on my 101 things list!) Glad to hear it has helped with the weight loss!
I definitely think been in committed relationships actually makes you put on weight. Because you get comfy with the person you are with and kind of let yourself go. Now that my wedding is actually approaching in just over a year I find myself wanting to lose weight for that and just for the fact that I shouldn`t be this big….I grew up skinny, I used to be active and I know that if I try hard enough I can get back to that!
Amy: We should definitely meet up when you are back in Brisbane in June! I didn`t realize you were coming back so soon! We can go hooping! If I can actually do it by then! hehe!
Shumpei`s mother worries about what I don`t eat too (She usually asks Shun by phone what I don`t eat again before we come for dinner…) I have told her not to worry and that I will try whatever she cooks and If I don`t eat it she always has bread and fruit for me anyway…..Plus you would be surprised but there is actually a lot of food in Japanese meals. One meat dish, two types of salad or vegetable dishes, rice plus sometimes miso soup! I am lucky to eat the meat dish, half the rice then one salad and I am more than full! She has agreed to let me cook though maybe once or twice a week! She asked me to make buritos because she said she heard from Shumpei that they are great! hehe! Will have to track done some tortillas, taco mix and taco sauce at the international grocery store!
Gina: Thanks!!!!! I am actually excited to get started on my weight loss plans. I am already trying to implement a little bit into my life now that packing and moving is over! Yay! It would be hard to stay focussed when you have kids I think because like you said you have to keep them entertained not to mention all the housework and washing that must come from having two little boys (and a husbane!) One thing I have never liked is Soda, I have always been a water and Orange Juice girl! Even when I was little (Still to this day I only like lemonade and gingerale basically…..and I only started liking gingerale when I moved to Japan) I do not like coke or anything so that is easy. I think after alcohol my vice is Cheese! I love cheese so much!
Now that Noah is a bit older too it is not like you can strap him in the stroller and go for a walk because he is just too active! Maybe when he plays at the park (or in your awesome backyard) you could walk around briskly in circles while watching him. Boring I know, but at least it is a little! I will also let you know how WW goes…..It is a little hard to do in Japan because it is points based and the info I have is based on certain brand foods you buy in Australia but you could do a conversion! If you want I can photocopy the info I get once back in Australia and send it to you! (Or I will try to get two copies!) Will let you know how it goes!
Kate: Thank you! I have only been overweight in recent years but I am ready for a change! I want to be healthy for my wedding and also for the day when I want to start having kids! The 101 things is great, and easy to set up! I highly recommend it. Will be doing a post in a couple of days actually to talk about what I acheived in April (Which wasn`t much but a little still the same!)……You will have to let me know if you find any good low-fat recipies on your hunt for your winter food list!
Thanks everyone for commenting!
Hey there,
Thanks for replying… always forget that you reply in your comments, I should get in the habit of checking back. I lost all the baby weight pretty fast because Ali is such a champion feeder and also because I have had to stop eating dairy since December because it was giving him an upset tummy – some kind of dairy protein allergy that comes through breast milk, very odd. And I can’t drink much while I’m breastfeeding, which helps because alcohol always makes me puff up too. I’m thinner now than before I got pregnant, but I’m sure once I stop feeding and start eating cheese again I’ll be back to normal in about 2 minutes… in the meantime I am enjoying eating lots without guilt.
Hooray for moving being over… I hope you have a great final two weeks.
Suzy xx
I meant to comment on this before but got distracted! Sorry. I did WW a few years ago after having my first baby and lost 10 kilos. I liked WW because I didn’t feel like there was a whole list of things I couldn’t eat – portion control was the most important thing. I realised the meals I was eating were enormous! I felt a bit hungry for the first few weeks but after that my appetite adjusted so it wasn’t too hard. I still ate a little bit of chocolate every day so I didn’t feel too deprived. Of course, now after having another baby I need to do it again. I’ll be interested to hear how you like WW – you’ll motivate me to sort myself out too!!
I think you look fabulous but I do feel your pain and know that if you feel crappy about yourself, it is best to do something about it. I joined WW too but haven’t been to any of the meetings yet as things have been too crazy. I have been eating alot better and walking alot more over the past couple of weeks though and although I am not seeing any results yet, I definitely feel a whole lot better about myself already!! LOL! I lost 12kgs before I got married and having the wedding as motivation worked really well. I didn’t join a set plan though, I just ate more sensibly and allowed myself to eat what I wanted at lunchtime but I would only have soup, crackers and fruit for dinner. I went to bed really early at that time as I was commuting all the way across london and left the house at 6am every day so that did a good job of staving off the hunger pangs!!! I also did alot of walking by default as my office was quite far away from the nearest station. I lost about 13/14kgs in a couple of months when I got pregnant because of morning sickness so I was the skinniest I have EVER been when I was about 6 months pregnant. It didn’t suit me though so I am currently trying to work out a happy medium.
good luck with it all and we should TOTALLY be WW buddies!!!