Weight Loss Journey

I’ve recently read an article from The Atlantic “The Ascendancy of the 'Awkward Older Sister'” by Caroline Framke written on May 11, 2015. The article discusses the new concept of women on the internet serving as an older sister to the young girls that watch them. These women offer a sense of togetherness which allows any regular person to be able to identify with them. Caroline Framke mentions, “YouTube is also an invaluable source for teenagers of color, who can find representations of themselves there that just don’t exist in a significant way on television. Women of color gain thousands of subscribers for their makeup tutorial videos, and their comedic webseries including Nicole Byers and Sasheer Zamata’s  Pursuit of Sexiness, and Issa Rae’s Awkward Black Girl, which is now in development at HBO after gaining traction online. The Hunger Games actress Amandla Stenberg recently drew attention for her video on cultural appropriation, in which she talked to her young fanbase about the history of an incredibly complex subject on YouTube, face-to-face.” Like many of the women YouTube stars we all had a point in our lives where we felt insecure, unsure, and scared. They are like the hypothetical shoulder to cry on in our times of need because we are able to log on, and watch them. They share personal experiences while adding a satirical aspect. The main message they try to convey is that you are not alone, and we are in this together. 

Growing up as an only child wasn’t the easiest thing; my parents were very overprotective and it sucked not having a sibling. Whenever I had an embarrassing incident at school or wherever, I didn’t feel like I had anyone to turn to. Then I would get home and watch other people’s embarrassing stories, and suddenly it didn’t feel so bad. Caroline Framke mentions, “On the Internet, however, the awkward older sister has quickly emerged as a powerful persona. These figures thrive on YouTube, where twenty something women post freewheeling vlogs with advice, music videos, and anecdotes that reassure teen girls it’s okay to screw up or be a little messy.” I would know someone else went through it, and is able to help me get through it. I started watching YouTube videos about makeup and hair. At first when I started every hairstyle or makeup look would look bad, but along the way I got better and now people are always asking me to do their hair. These women on YouTube are very empowering and teach people like me to own who they are, what they stand for, and their overall beauty.  

In this day and age there is a new kind of celebrity. It’s not the kind of celebrity that sings, dances, or acts it’s the kind of celebrity you find on the internet. These celebrities are people that are funny, people offering advice, people showing tutorials on how to do stuff, or people sharing personal experiences. I am a subscribed to so many people on YouTube for many different reasons. I watch vlogs, funny videos, tutorials, clothing and hair reviews, and advice videos. On YouTube if you’re able to get enough traffic on your channel, you could make a career out of it. There are to women on YouTube that I absolutely love, and were the first two people I subscribed to. They are Latoya Forever and Jenna Marbles.

LatoyaForever

Here is a small bio about her from her website:

“ Born in Scarborough, Ontario, to Trinidadian parents, LaToya is the eldest of eight children. When she was entering middle school her mother decided to pursue a college education in the US.The family often found themselves moving from home to home depending on help from church friends. While continuously having to pack up her bags, she never really had the opportunity to develop strong relationships with friends. With the desire to express her feelings, LaToya picked up a digital camera and began recording an open-diary video series on YouTube. She now has a diverse collection of video topics ranging from daily vlogs, “Ask LaToya: Q&A”, “Outfit of the Day”, trending topics, parodies, and relationship videos In early 2010, LaToya entered the online social scene capturing the hearts of video viewers from all around the world. LaToya’s charisma and incredible wit are among the few traits she is known for when expressing her candid opinions. Even when she covers serious topics, she always adds a comical spin. Her ability to articulate her thoughts with such boldness and affluence is what keeps viewers coming back for more.”

*She never reveals her full name*

I’ve linked down two of my favorite videos down below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l62MEndZtOM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe7_X00d6Yw

Jenna Marbles

Here is a small bio about her from her blog:

“Her real name is Jenna Mourey. She’s originally from Upstate New York, Rochester. She moved to Boston where she attended undergraduate school at Suffolk University, obtaining a BS in Psychology and stayed for graduate school where she received a Masters in Sport Psychology and Counseling from Boston University.She started to make some YouTube videos and  people liked them so she just kept doing it. She has two dogs named Mr. Marbles and Kermit, a chihuahua and an Italian greyhound.”

I’ve linked down two of my favorite videos down below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gnjKjJ98y8

According to “Origins of CrossFit” written on October 09, 2012 CrossFit was founded in 2000 by Greg Glassman. In recent years it has grown in popularity because of its inclusivity. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to lose weight, gain muscle, if it’s your first day walking into a gym, or you’re an athlete. CrossFit is designed to help you meet your personal health and fitness goals. CrossFit’s rise in popularity has caught the attention of many celebrities who absolutely love it!

Here are 4 celebrities that do CrossFit: 

In an article “Fit Celebrities Who Swear By CrossFit” by Charlotte Hilton Andersen she has a slideshow of 13 celebrities who incorporate CrossFit in their lives. I chose 4 of my favorite celebrities. 

Vanessa Hudgens: I remember for her role in High School Musical as Gabriella. “In preparation for a role in the movie Sucker Punch her trainer put her through CrossFit like workouts that consisted of heavy ropes, kettlebells, and tractor tires.” She worked hard and has a banging body to show for it. 

Jason Statham: I remember him for his roles in Spy, Crank, Fast and Furious 7, Parker, and Safe. He is one of my favorite male actors. “His motto is “Go hard or go home” when it comes to CrossFit. He lost an astonishing 17lbs in 6 weeks working out 35 minutes a day, 6 days a week.”

Kelly Clarkson: I remember her from when she won American Idol in the first season in 2002. She credits her sexy physique and confidence to CrossFit. She says, "You never work out more than 35 minutes, but it's so intense… It makes me feel like G.I. Jane. It's very empowering.”

Cameron Diaz: I remember her for her roles in Sex Tape, The Other Woman, and Bad Teacher. “She first discovered CrossFit with her pro-athlete ex it soon became one of her favorite ways to stay consistent with exercise and sculpted from head to toe. She says "Exercise for me is like eating, sleeping, and breathing" and "I'm consistent, and when I'm not consistent, it shows up on my body."

I’ve finished my 1 month membership of CrossFit. If feels like just yesterday I walked into the gym nervous and not knowing what to expect. It’s been a tough journey, but I made it through. I’ve decided to create a CrossFit like home gym. I wish I could have continued going to the gym longer, but the membership is $180/month. I’m a full time student so I wouldn’t be able to afford that. My Christmas wish list will consists of a barbell, weighted plates, a kettle bell, and a jump rope. I don’t have much space for a lot of gym equipment but it’s a start. 

CrossFit has helped me with my:

Fitness Level: Not much has really changed within a month, but I did lose a small percentage of body fat and gained it back in muscle. I feel like I’ve become addicted to working out. When I wasn't at the gym, I was thinking about the gym and booking my reservation for the next class. I try to incorporate exercise at least 3-4 times a week. I run at a park nearby, I run up and down the stairs, and utilize my pull up bar. I do anything just to keep my body in motion. 

Confidence: I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter if I lose or gain weight, I have to be happy with myself. I am no longer nervous to work out and I don’t care who is watching. I’ve always been an outgoing and confident person but when it came to my weight, I’ve always been a bit insecure. I now know that the only way I will see change is if I put myself out there, and try new things. 

Self-Motivation: CrossFit has made me realize that I don’t need others to motivate me.  If I know I could do something, I can. I’ve learned to push myself beyond measure. I don’t need “workout buddies” anymore, I am my own workout buddy. 

Individualism: Every time I walked into the gym I never felt intimidated by anyone. I never felt like I had to do more because everyone else was doing it. I felt like I could be myself. I always did the workouts at my own pace. 

(10/26/15) Day 29- Nothing to see here, just looking forward to tomorrow on my last day finally! 

(10/27/15) Day 30- I’ve never felt so happy and accomplished in my entire life! The fun part about losing weight is seeing the results, and changes in my body. I tried on jeans that haven’t fit me since my freshman year of college and they fit! I can’t wait to start my November challenge. 

(10/28/15) Day 31- I will not say anything because I will let the results speak for me. Today was a very exciting time for me!

Current Measurements (October 28, 2015)

CW: 169.5lbs (-5lbs)

Neck: 12 in (- ½ in)

Arms: 12 in (no change)

Bust: 30 in (no change)

Chest/Back: 34 in (no change)

Waist—> Top: 30 in (no change) Mid: 28 in (-½ in)  Bottom: 34 ½ in (-2 in)

Hips: 41 in (-1 in)

Thighs—> Top: 24 in (no change) Mid: 23 in (no change) Bottom: 18 ½ in (-1 in)

Calves: 14½ in (no change)

Body fat %: 35.0% (no change)

Muscle %: 31.1% (no change)

I have recently completed the 30 Day Cabbage Soup Diet and lost a total of 12.5lbs. Early on in the diet I didn’t exercise, it was only about mid way that I incorporated an exercise regimen. This diet was very hard for me and I had moments of weakness, but I finished. I was able to encourage friends and family to try the diet for some support and motivation, but learned that you don't need others to motivate you to succeed. If you want something bad enough you will motivate yourself to do it.

Being on a restrictive diet has taught me a lot about myself. I know now that I have self control on what I choose to eat. Also it’s not always about the number on the scale but how you feel, how your clothes fit, and how you look. I honestly never thought I could go a full 30 days with something, but I now I know anything is possible.Losing weight can be a very hard because of other people, they will assume you want to lose weight to fit into pop culture and be like someone else. They will never understand why you want to lose weight; during my weight loss I’ve received comments from people telling me “you have nothing to lose”, “your body is fine the way it is”, or “stop trying to skinny”. Those kind of comment are not easy to hear when you know why you’re putting all this effort into losing weight. A lot times society will judge you know matter what you choose to do;you want to diet they will tell you that you’re trying to look like someone else, you’re overweight they bring up all sorts of health issues you will face, you’re thin they say you don't eat enough food. As long as you like how you look, it shouldn’t matter what other people think. They don’t know the struggles you may face to reach your goals. If you have to change something about yourself, change because it’s something you want to do. Don’t change because you feel like you have to. Be happy with who you are!

I remember back to about a couple months ago when Sam Smith revealed that he had lost 50lbs. In the article “Sam Smith weight loss tips & tricks: singer loses 50 pounds; shows off slimmer body in 'Writings on the Wall' video” written by Lois D. Medrano, he mentions how the weight loss has made him healthier and happier. Being in the public eye, Sam Smith has had his critics because of his weight loss. They believe Sam Smith loss weight to fit in with pop culture. Society has this idea that everyone wants to be thin because the dominant culture is thin. Celebrities will struggle in silence, and you will never know that they had issues that “regular” people have. Weight loss can be a sensitive topic to openly talk about; making this blog about my weight loss hasn’t been easy at first but I feel like it helps me feel for accountable. This means that I might feel more inclined to stick to something because people are watching. 

Hey everyone its Stephanie! Here is my update from this week.

(10/20/15) Day 23- My rest day from CrossFit was exhausting. It seemed like the more I would sit around or lay down, the more my body would ache. When I was constantly up and moving, I didn’t really feel it. I wanted to do some cardio but my legs were not having it! Today was an okay day. 

(10/21/15) Day 24- I reserved my spot for today’s Crossfit class and didn’t go. My body is still sore from Monday’s class. I really did try to push myself but it was no use. On the bright side, I’m still eating my soup and enjoying it less and less. Doesn’t seem like much of a bright side, but it is because it’s almost over! I hope I don’t go back to my unhealthy eating habits because my cravings have been through the roof. I guess it doesn’t help when I’m always watching the Food Network on TV. 

(10/22/15) Day 25- My body was still very sore, but I couldn’t waste away yet another day. Today’s CrossFit workout really challenged me mentally; I really had to convince myself that I could do it. That little encouraging voice in my head is what really got me through the workout. We did a lot of squatting so my legs were basically on fire. At the end of the day, I felt accomplished and so but better! There’s just something rewarding about finishing something you set your mind to. Today is definitely better than yesterday.

(10/23/15) Day 26- Today was one of my lazy days. I stayed in bed all day with a stuffy nose. I have midterms coming up that I’m so anxious about; all I want to do is eat ANYTHING with chocolate! This diet seems like it has no end. Next week it will all be over. Today wasn’t one of my best days. 

(10/24/15) Day 27- I spent the day doing homework and studying. I can’t wait for the semester to be over already. Is it sad that I’m already looking forward to the Xmas break? Just got to keep moving forward! 

(10/25/15) Day 28- Last week I mentioned that I would do this diet for 10 days more, I lied to myself. I am looking into using EAS Lean 15 Protein Powder‎ as a meal replacement for breakfast and dinner. I’ve done it in the past with minimal results because I wasn’t working out, so in turn I gained weight. This time with a different outlook and motivation, I am determined to use it for weight loss. Just like the Cabbage Soup Diet I will be doing it for 30 days, documenting my results, and writing about my experience. I’m so excited to do another 30 Day Challenge!

*this post was meant for Monday*

Hey everyone it’s Stephanie!

(10/19/15) Day 22- I’m almost done with diet and I’m still alive! I have decided to add 10 more days to the diet just to see if I could do it. I’ve never felt more proud of myself for actually sticking to it. Exercise is now going to be an active part of my week. I’m committed to going to CrossFit classes 4 days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday). It will not be the easiest task but it’s definitely a possible one. My Monday was okay but I did wake up feeling very tired and sluggish. My classes went by fairly quick and I couldn’t wait to get home. 

I’ve been talking about CrossFit for the past week without really explaining what it is. CrossFit is a high intensity workout that combines cardio, weight lifting, and core training for a full body workout. The class starts out with a warm-up; the warm-up includes stretching and going over moves for the actual workout, this will go on for 20-30 minutes. Next is the high intensity workout; this is a series of moves that you will do for 9-18 (depending on the day) minutes without stopping. A sample would be: as many over overhead presses you can do then when tired 20 jump ropes, then as many front squats you can do then when tired 5 burpees. This is done without stopping; if necessary you may take a short break and move at your own pace. The goal is to do as many as you can in the allotted time frame. Here is an article “What Is CrossFit?” written by Jennifer Wolfe that further explains the basics about CrossFit. Also here is a short clip to give you a visual about the class. 

Now you may wonder, why CrossFit?

According to this article “Top 4 Reasons To Try CrossFit” written by Jeff Wald, here are the top 4 reason to try CrossFit: 

“Coaches push you with positivty”

In my short experience with CrossFit, I’ve noticed how the coaches really push you even when you say you can’t do something. They have no problem showing you how things are done, and try to focus on each individual. They can also help you meet personal goals you set for yourself. Crossfit coaches get to know you so that they know what you are capable of. At the end of each workout, everyone gets a congratulatory “fist bump” and “good job”!

“Group workouts are intense and rewarding”

This is honestly the best part. The class sizes tend to be very small so you will familiarize yourself with everyone. This is beneficial because you each motivate each other to finish by using words of encouragement. The group atmosphere almost forces you to push yourself harder because you want to keep in line with everyone else. We may all struggle but we always finish!

“You don’t have to be an athlete to do it”

Truth is I’m a very lazy person. When I first heard about CrossFit and did my research I was like “hell no”, I can’t do those moves. They work with you so that you eventually be able to do those moves. No matter your fitness level anyone can do CrossFit!. 

“It’s worth every penny”

CrossFit is definitely not cheap, gym membership could cost almost $400 for 3 months. The way I like to look at it is as an investment for my health. Health is the most important thing in our lives, so we can’t put a price on it. Some where in the near future I will thank my past self! 

Hey everyone its Stephanie! Here is my update from this week.

(10/13/15) Day 16- I’m finally back from Connecticut and boy was it a challenge! I still can’t even believe I’ve made it to 16 days, in the past I found it difficult to stay on a diet for 7 days. It just goes to show that if you really set your mind to something you could accomplish it no matter what. I’m thinking of doing the diet for 10 more days after it’s over. I’m still not quite where I want to be yet, so we will see.

(10/14/15) Day 17- After a few words of encouragement from my friend, I was motivated just enough to go to the gym. A lot of my reasons for not going stemmed from not having a partner, or someone to constantly tell me “you can do it”. My friend told me I didn’t need that because as long as I wanted it bad enough, I could make it happen. Also not everyone is going to have the same goals as me, so a partner wouldn’t serve much of a purpose. 

(10/15/15) Day 18- I barely made it through the day, I’m getting so tired of eating soup. Every time I make a batch of soup I try mixing up the flavors but it doesn’t help at all. I just want to eat REAL food already ! But I have to ask myself “are you ready to give up”? I would have to say the answer to that is a no! Giving up should never be an option, it never does nothing but leave me with regret. All I have left to say is Day 18 down, 12 freaking days to go. 

(10/16/15) Day 19- Guess who went to their first Crossfit class? ME! The class started at 5 pm, but I got there a little early to watch the 4 pm class. Let me tell you, watching the class intimidated me and I even had thoughts of going home. I reasoned with myself and thought, “I’m already here” and “stepping out of my comfort zone allows for growth”. Everyone could tell I was new, because of the small class sizes they were familiar with each other. The instructor was attractive which is always a plus, and he helped teach me the proper forms and techniques for the warm up and the workout of the day. I was very nervous at first, but by the end of the class I met some new people and relaxed. The class was pretty challenging but they urge to to push your limits, and exceed your goals which is exactly what I was looking for. I already signed up for next week classes and I can’t wait!

(10/17/15) Day 20- Today was my cheat day, and I went out to eat with family for my mother’s birthday. I tired not to pig out too much but I couldn’t help it. It was an all-you-can-eat buffet, so I limited myself to two plates. My body is still very sore from yesterday’s Crossfit class but I feel good. 20 days down, 10 days to go.

(10/18/15) Day 21- Not much to say about today but I definitely feel blessed. I’m ready to tackle this week’s challenges with grace. I can’t wait to see how much I’ve changed during these 30 days.  

*this is a late post that was meant for Monday October 12,2015 *

Hey everyone its Stephanie!

This week I’m going to encourage myself to go to the gym at least once. Diet is a very important part of losing weight, but fitness also plays a major role. I currently have a gym membership at a Lucille Roberts, and I will be starting a Crossfit membership soon. I’ve loved going to Lucille Roberts in the past but lately I haven't felt challenged. I’m hoping that Crossfit could give me the motivation and challenge I’m looking for. 

I found an inspiring Crossfit quote from an article “10 Best Crossfit Motivational Quotes” written by Dusan Balaban that says, “There is a pain that hurts you and there is a pain that changes you”. This quote means that sometimes pain isn’t always a bad thing because it allows for changes in your body and life. Pain is something that pushes us to do better, but also hurts and makes us want to give up. I have a love/hate relationship with pain; I hate pain, but it makes me the strong person that I am today! Click here to find other motivational Crossfit quotes. 

*these results are without exercise*

Current Measurements (October 12, 2015)

CW: 174.5lbs (-7.5lbs)

Neck: 12 ½ in (no change)

Arms: 12 in (-½ in)

Bust: 30 in (no change)

Chest/Back: 34 in (no change)

Waist—> Top: 30 in (no change)  Mid: 28 ½ in (-½ )  Bottom: 36 ½ in (no change)

Hips: 41 in (-1 in)

Thighs—> Top: 24 in (1½ in)    Mid: 23 in (-1 in)    Bottom: 19 ½ in (no change)

Calves: 14½ in (-½ in )

Body fat %: 35.0% (-0.6%)

Muscle %: 31.1% (+0.3%)

*this is a late post that was meant for Sunday October 11, 2015 *

Hey everyone its Stephanie! Here is my update from this week.

(10/6/15) Day 9- Today went by fairly well and I’m happy I got through it. I do notice that when I am home I tend to snack more; I decided to portion out my snacks according to their serving sizes, so I don't overeat.  

(10/7/15) Day 10- Not much to say about today but I did make a new batch of soup to go to Connecticut with. Every day is a learning experience; I’m testing my limits and breaking them. Saying “no” will be hard but it’s possible. Good luck to me!

(10/8/15) Day 11- So I decided to go to Connecticut for the weekend to visit my family; I will be back on Tuesday October 13, 2015. I’m beginning to have doubts on whether I could finish this diet. Usually when I go see my family I eat a lot because they cook food almost every day, it’s like Thanksgiving! I’ve gotten so far, so giving up is not an option. I prepped my meals for on the go so I wouldn’t be tempted to eat foods not permitted on the diet. Let’s just see how this goes. 

(10/9/15) Day 12- So far so good I haven’t yet cheated. I’ve been offered countless amounts of foods but I’m sticking to it. My family has been very supportive and some have decided to try it out as well. The best part about starting a diet is having a partner, so that you motivate each other to finish. I hope that I could inspire others to 

(10/10/15) Day 13- Saturdays are always hard because they are what we call “junk food day”; no one in the house cooks and everyone either eats leftovers or some kind of fast food. Everyone gets to eat so carelessly while I have to watch what I eat. I guess I could just vicariously live through them, and pretend it’s me eating that juicy piece of fried chicken.  

(10/11/15) Day 14-Today was an okay day, and I’m excited to see another week!

I recently had the chance to read a personal essay titled “People Judge Me Because I'm Pretty” by Felicia Czochanski, a writer and blogger. The main reason for her post was to discuss how she wasn’t appreciated for being athletic, ambitious, or intelligent. She was only ever given attention when it pertained to her physical attributes (Ex.blonde hair, big hazel eyes, 34DDs, and toned calves). She didn’t feel positive about the attention or comments she received, she felt judged or that something was wrong with her. 

I personally didn’t like the essay. She brought up an important issue on the affect cat calling and sleazy men had on her self-confidence. The main reason I didn’t like it was because the essay highlighted insecurities within her. I know that if I dress nice and put in effort into my look and I get compliments and stares, I would feel good about myself. She took it to another level by dressing a different way to attract less attention which I don’t agree with. She focused too much on the physical traits about herself, rather than what she wants everyone to really notice about her.    

An excerpt from “The world can’t get enough of “I’m too pretty” stories” from Elle.com written by Annie Stevens reads, “Which is a shame because there’s something to be said for a woman owning her beauty, for taking a stand against a world that wants you to pluck this and bleach that and try this cream...”. This quote means that women need to learn to own their beauty. It’s important in today’s society with women wanting plump their lips, have big butts, and get bigger boobs. These extra features are usually an unattainable goal for regular women, but they want to fit into the standard idea of what’s beautiful. It’s not about fitting into society it’s about taking a stand and appreciating you. What if you can’t afford to change how you look? Are you just never going to find yourself beautiful? “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, everyone has their own idea of beauty so you will never be able to please everyone. As long as you find yourself to be beautiful and you hold your head up high with confidence, you will never be ugly.

An excerpt from “ Woman Claims She's Judged For Being Too "Pretty"” from Refinery29.com written by Maria Del Russo reads, “The point I think Czochanski is trying (and failing) to make is that women shouldn't be judged by their appearances. And I completely agree with that. But by claiming the problem only has to do with "beautiful" girls — and not looking at the bigger picture — misses the point, and also marginalizes those who don't fit into her strict definition of beauty”.This quote is an elaboration and pinpoints a more a important topic that Felicia Czochanski failed to address. While she’s feeling like a target for her beauty, she forgets that it’s not an issue for just “beautiful” people. She doesn’t want people to focus on her looks, but yet the very first thing she mentions are her “attractive” features. To her those features are what attract the unwarranted attention from men, so that’s what makes her beautiful. What if I don’t have blonde hair, hazel eyes, 34DDs, and toned calves, am I not beautiful? Another thing is what about the people that get looked at negatively for how they’re dressed, having a disability, or a different looking face? They can’t alter how they look to make people stop staring, so they just accept it. 

Hey everyone its Stephanie!

(10/5/15) Day 8- I finally made it to Day 8! Last week was one hell of a ride, but at least I could say I got through it. I’m far from accomplishing my goal so I have to keep going. I’m almost to the halfway point of the 30 day cabbage soup diet. I feel so much better mentally and physically. I feel more comfortable in my own skin. I’m hoping that I could get through this week with ease and patience.

The main ingredient in the diet is the cabbage (hence the name “cabbage soup diet”) because of its many health benefits. Cabbage can be eaten raw, cooked, or fermented. According to an article on POPSUGAR fitness “The Inexpensive Superfood That Supports Weight Loss” by Lizzie Fuhr cabbage has detoxifying diuretic properties, it helps with bloating, and it supports digestion. The worst part about trying to lose weight is the fluctuating number on the scale which can be due to water weight. Cabbage helps release excess fluids from the body and water weight. It is very rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, and has anti-inflammatory properties. It also has a lot of fiber which can help keep people “regular”, and help with constipation. Click here for the full article.